Stay With Me

Part 44

Gael Pov:

Before, when I was a kid until growing up, pangarap ko talaga maging sundalo. Which is ayaw nga ng parents ko. They always say, delikado ang buhay ng isang sundalo at palaging sa malayo nadedestino. Totoo. Pero kung sadyang matindi talaga ang kagustuhan mong makamit ang iyong pangarap wala ka talagang kinatatakutan. So I became a soldier even when my parents disagree with it. It was  one of the happiest days of my life, achieving my real dream. And  I did promise to myself that I will grow old serving the militar.

When I became Captain Gael Lopez, akala ko, it was the moment of my life na masasabi kong wala na akong mahihiling pa. I'm contented with my life. I have family, my friends, my team. I'm happy.

Well, lagi nila sinasabi, hindi daw kumpleto ang buhay kung walang lovelife. Ang palagi ko namang sagot, kung hindi tawa lang eh sagabal lang yan sa buhay. At siyempre medyo na trauma ako sa aking college lovelife. At ayokong magdagdag ng iisipin when I'm on duty. Or nasa panganib na misyon.

Kaya lang hindi nakipag koopera si tadhana sa akin. Binigyan ako ng isang regalong hindi ko pwedeng tanggihan. It's Lou. She have a beautiful face na akala ko ganda lang ang meron nito when I first met her sa bar. But it all changed when our path crossed again. She have a beautiful face with a beautiful soul, complete package ika nga. Na akala ko wala itong time na pagtuunan ako ng pansin. Kasi kung hitsura ang pag uusapan talagang angat ang iba kung kasama. But then  I was wrong again, because she choose to like me. Ayokong pagbigyan ang aking sarili na magustuhan ito pabalik, kasi hindi nito deserve ang isang tulad ko. Pero tinamaan pa din ako.
Sa maikling panahon naging kami. And I thought the relationship we had will not last because of the long distance between us. Maraming tumatakbo sa aking isipan, maraming what ifs. Kasi siyempre, Lou is really beautiful at sobrang bait, so maraming pwedeng umaaligid at nasa malayo ako. But I always underestimated her. The love she had for me, even distance can break. Mas ramdam ko pa na mas minahal pa nito ako. She always wants my happiness, always understand me and my kind of work. So ang pangakong tatanda akong maglilingkod sa militar ay madali kung binali.

Pero ganon siguro talaga, kung ano yong pinakagusto mo, kailangan mong paghirapan bago mo makuha. Ang desisyon kung pagretiro ng maaga ay hindi agad naaproba. At siguro hindi talaga aaprobahan kung hindi ako nalagay sa bingit ng kamatayan. The near death I experienced may masama at magandang naidulot. It's bad because pinag alala ko ang aking pamilya lalo na si Lou. I can't imagine how badly she suffer everyday for eigth months  habang nasa coma ako at walang kasiguraduhan kung magigising pa ba. But I can't deny the fact that it's good because General Galvez approved my resignation letter.

Now I realized, kahit gaano mo kaplanado ang iyong buhay in the future, you'll never know what really happened. Tulad ko, na walang ibang gusto pangarap kundi ang maging sundalo at tatanda sa pagiging sundalo, walang plano magmahal at bumuo ng pamilya but look at me now, biglang nag iba na ang aking pananaw sa buhay.

Loving a person, really changes everything. Kaya pag nahanap mo na don't ever let it go. Ako, I will never get tired of loving Lou, it's a promise na kahit magbago man lahat, hindi ko babaliin. Deserve na deserve ng isang tulad ni Lou ang mahalin ng totoo at tapat. Staying with me, despite of everything was a biggest sacrifice. She even quit her job that she love the most just to be with me. It's very overwhelming and heart warming.

So after two months of recovering at totally I'm out of the bed. I planned a marriage proposal again, this time, I want it to be perfect. Kinuntsaba ko ang Kuya nito, na kasundo ko agad. Actually lahat kinuntsaba ko, our both parents, the medical team, and of course Lucas and Elisse which is their business is organizing an event. Ang aking team kasi, hindi pwede, at nakaduty.

The venue.....
It's in the house I bought one year ago.   For us after getting married. I know Lou will love the house because it's the house she dreamt to live. Nasa city man, but many trees and different kind of flowers at malawak na area sa labas covered with bermuda grass. Pina landscape ko talaga. Tumubo na nga ng makapal, eight months akong nasa coma at di naasikaso kasi wala naman nakakaalam I bought a house. Talagang nag hire ako ng cleaner at gardener para ayusin at linisin lahat ang bahay at bakuran.

"Thank you for doing this to my sister." Ani Lance. Nakalapit na pala ito sa akin ng di ko namalayan. Lumabas kasi ako sandali para i check  ang mga taong na hire ko para maglagay ng mga maliliit na colorful lights sa mga puno at pathway. It's Elise and Lucas who manage all the designs para sa gagawin naming surprise birthday party para kay Lou at marriage proposal ko na din. Our both parents naman for the foods and drinks. While the medical team for the cake and desserts. Two days to go, before the big day kaya binilisan na namin ang pagkilos.

He offer me a cup of coffee na agad ko naman tinanggap.

"You're sister deserve to be appreciated for all she did to me." I said and sip the coffee a little.

"But she's a little upset these past few days, wala ka na daw time sa kanila ni Axel, if only she knew." Napailing- tawa na hayag nito and drink he's coffee also.

Yeah, Lance is right. Dahil nga sa mga preparations at pagpapaayos ko ng bahay. Bumili ng mga kulang pang gamit, medyo di na ako nakadalaw sa aking mag ina. Kaya pala pag tumatawag ako, medyo nagtatampo talaga ang boses.

"Babawi na lang ako later. Sasama ako sayo pag uwi." I said.

Tumango naman ito.

Then something came into my mind. "Can I ask you a question, if it's okay?"   Tanong ko dito.

Nilingon nito ako bahagya.

" Shoot!"

" Lately, napapansin ko lang habang lagi tayo nagkasama, pansin kung you never have a phone chat or text man lang? Wala ka bang girlfriend?" That is in my mind ilang araw na, so better ask. Ito kasi lagi kong kasama sa pamimili ng mga gamit sa bahay kasi she know what Lou wants.

He laugh. "Paano ba ako magkaka girlfriend, lahat ng nagugustuhan ko, pinipintasan ni Lou! Why? Because, she wants Doctora Sheena for me. You know her right?" Palatak nitong sagot, still natatawa pa din.

I can't help but smile also. Hindi ko alam Lou had that kind of behavior. But I find it cute.

"You don't like that Doctor?"

"No offense, Gael, but I hate, doctor's and nurses to be my girlfriend and Lou knows that." He answer. " Well, ayaw din naman ni Lou na magka boyfriend ng doctor at nurses." Dinugtong nito.

"Buti na lang pala nag sundalo ako." I said jokingly but felt relieved, buti na lang talaga, sineryoso diba?😂

Nag usap pa kami sandali, bago bumalik sa loob ng bahay para tumulong. It's really good, na sa maikling panahon, naging magkasundo agad kami ni Lance.