Tú Eres Mi Sol

XCI

Richard felt a lot of shifting on the bed. He checked the time, it was four in the morning. He observed some more, it was Dei. He could also hear sniffling.

He turns on the lamp.

"Dei?"

He heard sniffles. So he went to her side. "Dei, anong nangyari? What are you feeling?"

"RJ, Love. It's still early, go back to bed. I'll be alright" Dei weakly smiles at him.

"You don't look okay. You look pale."

She smiles weakly again. Richard looks at the date.

"It's time of the month, isn't it?"

Dei looked surprised. "How?"

"There's time of the month that usually you reply really late, you complain of headache and body ache days before."

"Stalker!"

"Hahaha. Actually no. I'm just careful when to be extra sweet to you, you get cranky during this time, too."

Dei touches RJ's face. "Dei, kiss?"

She nods and he gives her a kiss.

"Dei, wait lang ha?" Richard walks out of the bedroom.

He comes back carrying 3 hot compress bags and a vacuum insulated tumbler.

"Dei?" He says softly

Dei opens her eyes. "RJ, Love. Go back to bed, it's still early."

"I brought you something that I think can help you."

"Thank you, Love. Thank you. Kanina ko pa yan hinahanap."

"You should've woken me up. We'll put one on your lower back and two on your tummy?"

Dei nods. "Tell me if it's too hot, we'll wrap it in a towel. How's the heat?"

"Just right, RJ. Thank you, Love"

"How are you feeling now?"

Dei smiles, "Better. Way better. Thank you."

"I've read that chamomile tea is good for you, too. I'll put this tumbler here on the side table. It's hot, so be careful."

"Thank you. I'll drink it in a while, wait what are you doing?"

"I'm raising your legs with pillows, I read it helps, too."

Dei laughs. "Did you swallow a whole book on how to take care of someone who's suffering from dysmenorrhea?"

"I read about it a long time ago, I want to be able to take care of you when the time comes."

She was teary-eyed now. "RJ, Love. How could you be more perfect?"

"Dei, far from it. I just want to be able to take care of you well."

He kisses her forehead, grabs his pillows and starts walking away.

"RJ, Love, where are you going" Dei asks weakly.

"I'm moving to the other room, so that you can sleep more comfortably."

Dei shakes her head, "Stay, please" and extends her hand.

***

Richard hears his name being called. "RJ, Love?"

He runs to the bedroom. "Dei, you shouldn't be getting up." He assists her.

"Wala ka kasi sa bed. Nag-worry ako. I just need to pee."

"Masakit pa din?" He says as he helps her back to the bed after the bathroom break.

She nods.

"On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your pain?" Richard asks

Dei laughs. "Ano ka si Beymax?"

Richard puffs his cheeks, "Pwede na ba?"

She laughs again. "I want to curl up pero thank you. You changed the water of the hot compress no? Mainit pa din."

He nods. "Do you want to eat? It's 10 in the morning."

Before Dei could answer, they heard her stomach rumbled.

"I guess that's a yes. I'll be back."

He comes back carrying a tray and a bowl and helps her sit properly, props pillow behind her.

"Comfy?"

"Yes"

He turns the tray into a breakfast table.

"Ang galing naman nito. RJ, foldable."

Richard smiles and places the bowl on the table. "Bawal kang salty because it might feel you bloated. I made you noodles in clear broth instead."

"Dei, kain ka lang."

He comes back with dark chocolates and a cup of tea.

"RJ, kumain ka na?"

He nods. "Kanina, breakfast. So how was it?"

"Sarap, RJ. Naubos ko nga e."

"Gusto mo pa?"

She nods a few times.

After she finishes the second bowl, Richard takes the bowl and tray out of the room.

When he comes back, Dei was sobbing.

This startles him. "Dei, bakit?"

"Wala ito, RJ."

"Dei, bakit nga?"

"RJ, Love. Hindi ko alam what I did to deserve you." She pulls him into a hug and whispers, "Thank you sa pag-aalaga, RJ. I love you. Thank you for making me feel so loved."

"Dei, I love you. Ayoko na nakikita kitang nahihirapan. This is all I can do to help ease your pain. Sige, tulog ka na ulit."

***

Richard felt someone hugging him. He must have fallen asleep.

"Dei, kumusta ka na?"

"Better, way better."

"On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your pain?" Richard asks

"Beymax!" She laughs and pretends to think. "Mga 4 na lang."

"May pain pa din yun ah?"

"Kanina 9. Alam mo, RJ, Love. Ngayon lang ganito kabilis nawala yung pain. I think dahil sa pag-aalaga mo. Thank you. Thank you, Love." She gives him a kiss on the lips.