MAHIGPITna magkahugpong ang mga kamay nina Althea at Gabriel. Papunta sila sa clinic ni Dr. Estanislao.
Gabriel kissed his wife's hand and held it tight. Ayaw niyang bitawan iyon kahit saglit. He had been such a jerk but that was before. He would do everything within his power to save her.
Last night surpassed everything. Wala pa siyang taong pinangakuan ng ganoon. Dito pa lang siya nangako. He was willing to give up everything for her and their child.
Ilang saglit pa ay huminto na sila sa tapat ng ospital kung saan naroon ang clinic ni Dr. Estanislao.
Ilang saglit pa ay nasa loob na sila ng clinic.
He inhaled deeply. This is it.
He gave his wife a reassuring look.
"Please have a seat, Mr. and Mrs. Vasquez," ani Dr. Estanislao.
Umupo sila sa visitor's chair pagkatapos makipagkamay sa doktor. They were still holding each other's hands tightly.
"So, what is your decision?" tanong ng doktor.
"We're keeping the baby," mabilis na sagot niya.
"As I have said before, the pregnancy would be too risky. Althea, you might die of complications. Your heart might not take it." Huminga nang malalim ang doktor. "Are you sure you want this?"
Inunahan siya ni Althea sa pagsagot. "Yes. We're willing to take even the slightest chance. Please, Dr. Estanislao, help us."
Marahang tumango ang doktor. "To tell you honestly, the chances of survival are very low. Only a miracle can change things as it is."
"Please, Dr. Estanislao. I will give everything. I am willing to pay twice—no, thrice as much. Take all my money if you want, dammit, just save my wife and my child!" Pinukpok niya ang desk ng doktora.
"Gab..." Hinawakan ni Althea ang kamay niya upang payapain siya.
Nang tingnan niya ito ay mabilis na humupa ang galit niya.
"I'll help you. I will try my best," wika ni Dr. Estanislao. "I'll check up on you again. Maaaring maliit lamang ang chances, ngunit siguradong panghahawakan pa rin ninyo iyon gaano man kaliit iyon. Might as well hold on to whatever hope you've got."
"YOUR problem is not congenital heart disease but congestive heart failure," ani Dr. Estanislao.
"What does that mean?" tanong ni Althea habang mahigpit na nakahawak sa braso ni Gabriel.
"Kung congenital ang case mo, we need further tests done on you. We need to determine at what stage your sickness is in. Malamang na wala na talagang pag-asa. But I can see some hope if you've got congestive heart failure."
Agad ang pagbaha ng tuwa sa dibdib niya. Maging si Gabriel ay nagliwanag sa labis na katuwaan. "Is there any medication I could take to cure this?" tanong nito.
"Any medication you take during pregnancy can affect your baby."
Her heart sank. "So, can't we do anything about it?"
Mabining ngumiti ang doktora. "However, I can suggest some medication with low dosage. I can't promise you that this would heal you completely, but at least this can help."
"What do you mean?" tanong ni Gabriel.
"It's a good thing that you haven't had any attacks yet. We've got to be careful about this. Or, should I say, you've got to take good care of your wife, Mr. Vasquez. I will give you pointers on how to avoid attacks." She paused for a while. "Our chances of success are improving. Marami kang dapat iwasang mga bagay, Althea. Kung hindi ka pa rin magkakaroon ng mild attack hanggang sa bago ka manganak, maaaring makaligtas kayo ng anak mo. But then again, I'm not giving you a hundred percent assurance."
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"We will take whatever chances we've got." Punong-puno ng pag-asa ang tinig at mukha ni Gabriel. He kissed her hand and smiled at her.
She smiled back at him.
Marami pang sinabi ang doctor, mga payo tungkol sa kalagayan niya. Gabriel was so serious about it, he even took down notes. There might still be a chance for them. Her heart was filled with hope at the thought.
ANOTHER two months passed, and Althea was now seven months pregnant with her baby. So far, everything was going according to plan. Napagpasyahan nila ni Gabriel na huwag munang ipaalam kahit kanino ang kalagayan niya. Maging sa mga magulang nila ay itinago rin nila ang totoo.
Malaki ang naitulong ng mga payo ni Dr. Estanislao. Tuloy-tuloy ang pag-inom niya ng mga medication at vitamins. Regular din ang pagbisita nila sa doktor. Hindi na siya nagpa-ultrasound upang alamin ang gender ng kanyang anak. They wanted it to be a surprise.
Gabriel went home early everyday. He took good care of her. He was everything she could ask for. Madalas ay nasa bahay ito at inaalagaan siya. He treated her like a princess and he was her prince.
There were times when she couldn't avoid thinking about death. Despite everything they did, the fact, still remained that she could die in two months time. The hands of time were moving faster. Ayaw niyang lubusang umasa. Ngunit kabaliktaran ang nangyayari kapag nakatitig siya sa mga mata ni Gabriel.
She could actually hope for a better future with him around. His eyes gave her the promise of a better tomorrow and a bright future with him. She wanted to spend everyday with him beside her.
One day, they went to the beach. It was a private beach resort in San Marcelino which was owned by Gabriel's parents. He brought her there one afternoon. Alas-singko na ng hapon kaya hindi na mainit ang sikat ng araw. She lay on the blanket on the sand while her husband flew a kite. She didn't know that flying a kite on the beach was even possible until now.
Lumingon si Gabriel sa kanya at kinawayan siya. She could see him smiling from a distance. She waved back at him.
"Come here, baby! I'll teach you how to fly a kite!" he shouted so she could hear him.
Umiling siya. "Ikaw na lang. Manonood na lang ako!" she shouted back at him.
"I love you, baby!"
She giggled involuntarily. "I love you, too!" She could never be happier.
Ilang saglit pa ay nakita na niya itong tumatakbo palapit sa kanya. Nang makalapit ito ay kinintalan siya nito ng halik sa mga labi.
"I'm hungry, babe. Let's eat," yaya nito sa kanya.
"Okay, ihahanda—"
"No, babe. I'll be the one to prepare our meal," putol nito sa kanya, sabay kindat.
He earnestly prepared their food. Inilabas nito ang lahat ng laman ng picnic basket at mabilisang inihain.
Napapalakpak siya sa dami ng mga pagkain. Everything looked yummy. Most of it was fruits and vegetables.
"Babe, tataba ako nito," kunwari ay reklamo niya.
He laughed merrily. "Don't worry, babe. I'd still love you kahit maging kasinlapad ka pa ng refrigerator."
"Huu...bola."
Ang lakas ng tawa nito. "I'm telling you the truth, baby." Dumukwang ito at hinilot ang noo niya upang alisin ang gatla roon.
Napangiti siya. Nang akmang magsasalita ito ay dumampot siya ng kiat-kiat. Wala nang balat iyon kaya isinalpak niya iyon nang buo sa bibig nito. Now it was her turn to laugh. She immediately gathered some grapes and put them all inside his mouth so he could not speak.
In turn, he picked up the bowl of fruit salad and got a spoonful of it and did the same thing to her. Wala siyang nagawa kundi nguyain ang isinubo nito. Hindi pa man niya halos nalulunok iyon ay muli na naman siyang sinubuan nito. Siguro ay sambakol ang mukha niya dahil pagkalakas-lakas ng tawa nito.
Muli siyang dumampot ng ubas at isinubo iyon dito. He did the same thing to her while laughing. Gusto niyang mainis at gumanti uli ngunit natawa na lang siya. He reached for her and kissed her. Hindi na niya nagawang tumugon dahil bigla siyang na-outbalance. They fell to the ground sideways. Nanatili lamang silang nakahiga at nakatagilid, looking into each other's eyes.
He traced the contours of her face. "I wish we could stay like this forever."
She held his face. Her throat constricted with sudden emotion. "Hindi naman puwedeng nandito lang tayo habang-buhay. Paano kung umulan?" She tried to crack a joke.
He smiled. "We'll be together forever, Althea Vasquez. That I promise you." He kissed her hands.
Right then and there, she felt like bursting into tears. She wanted to believe that they could be together forever.
"Mahal kita, Gabriel Vasquez. Whatever happens, I will always love you."
Bumangon ito at tumayo. Inilahad nito ang kamay sa harap niya. She reached for it and as soon as she was on her feet, he hugged her.
"Walang mangyayari sa 'yo, Althea. Walang mangyayari sa inyo ng anak natin."
She wished that time would stand still. His arms promised her safe haven. The warmth he gave brought her the highest comfort she could ever wish for.
ALTHEA was busy preparing dinner. Isang oras na lang at darating na ang mga magulang nila ni Gabriel. She invited them over for dinner. Hindi alam ni Gabriel ang ginawa niya. She wanted to surprise him. Tiyak na mauunang dumating ang mama at papa niya dahil sa karatig-bayan lamang nakatira ang mga ito hindi gaya ng mga magulang ni Gabriel. Isa pa ay nami-miss na rin naman niya ang mga magulang niya. Halos ilang buwan na rin niyang hindi nakikita ang mga ito. She was almost nine months' pregnant with her baby.
"Ma'am Althea, parang may malaking okasyon, ah," puna ng isang kasambahay na katulong nila ni Yaya Andeng sa paghahanda.
"Oo nga, Ma'am," segunda ng isa.
"Darating sina Mama at Papa, pati sina Mommy at Daddy," maiksing paliwanag niya habang inilalagay sa serving plate ang mga ulam.
"Akala ko po kasi..."
"Akala mo ano?" curious na tanong niya.
"Akala ko po anniversary ninyo ni Sir," tila nahihiyang sabi nito.
"Huu... Kayo talaga, umiral na naman 'yang pagkatsismosa ninyo," sawata ni Yaya Andeng sa mga ito.
Napaisip siya nang malalim. Tama, anniversary nga nila ni Gabriel. Nakalimutan na rin niya iyon dahil sa mga pangyayari nitong mga nakaraang buwan. Kung siya ay nakalimutan niya, malamang ay ganoon din si Gabriel.
Bahagya siyang nalungkot sa isiping iyon. Ngunit agad na binura niya iyon sa isip. Gabriel loved her and that was enough for her.
Minadali na nila ang paghahanda kaya naman bago mag-alas-siyete ay natapos na nilang lahat ng preparasyon. Eksaktong katatapos lang nila nang makaramdam siya ng bahagyang pagkahilo. Tila kinakapos din siya ng hininga.
She felt a sudden tense of terror. Mariin siyang napakapit sa upuan habang sapo ang dibdib niya.
"Althea?" Agad na dinaluhan siya ni Yaya Andeng.
Umikot ang paningin niya. The last thing she saw was Gabriel's arms coming around her before everything went blank.
