Coming Home

3

I pulled away before I held his hands and pulled him inside my home. I can't just let him go that easily. Not now.

"Gutom ka ba? Want something to eat magluluto ako"

"I already ate before coming here Ellie..."

"So... aalis ka na?"

"You want me to stay?"

"Please?"

"Sure. I came back for you Ellie. If you want me to stay, I'm staying"

"Topher?"

"Hmm?"

"Why... did you disappear a year ago?"

"My parents got me away Ellie. Dinala nila ako sa abroad without my knowledge because before all that I had a severe attack at nawalan ako ng malay"

"Really?"

"If I were to be asked on that day, kahit ikamatay ko noon Ellie hindi ako aalis sa tabi mo. I wouldn't want to leave you like that. I'm really sorry. It was out of my control"

"Why did it take you a year to show up and tell me?"

"I became a critical patient for the past year Ellie. Wala akong lakas para bumalik, but then I thought to myself the promise I made to you... that I wouldn't die, na mabubuhay ako para sayo"

Naiiyak na naman ako. Sa lahat ng sinabi niya nasagot lahat ng tanong sa utak ko. Hindi niya ko iniwan. He didn't leave me.

"Hey..." he approached me when he saw that I was tearing up again

"I'm sorry... wala ako sa tabi mo..."

"Hey... no... it's out of our control Ellie..."

"But still..."

"I'm here now Ellie. Wag na nating isipin yung mga what ifs natin... it happened without our control... kaya nga bumalik ako agad agad para sayo. Don't cry baby."

"Hindi mo ko iiwan di ba? Hindi ka na aalis di ba?"

"Hindi na Ellie. I promise"

I just hugged him once again. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na andito siya.

"Can you sleep here instead? Please?"

"Why?"

"I... just want to be beside you"

He smiled at me and nodded "of course baby"

"You have school tomorrow?" Tanong niya saken sabay tingin sa mukha kong nakasandal lang sa dibdib niya

"Yeah..."

"Want me to accompany you?"

"Is it okay? Hindi ka ba talaga mapapagod?"

"I need to be cautious but the doctor assured me I'm better now Ellie"

"Wag na lang kaya dito ka na lang kaya baka mapagod ka ehh"

"Okay na ko Ellie"

"Kahit pa! 🥺"

"Fine fine. I'll just wait for you here then?"

"Yes. Wait. Alam ba nina Wendy? Na buhay ka?"

"No they don't. Walang nakakaalam sa mga tao dito sa Pinas sa nangyare saken. Everyone knows I'm dead"

"Are you going to tell them?"

"Of course. Ikaw lang talaga ang inuna kong puntahan."

"When do you plan telling them then?"

"I'm not yet sure Ellie. Humahanap pa ko ng tyempo"

"Tell me when gusto ko kasama ako"

"Sure baby. You need to rest now. May pasok ka pa bukas"

"You won't leave right?"

"Yes. Tatabihan kita sa pagtulog don't worry"

"Thank you Topher"

"Anything for you Ellie"

"I love you"

"I love you too. So much Ellie. So much"