Author's Note: Actually, 'di ko alam what this chapter will contribute to the story but due to @zenithmonk's request for "wagas na kiss" and because I wanted to expand nurse Mel's character a bit para di lang cameo ang participation niya. ( : Meli, aka lubilubi, sana di nga ikalubog ng storya ang presence mo! wahaha! sa mga readers, salamat sa matiyagang pagbabasa.
“ I still love you.”
As soon as those words escaped his mouth, Sarah felt so small compared to how this man loves her. She knew that he has endured a lot for her in the past and the fact that he felt the same made her realize that his was the kind of love that she wished she had the courage to fight for.
“Mahal na mahal din kita…pero...ayoko nang masaktan ka pa. Hanggang ngayon, wala pa rin akong napatunayan sa ‘yo Ge. I don’t know if I am the woman that you deserve…” Sinabi ni Sarah habang lumuluha.
“That’s not your decision. It’s mine and don’t take that choice away from me. When you left, tinanggalan mo ako ng karapatan na mahalin ka....’wag mo na gawin ‘yon sa akin. That’s my decision to make Sarah. It’s not yours.”
“Okay…pero..”
“Wala nang pero pero…okay? Nagkakaintindihan ba tayo?”
“Oo na po...so…pa’no..alis na ‘ko para makapagpahinga ka na.”
“Teka, teka, teka..ayan ka na naman eh. Tayo na ulit?”
Napangiti si Sarah..”May boyfriend na ulit ako?”
At tinitigan ng matagal ni Gerald si Sarah at sinabing “I love you”
Sarah drew her face close to Gerald’s and gently intitiated another kiss. This time, gone was her hesitation as she kissed him passionately. Her own lips parted as she clung to him with every bit of her being. It was as if with her kiss, she was telling him that he alone possessed her. He alone consumed her. That she needed him like she needed air.
Gerald was surprised by the depth of her feelings and responded equally. He wanted to hold her and devour her. At the same time, he felt joy knowing that he alone could bring out this side of her. Although they were apart for years, he somehow knew that she has never given herself to someone or showed this much passion to anyone. His arms found its way to her waist and inched to her sides caressing and teasing her. He knew this wasn’t just physical desire that he felt but something more that only this girl can awaken in him.
Sarah for her apart, instinctively arched her body towards him and felt the need to close the space between them. Their tongues met in a dance that seemed not to quench their thirst towards each other but instead made the need for more increase.
Awareness dawned on Gerald and as painful as it was to do it, he knew he should break the kiss before it grew out of hand. He held her face in his hands and gently drew their lips apart. He gave small kisses on her mouth, nose and eyes...before he finally said..
“Baby girl, ituloy natin ‘to paglabas ko ng hospital ha?”
“I love you babe.... I just wanted to show you how I feel. Words will never be enough when it comes to you. Babawi ako sa ‘yo promise.”
“I like the sound of that! “
Pinitik ni Sarah ang tenga ni Gerald..”Pilyo ka! ‘di naman ‘yun lang...” napayuko si Sarah at natatawang sinabi na, “Nahihiya naman ako sa ginawa ko...I hope you know I’m not that forward pero...pero...I missed you. The 6 years apart didn’t matter. I missed you the same way I did as the first second after I left.”
“Talaga? Wow, i tried to drown you out and ayoko naman magmalinis na I had a few girlfriends after you pero...may kulang lagi and I find a reason for them to break up with me often. “
“Medyo nakakainis nga to hear stories about you kaya I chose not to read anything showbiz. Hala, marami pala akong karibal sa ‘yo...”
“Wala kang karibal babe. Ikaw lang talaga kung truthful lang ako sa sarili ko. Naku, marami akong ikekwento sa ‘yo babe kase medyo magulo ang pinasok ko na trabaho pero don’t believe anything unless it’s from me okay.”
“Okay...sige, alis na ‘ko ha. I love you! Tomorrow , ay , mamaya na lang...” Sarah hugged Gerald and left.
Paglabas ni Sarah, nakita niya na naghihintay si Ate Nhila sa may nurse station. Napalingon si Nhila when Sarah was approaching at nagtanong, “Doc Sarah, kumusta? Okay na kayo ng alaga ko?”
“Sarah na lang po ang itawag niyo sa akin. Thank you po ate, okay naman. Nagkausap na kame at nagkalinawan na.” Sarah couldn’t help but smile when what happened was starting to sink in. ‘Di siya makapaniwala na nagkaayos na sila agad ng nobyo niya. Nobyo!!!
“Uuuuuuy, parang may something ha! Seriously Sarah, I like you. ‘Di ako nakikialam sa private life ng mga alaga ko pero special kse sa akin ‘yang batang yan eh so I always wish the best for him. Sana wag na kayong magkasakitan na sobra, yun lang. And sana, sumaya na din talaga siya. Alam mo, he’s really good at his job pero I always sensed that he was looking for something. Ikaw ba ‘yun?”
“Naku ate, ayoko naman maging assuming pero....sana ako nga talaga yun kse ...” Naisip ni Sarah na kailangan na niyang mag start mag open up para hindi maulit ang mga pangyayari before. Huminga ng malalim si Sarah bago nagsalita. “...kase alam ko siya na talaga ang someone ko. I love him.”
Biglang may humikbi sa gilid at napalingon ang dalawa...nakita nila na umiiyak si Nurse Mel. “Sorry! Narining ko kasi usapan ninyo eh...pero...Doc S!! You deserve to be happy talaga! Ma’am Nhila, mabait po ‘yan si Doc S...siya ang favourite namin na intern kase napakagalang at napaka-considerate. Kung sino sino na nga nagkakagusto diyan pero parang wala sa kanya. ‘yun pala....si Budoy lang pala ang hinahanap niya...sorry, na-touch lang ako and i’m happy for you doc.”
“Ikaw talaga Mel!! Favorite din naman kita!” Napatawa si Sarah at Nhila sa naging reaction ni Nurse Mel.
Umuwi si Sarah na Masaya. She felt light and carefree. Not all her problems were solved but somehow she knew things were starting to fall in the right place.
