Loving Him Even In Sadness

Loving: Nineteen

Relationship

“Really?”

“Yeah, so…”

He smile widely after I said it. When I looked at him, he had that expression na parang gusto niya tumawa or ngumisi pero pinipigilan niya.

“Zack, nakakagutom din magmahal, kaya…shall we eat?” Tumawa ako sa tanong ko.

Agad niya naman akong iginiya sa upuan. He gently pulled the chair just so I could sit on it.

I looked at him and uttered my thanks pagkatapos niyang gawin iyon.
We ate and chat. I know a lot about him in just minutes of talking. Feeling ko, ang swerte ko na marami akong nalaman tungkol sa kanya. Siya rin sa akin.

***

“I hope you had a good day with me, Zen.” He muttered when we arrived at home.

I smiled to him looking so lucky and happy.

“As long as I’m with you,” giggling while saying it.

He smirked at me. May nasabi ba ako? Was that big of a deal?
Tinitigan ko siya nang maayos. What’s with the smirk?

“Love, what’s with the stare?” My eyes grew bigger on his statement. Hindi naman ako tumititig pero…love?

“Love, I’m sorry,” patuloy niya habang nakabusangot. He even pouted his lips.

“You are so cute while pouting,” sabi ko tumatawa.

“Thanks, love.” Agad na naman akong napatingin sa kanyang sinabi.

My brows furrowed while looking at him. Feeling so confused!

“Honestly, gusto kong tawagin kang ‘mahal’ since it’s in our language here in the Philippines,” paliwanag niya.
Kung gano’n bakit love siya nang love?

“Says the man who lived in U.S. half of his existence,” inirapan ko siya.

“You…” he pointed at me. “I know you would say that.” Tinawanan ko lang siya.

***

I immediately went upstairs to change what I was wearing.
Natapos akong magbihis at tamang-tama kararating lang nina Mommy galing hospital. I hurriedly went to them sabay kuha sa mga gamit nila. I helped them at kinumusta naman si Ate.

“Ate, how are you?” Tanong ko sabay yakap sa kanya.

“I’m doing good, Zen.” Sagot niya sabay ngiti sa akin.

Pagkasabi no’n ni Ate agad nagtagpo ang aking kilay. Tila pinagdududahan ko sila.

“It’s nothing serious, Zen.” Kalmadong usal niya sa akin.

Nagdadalawang-isip man ako na paniwalaan iyon pero inalis ko na lang iyon sa isip ko. Ang importante okay na si Ate ngayon.
Pero, paano nila nasasabi na it’s nothing serious kung brain cancer ang findings ni Ate?

“You may rest, alam kong pagod kayo,” sabi ko.

Everything seems fine. Until dinner came. Alam ko na mangyayari ito e. Mom would ask questions about I and Zack.

“Zack hijo, how are you with Zen here at home? Hindi ba kayo palaging nag-aaway?” Tanong ni Mama. Napaubo ako.

“Ano namang pag-aawayan namin Ma?” I asked her. “We’re fine here.”

“You’re not Zack to answer that,” she stated. Parang nahiya ako.

“Okay lang kami rito Ma’am. And I assume Zen has something to tell you.” Zack uttered.