Turn The Page

Chapter 85

After their little moment outside Keeper's hospital room, Sandy brought Page by Keeper's side. Page rubbed her back with her fist. "Page?" Sandy said when she noticed. "What's wrong?" She asked. "Yung likod ko lang po, tita," Page answered with a sigh. "Is it hurting?" Sandy asked again. Page nodded in response. "Bukas po may fitting ako for a brace. I-cacancel ko na lang po muna," she informed her then she looked towards Keeper and swallowed. "Page, I know a lot has been going on, pero you can't cancel that. Lalo na magbabantay ka palagi sa mama mo, you'll be sitting down a lot. You need that back brace pang support sa likod mo. Baka lumala lalo yang compression fracture mo," Sandy advised. Page didn't take her eyes off of Keeper. Then she held his broad shoulders and gently caressed it. "Ayoko po silang iwan. Kung pwede lang po hatiin yung katawan ko para nandito din ako habang nandun din ako kay mama, ginawa ko na," she said. Her chest tightened, so she took a deep breath. "Page, maiintindihan ng anak ko if you can't be here right now. Your mom is hurt. She needs you. I appreciate you stopping by," Sandy told her. Page swallowed. Then she looked over at Sandy. "Tita, mahal ko po si Keeper," she finally said out loud while tears streamed down her face. Sandy couldn't help but smile. "I know. I know you do," she said to Page while she pulled up a chair next to her. Her eyes continued to stare at her as she sat down. Tears continued to fall from Page's eyes while her gaze moved from Sandy to Keeper then back to Sandy again. "Anak, alam ko. Ramdam ko. I think your mom and I knew you both were in love with each other before the two of you even realized it. I loved how you got to know my son ng maayos, and he got to know you. I see the genuine care you two have for each other," Sandy claimed. Page wiped the tears from her eyes. "Kahit na po bangayan kami ng bangayan?" She asked which made the two of them giggle. Sandy swallowed. "Eh okay lang yan. Practice. Ganyan naman ang mag-asawa, diba? Bicker ng bicker. Para na nga talaga kayong mag-asawa eh," she said to her with a smile. "Pasensya na po lagi ko na lang inaaway at binubugbog yung anak nyo," Page apologized which made Sandy laugh a little. "Don't worry, Keeper's strong. His muscles can take yung pangbubugbog mo," Sandy said half-jokingly. "Pero bawas-bawasan mo na rin kung kaya iha ha, kawawa din naman yung anak ko eh," she requested. Page smiled a little. Then she looked at Keeper. Seeing him that vulnerable crushed Page's heart and it made her chest hurt, so she rested her back on the chair. Sandy looked at her. "What's wrong? Back or something else?" She asked. Page smiled a little. "What is it? Page, as your future mother-in-law, it's my job to take care of you while your mother can't. So what is it? Anong nararamdaman mo?" Sandy asked worriedly. Page swallowed. The thought of losing her mother made her chest hurt even more. "Likod po ulit," she sort of lied. "See, kaya you need to get fitted for that brace tomorrow. Don't cancel it. Your mom wouldn't like it if you cancelled it. Do it for your mom and pati na rin si Keeper. Hindi nya rin magugustuhan if you don't go get your brace tomorrow," Sandy reminded her. Page nodded and swallowed at the same time. "Okay lang ba iwan muna kita dito, Page? I'm just going to get myself some coffee. May gusto ka ba?" Sandy asked. Page shook her head. "Gusto mo po ako na lang kumuha ng coffee para sayo, tita? Para hindi nyo na po maiwan si Keeper?" Page offered. "No, it's okay. I'll be quick. Iwan na muna kita dito with him," Sandy replied and Page nodded in response.

After Sandy left, Page stared at Keeper exhaustedly. Her back was definitely aching more than it did a few hours ago and her chest seemed to tighten even more. She leaned towards Keeper and held his hand. She stared at their fingers while she played with them. "Alam mo, Keeps, kung hindi ka lang mahina ngayon, nakatikim ka nanaman sakin eh," Page began to say when tears fell from her eyes again. "Bakit bigla kong naisip na iba maiisip mo dun sa 'nakatikim ka nanaman sakin' na sinabi ko? Dumi talaga ng utak neto oh. 'Wag ka nga," she said. Then she wiped her tears with the other hand while she continued to hold Keeper's hand on the other. "Naiinis ako sayo. Nakuha mo tuloy gusto mo. Naaalala mo pa ba yun? Nung sinabi mo sakin na nasaktan ka ng sobra sobra nung nag-aagaw buhay ako na sana wala ng mangyari sakin ulit, na kung meron man sana sayo na lang kasi sobra sobra na pinagdadaanan ng katawan ko. Tapos hinampas-hampas kita. Tapos sabi mo, 'Bakit? Para equal distribution ng pain. Ako naman sa physical, ikaw naman sa emotional.' May pagka-siraulo ka din talaga eh noh? Pero at least alam mong masasaktan ako pag may nangyaring masama sayo. Nanggigigil ako sayo," Page said feeling frustrated. Then she pouted. "Sige na, panalo ka na. Oo, mahal kita. Mahal na mahal, Keeps. Mahal na mahal na mahal kahit pa bugbog sarado ka palagi sakin. Nanggigigil kasi talaga ako sayo eh. Para kang maskuladong teddy bear. Laki laking damuho, tigas tigas ng katawan pero ang lambot lambot ng puso. Ewan ko ba kung bakit lagi ka na lang bugbog sarado sakin. Ganun siguro yung pagmamahal ko sayo. Pasensya na," she said while she wiped her face again. "Keeps, pasensya ka na ha. Pasensya ka na lagi ka na lang nasasaktan ng dahil sakin. Pero kahit ganun, hindi ka nagsawang mahalin ako. Sabi mo manhid ako? Sabi mo all those years na nanligaw ka sakin, wala man lang akong kaalam-alam na nanliligaw ka pala? Na hindi ko man lang alam at ramdam na mahal moko? Keeper, ramdam ko. Kita ko. Kitang kita at ramdam na ramdam ko kaya alam ko. Hindi ko lang ma-reciprocate, hindi ko lang ma-entertain nung mga time na yun kasi yung totoo, feeling ko hindi pako ready bawasan yung atensyon na meron ako kay mama para mabigay sayo. Hindi pako ready na mabawasan yung oras namin kasi feeling ko parang laging kulang. Parang ang sabik ko palagi sa kanya kahit na nakakasama ko naman sya palagi. Feeling ko kasi pag inentertain na kita, mababawasan kung ano yung nabibigay ko kay mama, yung oras, yung atensyon, yung pagmamahal. Pero Keeper na-realize ko lang before nangyari yung gulo between samin ni mama na hindi naman kelangan mabawasan yung kay mama eh. Magdadagdag lang ako ng para sayo. Wala naman kelangan kuhanin sa kung anong nabibigay ko para sa kanya. Pasensya ka na ha. Ang daming nangyari before ko pa maamin sayo na mahal din kita. Ang dami daming nangyari bago mabigyan ng chance na maging tayo. Sana gumising ka na dyan, bigyan mo pako ng pagkakataon na ipakita naman sayo na mahal talaga kita," she said. Then she took a deep breath. She stood up and held her back as she leaned forward and gave Keeper a kiss on the forehead. "Salamat sa pagaalaga sakin, Keeps. Hindi lang para sakin kundi para din kay mama. Salamat sa pagbabantay. Salamat sa paguwi para samahan kami dito. Mahal kita. Gising na, mahal ko. Magpagaling ka. May girlfriend ka na naghihintay na mapakita at mabigay yung pagmamahal na noon ko pa dapat pinakita at binigay sayo. Salamat sa pagligtas mo saming lahat. Hero ka talaga namin eh. Superman kita eh. Mahal na mahal kita, Keeps. Mahal na mahal. Andito lang ako pag-gising mo," she said before she stood up again and leaned forward to give him a gentle kiss on the lips.