Vacation With My Cousin

52 : The diamond ring

Third day of living here in Vancouver. All I did was the best thing I did the entire years of my life-taking care of Chanty.

Pangatlong araw ko lang diti pero ikaapat na beses na siyang isinugod sa hospital because she always loses her consciousness. Nanghihina na lamang sia bigla tapos mahihilo, mamumutla at mahihimatay. Many signs and symptoms have revealed, nagsusuka na siya ng dugo, hair loss, mga biglaang pasa sa braso.

And now we're choosing to let Chanty stay inside the hospital.

May bulaklak pa akong dinala na paboritong paborito nia-Purple tulips-at may mga balloon pa. This is my duty, to love and take care of my baby.

"L-Lucho.." I looked at her mula sa pagbabasa ng text ni Chaos sa akin. I am now holding her hand habang nakaupo lang sa tabi at binabasa ang mga text ni Chaos. He was the one whi explained everything to me. Nasa Argentina si Charm para mag-aral, and my alien sister is still missing and for pete's sake we don't know where her kapwa aliens brought her. Is it a coincidence if I'll tell you guys that she also goy also lost during Flight MH370 was lost? Okay. I think not.

"Na-kita na b-ba si Lindsey?" she asked. Her lips were pale. I stood up and kissed her, she flushed. "iih, na-man eh" I chuckled as she mumbles.

Umiling iling ako "Not yet. Even a cold body, parang ipapahalughog na nga ni dad ang buong Pilipinas eh, wala din namang tracker yung sira at lumang auto ng driver namin." I frowned. Baka naman nakuha na talaga ng kauri nyang alien magsalita yon. She nods "Why?" I asked her. Ngumiti naman ito.

"Pa-kiku-ha nga n-nang bag na iyan.." she said pointing a pink flowery bag-placed on the wooden chair for visitors . Tumayo ako at inabot ito. "Get what's i-inside.." she said.

Napakunot ang noo ko, alinlangan man but I end up opening the bag. Nagulat na lamang akong nakita ang book na binigay ko sa kanya noon na pinunit ko after hearing the truth. Nakadikit na uli ito pero may transparent tape na.

"R..Read me you..your thoughts there inside. " she commanded. I opened the book, mula noong bata pa kami hanggang sa lumaki na kami ang laman nito.

"To wake up every morning seeing you is what I call blessing. To see you cry makes my heart shrink. To take care of you is what my duty to do. But to love you more than a cousin is an unexplanable feeling too. " she was closing her eyes while listening to me-intently listening to me.

I moved to the next page at napangiti nang makita ang isang supot- there's a thing inside it- the one that I gave to her -the diamond ring.

I smiled as I saw my letter for her.

Dear baby girl,

Happy new year to us. You know what, this year taught me a lot. This year taught me to realize my real feelings for you. Diba sinabi ko sa'yo na ako na ang bahala? Yes. I mean it. A lot. Alam kong para saiyo. We're scandalous, disgusting and everything synonymous of the word ew pero para sa akin, hindi tayo disgusting, mahal kita, mahal mo ko, mahal nating dalawa ang isa't-isa kaya now I promise you, ako ang bahala. The ring symbolizes my love for you.

I stood up to reach for her lips and kissed it. Napamulat naman sia. Ipinakita ko sa kania ang sing sing na ibinigay ko sa kania noon.

Shocked and amusement were visibly written in her eyes. "I know, tinanggal to ng doctor noong nakunan ka.." mahina kong sambit.

"And now I'm officially giving it back to you.." dahan dahan akong lumuhod kasabay ng pag-angat ko ng kamay ko at ipinakita ang singsing sa kania. Hindi pa man ako nagtatanong, naiiyak na agad sia. I chuckled as I gently wiped my tears away.

"I wanna wake up every morning with you- beside me on the bed, to gently caressed your cheeks and kissed your lips as Good morning greeting, I wanna be with you while watching my favorite basketball, I wanna spend my life time with you" namumula na ang mga mata nito. Tumikhim ako.

"After stealing my heart. Can you also steal and own my last name, forever?" Napakagat ito sa labi nia at tumatawa tawa pang pinupunasan ang kanyang mga luha.

"Hindi bato part ng April Fools day mo?" she was crying while asking me. Natatawa akong umiling iling pa

She laughed with full of glee. "Oh my gosh, eh ano pa ba? Y-Yes, Yes baby, I do" she answered. I'm then speechless, wala na akong nagawa pa, napaiyak na lamang ako, I stood up, hug her at mariin siang hinagkan. Finally! Finally, my plan is accomplished. Isa nalang ang kulang, to marry this woman in front of me, whose crying for happiness sa loob ng simbahan sa harap ng altar.