We will spend the New Year like how we did on Christmas. Para akong lumulutang sa saya nanararamdaman ko sa araw na iyon. Binalot ko ang ire-regalo ko kay Brett para mamaya.
"Nanay! Look!" tinago ko naman sa ilalim ng unan ang binalot ko para hindi rin makita ni Blythe. She swung to show me her polka dots dress na bumagay talaga sa kanya.
"Beautiful." I complimented her.
"Nanay, when I grow up, I want to be beauty queen. Papasa kaya ako?" she suddenly asked me.
"Oo naman. Bakit hindi?"
"I am short." she said.
"You're turning six years old. Of course, you're still small, Blythe." I explained. Tumalon naman siya at pumalakpak. Tumakbo ito palabas ng kwarto. For sure, she will brag it to her tatay.
Nang matapos akong mag-ayos ay lumabas ako ng kwarto at binabalaan na ni Blythe si Brett. They are so adorable!
"Tatay ha! No drinking!" paalala nito.
"Blythe, we will celebrate New Year. Tatay is fine to drink." tito Mar explained. Siguro kanina pa siya nakikinig sa kanyang apo.
"Pero lolo, bad pa iyon. Hindi pwede si Tatay uminom." Blythe explained. Nagkatinginan naman kami ni Brett na dalawa. We both shrugged.
We don't want Blythe to grow up so fast. Parang ang bilis lang kasi ng panahon. Baka isang araw magising kami, dalaga na si Blythe at magkakaboyfriend. That would be a nightmare to Brett.
Sinundo namin ni Brett sina mama, papa at Mercy sa bahay.
Our house is now different. Wala na iyong karinderia sa ilalim. It is fully a house. Bumili si Mercy ng pwesto sa bayan kung saan pwedeng makatayo si Mama ng karinderia.
Brett and I planning to give mama a gift to open a new eatery near the beach again. Medyo nahihirapan kasi siya dahil sa bayan na ang bago niyang karinderia pero marami rin naman ang dumadalo. But she wants to have on a beach front. Inaasikaso pa ni Brett ang titulo ng lupa.
Pagkabalik namin sa Inn ay masayang sumasayaw si Blythe kasama ng Lolo nito. Blythe is the energizer of the family. O kahit ng mga staffs dito sa Inn. They always want Blythe to sing or dance for them.
"Brett..." I called him. Bumaling naman ito sa akin na nakangiti. All are set on the living room. We just finished watching the fireworks kaya nagpahinga sila muna sandali para lumabas at bumati sa mga tao sa labas.
I lend Brett the small rectangle box. Tinanggap niya naman ang regalo ko at binuksan. I was just standing in front of him and others are busy watching Brett opening the gift.
Napasinghap naman sila Mercy ng nilabas ni Brett ang regalo ko sa kanya. Brett was shocked. Hindi makapaniwalang tumingin ito sa akin pabalik sa pregnancy test.
"Wow, Faith." Tita Veronica said and stood up. Lumapit ito ng lubusan kay Brett para tingnan.
It is positive. I am pregnant again. The most awaited day. This year really went smoothly for our family.
Brett silently cried while hugging me. He kept on mumbling thank you and I love you.
"It's always you who can make me feel this way, Faith. Thank you so much." he said.
Nakaupo lang kaming dalawa sa couch at kami na lang ang natira sa pad. His face is buried in my neck while I am caressing his head. He is really crying!
"Blythe is already enough but you are bearing another blessing for our family."
"You told me before that we will have a big family, Brett." I said. Reminding him how we plan things before since we were college.
"Not anymore when you had the illness, Faith. It's your health matters the most to me. I don't want to give you burden." I can bear a child but it is not 100% sure if I can deliver it normally. But Brett and I keep praying that it will be possible and now the prayer is answered.
"Kailan mo pa nalaman na buntis ka?" he asked me.
"When we were in Manila last few days. Iyong umalis kami ni Blythe, since I am having the symptoms again, I tried. And that's the result."
"We still need to go on a check up. We'll see if makakayanan ng katawan mo."
Noon, akala ko, kapag magkapamilya ka na, you are already settled. Hindi pala, kasi kapag pinangarap mo magkaroon ng pamilya, patuloy ka pa rin mangangarap para sa pamilyang ito. When we were in America, akala ko maayos na kami kasi magkasama na kaming tatlo, but I realized, we'll just stay here? Hanggang dito lang ba talaga? I want the best for my family. Brett and I didn't come this far to only come this far.
Marriage involves commitment and vows. Not only a short-term commitment but a lifetime one. My brain tumor made me stop dreaming about marriage but Brett appeared in the picture again.
Family and friends were crying while witnessing our union. Of course, who would imagine dadating pa pala kami ni Brett sa ganitong punto. They witnessed how we started and they also witnessed how we ended. They knew what I've been through with my illness and they also knew what Brett been through with hia broken heart before. People always root for me and him. Yes, we are getting married. And yes, I am finally reaching another dream for my own family.
"Faith..." Brett started his vow. "We've been good and worst, and now we're finally here. The day we are just planning since we were 18. I was eighteen years old when I saw you, I was deeply in love, head over heels and smitten. And now, 24 and the same feeling." Brett wiped his eyes. Ngumiti naman ako sa kanya.
"I always brag how beautiful this island is and also the beautiful woman in this island- Faith Chiara Perez. Faith, you are my life. You are my everything. You are the blessing I thank God for every day, every time, every second, in every breath I take, in every move I make, and every stare I give to you." this time, it was me who wiped my tears.
"You've been through a lot and I wasn't there to help you." people started crying again.
"I wasn't there in times you are craving for food, you wanted to walk, you needed someone to talk to. I wasn't there when you were carrying our little Princess- Blythe." he said and stared at Blythe sitting there. Ngumitu naman kami ni Brett sa kanya.
"I wasn't there when you were suffering for a brain tumor. I wasn't there when Blythe can't see." napayuko naman ako. My tears are flowing big time. Brett squeezed my hand.
"Faith, I wasn't there physically, but you know and I always remind you that you are always in my heart. You are always in my system... When I found you and Blythe, I told myself not to let you go again. Even that brain tumor can't separate us. Never again." may mga umiiyak na naririnig na namin, merong nakangiti habang umiiyak at nakatingin sa amin ni Brett.
"Babe, I was willing to offer my own life and still willing just to save you. I can trade every thing I have in this world just to save you. But you are very brave to fight with your own battle. You survived Faith, and I love you even more for that... Because of all the pain you've been through and all the worst days we've been through together, I want you to know that I fell in love more deeper for you... Whatever happens, I promise you that we will still keep going. It's you who anchors me, Faith. I'll surely sink again if I lose you. I promise to stand with you, Faith. Forever and always."
I will stand with you too. Brett. Forever and always.
