LIKE I NEVER LEFT °[KathNiel] ✓COMPLETE

37. Vulnerable

Amara

Four and I manage to wake up early in the morning the next day even though we slept late last night after we drove around town for an hour after grabbing a pizza. We take out something for breakfast before we go to the hospital. Si tito Wyatt, Seven, Six, Five, Maddy at Tres ang nadatnan namin sa kwarto ni tita. Sleeping beside tita Demi is our precious girl. Lumapit kaagad rito si Four, hinawakan ang kamay nito.

"Mara?" Pabulong na sambit ni Five nang magising siya't mabungaran ako. Siya kasi ang nakatulog malapit sa table at kasulukuyang nilalagay ko ang mga pagkain sa mesa.

"Good morning. We brought breakfast."

Mayamaya pa ay nagising narin sina tito at ang mga kapatid ni Four. Si tita Demi nalang at Darryl ang natutulog pa ng mahimbing. Four still sits on the edge of the bed while holding our daughter's hand. Napalingon ako kay Maddy nang hawakan niya ang kamay ko. She smiles warmly at me.

"I'm happy to see you working it out with him, Amara." Mahina niyang wika. Nginitian ko siya. I don't know if she sees the sadness of my smile. I am happy but with Four's condition, I can't help but be sad too. My heart is breaking continuously. I just conceal it because I want to be strong for him.

"Thanks Maddy."

"I was so sure though. I never doubted how much he loves you... Because it shows. When he looks at you, his eyes twinkles in adoration." That makes me glance at Four's direction. Just in time, he looks at me too and our eyes directly meet.

"Come here, babe." Tawag niya. He looks so vulnerable at that moment. My heart breaks again. Honestly, I want to cry but I just stop myself. This is why he decides not to tell me because he knows I'm weak and I'll be crying over it.

Nginitian ko si Maddy para magpaalam sa kanya. Nilapitan ko si Four. He puts his arm around my shoulder and later on kisses the top of my head.

"Daddy?" Darryl quickly gets up as soon as she sees her father. "Daddy!" She squirms and then hugs him like a monkey. "Daddy, I miss you so much!"She exclaims cheerfully.

"I miss you too, munchkin." Darryl kisses him on the cheeks repeatedly. "Daddy loves you so much, baby."

"I love you so so much daddy. You and mom mean the world to me." She utters so innocently. My heart is smiling at how touching that is. Yumakap siya sa'min ni Four.

"Four? Anak?" We hear tita's groggy voice calling his name. Kaya bumitaw si Darryl at nagpakarga sa'kin para hayaan ang daddy niya na mayakap si tita Demi.

"I'm sorry mom." Four whispers just enough for me to hear. "Don't do this again, okay?"

"You made me so worried." She reasons.

"Mom. I am not a kid anymore. I can take care of myself." Four kisses his mom's forehead. "I'm sorry mom. I love you."

Bumangon si tita at yumakap sa mga anak niya. Iyon ang tagpong nadatnan ni kuya Uno at kuya Dos kasama ang pamilya niya. I witness how their face brighten upon seeing their brother. After a few more We all share together the food we brought for breakfast. Four's parents look really happy. I mean, everyone does. Everyone is happy and it's so sad that in a few minutes, we'll have to change that. They deserve to know the truth.

"Um... May..." Four stutters. I know he's scared and he's doubting. He doesn't want to hurt them. Hoping he can muster the strength and courage from me, I hold his hand. "May sasabihin sana ako."

Nakuha kaagad ni kuya Uno ang kahulugan ng tingin na ipinukol ni Four sa mga bata sa silid.

"Love, dalhin mo muna sa labas ang mga bata." Pabulong na sabi niya sa asawa niya.