Thank you for waiting. I've been busy with school and I promise to finish the pending stories.
Very short chapter.
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Brett
"Faith!" she is selfless. Forever selfless.
Mag-asawa kami. Hindi ba dapat tanggapin niya rin ang desisyon ko? I had more than seven months to convince her but her decision was firm. Hindi magigiba katulad noon. Her excused was 'because I am a mother'. Is that even possible? Yan ang maging rason mo? How about being a wife, Faith? Wala na yun?
I am selfish in our child. I admit it and I hate myself for that. Every night, I pray and cry to spare my family in this kind of situation. Bakit sa pamilya namin nangyayari ang ganito? Why I always need to be in this kind of shit? Our relationship is bound to face massive challenges?
"Faith!" she was silently crying and holding the sheet tightly as her water bag broke. I can feel how painful she feels right now. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang masakit- iyong nararamdaman niya sa kanyang ulo noon o ngayon na manganganak na siya at wala siyang lakas.
God, what have I done? Faith doesn't deserve this! My child doesn't deserve this! Our family doesn't deserve this. Why me? Why Faith?
"Brett." he called me almost whisper.
Kulang na lang paliparin ko ang sasakyan para makapunta sa ospital. We are in Manila and I think it is safer and more assured than the island. We went to Manila the first day of the month of her due.
I never knew this would cost much. I never knew she can lose her life bearing my child. Napasapo naman ako sa mukha ko. She can do it. I know she can do it.
"Brett!" tumakbo naman sina mommy sa hallway para makalapit sa akin. Hindi ako pinayagan ni Mercy pumasok sa loob para samahan si Faith. Baka daw magwala ako.
"Mom..."
"Kanina pa ba si Faith sa loob? Pinasundo ko na ang mga magulang ni Faith sa daddy mo. Ten minutes at baka andito na iyon. Nasaan si Mercy?" I asked.
"She answered some call outside. Fifteen minutes pa lang sa loob si Faith."
Mom brought me to the chapel. We prayed and I cried on her. Asking her what wrong have I done to deserve this.
"Brett. This is life. Hindi sa lahat ng oras masaya lang."
"But this is too much. Why this is always happening to Faith? Bakit kailangan siya palagi dumanas ng hirap?"
Life fucks us hard. All the fucking time.
"Brett. He always give His hardest battle to His strongest soldier. Faith can survive again, son."
I do not know what life may bring in the future again. I will stand with Faith until the end. Sa lahat ng dadaanan niyang problema at pagsubok. Kahit nasasaktan ako sa desisyon niya, tatayo pa rin ako at sasamahan siya. People get mad but heart still cares.
Naniniwala ako na tayo ang pumipili ng tadhana natin. We always have the power to choose. Minsan, lumaban o magpadala sa alon ng buhay ang pinagpipilian natin. I never been in a hardest decision. It was always Faith. Siya palagi ang nasusubok sa desisyon.
"Bumalik na tayo doon, Brett."
She is the most bravest woman I have ever met. The one and only. Not all heroes have super powers and capes.
Two hours. Exactly two hours. The doctor went out from delivery room. She looks weary.
Lumapit naman ako sa kanya at hinila siya.
"How's my wife? And my child?" she took off his mask. Exhaustion written all over her face.
"Your wife is unconscious for the moment but she survived... And..." I don't think I can process what she will continue to say. Obviously, it's a news for our child. My breathe hitch.
The nurse went out of the door and as the door open, we heard a baby loud cry. Unti-unting nawalan ng lakas ang kamay kong nakahawak sa doktor ni Faith.
Our parents cried. Mabilis naman akong tumakbo papasok ng delivery room to witness if I heard it right. Then I saw it with my own eyes. Another miracle happened to Faith and to our family.
A nurse carrying a baby. A crying baby. Alive.
I stared at Faith lying on the bed. Sleeping and breathing.
We overcome challenges in life because of surrendering it all to Him and believing. We may lose our track sometimes but challenges will help us find our way back.
I've been in a situation where Faith was fifty/fifty. And hours ago, I've been in the same situation again and it was not only Faith. Also our child.
Looking at her silently sleeping made my heart ache for too much feeling. Hinalikan ko naman ang noo ni Faith.
"Rest well, my love. You fought hard and survived another battle."
