Chapter 24

"What's up, boy? How's the life of a new dad now, huh?" bungad ni Tomas sa akin. "May pinadala akong box na puno ng baby toys. I think it should arrive next week if I'm not mistaken. But all that for baby Limer!"

"Nag-abala ka pa, Tom. But don't forget, kukunin ka pa rin naming ninoy ni Limer kahit na nasa Dubai ka."

Natawa naman ito. "Walang problema sa akin! Kapag umuwi kami sa Pinas, magpapa-big birthday celebration kami kay Limer kahit hindi pa niya birthdy."

"Aasahan ko 'yan, Tomas!" sabi pa ng asawa ko at saka ko iniharap sa kanya ang phone. "I'll be waiting for you to come back home! Papayagan kong mag-out of town na kayong dalawa lang ni Cholo soon, though the offer has only a limited time kaya uwi ka na agad!"

"Grabe ka naman Sy kung maka-pressure," anito. "I've been planning on going back home soon, but I have to work on my upcoming wedding. There are a lot of things that still need to work on. Isang buwan pa naman 'yon, but I felt like na kulang na kulang kami sa oras ngayon. We've already set everything, but me and my fiancee would eventually have to decide if we would push through with the wedding or postpone it to the next few months. But we'll see. . ."

"I'm sad na hindi kami makakapunta sa kasal mo," sabi pa ni Synestine. "Dubai's so far and expensive for me and Cholo to get there."

"Naku! 'Wag niyo nang problemahin 'yon. Kahit kayong tatlo pa lumipad dito sa Dubai, I'll shoulder all the expenses for your family. 'Wag niyo lang sasabihin sa iba, ha? Malalagot talaga ako sa fiancee ko. I'm scared of her, but not in a bad way! Anyway, I think I need to pick her up right now so I gottan catch up with both of you again soon!"

"Yes, boy! Update mo rin kami," pagpapaalala ko pa.

"Naman! Bye, see you soon!" pagpapaalam nito saka ibinaba ang tawag.

While we were still in the hospital and letting Synestine recover, a lot of our friends and relatives paid a visit to check on us and see our baby Limer. Maraming natuwa at nasiyahan nang makita ang anak namin ni Synestine. Whenever I saw people walking into our room, they were happy for us and saw Synestine was okay.

Wala sana akong balak na sabihin kay Synestine ang nangyari sa kanya dahil nagre-recover pa ito, pero nadulas naman ang parents niya kaya no choice kung hindi ikwento ko sa kanya. Obviously, she was so worried about it. Umiyak pa ito kasi kung tuluyan man siyang nawala, hindi niya man lang nakasama mamuhay ang anak nito. I felt so sad for her when she was telling what was going on in her head.

Ayoko rin namang mawala siya sa akin. Hindi ko hahayaang mawala siya sa akin.

On the last day before we all go back to our homes, Synestine's best friends throw out a small party for our friends and relatives. Hindi rin naman pwedeng maraming tao sa loob ng private room kaya halos hindi pa lalagpas ng sampung katao ang nasa loob. We've only got limited hours to do it dahil may window lamang na pupwedeng mag-stay ang mga bisita. 

Everyone inside was having a blast. Hindi rin gaanong nag-iingay ang lahat dahil maiistorbo si Limer dahil kaunting kaluskos lamang ay umiiyak din ito kaagad. We tried to keep it quiet whle having fun. 

Over the past few days when Synestine gave birth, she was feeling getting better. Good thing I was able to get some off from my work so I can look after my wife. Kung hindi nila ako papayagan, magre-resign talaga ako dahil mas importante sa akin ang buhay ng asawa't anak ko. They're my life now and if anything goes against them, ako ang makakaharap nila. Kahit buhay pa ang maging kapalit.

Later that night, I went home so everything would be prepared once we got home. Hindi ko na mapigilan ang excitement na nararamdaman ko. What I'm feeling now is indescribable. I couldn't compare it to any other thing.

Inikot ko ang paningin ko sa bahay namin at ngiti lamang ang nangingibabaw sa mukha ko. This home will now be filled with much more happiness and excitement. Our future is bright and I can't wait to explore it with my wife. I knew she had a lot of things in mind on what to do, I'm always gonna be on her side whatever she needs. 

Nang matapos kong ayusin ang mga inutos ng asawa ko sa akin ay bumalik na rin ako sa hospital kung saan ay dala-dala ko ang liempo na ibinilin niyang bilhin ko bago ako pumunta ng hospital. I thought she shouldn't have it for now, but I thought it would be a nice way to treat her as well. She has been craving for it so why should I refuse in giving her something like that?

Sabi pa nito sa akin, kung tumaba man daw siya, would I still love her? That shouldn't be a question. I will always love her kahit ano man ang hitsura niya at mangyari sa amin. What she would looked like shouldn't matter at all. It shouldn't be.

When both of them fell asleep, I cried. Hindi ko alam kung anong tumama sa akin, pero no'ng tingnan ko lamang silang dalawa ay halo-halong emosyon na ang naramdaman ko. I must be feeling so overwhelmed that I'm now taking this path as a father. This was new to me so I didn't have any idea what it would look like after, but I promised her that I would do my best to be the best father for our son.

The next day, our parents helped us pack our stuff before going home. We were both excited na finally ay makakauwi na kaming tatlo sa bahay namin. May kakaiba akong nararamdaman na hindi ko naman maipaliwanag. This must be just some kind of excitement I couldn't handle.

Naunang umuwi sa amin ang parents namin at binalalaan pa kami na maulan nga raw at basa ang kalsada. Tinanong ko pa si Synestine kung gusto niya nang umuwi o hihintayin muna naming tumila ang ulan. Napagdesisyon naman ni Synestine na tumuloy na kaming dalawa basta babagalan ko lamang ang pagmamaneho. I was so sure I would do that dahil ayokong malagay sa peligro ang buhay ng pamilya ko.

When the rain stopped pouring for a while, we both decided to drive home. There's one thing I could feel right now and that's when I could finally take my wife home with me and more than that, our baby. Ang sarap sa pakiramdam na umabot kami mi Synestine sa ganitong posisyon. Ni hindi ko nga inaasahan na magiging girlfriend ko pa siya in the first place. She brought so much whirlwind in my life and I would love to get going with it.

As we went inside his car, I held her hand and kissed it.

"We're coming home, love. . ."

"I can't wait. . ."

As I started the engine and drove into the road. I didn't let go of her hand, kahit na hindi kami nagsasalita, we just knew how happy we were heading home. Our home was a gift from our parents. It was supposed to be their wedding gift to us, pero nagkaroon lamang ng delay, but Synestine and I have been working on how to make this house a home for all of us.

While on the road, the rain started to pour hard, and the window got hazy that's why the wipers were fast enough not to blind us in sight. Binagalan ko pa ang pagmamaneho, but I knew my guts earlier said something. 

I was blinded by the headlights of an oncoming vehicle and I lost my control, and not just that, someone from behind bumped into our car which caused us to lose track and hit the barrier.

From that moment I was trying to evade the accident but I couldn't as I lost so much control. I reached for the hand of my wife and I didn't get to hold on to it tightly and slipped through my fingers. When I opened my eyes, I saw my wife's head banged into the dashboard. I felt dizzy when I moved and reached for her, but when I held her, she was not that well responsive.

"Love. .  Sy. . ." I called her.

"Chong—" her voice broke.

"I'm gonna call help!" I groaned as I felt a pain in my head and when I touched it, my hand was covered in blood. "Love, stay with me okay. . ."

Synestine wasn't opening her eyes up. She was too weak to do that.

"That's unnecessary. . ." she said, I don't know what she was saying. I just need ourselves to get out of this car.

"What are you doing, love? Stay with me. . . What about our plan? What about your plan? What about our son? Sy. . . I'm not gonna let you go. . . I don't wanna let you go." I held her hand tight, "You're gonna stay with me. . ."

"Love. . ." Synestine spoke, but weak. "I don't think I'm gonna make it. . . I think—I think I can't do all those things with you. .. I'm too weak, love. . . Take care of our son. . ." Synestine slowly moved her hands removing the ring on her finger and reached for me. "Keep this. . . I'm sorry. . . Go find your happiness, love. . ."

I took the ring but I couldn't let her go away. Synestine loses her ability to speak and move, I immediately try to wake her up while calling for help. I couldn't stop crying, and when I kept trying, I lost her every second.

She's gone.

Synestine de Amos is gone.

"Why you'd left love. . ." my voice broke. "Why. . ." My tears were running down like a river on my face as all the beautiful plans we had imagined before flashed before my eyes. They're now all gone. In a quick moment, it's all gone.

I lost her and it was my fault.

As she left in my arms, a cry of a baby made me believe there was still hope. I know there's still hope.