How Long Will I Love You? | Book 1

Chapter LI: Make

"I don't ask you to love me always like this,but I ask you to remember. Somewhere inside of me, there will always be the person I am tonight."
F. Scott Fitzgerald

The sound of the oven alarm was lingering in their cozy kitchen. Kathryn in her loose shirt, maong shorts and an apron worn around her, she hurriedly got hold of the kitchen gloves. She slowly opened the oven's door at sumingaw agad ang amoy ng roasted chicken she cooked in lemongrass.

She has been busy all day preparing for a special dinner while Calvin took Daniel to Sta. Rosa to buy her sometime. Kathryn planned a special night for them. Nagluto siya, nag prepare ng table for two, nag bake ng chocolate cake at nagbihis pa ng maganda. She wanted to surprise Daniel when he gets home. She wanted it to be special, so that the next decisions won't be as hard.

But who is she kidding? Nothing fancy can ever conceal the impact of what she decided to do.

Bumuntong hinga siya, Kathryn felt she's about to have her last day with him. Hindi dapat ganun ang isipin niya dahil gagawin naman niya ito para sa asawa. Kung iiwan man niya si Daniel pansamantala, hindi dahil yun ang gusto niya. Eto lang ang nakikita niyang paraan para maibalik kay Daniel ang lahat ng mga bagay na unti unti ng nawawala sa kanya. Ang kanyang career, ang mga pangarap at ang dating buhay. Pakiramdam ni Kathryn, it was her call for a sacrifice.

Then there again, the image of Daniel from the other night. Flashing before her. A sight she'd give anything to stop from happening again.

Isang araw, oras sa madaling araw nagising si Kathryn dahil sa kalampag ng mga gamit sa kusina.  Agad niyang hinanap si Daniel at wala ito sa tabi niya. Bumangon siya at nakita niya bukas ang pintuan ng kwarto nila.

"Babe.." tawag niya dito pero walang sumagot. Patuloy pa rin ang mga naririnig niyang kalampagan sa baba. Her heart doubled it's beating, paano kung may nakapasok dito at sinalakay sila. She ran down the stairs as fast as she could.

Lumagpas siya sa kanilang sala direcho sa kusina, there she saw Daniel on the floor.

Holding one empty glass on his hand he was seated on the floor leaning to wall, he looks exhausted and frustrated. Nakita ni Kathryn na nakabukas ang fridge, she realized he must be thirsty and wanted to have a glass of water. Pero bakit hindi na lang siya ginising nito. Kath was already taking her steps towards him para tulungan siyang makatayo.

He must have felt her presence but didn't bother to say a word. Agad napansin ni Kathryn ang unti unting pag patak ng luha ni Daniel. Her steps became small towards him as he started to shed tears that made her stop from where she is standing.

It was the first time that Kath saw Daniel cry after what happened. He have always hid his pain through his strength dahil alam niyang panghihinaan din ng loob si Kathryn kung pati siya ay maawa sa sarili niya. He had to be strong for her, and that was the hardest part of it. He didn't know how to be strong anymore. Daniel felt for the first time that he's incapable of protecting Kathryn's and their child's life or even his own. Kung sa pagkuha pa lang ng isang basong tubig ay hirap siya ano pa ang ipagtanggol sila. It was mainly his concern, he didn't regret losing his life, mas takot siyang buhay nga siya pero wala siyang magawa para sa kanyang pamilya dahil bulag siya.

He had to crumble,and breakdown. He had to let go and feel. He is in pain. He is tired. He is broken.

Nakitang lahat yun ni Kathryn kay Daniel sa mga oras na yon. She saw everything that she fear she would see. She saw misery.

Kath saw it a few times in his eyes. Everytime she would stare at him, she sees something in him that is slowly fading away, like a light bulb that flickers, like a candle whose life is about to end.