Me & You: Between Life And Death (COMPLETE)

Chapter 22

Betryle.

“Love,” he woke me up. I opened my eyes at tinignan ang nakahain na pagkain sa table saka ko ibinalik ang tingin ko sa kanya.

“Let’s eat,” he placed his hand on my cheek. I know that he’s worrying about me. I can see that in his eyes.

Umupo ako at hinawakan ang mga kamay niya na nasa mukha ko ngayon. Ibinaba ko yun at pinagmasdan. I held it tighter.

Sa sobrang bigat ng nararamdaman ko ay kusa nalang sa pagtulo ang mga luha ko na walang mintis sa pag-agos. Ang pag-iyak ko ay walang pag-hikbi. Namamanhid na ako sa sakit.

“Come here,” he held my head gently, rest it on his chest as he is resting on my head. Ramdam ko ang higpit ng mga yakap niya – na ayoko ng kumawala pa. I want to stay in this place... in his arms where I am safe.

I just let that tears fall like a streaming water, sakaling mapawi ang sakit. Sakit ng mga alaalang bumalik. I felt like I’m dying in pain and agony again.

I remembered what happened to my family. I realized that it was the worst nightmare of my life.

Since when I was young, Dad was working away from us. Mom was the only one we can rely on. She was the one who prepares our food, our things, everything that I and my brother needs.

I used to ask Mom back then why Dad had to leave us but every time I mentioned him, she was crying and I failed to know the reasons every time.

My brother told me that Dad needs to be far away because it was the only way he can give us what we need... money.

I really don’t understand. I know what I need, it's him. I need a father. Someone who will protect me at all cost. Someone who will guide me.

Kuya and Mom knows that I was longing for a father figure. That’s why my brother did all that he can to act like a father to me. I love it when he calls me his ‘baby’ because that made me secure and loved.

One day when I turned seven years old. There was a handsome man standing in front of me carrying a gift. He extended his hands as he handed it to me.

I looked to the gift that he gave me, smiling. Then I looked back at him.

“Hello, sweetie, Daddy’s home!” he cheerfully said while getting teary. I can hear sadness in his voice. He touched my face gently. I feel his longing.

I gulped in disbelief. My eyes widened. My daddy’s home? But he seems unfamiliar. His face changed a lot from the picture... maybe because of his beard.

I placed my hand to his face while crying. He hugged me tighter as he also burst in crying.

“I love you, baby, Daddy’s here,” he whispered to my ear. “I will never leave you again...”

Since that day, Dad never leaves home. But our homes turns into misery since my parents always yelling and fighting each other.

My kuya never leave my side. Not a single time. He said that Mom and Dad loves each other but they have so many misunderstandings.

Kuya taught me how to pray for our family. Everyday, he told me that prayer is powerful. He also said that Dad and Mom will be reconciled in God’s perfect time. Just never stop praying.

My Mom was always crying and that made me feel that I should never stop praying. I need to pray harder. Ask God to bring back my family into order.

Walang araw na hindi ako nalulungkot sa nangyayari sa pamilya ko hanggang sa mag-highschool ako ay ganoon pa rin... puro away at gulo.

I knew that time the real reason of their endless fight and lost arguments – it was all Dad’s fault. He always hurt Mom’s feelings. He was selfish, arrogant and proud but not until I got sick...

My sickness brought them back together. My family became whole again and peaceful. When I was about standing between life and death, someone got reconciled that’s why I accepted it wholeheartedly. If my life is what God needs to take away to get my family back into order, I will willingly to do so.

Matapos kong kumain ay bumalik ako ulit sa kama. I and Adriel stayed in a hotel, in one room. I want him to be with me. Right now, it’s him that I need the most.

I turned off my phone para hindi nila ako matawagan, ganoon din si Adriel. Nag-withdraw na rin ako ng pera agad nung nasa Manila palang kami para hindi malaman nila Mom kung nasaan ako.

Hindi ko alam kung hanggang kalian ako lalayo sa kanila. Kailangan ko lang ng oras at panahon. Kailangan kong mag-isip.

Hindi pa bumabalik ang lahat ng alaala ko, it was just a certain part of my memories kaya hindi ko pwedeng harapin sila na ganito ang nararamdaman ko.

“Good night, love,” Adriel said and gave me a kiss on my forehead.

Parehas kaming naka-pajamas at naka-ribbed sweater. He walk towards the couch para matulog na but I called him, “Babe...”

He looked back and stared at me. “Sleep here,” sambit ko. He furrowed his brows in disbelief.

I moved to the side of the bed para makahiga siya sa tabi ko. I smiled, “Don’t worry, I’d trust you.”

Humiga na siya at parehas kaming nakatalikod sa isa’t-isa pero dahil hindi ako maka-tulog ay humarap ako sa kanya at kasabay nun ay ang pag-harap niya rin. Our eyes met... I bit my lower lip when I realized how close our face is. He’s gazing in my eyes down to my lips.

“You can’t sleep?” he asked nang ibalik nito ang tingin sa mata ko. I just nodded.

Our eyes remained pierced on each other. Hindi ko alam kung ako lang ba ang naiilang sa sitwasyon namin ngayon dahil parehas kaming hindi sanay. This is our first night na magkasama sa isang kwarto at magkatabi sa isang kama.

“Come here...” He stretched his left hand near to my head. He gently lifted it and guided it to the left part of his chest.

I hugged him tighter when I reached my safest place... on his chest, wrapped by his arms. I placed my hand to the right side of his body. I closed my eyes and feel his heartbeat beating fast.

I know that Adriel sacrificed his graduation for me. I’m sorry because he missed that chance. He is the USG President and it’s an honor to march having that title with you.

Tomorrow, I and Adriel will celebrate our seven months as a couple. For the past months, I know in my heart that the search is over. Adriel’s the one I want to be with for the rest of my life.

I know that the old Betryle will also make the same decision as mine and that is to choose him over and over again. He is not perfect, he’ll never be but I know in my heart that I’m at my best when I love him at his worst...

“I love you, Adriel,” I whispered. He scrubbed his hands at my back and said, “I love you more..."

“Goodnight, love,” sambit ko habang yakap-yakap pa rin siya.

“Goodnight, love,” he said and kissed me on my forehead then natulog na kami.