Hello, Love, I'm Home!

xii: Thick, Thin

Kathryn's POV

It started early in the morning when I heard RJ coughing from the bedroom. At that moment, I just finished dressing up Kaiah since she has an early piano classes at RAMM Academy. I went inside our room and found my husband on the sofa bed. He didn't sleep beside me out of his fear of me catching colds.

He had been feeling under the weather for a few days, but today was different. "Love?" Agad ko syang dinaluhan. His face was pale, and he could barely muster the energy to get out of bed. Hay. It was clear he couldn't go to work.

"Huwag ka muna masyado gumalaw, mahal. Stay still, papalitan lang kita ng shirt." He closed his eyes and weakly nodded.

After making sure he was comfortable, I called his workplace to let them know he wouldn't be coming in. I also called my mom to ask if she could take our Kaiah to our house for the day, hoping to keep her safe from any virus.

With my husband resting, I focused on making him some porridge and herbal tea. He hates porridge but I know he needs to eat some. Kung hindi bababa ang temp nya, I will bring him to the hospital. Sinusubukan ko talagang hindi magpanic. I checked in on him frequently din, bringing him fruits and water.

As the day progressed, I tried to juggle household chores alongside caring for him. I tackled the laundry and dishes, all while keeping a close eye on him. Yaya needs to be with Kaiah, naka-leave din ang mga helpers namin. Kailangan kong gawin ang mga gawaing bahay habang wala sila.

At one point, I settled down in the living room with a book, but I didn't realize I had fallen asleep.

I woke suddenly, feeling someone lifting me. My heart raced when I opened my eyes and saw my RJ's face. I immediately worried—he should be resting, not carrying me. "What are you doing, Love?" I exclaimed, concerned for his well-being.

He smiled weakly, assuring me he just wanted to make sure I was comfortable. Hay naku this guy.  It touched me to see his effort, even in his condition.

In the back of my mind, I remembered that I had forgotten to tell him the result of my pregnancy test from earlier this morning. I decided it was best to wait until he was feeling better. Perhaps this was a sign to think of a creative way to reveal the surprise when the time was right. Help me?

Later, we decided to watch a movie together to lift his spirits. We snuggled on the couch, wrapped in blankets, sharing soft laughter amidst his coughs. He seldom gets sick talaga pero pag nagkakasakit naman, all out.

His soft snores made me look at his features. God, I am still crushing over him this much. I gently kissed his forehead and I slowly get up. "Sleep well, husband."

As evening approached, I made a simple dinner, hoping the comfort food would help. We ended the day with him feeling a bit better, but still tired. I tucked him in and promised to take care of everything, reminding him to focus on getting well.

"Love, how about your work today?"

"Don't worry about it, mahal ko. Tita Lulu is handling it. Ang mahalaga, maalagaan kita. Palaging ikaw nalang ang nag-aalaga sa akin eh. Let me do this."

"Thank you, Love. Babawi ako sayo."

It was a challenging day, but it reinforced how important it is to be there for each other, especially in tough times. Knowing Kaiah was safe and having fun with my mom helped me stay focused on supporting my husband. And now, I had a little secret to plan for—one that I hoped would bring him joy when the time was right.

"Love?" He called.

"Yes, Love? Masakit parin ba ang ulo mo?"

"I just feel light headed. Can you sleep beside me?"

"Of course. I will just change to my pajamas."

Pinalitan ko na rin ulit ang shirt nya. Magandang sign yung pinagpawisan na sya and he requested that I turn the aircon's temperature down.

He also asked me to call our Kaiah so he could say goodnight. As I dialed mom's number, I unconsciously placed a hand on my stomach, and my heart filled with joy at the thought of our growing family. Soon, we would be four.

Hearing our Kaiah's voice brought smiles to both our faces. RJ chatted with her, and I could see his spirits lift even more. It was a precious moment, connecting as a family despite the circumstances. Our daughter cried because she misses her daddy. Yeah, she will always be a daddy's girl. "Baby," I cooed, "I'm taking good care of Daddy so don't worry, okay? He will be healthy again soon."

After the call, RJ turned to me, as if reciting his love and devotion once again. "You're the heart of our family, my Love. I don't know what I would do without you," he said, his voice soft but sincere.

"I feel the same, RJ. Thick and thin, through and through."

He opened his arms and welcomed me into bed. I nestled against him, feeling safe and loved. We were both ready to call it a night, grateful for this gift called marriage.