yuanfen (completed)

victory

".....Here....use these..... the bathroom's inside the bedroom...right side....there's a fresh towel in there too..." Chuck gives Dei some clean clothes when they arrived at his condo.

"...t...thanks..."

"Sige na...go ahead...I'll change na rin..."

Moments later, Dei steps out of the bedroom in an oversized t-shirt and boxers, holding her wet clothes in her hands.

"...thank you...." she says in a very soft, shy voice.

"Gah! Ang ganda mo pa rin, Dei! Shet!"

"Let's take those to the laundry...." Chuck reaches out to take Dei's wet clothes but she refuses and just follows him to the laundry room.

"...here...." Chuck says as he opens the door of the washing machine. Dei puts in her clothes.

"Are you sure about your bra? I don't have those net baggy things...." He says looking at her, staring even.

"I....I left them in the bathroom..." Dei replies.

"Ahh sige....let's get this started and I'll get a fan for your....stuff....."

"Totoo ba to? Wala naman akong concussion....di ako nabangga....sumabog lang yung gulong ng car ko pero walang accident sa akin.....Chuck?.....you're here? You're back? CHAMP!....ay shet! yung panty at bra ko nakasampay dun sa banyo......"

"Tangina Dei! Ang ganda mo pa rin talaga after all these years....Ang sexy mo pa rin......I love you!"

Dei's head was whirling with the sound of Chuck's voice. She could not believe what was happening. From the moment they saw each other on the road until they got to his condo, he hadn't really stopped talking. He told her about his therapies in the States. He mentioned about having to live alone almost soon after he had regained full use of his legs, of his body. He was put into another assisted-living facility but it was an apartment set-up so residents live by themselves with assistants and aides only coming in during a scheduled period to help out. Most of the activities like cleaning up and self-care were done by the resident-patient. This was to help them regain independence.

"Ikaw na ba talaga yan, Chuck? How long has it been, 3...4 years?....Ang tagal na....It's been so long....I miss you....I...."

"You've barely said anything since kanina....are you okay?" Chuck said as they sat on the sofa after having a pasta dinner cooked by Chuck. He had learned how to cook and take care of his needs, to live independently, when he lived in the States during and after his therapies.

"Chuckie-boy! Wag masyadong excited....matakot yan oy!"

"I...I'm fine..." Dei replied, quietly. ".....Natutulala pa rin ako..."

"Sa?"

"....sa kapogian mo....pwede bang mag-babad sa jacuzzi....este, sa dimple mo?"

"Na nandito ka....You're here...."

"In the flesh...." Chuck said and took Dei's hand to put on his face.

"Y...yes...."

"....I remember making a promise.....babalik ako.....babalikan kita.....and I'm not one who breaks promises...." Chuck said as he pulled Dei closer.

"Alam ko....I remember.....I never forgot.....and I held on to that promise...."

They kissed.

"I love you, Dei..."

"I love you, Ch...Champ...."

"How do you say that....May nanalo na?" They chuckled, tears flowing down their cheeks. Chuck pulls Dei for a tight embrace.

"I won't leave again...." He says, kissing her shoulder.