The Precious You

eleven

THEY SETTLED into a routine of sorts. Nanghingi na si Griffith ng medyo mas maayos at regular na shift mula sa ospital, at sinasabayan siya ni Lizzy kahit pa madalas ay pinagsasabihan niya ito na huwag. Kasama sa treatment plan ni Lizzy—at oo, galing iyon sa nanay ni Griff—ang regular na eight hours of sleep (sa gabi) at regular work hours para na rin sa kalusugan ng isip ng babae. Ikinatuwiran ni Lizzy na night owl ito at mas creative ang isip nito sa gabi. Still, Griffith made sure she slept during the night as much as possible. 

Nakilala na rin nito ang pamilya niya. It took Lizzy three days of changing her mind to decide na oo, final answer nang pupunta sila sa bahay ng parents niya, na sinundan ng three days ng mini-anxiety attacks kung kailan alternate na itinanong ni Lizzy sa kanya kung magagalit ba ang pamilya niya kung mag-backout ito at kung ano kaya ang puwede nilang dalhin sa bahay nina Griff para hindi isipin ng mommy niya na sa gubat lumaki si Lizzy kaya wala itong social skills.

He'd learned to wait out his girlfriend's moods and to patiently nudge her where she needed to be. Basta ba't laging na kay Lizzy ang huling desisyon. If an hour before they had to leave ay sinabi nitong huwag na silang tumuloy, hindi ito pipilitin ni Griff na tumuloy. In the end though, Lizzy had always powered through her fears and did what she said she'd do. 

Ganoon din ito nag-alangan at nag-panic bago sila umattend n'ung event ni Nyx Delafuente, at ganoon din ito n'ung pumayag itong dumalo sa hospital function sa unang pagkakataon kasama ni Griff. She may be a quivering ball of anxiety in the car, but she'd pull herself together and stepped out with him, then she'd charmed everyone she'd ever been introduced to. Pagkatapos ng event at nasa bahay na sila, saka ito nagpaalaga sa kanya dahil kailangan nito ng tatlong araw ng pahinga para maka-recover. 

He never took for granted that his introvert, loner girlfriend did those things for him. 

Gaya rin ng inaasahan, his mother loved Lizzy. His dad too kahit wala masyadong sinabi ang tatay niya. Wala naman kasi talagang masyadong sinasabi ang tatay niya sa totoo lang, pero 'yung napangiti ito ni Lizzy eh sapat nang clue na boto rin ito sa girlfriend niya. Nakakuwentuhan na rin nito sa wakas si Kuya Grady at naparami pa lalo ang bala ni Lizzy para tuksuhin siya. 

He didn't mind. He loved making her laugh. Isa pa, she found every stupid, funny, embarrassing thing about him endearing so he couldn't complain.

She had also started—and abandoned—multiple hobbies as per her therapist's suggestion. Nakatapos ito ng isang malaking cross-stitch project dahil lang ayaw nitong abandonahin 'yung design kahit pa hindi raw pala para rito ang cross-stitching. He had the design—a relaxing seascape that was based on a painting by Nyx—framed, and then displayed in his living room wall.

She thought of trying art next, kahit paint by numbers lang, matapos makilala si Nyx pero hindi na iyon sinubukan nang maalala ang mga palpak nitong art projects n'ung bata ito.

She tried knitting, which she liked because it kept her hands busy. Griffith now had a collection of knitted scarves and cute knitted hats he promised to wear if and when they go somewhere cold. 

She did enjoy gardening too, at masaya nitong tinutulungan si Tatay Harold na magdamo, magdilig at magtanim ng mga gulay sa maliit nilang vegetable garden. Nagsimula na ring mag-alaga ng succulents ang dalawa na malaman-laman na lang niya na ibinibenta na pala ng mga ito sa mga kapitbahay nila at online. 

("Suki namin si mommy mo!")

And while she wasn't very good at cooking, mabilis itong natutong mag-bake sa ilalim ng mapag-arugang mga kamay ni Nanay Flor. He was also now addicted to her Oreo-stuffed chewy chocolate chip cookies. Na malaman-laman na lang din niyang ibinibenta na rin pala ng dalawa sa mga kapitbahay at online.