After a few minutes I received another call. Si Terrence. Thank God!
"What the he happened?! Don't hang up on me like that! Akala ko--"
"Mrs. Saaverda? Your husband got into an accident. Pakisundan nalang po siya sa Mary's Grace Hospital."
Then the phone call went off. Hindi parin makapagsink-in saakin. Si Terrence... Naaksidente siya.
I quickly grabbed the car keys and started to drive.
"No. Please, God, don't do this. Nagsisimula palang po kami. Wag po ganito please."
I kept on praying until I reached the hospital.
"Where's my husband? Terrence Saaverda?" I asked the nurse.
"Nasa OR pa po." Sabi nung nurse saakin. Napapikit ako and then I called Terrence's Family and asked them to come.
Don't take him please. Ako nalang. Not him. Dear God, please.
Dumating ang magulang ni Terrence kasama ang ilan pa niyang pinsan.
"What happened?" Tanong ni Mommy Talia saakin.
I hugged her and I cried.
"Mommy, natatakot po ako. What if he leaves me? Mommy, nagsisimula palang kami ni Terrence. Hindi ko po alam gagawin ko kung mawawala siya. Ayoko po ng ganito Mommy." Patuloy akong umiiyak habang hinahaplos niya ang buhok ko.
"Terrence will be fine, iha. He will be fine for you. He wouldn't like to see you like this. He's strong, Ayeza. You're his only weakness." Sabi nito saakin.
Miya miya pa ay lumbas na ang doktor na incharge kay Terrence.
"Sino po ang guardian?" Tanong nito.
"Ako po. Asawa po ako." I said.
"Ayos na po ang asawa niyo. We'll just have to wait for him to open his eyes." Sabi nito at ngumiti.
"Thank you Doc." Sabi ko at ngumiti.
Tears started flowing again. Thank God! Thank you for not giving up Terrence.
"See? I told you he'll be fine." Sabi ni Mommy Talia.
Napapikit ako and started thanking God again. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko if I loose him. I can't. I can't.
Inayos na namin ang room ni Terrence. He was admitted to the VIP ward. He was sleeping there. Matindi ang tama ni Terrence. His head was the most damaged. Sabi nila, its either he dies or will be in coma. Ewan. I don't want any of that.
Alam na din sa bahay na naaksidente si Terrence. Alam na din ni Ace. He kept on cyring telling me he wants to see his dad.
It's been two weeks pero Terrence is still not awake. He's not moving. But I'm fine as long as there is heartbeat in his body.
His family visits everyday. Minsan naiiyak na si Mommy Talia but she still tells me to stay strong. She always tells me na hindi ako iiwanan ni Terrence. And it helped. Somehow.
And then a month had passed at hindi parin siya gumigising.
"Love? Ano nang balak mo? You've missed too many things. Hanggang kelan mo ba balak matulog? Please wag naman masyadong matagal. Baka mainip na ako." Sometimes, I talk to him hoping he could hear me. But sometimes, I prefer to close my eyes and just pray.
Another month had passed at wala paring responses mula kay Terrence.
"March na Terrence. Gagraduate na si Ace ng Pre-school. Ano na? Wala ka parin bang balak bumangon jan?" I asked him as I cried.
And then Ace's Graduation came. But still, no Terrence. Walang Terrence na dumilat. Walang Terrence na nagsabing mahal niya kami. Walang Terrence na nagsabi na mahal niya ako. Wala. Wala.
Another month had passed. April 17. Birthday ko. I celebrated it at the hospital. Kasi nandun siya. My home was there.
"Terrence, it's my birthday. Bumangon ka na jan. Kantahan mo na ako. Tell me I'm beautiful. Tell me na ako lang ang mamahalin mo. Tell me all those things I want to hear." I held his hands at dinala ko iyon sa tiyan ko.
"Feel that? Love, buntis ako. You're baby... I'm carrying it. Bumangon ka na jan. Dali na. 4 months na siya. Dali na. You can't miss it now." Sabi ko sa kaniya. I leaned down and hugged him.
"Come on, batiin mo naman ako. Batiin mo naman ako kasi hindi ko alam kung pano sasaya tong birthday na ito. Please Terrence, open those eyes for me." I said as I cried. Open it for me. Please.
And then I felt a hand, gently caressing my hair.
"Happy Birthday..." A voice whispered. I lifed my head and I saw him smiling at me. But then, the next word he said, broke my heart into million pieces.
"Uhm, sino ka nga pala?" A blinked several times. Am I dreaming?
"Terrence..." Sabi ko.
"Why do you know my name? Who are you?" Tanong nito saakin. I closed my eyes.
"Wag mo naman akong biruin ng ganito." I said as I cried.
"Seriously Miss, I don't know you." Sabi niya.
"Ayeza, anak, kumain ka muna. Terrence will be sad if he sees you like-- oh my God! Anak! You're awake!" Agad na tumakbo si Mommy Talia kay Terrence.
"Easy mom." Natatawang saad ni Terrence.
They all came and was very happy when they saw Terrence finally awake.
"Masarap bang matulog ng apat na buwan? You fucking idiot! You got your princess worried!" Sabi ni Ailee.
"Princess? Who?" Naguguluhang tanong ni Terrence. Tinapik ko si Ailee.
"By the way, who is she?" Tanong ni Terrence. Bumuntong hininga si Mommy Talia.
"Terrence, she is Ayeza, she's your wi--"
"Friend. I'm your friend. Close tayo." Sabi ko.
"And that child?" He asked pertaining to Ace.
"Dad--"
"Anak ko siya. Anak namin nung tao na mahal ko. Sadly he doesn't know." Sabi ko at ngumiti. Inilahad niya ang kamay niya na para bang pinapalapit si Ace. Lumapit si Ace sa daddy niya.
"It seems weird. Bakit magkamukha kami?" He asked while observing Ace.
"Napaglihan ka po siguro ni Mommy." Sabi ni Ace at lumayo mula kay Terrence. Bumalik ito saakin.
"Oh? Why are you leaving? Dito ka muna sa tabi ko." Sabi ni Terrence kay Ace.
"You're not my daddy." Sabi ni Ace at lumabas na.
"Susundan ko lang po." Paalam ko.
*****
