Once upon a Fall

Chapter 33- Fall

Dominique

It's my operation day. The one day that we are waiting. That we are praying. Halos lahat ng family ni Ken dinalaw na ako. They are giving me full support. They are giving me words of encouragement.

But the heavy feeling of not having my own child still lingers on my head. Nandoon pa rin ang insecurities ko na hindi ko kayang bigyan ng anak ang mapapangasawa ko... kung si Kenshin man iyon. Nahihiya ako sa kakulangan ko bilang babae.

Few hours bago ako dalin sa operating room, dumating si Joanna.
"Hello, nandito na ang source mo. Baka sakaling kulang eh." Biro niya sa akin.
"Bakit malungkot ka? Kinakabahan ka?"
Umiling ako at pasimpleng tiningnan kung maririnig ba kami ni Ken kung magkukwento ako.

"Ano problema mo, Dom?"
"I can't bear a child anymore. Magiging infertile na ako." Mahinang sagot ko sa tanong ni Joanna.
Hinawakan niya ang dalawang kamay ko at umupo sa kama sa tabi ko. Nakaharap siya sa akin at nakatitig sa mga mata ko.
"Alam mo ba ang kwento ni Sarah?" Tanong niya sa akin.
Umiling ako at nagyuko ng ulo.
"Sarah is Abraham's wife. Isa siyang infertile. But because of their faith, even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear a child."

"The God who bore Abraham and Sarah a son is the same God who acts generously when we cry for help and is the same God who can bless us with our heart's desire. Have faith, Dominique."

"Your battle is on its way and we want you to have faith. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. We will wait in here until you open your eyes and beat that cancer. Is it a deal?"
"Thank you, Joanna."I murmured.

"Dom, nandito na si Tita Kath at Ate Beth." Naputol ang pag-uusap namin ni Joanna ng lumapit si Kenshin. "Hihintahin ka namin dito."
"Kapag kulang, call a friend ka lang. Bigyan na kita ng extra kong buto." Biro ni Joanna sa akin.
Kenshin kissed my forehead.
"I love you, chief. Hihintayin kita." Bulong niya sa akin.

"Ready ka na beh?" Tanong ni Ate Beth ng lumapit siya sa amin.
"May sasabihin daw si Madam Allie sayo bago ka pumunta sa operating room."

"Pssst...Allie, nakipagchismisan ka pa d'yan." Bulyaw ni Ate Beth kay Ate Allie.
"May tinanong lang kay Tita Kath." Sagot ni Ate Allie.
"Hello Dom. May sasabihin ako sayo. Para sa ikapapanatag ng loob mo." Sabi niya.

Nakatingin ako sa itim na mata ni Ate Allie at naghihintay ng sasabihin niya.
"Sa buwan ng Pebrero, sa araw na dumarating tuwing ikaapat na taon, may isang bata na isisilang at tatawagin mong anak. Kaya huwag mo ng isipin ang mga bagay sa hinaharap." Nakangiting wika ni Ate Allie.
"Totoo?" Manghang tanong ni Ate Beth.
Nakangiting tumango si Ate Allie at kumindat kay Kenshin.
"February 29. Leap year." Joanna pointed out.

"Halika na beh, para gumaling ka na at masimulan yang oplan leap year mo." Tukso ni Ate Beth.
"Hihintayin ka namin, Dom." Joanna said cheerfully.
"Love you." Kenshin murmured when Ate Beth pushed the stretcher towards the door.

I asked Ate Cailee to let me sleep during the operation. Sabi niya, parang blood transfusion lang naman dun, not major na kailangan kong matulog but I still insist to sleep. Naging ako ng nasa kwarto na ako at inaayos ni Tita Kath ang IV fluid sa holder.

"Gising na siya." I heard Joanna said.
Agad na lumapit sa akin si Kenshin.
"You need to wear a mask all the time, Dom." Paalala ni Tita Kath.
"You're doing great." She said.

Naging every hour ang monitoring sa akin na halos hindi ako makatulog ng maayos. Sumusuka rin ako na at ang feedback ni Ate Cailee ay natural daw iyon. Side effects daw iyon ng bone marrow transplant.

Lumipas ang mga araw na nasa tabi ko si Kenshin. Hindi na siya umuwi sa kanila at sa hospital na talaga tumira kasama ko.

Isang umaga, nauna akong nagising sa kanya. Nakadukmo siya sa kama ko at natutulog.
"Ano ang nagawa kong mabuti sa buhay at binigay ka sa akin?" I murmured habang sinusuklay ng kamay ko ang buhok niya.
"Kung magkakaanak nga tayo Ken... I will start my bedtime story with him or her with... Once upon a fall, there is a young Prince that caught a maple leaf for a commoner..."
"... he didn't only catch the leaf, he also caught her heart. And he gave that commoner a reason to live."
"The young Prince fell in love to that stubborn commoner and they live happily ever after." Ken murmured then open his eyes.
"I like how you start our story." He said. He caught my hand that combs his hair and kiss it.
"How do you feel, chief?"
"Ready to catch a maple leaf for you this fall," I replied.
"Love you." He murmured.
"I love you too, Ken."

It is so strange that fall is so beautiful yet everything is dying. It is also strange that I found a reason to live when I was fading. Fall showed me how beautiful to let things go like the pain of losing my family and the bitterness of my sickness. There are things you can only learn from the storm like being courageous and having faith. God has a strange way of showing us how perfect our imperfect life. My life experience humbled me. And knowing Christ again brought me back to life.

-The End

------------
A/N

Walang Epilogue but I will write a special chapter bukas (hopefully)

Next story will be our FINAL for this series.
Gosh, matatapos na ang Country Club. Nakakalungkot.

Disclaimer:
Next story will have some scenes that would probably
contradict your beliefs. If your opinions and teachings are different from
what I will write, please respect and understand that this came from my perspective.

Thank you mga vhakla sa pagsubaybay sa story nila Dominique at Kenshin.
Mwaahhh