IF ONLY (ONE SHOT) JENLISA

If only

Jen and Lim sat quietly in their small home, their hands intertwined, but the weight of the unspoken words between them felt heavy.

Jen took a deep breath, breaking the silence. "Lim, I've been thinking... I want a child."

Lim smiled softly, though her heart ached. "We can adopt, love. May mga bata na naghahanap ng family."

Jen shook her head gently, tears forming in her eyes. "No, love. Gusto ko yung galing sakin. I want to have a family, Lim. A family of our own."

Lim's heart sank, but she nodded, trying to hide her sadness. "That's good, love. I understand."

Jen looked down, her voice trembling. "I'm sorry, Lim. I'm so sorry."

Lim squeezed her hand gently. "You don't have to be sorry, Jen. Naiintindihan ko."

Jen's tears started to fall. "Pero paano ka, Lim? What about you?"

Lim smiled through her pain, her heart breaking a little more. "I'll be okay, love. Kung anong gusto mo, go for it. Mahal kita. I can't force you to stay with me... and I can't give you a child."

Jen wiped her tears, whispering, "Thank you."

Lim's voice was soft but filled with love. "If I were given another chance to live again, I would choose to be a man... para hindi na mahirap mahalin ka."

And though their hearts were breaking, they sat together for a while longer, cherishing the love they knew could not give them everything they wanted.