43 - Stains

Charm's POV

I woke with a terrible bodyache and a familiar hand stroking my hair. I am used to wake up in that gesture of RJ since day one of us being married. He is not aware that I know this gesture of his. Baka kasi hindi na nya gawin kapag pinansin ko. It actually gives me a different kind of calm that is enough for me to peacefully spend the whole day.

"Hmmm …" I said, signaling I am already awake.

"Good morning, Love." He greeted. I opened my eyes and I saw him smiling at me sweetly.

"Good morning." I greeted back. Then I asked, "Anong oras na?"

"Maaga pa, pass 4 in the morning." He replied

"Bakit gising ka na, maaga pa pala, tulog ka ulit?" I said and then I close my eyes again to get back to sleep.

"Would you like to see the sunrise with me?" He asked while still stroking my hair.

I quickly opened my eyes because I find it as a good idea. We have not done it yet. Seeing the sunrise with him would be an addition to those good memories of us together, it is definitely one for the books

"I like that, I would love to see the sunrise with you." I replied.

"Then get up and make yourself ready while I brew the coffee." He commanded.

"I can't sobrang sakit ng katawan ko." I said.

"I'm sorry." He said and kisses my temple. "How shall we see the sunrise kung nandito lang tayo sa kwarto?" He asked.

I got no choice but to get out of the bed. But as I pull the sheets, I saw blood stains on it. I confusedly looks at him and I know he understand the stare. "We did not do what we thought we did five years ago." He told me.

"But when I woke up that morning, there were blood stains on the sheets, too." I said.

"Those blood stains were because I cut myself with the beer can. Don't you remember? Nag-aagawan tayo sa beer when I accidentally cut myself." He explained.

"All this time I thought I had it first with you." I said.

"And all this time I thought Celestine is mine." He said.

"I never told you that Celestine is your daughter. I have been denying it since day one." I replied.

"Which I thought pinagdadamot mo lang talaga si Celestine sa akin." He said.

"Did I made you upset? Do you love Celestine less now that you know she is not yours? Are you mad at me kasi umasa kang ikaw ang tatay ni Celestine?" I asked him because I need to know.

Celestine's attachment to RJ is something I did not see when I agreed on the arrangement. RJ may have a change of heart towards Celestine after learning the truth and it will break Celestine's heart I need to do something to avoid her of getting hurt.

"I will never be mad at you my love." He said and he planted a sweet kiss on my forehead. "I love Celestine, walang mababago dun. But I think I deserve to know who her parents are." He added and I agree. RJ deserves the truth about Celestine's parentage.

"Olga was already conceiving Celestine before we learned she was sick." I said.

"Sino ang father ni Celestine" RJ asked.

"Hindi ko alam, I have a hunch na si Patrick kasi sya lang naman ang boyfriend ni Olga that time. But Olga never told us kung sino ang father ni Celestine. Hanggang ngayon, puzzled pa rin ako why she hid the true identity of Celestine's father. Until namatay sya, hindi nya sinabi kung sino ang tatay ng anak nya." I said.

"Paano napunta sa yo si Celestine?" He asked.

"Hindi pa ipinapanganak si Celestine yun na ang gusto ni Olga, kaya nga ako ang nakalagay na mother ni Celestine sa birth certificate nya eh. Sabi nya, if there is anyone she knows who could take care of her daughter and love her as much as she does, ako na daw yon. The only thing I remember was when she said she does not trust him and he does not deserve to be Celestine's father." I said.

"Why are you having doubts about Patrick being the father of Celestine? Does it mean you also believe that Olga have slept with another man?" RJ asked.

"No it is not that, para sa akin si Patrick ang tatay ni Celestine, but what confused me is why Olga never confirm it to anyone of us." I said.

"Is Patrick the reason why you agreed to be Celestine's mother? Because you believe Celestine is his daughter?" He asked me and I felt the pain for RJ while he asked me that.

"Patrick has nothing to do with my decision to be Celestine's mother" I said. "Olga trusted me with someone too precious for her. Regardless kung sino pa ang tatay ni Celestine, ginawa ko yun para kay Olga. I saw how much she sacrificed para mabuhay lang si Celestine. She were not able to undergo chemotheraphy kasi buntis sya and she refused to abort her baby just so she could continue with her treatment. Celestine is a premature baby, kailangan na ni Olga na maipanganak si Celestine for her treatment kasi her brain tumor is already on critical stage. Alam ko ang iniisip mo RJ, but I want you to know na hindi ko inalagaan si Celestine because I believe na anak sya ni Patrick. Inalagaan ko sya because her mother wanted her to live." I explained.

"I'm sorry for that thought. Hindi ko kasi alam." RJ said while he grabs me for a hug.

"Alam mo, may sinabi si Olga sa akin bago sya namatay." I said.

"Tell me then." He said.

"The man who would accept Celestine and loves her as his own even he knows she is not his, is the man who would truly make me happy forever." I said.

"And I am claiming na ako yun. I already accepted Celestine even when I thought she is your daughter from another man. Celestine has been addressing me as her Dad before you confirm it was I, who was with you in Calatagan five years ago, remember when you saw the old pictures?" He said bragging.

"I am claiming that too, mukhang ni-reserved ako ng universe para sa iyo." I said.

"What made you say that?" He asked.

"I broke-up with Patrick because I thought I cheated on him. Akala ko nga kasi may nangyari sa atin that night." I said.

"Tutoo ba yan?" He asked giggling.

"Yes, mukha ba akong nagbibiro?" I asked.

"Come to think of it, kung nakabalik pala ako ng mas maaga sa cottage at inabutan kita, everything could have been cleared by that time. Malamang hindi ka agad nakipag-break kay Patrick." He said.

"Also, I decided to stay single forever because I thought no man deserves to marry a girl who have slept with a stranger." I said. "I have Celestine to be with anyway so I believe it would be enough. Until Ate flew to U.S. and left to me the burden of marrying the man I do not know. Who would have thought na ikaw rin yun kasi naglayas din si Kuya RD." I further said.

"Well that is a clear indication we are meant to be together forever, not for 365 days only. Our togetherness will never have an expiration date." He said and cupped my face for a sweet kiss.

"Promised?" I asked.

"I promise, with all my heart, Meng. I will never love anyone else, ikaw lang." He replied as we share another sweet and passionate kiss for a while. "The universe took good care of us while we are away from each other. I may have dated several women but I have never fall in love with any of them." He said as soon as I break the kiss.

"You never fall in love but you still slept with them." I said while throwing a sharp stare on him, who is obviously guilty kasi pulang-pula ang tenga ni Tisoy.

"Malay ko bang ganito ang plano ng universe sa ating dalawa." He said.

"Hala sya, paano na lang kung may biglang sumulpot na nilalang at sabihing ikaw ang tatay nya?" I said.

"That won't happen Mendoza Girl, because I always make sure I am protected." He said.

"Paano ka nakakasigurado? Paano kung may nakalusot?" I asked.

"Walang makakalusot." He insisted.

"What made you so sure nga?" I insisted, too.

"Susmaryosep naman Mrs Faulkerson Jr., can you just trust me on this. I know how to protect myself on those instances." He said

"O sige na naniniwala na ako sa yo. Let's go na, we might miss the sunrise." I said.

"It's alright, there will be another sunrise tomorrow. Mas magandang manood ng sunrise kung kasama si Celestine." He said.

I chucked and asked him, "Yung tutoo, bakit ang bilis nagbago ng isip?"

"Dito na lang tayo sa kwarto hangga't wala ang anak ko. Susulitin ko na ang pagkakataon na masolo kita at hindi ko na kailanga pang mag-ingat. I am ready for another Celestine or a Thirdy, in case you want to know." He straightly said. "Which reminds me, would you like to go on a honeymoon next weekend?" He replied.

"I thought you'll never ask. Celestine will be thrilled to be called Ate." I replied and gained another kiss from him while covering ourselves with the sheets.