Learn to Love Again

Troubled

Some few days later, Sarah was set to go to her doctor’s appointment when she received a call from Gerald.

“Yes Da?” she said.

“Ma, I’m going out with some of the guys tonight okay? Fred just called and sounded desperate to meet up with us.”

“Sure Da. So you won’t have dinner with us anymore?”

“Hindi na Ma. Babawi na lang ako sa ‘yo bukas. Promise.”

“Don’t worry about it. Enjoy tonight but don’t drink too much. Okay?”

“Yes ma’am.”

After a few more exchanges, they ended the call and she was on her way to the doctor. At the clinic, she found out that she was already on her 8th week. The doctor gave her instructions on what to and not to do and prescribed pre-natal vitamins.

She was so excited to tell him the good news that she waited up for him to come home from his night out with his friends. But when he got home, he seemed to be in a bad mood. He said he was tired and that he just wanted to sleep. The following days were the same. He left for work early and came home late. He barely talked to her. On the fourth night she decided to talk to him.

“Da, may problema ba? Parang ilang araw na kitang napapansin na ganyan.”

He lightly held her waist and made her sit on his lap. He took a deep breath before starting to talk. “Remember when I told you that Fred sounded desperate to be with us the other night?” She nodded. “Well, they are having marital problems.”

“Ha? Bakit, anong nangyari?”

“Nahuli n’ya si Lynne. She’s having an affair.”

“What? So kamusta si Fred?”

“He’s devastated.”

“Sino? Paano? Lynne doesn’t seem to be the cheating type.”

“I guess looks can be deceiving.”

“Paano n’ya nahuli?”

“Fred didn’t go into the detail anymore basta ang sinabi lang n’ya ay nahuli n’ya dahil sa mobile phone. The guy is her co-worker. Apparently they’ve been spending so much time together because of a project they’re doing that something got developed.”

“Anong plano ni Fred ngayon? Are they going to separate?”

“He doesn’t know yet but he’s really hurt. We just told him na mag-usap silang mabuti ni Lynne before deciding on anything.”

“Tama. That’s what they should do. It’s just so sad to see a beautiful couple go through something like that. Tignan mo nga naman ang buhay, akala mo perfect na sila pero ganito pala ang pupuntahan nila.”

“I know that’s why I’m worried,” he softly said.

She was surprised at his remark. She turned to him and said, “And what’s that supposed to mean? Na gagawin ko rin sa ‘yo ‘yun?”

“Hindi sa ganun. Ikaw na rin ang nagsabi na akala mo perfect na sila pero ganun pa rin. Kung nangyari sa kanila, it means pwede rin mangyari sa atin.”

She took his face with both hands. “Da, don’t compare us to them. Totoo, pwedeng mangyari sa atin ‘yun pero and tanong ay hahayaan ba natin mangyari sa atin ‘yun?”

“Of course not.”

“Exactly. Alam mo I’ve been in a failed relationship. And I think I am wise enough to know now that relationship fails dahil may pagkukulang ang isa o pareho. Basta palagi tayong nag-uusap I don’t think dadating tayo sa point na magkakaroon tayo ng pagkukulang sa isa’t isa. Here, let’s make a pact. Kung pakiramdam natin ay may mali o merong hindi magandang nangyayari sa atin, we will go away, just the two of us, and we won’t come back until we’ve settled everything. Okay ba ‘yun?”

“I like it Ma. And I also need you to make a promise to me.”

“What’s that?”

“If you feel like I’m neglecting or ignoring you, just slap me para matauhan ako.”

“Ang brutal naman Da. Pwede namang kiss na lang tapos sasabihin ko sa ‘yo that I feel neglected di ba?”

“Gusto ko kasi masaktan ako para quits tayo. Para sa akin kasi if I neglect you ay nasasaktan kita. So by slapping me eh nararamdaman ko din ‘yung pain that I’m giving you.”

“Aaah. Sigurado ka d’yan?”

“Oo Ma, that’s what I want you to do.”

“Okay. I promise to slap you when I feel neglected.”

“Ma, promise me also na ‘pag mas gwapo na kaysa sa akin sa paningin mo ay sasabihin mo sa akin ha.”

“What for?”

“Para bubugbugin ko s’ya. Sisirain ko ‘yung mukha n’ya para mas gwapo ulit ako kaysa sa kanya.”

Sarah gave out a hearty laugh because of this. “Sira ka talaga. Pero alam mo Da I don’t think that’s ever gonna happen. I have a little secret to tell you.”

“Huh? Ano ‘yun?”

“Kasi ever since we got together eh wala na akong nakitang mas gwapo kaysa sa ‘yo eh. I became uninterested in other guys altogether simula nung dumating ka sa buhay ko. Kung sa bagay, paano pa ba ako magiging interested sa iba eh tignan mo naman ang asawa ko - super gwapo, such a hottie at very sweet. There’s nothing more than I can ask for.”

“You really know how to turn things. Kaya mahal na mahal kita eh. Ikaw talaga ang perfect partner para sa akin.”

“And one more thing. Don’t compare us with Fred and Lynne. SaRald kaya tayo… the best loveteam to come out since Richard and Dawn.”

“SaRald?”

“SaRald… Sarah and Gerald. Di ba that’s how they make names of loveteams?”

“Ha… ha… ha! Ikaw talaga Ma.”

“So okay ka na? Still troubled?”

“Hindi na. Hindi ko nga rin maintindihan why I got bothered in the first place. I am married to you – the best wife a guy could ever have. I love you so much Sarah.”

“And I love you as much Gerald.”

They kissed for a few seconds before she broke it off to give way to her big news. “Oh and Da, don’t worry about us having marital problems. Ang dapat na isipin natin ngayon ay kung paano magiging mabuting mga magulang kay Cassie…” she got his hand and let it rest on her tummy, “at sa bago nating baby.”

His eyes lit up. “We’re?”

“Yes Da, we’re going to have a baby soon.”

He lovingly looked into her eyes while lightly touching her lips with his thumb. “You have just made me the happiest man. I love you so much!”

“And you have made my life so complete. This is the perfect ever-after any princess has dreamed of. Thank you for giving it to me Da.”

“This is not the ending of our fairy tale yet, just the end of a chapter. There will be more beautiful chapters after this.

“That I am sure of.”

And then they kissed like it was their first time. It was fleeting and full of love that it let to something more.

THE END