Brett
"Brett!" halos takbohin ko galing garahe papunta sa kwarto namin ni Faith ng narinig kong sumigaw si dad. I heard Faith crying and shouting too.
"Faith!" tawag ko habang tumatakbo palapit sa kanya. Hawak hawak siya ni daddy habang siya ay nakaupo at pinupokpok ang ulo sa dingding. Hinahawakan siya ni dad pero tinatabig niya lang.
"Faith!" I called and held her. Binitawan naman siya ni daddy para mabigyan ako ng pwesto. I held her head and kept it closer to me. Umiiyak ito at sumisigaw.
"Tatay. Ano pong nangyayari? Tatay!!" Blythe cried. She was standing on the couch and don't know where to go. Lumapit naman si daddy sa kanya para patahanin ito at yakapin. Mas lalo lang lumakas amg iyak niya ng sumigaw pa lalo si Faith sa sobrang sakit ng ulo nito.
"Faith, stop.. Baby..." sinasbanuton na nito ang sariling buhok dahil sa sakit na nararamdaman. Sa mga oras na iyon ay para akong unti-unting pinapatay.
"Brett... Please... Help me make this stop." putol putol ang pagkasabi niya.
This is not my first time seeing her in this situation, pero kapag nangyayari ito sa kanya ay parang unang beses akong natatakot at nakakabahan. Hindi ako sanay-- no, hindi ko gusto nakikitang nasasaktan si Faith.
"Baby..." she held her head and tweak her hair. Hindi alam ni daddy ang gagawin. Tumatawag ito sa ospital pero nakatuon ang mga titig kay Blythe na umiiyak.
Noon, isa lang ang nagbibigay ng takot at sakit sa akin. Iyong makitang wala na si Faith sa tabi ko, iyong iniwan na niya ako. I admit it, for years she left me, that was the most miserable times I ever had. Hindi ko inakala na dadating ang ganitong problema sa kanya- sa amin. Mas doble pa pala ang pagpatay sa puso ko. Kung pwede ko lang kunin ang sakit na meron si Faith ay gagawin ko.
"Brett..." tawag ni daddy sabay lahad ang kape. We're here almost five hours waiting for the doctor and give us the result. He said to check and look after Faith befote taking the operation.
I looked at Blythe silently sleeping on my lap. I kissed her head.
Maraming taong nagsabi sa akin noon na wag daw dalian ang pag-aasawa. Sabi nila enjoy raw muna ang pagiging binata. But when I met Faith since day one, getting married and having a children what I really want. Blythe is a blessing, a product of love, and she is also my life. I am living for Faith and Blythe.
"Tawagan mo ako kapag may problema." tumango naman ako kay daddy. Blythe needs to take a good sleep because she will undergo her operation tomorrow. I am still waiting for the doctor. He went out earlier and told that Faith is already ready to have the operation, kaya pinauwi ko na muna si daddy para na rin makapagpahinga siya.
I kept on walking back and forth, always looking at the red light. Sa sobrang bigat na naramdaman ko, my feet walked me into the chapel. When I arrived, my knees automatically fell down and I started crying. Asking Him to help Faith get through it.
If I can surrender my life just to have an assurance of Faith's survival, with no hesitation I would gladly give it.
Faith taught me not to let go the ones I love the most. She is the reason behind my success and everything. If not for her, I don't know what path I am taking right now. Siguro kung hindi ko nakilala si Faith, hindi ko mararamdaman kung gaano kasarap magmahal at mahalin pabalik, hindi ko mararamdaman ang takot sa bawat pag gising ko baka wala na ang taong mahal ko, hindi ko mararamdaman maghintay at pahabain ang pasensya ko. Standing with her is the thing I won't ever trade.
Kahit sobrang pagod at inaantok ako ay hindi ko nagawang matulog. Nakaupo pa rin ako sa labas ng operating room at nakatingala sa buzzer sa itaas.
My phone vibrated and it was a call from dad.
"Dad, bakit? Nagising ba si Blythe?" I asked.
"Tulog pa rin. Tatawag daw si Mercy sa'yo... May balita na ba?"
"Wala pa rin..." mahinang tugon ko.
"Tumawag ka na muna sa mga magulang ni Faith at balitaan sila..."
There are still things I need to settle. Sa sobrang dami hindi ko alam ang dapat kong unahin. Processing Blythe's operation, checking on Faith and updating Faith's family and friends.
It took how many hours. Nakailang balik na ako sa chapel at nagdasal. Nakailang baso ng kape na rin.
At exactly one in the morning, the doctor went out of the operation room.
"Doc!" I called when he went out, stretched his hands and neck.
"Mr. Hernandez." he called. The nurses who assist him inaide went out too, some look tired while some are on hurry.
"What happened to my fiancee? Doc?!" I asked him. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang pagmamanhid ng katawan ko at sobrang kaba. Parang gusto ko ng takbohin papasok ng emergency room para makita doon si Faith.
The doctor tapped my shoulder and smiled. "You're not just standing with Faith, but yout faith is bigger too. To tell you honestly, the first three hours were impossible, but it looks like God made it possible to operate Faith." I was left speechless.
She did it! Faith survived!
I hurriedly ran. As in ran, and went to the chapel again crying and thanking Him for not leaving Faith. Kneeling in front of Him and kept saying how thankful I am.
When the papers are all settled, I called Mercy for the good news.
"Hello, Brett..." her voice cracked.
I can her many people doing a rosary and praying.
"Brett..."
"Meryc, Faith survived. She did it." while saying those words, I can feel the overwhelming feeling. After all the pain Faith felt is finally gone.
Mercy screamed and that made the people on the other line asked what happened.
"Mama! Papa! Tapos na raw ang operasyon! Nakaya raw ni Faith!" Mercy cheered.
Tita Lucia talked to me and crying.
It's God abundant grace after all.
When Faith was transferred in her private room, she was silently sleeping. She became bald because of her operation yet she looks breathtakingly beautiful. No doubt.
Nakaupo lang ako sa gilid at nakahawak sa kanyang mga kamay.
This is the woman I cherish and vow to love the most.
I smiled and kissed her forehead.
"Through sickness and in health, Faith." I whispered.
For me, this is what love is- not all the time it's the brighter moments, sometimes it should be the darkest moments you've been through together but still keep on fighting.
"Tatay! Makakakita na ba kaagad ako kapag makuha na 'to?" tanong ni Blythe.
It's been a week and Faith is still sleeping. Tomorrow is the schedule for Blythe's last check up. She is excited to see Faith.
"Oo naman. Are you excited, sweetie?"
"Opo, tatay! Gumising na rin sana si nanay para malaman niyang makakakita na ako!"
Every morning and night, Blythe and I are going to the chapel since she is allowed to walk but need to be guided of course.
"Gigising si nanay, Blythe. Medyo napagod lang siya, pero gigising siya."
Tumango naman si Blythe at kinapa ang kamay ko. Nilahad ko naman iyon sa kanya at hinawakan niya ng sobrang higpit.
"Tatay, kahit sakitin at may problema kami ni nanay, wag mo kaming iwan ah? Mahal na mahal mo kami ah?" the way Blythe speaks is like Faith. I chuckled and hugged my daughter.
This is my life. They are my life. I am living for them.
