35th Month

*Theia's POV*

Masaya pa kami nung mga nakaraang taon.

Masaya pa naman kami kahapon.

Pero nakalipas na yun.

Hindi na pwedeng balikan.

Dahil sa ngayon na tayo mismo nabubuhay.

Dumiretso kami sa ospital kung saan dinala si Nate. Hindi ko parin tinatanggap yung nangyari pero nung nakita ko siyang nakahiga sa hospital bed, hindi ko napigilang umiyak.

Ang bigat. Napakabigat ng pakiramdam ko.

"Aletheia."

Niyakap ako agad ni Tita pagkapasok ko sa kwarto. Namumula yung mga mata nila. Naiyak ako lalo sa yakap niya.

"I'm really sorry..." I whispered. "Kasalanan ko po kung bakit siya naaksidente. Hindi na po sana kami---"

"No, Theia. Never say that again, hija."

"Hindi mo kasalanan ang nangyari sa kanya, okay?" Sabi ni Tito. "Naging successful naman yung operation niya. All we need to do is to wait for him to wake up."

Nakabalot ng bandage yung upper part ng ulo niya. May mga sugat siya sa braso at sa mukha.

What happened to you, baby?

"A kid was almost ran over by a truck and Nathan used his car to block it." Kwento ni Tita. Naluluha luha parin siya. "The kid is safe, Theia. Pero yung anak k-ko.."

"He had a concussion. Buti nalang naagapan agad pagdating sa ospital." Dugtong ni Tito. "Maswerte parin daw tayo sabi ni Dra. Guevarra. We were so close to losing him today, Theia."

"Oh, Mio." I took his hands and kiss them both.

"He will wake up, Theia." Tita patted my back. "Malakas ang anak ko. Alam kong kaya niya."

"But when..?"

"We don't know.." Sagot ni Tito. "Walang sinabi yung doktor kung kailan.."

Natatakot ako..

"I'm here, Nate. Please wake up. Hinihintay ka naming magising. Please don't leave us. Don't leave me love, please.."

I stayed and waited patiently for him to wake up but he didn't. The first day was hard.

This is one of the things that I didn't even imagine na mangyayari sa'min.

Oo, mahirap siyang makitang ganito pero mas mahirap kung wala ako sa tabi niya.

Ate took them home para makapagpahinga. Dumating narin sila Mommy at Daddy nung gabi na. They didn't complain when they saw me there.

They cried with me. Mahal rin nila si Nate na parang tunay nilang anak.

Nung masyado nang late, niyaya na ko ni Mommy na umalis but I can't go. I can't leave him. Daddy conviced her to let me stay. Alam kong nag-aalala sila sa'kin pero mas nag-aalala ako sa kalagayan niya.

Paano kung hindi na siya magising?

Hindi ko kayang tanggapin yun.

They finay went home and left Kuya with me.

"Theia?"

I wiped my tears away. I didn't notice I was crying again. "Yes, Kuya?"

He hugged me tight.

"Are you okay?"

"Physically, yes." I tried to smile at him. "Kamusta na kaya siya?"

"He's not yet ready to wake up, Theia." Sabi niya while looking at him.

"Is he going to be okay?" I want someone else to answer this question for me. "Gusto kong paniwalaan na magiging okay lang siya pero nahihirapan akong tanggapin yun sa sarili ko."

"Theia, successful daw yung operation." Sagot niya. "Wala naman akong nakikitang negative na pwedeng mangyari."

"Can I trust your words?"

"Honestly, hindi ko rin alam. Pero kailangan nating maniwala kay Nathan."

"I'm scared." Sabi ko. "Ito na yung ikinakatakot ko. My nightmare. Binabawi na siya sa'kin. I'm going to lose him, Kuya.."

"Theia, wag kang mag-isip ng ganyan."

"I can't stop." My tears kept falling. "I can't stop thinking about the worst that could happen."

It was always my problem. Masyado akong negative mag-isip sa mga bagay bagay.

"Kung sakaling mawala siya sa'kin, hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko." Iyak ako ng iyak. "Kuya, natatakot akong mawala si Nate. Hindi niya naman ako iiwan diba? Nangako siya sa'kin e."

Nate always keeps his promises..

"Shh.." He hugged me tighter. "Don't worry too much, Theia. Kailangan mong maging matatag para sa kanya. We're here. We will always be here para sa'yo."

I'm wearing the white dress and a pair of heels that Nate for me to wear on our date.

This day was our monthsary.

Our 35th month together.

Nung nag two years kami, all he ever wanted was to celebrate our 3rd anniversary already.

Excited siya tuwing binibilang niya yung months namin ng magkasama.

Siya yung boyfriend na may message every morning, saying he loves me.

Hindi manlang niya ako hinayaang i-surprise siya kahit isang beses.

Kahit hassle yung surprise niya sa'kin, he would always make sure successful yung araw na yun para sa'ming dalawa. Siya yung boyfriend na at the end of the day, gusto lang akong mapasaya.

Ano pa bang kulang?

Nasabi niya na lahat ng sweet words sa'kin. Nagawa niya na lahat ng sweet gestures a girlfriend would ever want to experience.

Hindi siya nauubusan. Sobrang cheesy niya.

Everyday I had with him was the best.

He was always there kapag galit o malungkot ako.

Even when I'm throwing tantrums at him, hindi parin siya sumusuko. He would always find a way para masuyo ako.

Mas matigas pa yung ulo niya sa'kin e. Kahit sinasabi kong wag o ayaw ko, gagawin parin niya. Kahit sinabi kong umalis siya, nandyan parin siya.

I still love him. I love him very much.

Hindi nabawasan yung pagmamahal ko sa kanya. Lalo lang nadadagdagan.

Our 35th month together and this is how the day went. This is the worst day.

The worst monthsary of all.

Tears falling. Hearts breaking.

Our 35th month together and I want so much more monthsaries and anniversaries with you.

Our 35th month together and could also be our last.

Hindi manlang ba tayo aabot sa 3 years na gusto mo, Nate?

******