"Can I talk to you about something?"

Enrique looked up from his desk. Dapat ay mamamasyal kami ngayon but our trip was cut short due to an urgent meeting. Naiintindihan ko naman kaya bumalik kaagad kami sa camp.

Pumasok lang ako nang makompirmang tapos na ang meeting niya at pwede ko na siyang disturbuhin.

"What is it?"

"Promise you'll not get mad?"

Kumunot ang noo ni Enrique. Pansin ko ang paghigpit ng kamay niya sa hawak na ballpen.

"What is it, Avery?"

"See? You're already mad!" I rolled my eyes.

Pilit na pinakalma ni Enrique ang sarili, saka dahan-dahang tumango.

"I promise... I won't get mad."

"Good." I smiled at him. "Because I hit your father."

Napaawang ang labi niya sa sobrang gulat. Pero mabilis din itong nawala nang may mapagtanto. Kaagad na tumayo si Enrique mula sa desk niya at mabilis akong nilapitan.

"He hurt you, didn't he?! Where? How dare him—"

"Enrique!" Saway ko kaagad sa kaniya. "You promised not to get mad!"

A strained look crossed his face. Hirap na hirap itong tumingin sa akin. Mabilis ang taas-baba ng dibdib niya na para bang pinipigilan niya ang sarili ngayon.

"He was mad at me because he thinks that I brainwashed you into getting an early retirement..." I murmured.

"That's absurd!"

"And uhm, he wants me to break up with you..."

Ako naman ang bumuntong-hininga at naupo sa malapit na silya. Enrique's face is distorted with anger, pinipigilan niya lang ang sarili. After all, he made a promise.

"Ano pang ginawa ng lalaking iyon sa'yo, Avery?"

I shook my head. "Wala, iyon lang. He hit me first, so I hit him back. I told him I'm not going to break up with you even if he kills me." I managed to let out a laugh just to lighten up the mood.

Dahan-dahang lumapit sa akin si Enrique. He scooped me into a tight hug, startling me.

"Enrique, it's okay..." I assured him. "It wasn't that bad—"

"No one is allowed to ever lay a hand on you, Avery," his baritone voice is filled with venom and anger. "And I want to kill my father right now for hurting you..."

Napangiti ako. Dahan-dahan kong tinapik ang balikat niya. I wanted to let him know that it's okay... I'm okay.

I'm just a bit shaken but I will be okay. Ayoko lang talaga na malaman niya pa 'to sa ibang tao. Who knows what he'll do, then?

"I'm sorry, Avery. I promise this is the last time that old man is going to harass you. Hinding-hindi na siya makakalapit sa'yo simula ngayon."

I nodded. Nanatiling nakayakap si Enrique sa akin na para bang maglalaho ako anumang segundo.

On the third day of my visit, I finally had him all to myself. No more annoying meetings or trotting cadets after him. Namasyal lang kami sa mga paboritong lugar niya sa Cagayan de Oro.

I did a little bit of shopping for my friends. Nang mapagod ay bumalik din kami sa kampo. Tinulungan niya akong ligpitin ang mga gamit ko para sa flight mamayang madaling araw.

"Five more months..." he muttered as we arrived at the airport.

I reached for his face and kissed him. Nginitian ko siya.

"Five more months!" I said in a happy, more cheerful voice.

Ilang buwan ulit ang lumipas at sa wakas ay natapos na ang renovation sa boarding house. Pinag-buffet ko lahat ng mga construction worker sa huling araw nila dito bilang pasasalamat sa lahat ng tulong nila. Si Tita naman ang nag-asikaso sa paghahanap ng pari para sa buhos.

I sent pictures of the boarding house to Enrique. Hindi naman siya nawawalan ng signal dahil nasa loob lang naman ito ng kampo kaya halos gabi-gabi pa rin kaming nagkakausap.

His father never showed his face again. I was anxious for the first few months, afraid that he might show up again in my workplace to hit me. But after that incident... I've never heard from him again.

I started counting the days when I'll see Enrique again. This time, he had two months of leave before embarking into combat missions again. His time at the camp training the NCO's have come to an end.

And he told me that he'd already come up with a decision about his military career.

Kung ano man ang magiging desisyon niya, narito pa rin ako para suportahan ang lalaki.

My heart was beating so fast when I saw the first soldiers who arrived at the airport. Maraming mga pamilya at mahal sa buhay ang nakaabang sa pagbabalik nila, hindi lang ako. I immediately searched for Enrique's face in the crowd. Saka pa lang kumalma ang puso ko nang makita ko siyang naglalakad patungo sa akin.

"Enrique!"

I wanted to run, but there were so many people around us. When I finally got to him, he wrapped his arms around me and hugged me tightly. Ibinaon ko ang mukha sa dibdib niya.

"I missed you..." he murmured.

Bahagya akong nag-angat ng tingin sa kaniya. Nangungusap ang mga mata nitong nakatitig sa akin.

"I missed you..."

Enrique took a deep breath and pulled away from me. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko.

"You did well this time."

I grinned. This is the first mission he'd gone to that we didn't have a fight. I wasn't anxious and lonely. I trusted him fully and it gave me peace of mind. It made me wonder why we haven't done this before. Eh di sana...

I shook my head to get rid of those thoughts. That's all in the past. We were still kids back then. Who knows what it takes to make this long-distance relationship work? Natuto na kami.

"Hey, Avery..."

Napalingon ako sa kaniya.

"Do you mind waiting for me at the airport every time I have to go on a mission?"

Umiling ako.

"Really? I won't be by your side all the time, but I'll always come home to you..."

I pouted. "Alam ko."

"Good." He grinned and turned to the troop behind him.

He signaled at them. Napaawang ang bibig ko nang bigla silang kumilos. They positioned themselves in a diamond formation and one by one, they held up a large sign. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my friends next to the formation who were smiling widely at us. Naghiyawan kaagad ang mga tao nang mabasa ito.

Will you marry me?

My mouth dropped open. I turned to Enrique who just smiled at me while pulling out the ring from his vest.

"Every time I leave for service, I always count the days until I return to you, Avery... I've loved you since our early high school days and I knew when you stood next to me during my graduation rites that you are the woman I'm going to marry someday. Thank you for always, always waiting for me to come back..."

My eyes watered when he kneeled in front of me to present the ring. His eyes welled up with unshed tears.

"Avery Felicia Perez, will you marry me?"

A tear escaped from my eye. Kaagad ko itong pinalis pero tuluyan nang bumuhos ang mga luha ko. The crowd made some noise again when I nodded and also kneeled in front of him to cup his face.

"Yes, I'll marry you!" I cried.

Enrique pulled me closer to him. I was still crying when he slipped the ring on my finger and slowly pulled me up so he could kiss me. Nalunod na ang hiyawan ng mga tao nang halikan ako ng lalaking hinintay at minahal ko sa kalahati ng buhay ko.

I waited for Enrique to come back home before having the house blessing ceremony for our new boarding house. Everyone except for Karlo came. Hindi naman basta-bastang makakaalis ang lalaki sa trabaho pero nangako itong dadalo sa kasal namin.

"Yung isang unit, baka gawin ko nalang transient room, Tita. Marami din kasing naghahanap kasi malapit lang naman tayo sa dagat..." wika ko habang kumakain kami pagkatapos ng maikling seremonya ng pari.

Tumango naman si Tita. "Oo, parang mas mapapagkakitaan mo nga kung ganun. Dito pa rin ba kayo titira pagkatapos ng kasal?"

I shook my head. "Bumili na po ng bahay si Enrique sa Valor Heights."

Gulat na napatingin si Tita kay Enrique. "Talaga, Kiko? Bumili ka na ng bahay?"

Tumango lang si Enrique. "Pagka-graduate ko po sa PMA, nag-loan po ako..."

Tita grinned while watching him mischievously. "Sure na sure ka na talagang pakakasalan ang pamangkin ko, 'no?"

Siniko ko si Tita dahil inaasar na naman nito ang fiance ko. She just laughed. Naupo naman sa tabi ko si Celeste.

"Gusto mong tulungan kitang mag-post para makahanap ka agad ng boarders? May experience ako sa social media!" Alok niya.

I studied her face. She had completely erased her digital presence on social media years ago, after what happened between her and Ravi.

"Sigurado ka bang babalik ka sa social media?"

"Magpo-post lang naman ako," she shook her head. "'Tsaka, naka-lock na ang profile ko at ibang pangalan na din ang ginagamit ko online. I can do it in my free time!"

Tumango ako at nagpasalamat sa kaibigan para sa tulong niya. Now that the renovation is complete, I feel like I could breathe a little.

Hindi naman kasi naging madali. Palaging may problema lalo na sa construction. Kung hindi kinukulang sa materyales, bigla-biglang nagtataas ang presyo ng ibang supplies o di kaya nas-short kami sa tao dahil nagkakasakit ang iba.

We were delayed by two months so I was glad it was really over.

Nagpaiwan si Tita at ang asawa nito para tulungan kaming maglinis pagkatapos ng maliit na salu-salo. When we were done, she walked to me and pulled me into a hug.

"Ikakasal na talaga ang pamangkin ko..." she murmured.

Napanguso ako. "Ba't parang ang lungkot mo pa ata?"

She shook her head and smiled sadly. "Ang bilis lang talaga ng panahon. Sigurado akong proud na proud si Liezel at Jay sa iyo."

I smiled at her. Mas napapansin ko na ang pagkulubot ng kutis niya at pamumuti ng mga buhok ngayong tinititigan ko siya.

She is the main reason why I worked so hard these past few years. Ayokong maubusan ako ng oras at hindi makabawi sa kaniya.

Gusto kong makita niya akong masaya sa buhay at naabot na ang mga pangarap. Gusto kong makabawi sa kaniya sa lahat ng pagmamahal at sakripisyong inalay niya sa akin.

If I was born again, I would choose her to be my aunt again. Hinding-hindi ko ipagpapalit ang pagmamahal na naranasan ko sa kaniya. 

Siya ang nagturo sa akin na magpatawad sa mga taong hindi man lang humingi ng tawad sa akin. Hindi ko magawang magtanim ng sama ng loob sa mga taong nagkamali sa akin noon dahil hindi naman iyon ang turo ni Tita sa akin.

She taught me to be strong yet forgiving... gentle yet empowering. Avery Felicia Perez will never be here without her.

"Salamat, Tita..." bulong ko.

When Enrique and I were alone at last, we sat outside the balcony and watched the stars. All of this feels so unreal right now.

Habang nakahilig sa balikat ng lalaki at pinapakiramdaman ang marahang pagtaas-baba ng dibdib niya, inabot ko ang kamay nito.

His hands were rough and calloused, molded to hold guns and rifles. There were tiny scars on his knuckles, each with a story of his life as a soldier.

"I decided not to quit the army, Avery..." he whispered.

I nodded. I saw it coming. Hindi mo basta-bastang mabibitawan ang pangarap na inaalagaan mo simula pagkabata. I would be worried if he'd say that he's going to really quit and let go of his dreams.

"Then I'll support you until you finally reach your dreams..."

Enrique placed his chin on my shoulder blades. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang mainit niyang paghinga nang magsalita ulit ito.

"You're not mad at me?"

"Why would I be mad?"

"Because eventually, I'm going to leave you again..."

I shrugged. "As long as you come home to me, Cabrera...I will never get mad."

Dumapo ang tingin ko sa kamay naming dalawa.

"Pagbalik ko, magpapakasal na tayo..." pangako niya.

I nodded and turned to him. "We're going to get married... so there's something you should know about me."

Enrique held me softly and nodded, waiting for me to continue.

I took a deep breath and smiled sadly at him. "You already know that my little brother, Aaron, had autism, right?"

Tumango naman ang lalaki.

"The risk of me giving birth to a child with autism is higher than the general population due to my family history. I've always wanted a child, Enrique... I wanted to have my own family. So I consulted a genetic counselor before for a tailored risk assessment and found out that there's a 20% chance I might give birth to a child with autism..."

Tahimik lang na nakikinig sa akin si Enrique kaya nagpatuloy ako.

"I just think that... you should know about this. I want to know if you're still going to accept me. I'm a psychologist, so I have the mental capacity and knowledge to care for a child with autism. I'm just not sure if you—"

"Avery," seryoso akong tinignan ni Enrique.

He cupped my chin gently so that our eyes would meet. "You're going to carry my child. Your body is going to change drastically. Hell, even the pregnancy itself is a big risk. That alone makes me so grateful that you're willing to carry our child. That alone is enough for me to worship you in any way possible. What makes you think I wouldn't want that, hmm?"

Tears welled in my eyes. "Eh kasi... ibang usapan ang autism sa mga bata, Enrique. I know some couples who separated because their child has autism..."

"I'm never going to do that." He said with finality. "I love you, Avery. And I'll love our child even harder, with or without autism. Hindi ko ipaparanas sa kaniya lahat ng naranasan ko noong bata pa ako."

I bit my lower lip, as I felt the tears welling up.

"Having a child with you is my dream... you are my new dream, Avery. I'm going to love the both of you regardless of our situation. So please... stop worrying, okay? I love you so much..."

"Mahal din kita, Enrique..." I sobbed.

That night, while we were making love, Enrique was gentle and tender to me. The usual air of authority that lingers around him dissipated into thin air. He was so careful and attentive as if I'm a fragile china doll. He made me feel love in the tenderest way he could... and I crave for him even more.

Malakas at galit na boses ang gumising sa amin kinaumagahan. I quickly put on my clothes. Enrique is already gone. Maaga talaga siyang nagigising para mag-jogging kaya hindi ko alam kung sino ang nage-eskandalo sa harapan.

I hurried downstairs and saw Tita Judy, screaming at her son. Mas lalong pumula ang mukha niya sa galit nang makita ako.

"Ikaw! Inggrata!" Dinuro niya ako pero lumapit pa rin ako sa kanila, litong-lito.

"Mama!" saway ni Enrique pero hindi naman siya pinapakinggan.

"Ikaw ang dahilan kung bakit tuluyan na kaming iniwan ni Harvy!" Sigaw niya. "Ang kapal ng mukha mo para gawin iyon sa amin!"

Napatingin ako kay Enrique. His eyes were weary as he tried to stop his mother from clawing on me.

"Anong gagawin mo ngayon, ha?! Paano ko bubuhayin ang mga anak ko?! At huwag kang magpakasaya dahil hinding-hindi ko kayo bibigyan ng basbas para magpakasal!"

I already saw this coming... I just didn't think it would be so soon.

"Ma, tama na po. Wala pong kasalanan si Avery dito." Mahinanong wika ni Enrique.

"Anong wala?! Siya ang dahilan kung bakit nasira ang pamilya natin—"

"Matagal ng sira ang pamilya natin, Mama!" Enrique's voice rose. Gulat akong napatingin sa kaniya.

"Hinding-hindi na babalik si Papa sa atin... alam mo yan. Ilang taon mo pa bang itatanggi yan? Pagod na pagod na ako, Ma..."

Tita Judy let out a sarcastic laugh. "Anong sinasabi mo, Kiko? Pagod ka na? Sa akin? Sa amin ng mga kapatid mo?"

He looked away. Pumagitna na si Enrique sa aming dalawa ni Tita Judy dahil pilit akong inaabot ng babae para makalmot o masampal. She couldn't touch me. Enrique took all of her hits without a word.

"Mas pipiliin mo pa ang babaeng ito kesa sa sariling pamilya mo?!"

"Si Avery na ang magiging pamilya ko, Mama." He said with finality. "Kapag nagpakasal kami, siya na ang pamilya ko."

Tears streamed down her face. "Iiwan mo nalang kami?"

Enrique lowered his head. "You are harassing my fiancee... she's going to be my wife. So if you can't treat her with respect, I'll have to ask you to leave."

Galit na pinalis ni Tita Judy ang mga luha niya. She glanced at me.

"Sana masaya ka na..." her last words before she picked up her bag and walked away.

Hindi pa rin ako nakakagalaw nang makaalis na si Tita Judy. Enrique remained standing, his head lowered. Lumapit ako sa kaniya at niyakap siya.

He buried his face on the crook of my neck and silently cried. I just realized that this must've been the first time he had shouted to his mother. The first time he stood up against her.

No words could ever comfort him right now so I just hugged him tightly and wished that I could take some of his pain away.

Major General Cajucom and Tita Judy are finally out of our lives...

They left scars and pains in our hearts, but at least we could finally start all over again. Yung kami lang dalawa. Paninindigan namin ang pagpili namin sa bawa't isa.

"Promise me you'll come back..." I whispered while hugging him tightly.

"I promise, Avery."

"Come back alive..." I almost pleaded.

We were in the airport and it's time to say goodbye to him... again. In the past, this scenario would've drained me. But I have faith in him and I know he's going to come home and marry me.

"Don't be late for our own wedding, Enrique!" I reminded, blinking back my tears.

He chuckled and kissed me softly. "I won't, Avery. I promise..."