Till There Was You

The Unexpected

A/N: "Love is blissful insanity."-Patricia Highsmith (The Price of Salt)

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Being at home and taking care of my father and Jade opened my eyes to a lot of things.

Things I never really paid attention to before or never really took notice of because I always have to run from one commitment to another.

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I was at home one evening, reading a book when I happened to look at the kitchen.

Jade had the day off and instead na magpahinga ito, she was rearranging the cupboards.

Binitawan ko ang binabasa ko and I just looked at her.

I marveled at the change I saw.

Not only the fact na medyo marunong na siya sa kusina but the way she takes care of me kapag nasa bahay siya.

Hindi ito pumapayag na ako pa din ang gagawa ng chores namin.

"Magpahinga ka lang, lablab."

"Ako naman ang magaalaga sa'yo." Sabi nito sa akin during breakfast.

Dahil hindi ako sanay na hindi kumikilos, I still helped her dahil it doesn't feel right na siya ang naglilinis or naglalaba.

Aside from helping out, she always surprises me with little things but there was one that stood out among the rest.

One time, after picking me up from my father's house, I came home to a candlelit dinner na hinanda niya with the help of Batchi.

While she was on her way to Antipolo, naiwan si Batchi to watch over the condo para siguraduhing walang mangyayaring sunog dahil Jade asked her to light a lot of candles para pagdating ko, ready na ang lahat.

Since hindi naman kami umaalis ng hindi nagdi-dinner kasama si Papa, I was puzzled ng nagsabi ito kay Papa na we couldn't stay.

Magtatanong pa sana ako kung bakit pero agad namang pumayag ang ama ko.

Parang may secret ang dalawa at kahit nagtataka,  hinayaan ko na lang.

Kung anumang meron sa kanila, I don't want to spoil it.

Besides, I was tired na rin since maaga akong nagising that morning and I was looking forward to going home and spending the night with Jade.

On the way sa condo, nagkikuwentuhan lang kami.

I asked how her rehearsals went and okay naman daw.

She asked about the treatment and I told her na things are going well.

"Maganda ang response ni Papa sa chemo and we're hoping na this would help him," sagot ko sa kanya.

Jade said she had a surprise for me.

Kinulit ko siya kung ano pero sinabi niya na I have to wait.

Once we reached Edsa, naramdaman ko na atubili ito dahil she kept tapping the steering wheel.

"Are you sure you're okay, Jade?" tanong ko sa kanya.

Hindi niya maitago ang excitement dahil kumikinang ang mata nito.

"I'm okay, Althea." Sagot nito.

We were on a red light nang bigla akong tinapik ni Jade sa braso.

Tiningnan ko siya at nakaturo ito sa isang malaking billboard.

It was of her donned in a red and white racing suit with the word "fearless" emblazoned in the middle.

Siyempre pa, nasa lower right corner ang trademark ng bench