Payb Takes Book 3

Slowing Down

August 25, 4am:

R: *leans to kiss the sleeping M and gently shake her awake* Love, alis na ako. Biyahe na kami pa-Dagupan.

M: *groans and sleepily pulls R down with her arms around his neck* No. Stay here.

R: *chuckles* Alam mo naman na aalis ako ngayon. Ikaw pa nga naghanda ng gamit ko. Uwi din ako mamayang gabi, okay? Anong gusto mong pasalubong?

M: Ikaw.

R: *grins* Alam ko na yun. *kisses her cheek* Ano pa?

M: *grunts and buries her face in the crook of his neck*

R: Uy, Love. Gising ka muna sandali. Ano pang gusto mong pasalubong? *chuckles*

M: *slowly opens her sleepy eyes and stares at R* Wala. Ikaw lang. *blinks back her tears*

R: *stares at M quietly and touches her face, brushes away the single tear that rolls on the side of her face* Bakit?

M: Wala. Antok pa ako. Alis ka na.

R: *sighs* Alam mong di kita kayang iwan ng ganito. Bakit nga?

M: Wala. It's silly.

R: Nicomaine, I don't have time for this. Sabihin mo na.

M: I know kaya sabi ko umalis ka na. *rolls away from him and sits on the other side of the bed*

R: *sighs and stares at M's back for a while then walks around the bed and sits beside her* Love... *wraps an arm over her shoulders* I'm sorry.

M: *sighs and leans her head on his shoulder*

R: *pulls her in for a hug and quietly holds her for a while* Pwede mo na bang sabihin sa akin kung anong nasa isip mo?

M: *takes a deep breath and exhales slowly, sits up but does not look at him, holds his hand and stares at it* It's just that... you're always off to somewhere, always doing something. I knows it's work and all. I know para sa atin din 'to. I know it's for our future but sometimes... *sighs* Sometimes I can't help feeling like this and wonder when you plan of slowing down and actually starting this family with me.

R: *sighs and holds her hand tighter, gently lifts her chin up with his thumb and stares into her eyes* Alam mo naman na ikaw ang priority ko di ba? Us. This family. Nagkataon lang na sunod-sunod ngayon. Kailangan kasi eh. Kasama sa kontrata ko to. Kaya din tinatapos ko na lahat ng commitments ko sa work para I can have more time for you. *caresses her cheek*

M: How's that going for you?

R: Well, my wife is upset and crying at 4 in the morning so not very well. *sighs*

M: *sighs*

R: *kisses M's hand and rests his cheek on her palm* Nagsisisi ka na ba na pinasok mo itong buhay na ito kasama ko? *closes his eyes as tears trickle down his cheeks*

M: No. Never. Kahit kailan, hindi ako magsisisi. This life I have with you, no matter how complicated, is the best thing that ever happened to me. Kahit ilang beses pang ulitin at ibalik ako sa umpisa, ito pa rin ang pipiliin ko. *squeezes his hand*

R: *opens his eyes and looks at M*

M: IKAW pa rin ang pipiliin ko.

R: *sobs, slips his hand on her nape then launches forward to press his lips on hers and share a deep and passionate kiss with her, touches their foreheads together after the kiss* I'm sorry sa mga pagkukulang ko. I hope I'm still worth all your patience and love.

M: It's okay. Naiintindihan ko naman talaga. Madrama lang ako sa madaling araw. Wag mo nang pinapansin tong mga ka-emehan ko. *smiles and caresses his cheek* You're always worth it.

R: *turns to kiss her palm* Babawi ako. Promise. Babawi talaga ako.

M: I know. You always keep your promises. Sige na. Hinihintay ka na nila Mama Ten sa baba.

R: *wraps his arms around M and nuzzles on her shoulder* I love you so much.

M: I love you too. *rubs his back* Lakad na.

R: Sandali. *calls MT* Ma, mag-breakfast na muna kayo. Balikan niyo na lang ako in an hour para di na tayo mag-stopover mamaya. Opo. Dito na ako kakain. Samahan ko lang muna ang asawa ko. *smiles at M* Okay po. Bye.

M: *smiles* You didn't have to do that.

R: I want to. *smiles and cups her face with his hands* Kung pwede, hangga't kaya ko, kahit sa maliliit na paraan, mapasaya kita palagi.

M: Thank you.

R: No. Thank YOU for loving me unconditionally.

M: Always and Forever. *touches her lips on his and kisses him gently* Let's go. Breakfast. I'll cook for you.

R: Hindi. Ako na. Ayaw kong mapagod ang prinsesa ko. *lifts M up from the bed* Bubuhatin na din kita para di ka na mapagod.

M: Nu ba? Para naman akong buntis nito. Pwede namang maglakad.

R: Buntis? Gusto mo ba? Sige. Bubusugin muna kita ng pagkain tsaka kita susubukang buntisin. *grins*

M: *giggles as R rubs his nose behind her ears and continues to whisper sweet nothings in her ear while he carries her to the kitchen* 💛🍃

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Unbeta'ed and not proofread. Thank you for reading.