“…bakit ang likot mo?”
“Can I go for a haircut and shave later?”
“Shave din? Ayaw mo sa shave ko?”
“Hmm..sige shave mo ako pero punta tayo sa barber…please…”
“Hala sya! Naglalambing ang big baby…huy! Yung kamay mo!”
“…big baby mo…”
“Huy!”
“…sagutin mo na kasi ako…” Rj flutters his eyelids and pouts his lips.
"Can you please stop?”
"..Sige na…”
"Okay...hmm..mga 5ml pwede na..."
"Oy! Wag! Wag! You know how I hate needles…”
"ang likot kasi...paano tayo matatapos kung galaw ka ng galaw?”
"...ineenjoy ko pa yung paghawak mo kay junjun e… masarap kaya yung feeling ng minamasahe mo ako ng cream..."
"…diaper rash cream...you're such a baby!"
"waaaaah! Mama! Mama!"
"ano ka ba?!" Dei swatted Rj’s leg slightly.
"I’m your baby, diba?"
"no...damulag!"
"sige na..."
"the quicker we get this done, the faster we can go to Lolo's for lunch and you can ask his permission.."
"OK...fine..."
"There, all done...can you please try to sit up so I can help you into your chair and we can go?” Dei taped up the diaper and was about to get the pillows to fluff them and fix the bed. Rj moved to sit up on the bed, using his hands as support. “...Maryosep! Rj!"
"Sorry naman...excuse me?"
"…haaay salamat at utot lang..." Dei peeks into the back of the diaper as she adjusts his pants’ waistband.
"Hmm..I think I have more control of my poop now.."
"Buti nalang...O, ready? One, two, three!" She holds on to his waist belt and lifts him to his wheelchair.
"I love you..."
"I know" Dei smirked. "...permission first.."
"I love you pa rin...forever..."
Dei hugged him. "Soon" she whispered.
They went to the barbershop then to mass together. “I want to look good in front of your Lolo.”
“Why? You look fine…”
“You never mentioned that he’s THE General Mendoza! Just thinking about it, umuurong na yung bayag ko…”
“Patingin?” Dei teased as she pushed Rj’s wheelchair.
“Sigurado ka?”
“Sira!”
“…di mo ba napansin nung dina-diaper mo ako kanina?”
“Hmm..”Dei stopped pushing the wheelchair and brought her hand toward Rj’s crotch.
“Dei!”
“You started it…” She chuckled.
“Magsisimba pa tayo diba? Mag confession ka!”
“Ikaw rin…” They laughed at their naughty conversation.
After the visit to the barber, they went to mass together.
“Lord, ma-d-discharge na si Rj soon. I don’t know if he knows but he doesn’t have a place to stay yet. If only I could be with him and care for him…”
“Papa God, please allow me to be Dei’s boyfriend and life partner. I want to shower her with the love and care she deserves. She’s already done so much and more for me…”
While waiting for someone to open the door at Lolo Teddy’s house, Rj bent down and pretended to adjust his pants’ legs. He folded the wheelchair footpads so that he could step on the floor.
“Good morning Lolo!” Dei greeted Lolo Teddy who was on the living room.
“Good morning…come in, sit…Kamusta kayo?
“We’re fine, thank you. This is Richard Faulkerson. Rj. Rj, this is my Lolo, General Teodoro Mendoza.” Dei said. She pushed Rj’s wheelchair to the living room and introduced Rj.
“Good morning, Sir.” Rj extended his hand for a handshake. Lolo Teddy played along and pretended not to know who Rj was.
“Good morning. Welcome.” Lolo Teddy smiled.
Rj nodded. He suddenly gripped on to his wheelchair’s handle and pushed himself to stand. He steadied himself and saluted the General who acknowledged him and sat back down.
“Babe?” Dei said in surprise. She knew that Rj was doing therapy to strengthen his legs but did not know that he could already stand on his own. (In fact, he could take a few wobbly steps on his own. A skill he reacquired just days before.)
“Babe? You mean, sinasagot mo na ako?”
“Uhmm…ask permission?”
“General Mendoza, Sir, I’d like to ask for your permission to be Dei’s boyfriend. Kung papayag kayo, gusto ko pong ligawan si Dei” Rj straightened up while seated and looked at the General in the eye.
“Hmm…Hijo, I cannot decide for Dei but just promise me na hindi mo sasaktan o paiiyakin ang Apo ko.”
“Yes, Sir!”
“Then, walang problema sa akin…na kay Dei ang desisyon…”
“O Love, payag na si General…”
“Ligaw muna…”
“Hmm..di pa ba panliligaw yung pagpapa-cute ko sa yo araw-araw?”
“Hmm..pag-iisipan ko…”
“Pag-iisipan mo pero tinawag mo na akong Babe kanina…”
“Ah..uhm..para lang yan pagtawag ko ng ‘Bes’ kay Nina…”
“Sure…”
“Uhmm..Dei..” Lolo Teddy interrupted.
“Po?”
“Can you go into the kitchen and check on the food? Mag-uusap lang kami nitong si Rj mo…”
“Ah..opo…Be good…”
“Yes…I will…”
“O, kamusta na yung apartment mo?”
“Inayos na namin ni Joey, yung batang nurse…boyfriend nung kaibigan ni Dei…”
“Ah good…do you need anything else?”
“No Sir, I’m good. Thank you talaga for all your help.”
“You’re a good kid and I can see how much you care for Dei…take care of her…”
“Opo. Thank you for playing along…hirap na nga ako magtago ng mga kaya ko na gawin.”
“Ows?”
“Opo. The other day, I almost stood up to get something from the table. Buti nalang nasa loob ng room si Dei…”
“Hahaha! Ginagawa ko din yan noon..Kunwari di ko alam o di ko kaya…”
“Talaga po?”
“Oo…mga 2-3 times siguro ako nagpanggap na di ko kaya magbukas ng jar ng peanut butter o mayonnaise…eh malakas yung Lola ni Dei so sya yung mag v volunteer….ang reward ko sa kanya, madaming kiss…” Lolo Teddy’s eyes twinkled.
“Sir, thank you po for everything. Not only for allowing me into Dei’s life, helping me in finding my place, but also being the Grandfather I never had…di ko na po maalala yung Lolo ko e…is it okay if you can be my Lolo, too?”
“Oo naman…you can definitely be my apo…call me Lolo...Lolo Teddy…”
“Lolo Teddy…”
BINABASA MO ANG
Dogtag (completed)
General Fictionthis started from a prompt for a twitterserye soldier + military nurse find love in an unlikely circumstance disclaimer: ranks mentioned in the story are for labeling purposes only. they are not meant to discredit official titles or ranks of officer...
