CHAPTER 44

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Roni's POV

"Gising na po si Ms. De Luna."

A nurse went inside the room and Roni felt her ears and cheeks get hot nang magpalipat lipat ang tingin nito sa kanilang dalawa.

The nurse then smiled at them.

She cleared her throat and step away from Tori. Tori was flustered for a little while pero nang tumingin ito sa nurse. Nakita niya ang saya sa mukha ng girlfriend niya.

Roni smiled. Ang mahalaga sa kanya ng mga oras na iyon ay makitang nakangiti ito.

She was worried na baka mag away ang mag tiyahin lalo pa at ayaw sa kanya ng tiyahin ni Tori. But she wasn't worried about that anymore. Ang mahalaga ay andito siya para kay Tori. Despite what Aunt Clara will say.

Tori held her hands. "S-Samahan mo ako, Roni."

Tumango siya dito. "Ok baby."

Roni figured that Tori wants an emotional support pag nakaharap na nito ang tiyahin.

They walked towards room 405. Kumabog ang dibdib niya nang tumapat na sila sa kwarto ng matanda. The nurse turned the knob and they saw Aunt Clara looking out of the window. Lumingon lang ito nang marinig ang lagitnit ng pintuan.

Aunt Clara's face is expressionless as it settles upon Roni's face.

She forced a smile and put her hands up, waving.

Aunt Clara sighed. "Lumapit kayong dalawa dito."

Tori tugged at Roni's hands. Sumunod na lang din siya sa nobya. Naupo sila sa harap nito nang isarang muli ng nurse ang pintuan.

Roni felt her heart beat against her chest and it thundered on her ears. Namawis din bigla ang mga kamay niya. Parang gusto niyang umalis sa harap ng tiyahin ni Tori at iwasan ang komprontasyon sa pagitan nilang tatlo but she stayed still. This is long overdue.

Isa pa, gusto niya ding maging matapang para sa kanilang dalawa ni Tori. Now that Tori decided to stay with her.

"Sigurado ka na ba sa relasyong papasukin mo, Clio?"

Tori looked at her first before looking at her Aunt Clara. Nagbukas sara ang bibig ng girlfriend niya before she settled on playing with her fingers.

Roni's shoulder fell. After all of what Tori said to her, ngayon pa ba ito matatakot sabihin sa tiyahin nito na siya ang pinipili nito?

Naayuko siya. She suddenly felt so down.

Inurong niya ang upuan niya but she stopped when Tori opened her mouth.

"Siguradong sigurado po ako. I have never been sure, Tita. R-Roni made me better. She showed me that I will be loved despite my inadequasies. Marami akong maling desisyon sa buhay pero for the first time in my life. I think I made the right choice."

Tori then held her hands.

Roni felt her hands trembled habang hawak iyon ni Tori. She doubted Tori when she didn't answer quick enough. But the words that flowed out of Tori's lips made her heart squeezed in a good way. There was a warm feeling started to tingle inside her heart.

Tumulo ang luha sa mga mata niya. She felt so overwhelmed with happy emotions.

Tiningnan niya ang tiyahin ni Tori. She bit her lip and looked the old woman in the eye.

Nakipag titigan ito sa kanya. Tori looked at her with worry.

Humigpit ang hawak nito sa kamay niya. But Roni squeezed back.

"Aunt Clara. I—"

"Handa ka bang protektahan ang pamangkin ko at ang magiging apo ko laban sa mga taong mag tatangka ng masama laban sa kanila?"

Aunt Clara's face showed seriousness and Roni gulped. She knew that she would do anything for Tori ang the unborn child. That she would embrace the child as hers kahit pa anak ito ng taong kaagaw niya kay Tori. That's how much she loved Tori.

"Opo."

Aunt Clara sighed. "Maraming sitwasyon kayong kakaharapin na hindi madali. There are people's judgement. There are oppositions against your love. Makakaya niyo ba talagang dalawa na harapin iyon?"

Roni and Tori looked at each other. Before looking at Aunt Clara and opening both of their mouths.

"I think love will always win." Tori said smiling.

"Love always wins." Roni said and squeezed Tori's hands again.

Hindi humihingang inantay nila ang reaksiyon ng tiyahin ni Tori. Roni's heart beated against her chest in anticipation. Namamawis na din ang kamay niya.

Then the old woman smiled. "Love.... always wins." Tumango tango pa ito. "I wish I didn't choose fear over love. Dahil sa takot my sister ran away from her responsibility but when I adopted you Clio. I choose love that time but when you grew up. My fears grew. Hindi ko alam kung paano mag palaki ng isang bata. I have never had a child since I got you."

Roni saw a sad smile grazed Tori's lips.

"Tita.... Sorry po sa mga nasabi ko. I didn't mean---"

Hinawakan ni Aunt Clara ang kamay ng girlfriend niya.

"No..No—Clio. Yun ang nararamdaman mo that time. I'm sorry for making you feel that. Natakot lang ako na maiwan ako mag isa. That you will leave me like my sister. Pero dapat hindi kita kinumpara sa iyong ina. You are your own person and you showed me exactly that."

"Because of that I realized that I should always choose love in all the decisions I am making. Even in anger love is calm." Maluha luhang pag sasalaysay nito.

The old woman even wiped the tears that sled down her cheeks.

Roni's lips tugged up. Umabot ata sa tenga niya ang mga ngiti sa labi niya. She could also feel her heart beat in excitement.

"A-Are you giving us the blessings, Tita?" Tori said.

Tumango tango ang matanda. "Yes, Clio."

"Oh my God!" Tori hugged her Aunt Clara. "Thank you, Tita."

Roni's smiled. "Thank you po, Aunt Clara."

"Just promise me that my apo will always visit me."

"Promise po." Roni held the old woman's hand. Then she squeezed it. Malaking bagay para sa kaniya ang tinanggap sila ng tiyahin ni Tori.

Now Tori won't have to worry about the only family she had loathing her.

Hindi alam ni Roni kung anong nagawa niya sa past life niya para bigyan siya ng magandang regalo sa araw na ito.

She won't ever let go of the love she was given. Ang tagal niyang inantay si Tori. Ang tagal niyang nag tiis sa sakit na nararamdaman. Now everything had fallen into place. Wala na siyang mahihiling pa.

"Siya. Kapag nakalabas ako dito. Pwede niyo ba akong i-libre sa isang restaurant? Ang tabang ng pinapakain nila dito sa mga pasyente nila."

Aunt Clara stuck her tongue out then looked at the soup on the metal tray near the bed.

Mukha ngang hindi nito nagalaw ang pagkain na ibinigay dito ng nurse. But the bottle of water is already empty.

"Of course po. Kung gusto niyo kayo pa ang mamili ng restaurant."

Roni beamed.

Aunt Clara threw her head back laughing. Nakitawa na din si Roni ditto then Tori followed.

There is no better day than today. Everything felt so rainbow colored that she now has no fear for the future. 

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