Tú Eres Mi Sol

LXXXII

"What time is your angiogram, Oma?"Dei asks

"In an hour, I think, Sweetheart." her grandmother replies

"Sweetheart, why are you crying? Honey, Dei is crying." Ann says

Ralph immediately walks to Dei's side and drapes his arms around her.

"Oma, I just don't like seeing you like this."

The old woman holds Dei's hands and says, "This is just an additional test to see if there are any restrictions in the blood vessels of my heart."

Dei tries to smile.

"Your grandmother is strong as a bull, Sweetheart." her grandmother tries to wipe the tears from her face and continues,"Dei, I can't leave you and your grandfather yet. Who will make him his favourite cakes and cookies? And besides, I still want to be able to see your children. Plural, Dei. Children."

Dei laughs.

The angiogram went well. Ann is now in the recovery room and will stay in the hospital overnight. 

***

"RJ?"

"Hmmm?"

"Last night when I was with Oma, I realise how lucky I am to be surrounded by people who love me and who are examples of what love is." Dei said

"Dei, George told me that Opa was already up by 5 today. When I asked why? He said that Opa said that he couldn't sleep anyway, he was just tossing and turning in the bed."

"Is that why the two of you were already back in the hospital at 7 in the morning?"

Richard nods.

"You know, RJ, Love, those two are inseparable. You know that after that 3-day trip that Oma took 18 years ago, they have always done trips together. They said that they felt that the 3 days apart were too long and that they couldn't sleep without sleeping next to each other. Who knew that my grandparents were such romantics"

"I guess there are different approaches to relationships. My parents do 3 trips in a year, well, now mostly just two. One is just the two of them. Second is individually take trips with their own friends. Three is a family trip with us, kids pestering them." Richard laughs as he narrates

"You're right, perhaps, there is no one way to make a relationship work. What works for one, may not work for the other."

"Dei, Love. Aren't you sleepy yet? I know you haven't had a decent sleep in two days. You might become a grumpy monster later on."

Dei giggles. "You know me too well. Sleepy, not yet. I want to spend time with you."

"A clingy Dei, I would not say no to that. Come here, baby girl." Dei moves and cuddles with Richard.

"Dei, Love. Do you ever think of the future?"

"Which future, RJ?"

"When you're running the business, you're here and your siblings are in the Philippines."

"No, I haven't and I don't want to think about it. It's hard for me."

"Dei, Love. Let's go to sleep. I'll leave you now so you can sleep well."

"RJ, Why are you asking questions like that? Are you saying that something might happen to my grandparents?"

"What? No, I would never insinuate that."

"RJ, Did my grandparents tell you anything that they are not telling me? Are they sick?!"

"No, Dei. Stop overthinking."

"You're clearly not telling me something. Go away!"

Richard sighs and kisses Dei on the forehead, who was now in bed, under the covers and facing the other direction.

***

He wasn't sure how long he's slept but Richard heard knocks on his door.

"Dei. What happened to you? Have you been crying?"

Dei nods and hugs Richard.

"Dei, What happened?"

"I'm so sorry, RJ. I shouted at you."

"Perhaps, it was my fault as well. I poked a sleeping bear."

"Huh?"

"Alam ko naman that you haven't slept properly in about 72 hours and haven't eaten as well. Dei with no sleep and proper food, I was just waiting for it to show up, the grumpy monster."

"But still I shouldn't have shouted at you."

"You shouldn't have but it's alright, baby girl, you were very emotional I know. You've been crying in the car on the way back to here."

"RJ,I hope you don't breakup with me because you think I'm now going crazy."

"You've always been crazy." Richard smiles

He looks at the time, it's 1 in the morning, they can still sleep for 7 more hours. 

"Dei, do you want to sleep here?"

Dei nods. 

Richard notices that her shirt is all soaked. "Dei, how long have you been crying?"

"I don't know, since you left? I've been crying on and off, like I'd fall asleep for several minutes and cry again when I wake up."

Richard moves to where Dei was, wiping her tears with his hands. 

"Why have you been crying?"

"I suddenly felt assaulted by a barrage of emotions. There's thinking of Opa and Oma. Oma's health. Thinking that I should just stay here and defer my masters, maybe completely forgo it. There's feeling all alone."

"All alone?" Richard asks

"And there's you - and the feeling that you may be breaking up with me because I'm unreasonable, I am stubborn and clearly I should at people without any good reason to."

"Hay, my dear baby girl. Overthinking again, are we?"

"Dei, Love. Listen. I think it's normal for you to think about your grandparents and their health because you love them. About deferring your masters, it's your decision to make. You know you don't have to completely defer it, you can look at alternate plans, maybe taking less load so you can be here more often or finding a school here. Third, feeling alone? Why? I don't want you to ever think that you are alone. I am always here. And lastly break-up with you? Where on earth did that come from?"

"I think Mars. Wait maybe Jupiter. Or wait, pluto. You know I think pluto is a little bitter because it's no longer a planet."

Richard laughs. He kisses Dei on the forehead, wraps his arms around her and whispers, "Let's go to sleep, baby girl" to which Dei responds, "Sweet dreams, Love."