Will you marry Me?

VI

VI

"How's your mother?" I asked habang nakasakay kami sa tricycle papunta sa hospital.

"The caregiver said she's asleep by now. Sabi raw ng Doctor ay okay na sya for now and just need some rest," he answered while staring at the road.

"T-That's good then! You don't need to worry, magiging okay din ang Mama mo. Trust me," I smiled at him.

He gave me a sad smile. "I want to believe that but, she's in a critical condition."

Matahimik naman ako dahil sa sinabi nya. But, still I smiled. "We're here, Auburn."

Lumabas na kami sa tricycle at nagbayad. We stared at the hospital in front of us before walking inside.

"Ate Linda, I'm here," pagtawag ni Auburn sa nasa mid-40 na babae.

"Oh, Auburn. Mabuti naman at nandito ka na," the woman said and smiled at us.

"Yes po. Tulog pa rin po ba si Mama?" Auburn asked Ate Linda.

Ngumiti naman ang matandang babae. "Oo, hinahanap ka nya kanina hanggang sa nakatulog na sya. Sino yang kasama mo?"

"Ah, she's my friend, her name is Alliyah," Auburn introduced me.

Ngumiti naman ako kay Ate Linda. "Hi po, I'm Alliyah."

She smiled back. "Kilala kita, Alliyah. Mabuti naman at naisipan mong dalhin sya rito, Auburn." She looked at Auburn.

Napa-tingin din ako kay Auburn nang umiwas sya ng tingin. She said she knew me? But how?

Auburn cleared his throat. "A-Ate Linda, you can go home na po. Ako na bahala kay Mama." No way, is he blushing?

Kumaway si Ate Linda sa amin. "Kung ganun ay uuwi na ako. Mag-iingat kayo mga bata ha. At ikaw Alliyah, samahan mo si Auburn, wag mo syang iiwan."

Napa-tango ako. "O-Opo, Ate Linda ingat ka po pauwi." I said kahit na ang weird ng sinabi nya. What does she mean? Parang may deep meaning ang mga sinabi nya.

The man beside me walk forward. "D-Don't mind Ate Linda. Let's go."

Weird. Naglakad na kami papunta sa room ng Mama nya. He opened it at bumungad sa amin ang isang babaeng nakahiga sa hospital bed habang natutulog. She's. . .She's hella gorgeous!

"She's so pretty!" sabi ko at tinitigang nang mabuti ang mukha ng Mama nya. No wonder why he's a good looking man.

He just chuckle while preparing dinner for us. I guess I'm going home late. Wala si Mommy, she's in a business trip again. Well, as usual na yun, im used to it.

"Kung gising lang si Mama, I bet she will easily approve you if you say that," he said between his laughter.

Lumapit ako sa maliit na table sa gilid ng kama ni tita Ross, his mother at umupo sa upoan doon.

"Approve what?" I curiously asked.

Biglang tumigil ang kamay nya na para bang may nasabi akong hindi maganda. "I-
It's nothing."

"Then, let's pray," he said.

And I was surprised. Magiging honest ako rito. I'm not that religious at hindi ako nagdarasal bago kumain. But, this guy. . .he's pretty different. He started praying so, we both closed our eyes.

"Amen," we both said in chorus and opened our eyes.

He smiled. "Now, let's eat. Thank you for the food."