Payb Takes Book 3

Love Is

October 17, 2017:

It's 3am and we have been shooting since yesterday morning. We are both physically exhausted and emotionally drained from the scenes we shot but there's still so much work to do.

I know how tired you are on that last scene but you showed no signs of it. You still gave a stellar performance. When Direk Adolf finally called a good take and let us go on a break from the shoot, I walk over to where you are.

"Kumusta? Kaya pa?" I ask as I slip my hand around your waist, letting it rest on the small of your back, then walk with you to the couch in the standby area.

As soon as our backs hit the sofa, you sigh and lean your head on my shoulder. "Pagod ka na. Idlip ka muna. Gusto mo dun sa isang room ka muna matulog." I tell you.

"Hindi naman ako inaantok. Gusto ko lang ganito." You smile and rub your cheek on my shoulder.

"Ganito?" I chuckle and hold your hand.

"Ganito. Sa tabi mo. Nagri-Richards." You giggle and I laugh.

"I'm so happy that I'm doing this with you basta work na kasama ka parang hindi work. Ang sarap lang. Ang saya." I smile.

"You know I can only do this with you. You're my source of strength and courage and energy." You say while playing with our fingertips.

"Ganoon ka din sa akin, Love." I slip my fingers in between yours and intertwine them.

"I love you." You whisper.

I kiss your temple and sigh. "I love you more and more." I whisper back and lay my cheek on your head.

And I do... I love you more... And I will continue to love you more. There's just no way I couldn't. You give me a reason to everyday and if I am asked what love is... Love is you.

You, my Nicomaine, are the embodiment of true love, the one that minstrels sing about, poets rhyme about, authors write about and the bible speaks about.

From the start you have been patient, from waiting with me for the right moment for us to finally meet, to your understanding of my full schedule and difficulty to find time to spend with you, to how you stoically let me off every time I do something stupid because I can be a total jerk sometimes too.

You are always there to take care of me and be good to me and to always give without asking anything in return.

You are there to support me in everything that I do. You lift me up and back me up. Even when people try to compare our achievements to each other and I know at some aspects that I am inferior you are still my biggest cheerleader, the affirmation of how great I can be.

I am human, Love, and I have hurt you. I made you cry although I didn't mean to. I have said some things that I regret. My pride could get in between us but you always broke through it to reach out to me and hold me even if it means disregarding your own pride.

I try to give you my best, to always make you happy, to always take care of you, to protect you, to always give a reason for you to smile but even at times when I fail to do so, you still appreciate me. You always tell and show me and everyone else how good I am even if that means hearing criticisms about you because of that.

You always put me ahead of yourself, my benefit before yours.

And despite all our bickering, the things things I've done and words I've said to hurt you, you don't hold them against me. I am always on a clean slate with you. No matter how bad I hurt your feelings, you always find it in your heart to forgive me and give me a fresh start. I promise to never hurt you again.

You are honest and true. I know how difficult it was for an introvert like you to open up your heart, raw and vulnerable, to anyone even your family but you do that for me.

We've been through a lot together, self-doubt, conflicts of schedule, adjusting to each other, people getting in between us, people trying to pull us apart, haters, bashers and insecurities but through it all, you're still standing strong by side, holding my hand, never letting go and hoping that there will come a time when there will be no more hate but kindness around us.

Most of all, you never fail, Love. When work gets to rough, you are there to comfort me. When the day gets too long, you are there to soothe me. When the nights get too cold, you are there to hold me. When the pain is too much, you are there to heal me. When my anger gets the better of me, you are there to appease me. You are always there. You never fail.

I try my best to match you in every way you love me and surpass them because you deserve that and so much more.

I know we are stronger now and our marriage solidifies each day and each day, I love you more.

You Are Love and with all that I am and all I will ever be, I want to be what love is for you too. 💛🍃

1 Corinthians 13:4-8New International Version (NIV)

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails.

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Unbeta'ed and not proofread.

Also slightly lutang and sabaw from pain meds. Pasensiya na po. 🙏

Thank you for reading.