Raining Cats and Dogs

        THREE days passed, and I kept myself busy working. It's also three days since I heard his sudden confession to me.

To be honest, I was startled when he suddenly confessed that he loves me in front of my parents, and siblings. It was so sudden for me that my brain couldn't process it.

Hindi naman niya ako pinilit na magbigay ng sagot pabalik. He gave me time to process everything.

"Mon amour. . ."

The bubble thoughts in my head suddenly evaporated when a veiny hand, held and raised my chin. My eyes grew wider when I saw Reeve, wearing an apron.

Get a hold of yourself, Kelsea. I chastice myself before I looked back at him.

"Ano nga ulit 'yon?" I asked, trying to rekindle our conversation earlier before my intrusive thoughts prickled my head.

"What does my wife want to eat for dinner?" he asked, leaning his lower waist on the kitchen counter.

I cleared my throat. "Beef Kaldereta,"  I answered.

He nodded and snapped his fingers. "Beef Kaldereta for my beautiful Kelsea, coming up!" His tone perked up.

Mabilis siyang tumalikod at nagsimulang kumilos. I smiled as I watched him cook our food. My mouth fell open when his arms flexed and his veins protruding. Wow! Ang sarap niyang tusukan ng syringe!

Tumayo ako nang nauhaw ako at bumalik kaagad para panoorin siya. I was enjoying watching him cook secretly when suddenly he looked in my direction, making me startled. He chuckled upon seeing my reaction.

"Why are you staring at my arms, wife?" he asked, teasing because he caught me eyeing his strong arms.

Napalunok ako. "H-Hindi ah!" My cheeks ignited in embarrassment.

His eyes narrowed. "Really?" 

"Y-Yeah!" I almost stuttered.

Mas namungay ang mga mata niya at umiiling na nag-iwas ng paningin sa akin. I pouted when I caught a cocky smile forming on his lips when he looked away.

Nang matapos magluto si Reeve ay sakto ang pagdating ni Celine galing sa laundry area. She did our laundry kaya hindi na siya pinatulong ni Reeve magluto. She already got a lot on her plate to help with cooking.

"Ma'am, Sir, Magdala nga po pala kayo bukas ng payong o di kaya'y kapote dahil magiging maulan po bukas sabi sa balita."

I looked at Celine. "Really? Oh my!" I sipped on my water, still looking at her. "Is there a Typhoon or just a normal rain?" I asked.

"Bagyo raw po sabi sa balita,"

"I have an umbrella in my car compartment, wife. You can use that tomorrow," Reeve muttered, looking at me.

Napatango ako. "I will. Thanks," sabi ko at tumingin pabalik kay Celine. "Thank you for informing us," nakangiti sabi ko.

IT started to become dark and at the beginning of the night, the rain started to pour. The window and veranda were already locked, but I could still feel the air inside the bedroom, growing colder as night fell.

I'm sitting on the sofa with my laptop on my lap, reviewing the hospital case we will be doing by tomorrow. Dra. Eunice already sent me the email of the additional part of it, but I'm having a hard time opening it.

I glanced at the direction of the bathroom, where Reeve went to take a shower. Maybe I can use his laptop to open the files?

The moment he got out of the shower, our eyes instantly locked. Pinupunasan niya ang basa niyang buhok gamit ang kanyang towel. He's already wearing black sweatpants and a grey muscle tee that looks so perfect on his body. His eyebrows drew together when he caught me as if waiting for him.

One corner of his lips rose when he saw me looking at him. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin at nagkunwaring nagtatype sa laptop. Pasimple ko siyang tinignan ulit at nakitang sinasampay niya na ang towel niya doon sa rack.

Nag-iwas ulit ako ng tingin nang maglakad siya papalapit sa sofa kung saan ako nakaupo. I gulped when he sat beside me and smell his foamy, musk, woody soap and his minty shampoo. Such a turn on! I took a deep breath and turned my body at him.

"R-Reeve," my voice slightly quivered.

"Yes, wife?" he quickly answered back like he was really waiting for me to speak.

"Can I borrow your laptop? I need just to open a file that I can't open using my laptop," I muttered sheepishly.

His amber eyes suddenly softened when he looked at me. "You don't have to ask for my permission. From now on, you own everything I have."

I blinked in a daze. "What?"

He stared at me before he stood up to get this laptop. "You can have my laptop, wife. You own everything I have. In short, What's yours, is yours. And what's mine is yours too."

I suddenly felt my heartbeat quickened in my chest. Hindi ako nakapagsalita.

He handed me his laptop. "Go on, do whatever you need to do. I'll prepare your milk downstairs." His lips lifted upwards, forming a soft smile before he marched towards the door.

Napabuga ako ng malalim na hininga noong tuluyan na siyang makalabas ng kwarto. Kailangan ko na siguro talagang masanay sa mga lalabas na salita sa bibig niya. I prefer him being blunt compare to his old self towards me, which he was acting stoic and mysterious.

I opened his laptop and pushed the power button so I can start reviewing the case. I snort when I saw that a password had to be entered before I could get to the desktop display itself. What's his password?

Is it his birthday? But I don't know his birthday.

Maybe my birthday? Am I considered thick face because I tried my birthday but it turned out to be wrong?

I puff a breath.

Matagal akong nakipagtitigan sa screen ng laptop niya bago kusang kumilos ang mga daliri ko. I typed the date of our wedding anniversary. I almost squealed for celebration when it opened, but it faltered when the desktop wallpaper appeared, making my mouth unhinged.

Kinusot ko ang mga mata ko dahil baka nagkamali lang sa nakita pero nang makita sa pangalawang pagkakataon ang litratong nasa laptop niya ay napasinghap ako. Bakit may picture siyang ganito? I don't remember seeing him before.

Heat scalded my face and neck while staring at the screen.

The picture he had on his laptop was the same picture I had in our house in Forbes! I think I was seventeen or sixteen in the picture. I am wearing a pink ballet costume that probably have been taken when I was still a ballerina. Although this picture seemed like someone took it from a far.

Nevertheless, I am flabbergasted knowing that I have my picture on his laptop!

"You opened it?" I almost jumped out of the sofa when Reeve entered the bedroom.

I lifted my chin despite the heat prickling my cheeks. Hindi kaagad ako nakasagot dahil sa pagkabigla. His face was gleaming in mischief when he sat beside me again with the glass of milk he prepared.

I pressed my lips hard before I took the bravery to ask. "H-How did you get this photo?" Tanong ko habang nakatingin sa picture ko.

His gaze went to the screen before it went back to me. "Oh, that. . ." There was a delay before he could answer. "I-I forgot where I got it," he shrugged.

My eyes narrowed, looking sceptical at him. "Ah. Okay," was my only answer.

I saw his lips formed for a peculiar smile.

NAPABUNTONG hininga ako nang makitang mas lumakas ang buhos ng ulan sa labas. This type of weather is perfect, especially if you are a student because school is probably suspended. All you need to do is to stay at home and do whatever you want without thinking about any of your school works.

What I hate about typhoons is many people are homeless. They sleep on the side of the road, battling for their lives against the cold. In addition, homeless animals like dogs and cats were suffering too.

"Dra?"

I turned around and saw Nurse Joyce. "Yes? Is there something wrong?"

"You need to see this, dra,"

My eyebrows knotted, but I still accepted the tablet and froze for a second when I read the words written on the screen. It was a copy of a legal document— A DNR. . . The patient signed a DNR, which means he decided not to have cardiopulmonary resuscitation attempted on him if his heart or breathing stops.

"What the heck? Where did you get this?" I blurted out. 

"He has a purple wristband, dra."

I froze. I sauntered towards the patient and carefully folded his sleeves, and there I saw a purple wristband for the patient who signed a DNR! I inhaled and exhaled a deep breath.

"What will do we do now, dra?"

I licked my lips, a little worried. "He's not a terminal patient, so the DNR doesn't count,"

"Pero, dra.  .  ."

I clasp hard the patient's chart. "Nurse Joyce, Come with me in the conference room. We need a briefing with the other departments," I command.

"Copy dra," 

Because the patient in my care signed a DNR, we went to the conference room with the other four departments to have a briefing about his case. The Orthopedics department for the musculoskeletal system, Neuro for the brain and spinal cord, anesthesiology for pain management, and Interventional Radiology are all present in the conference room.

We started the briefing about the patient, and after reviewing all of his medical records, we decided that the patient would be transferred to the care of the Anesthesiology and Neurology department.

Mga ilang oras pa ang lumipas at tapos na ang aking shift. It's still raining cats and dogs outside. I'm already wearing my Chanel 1995 cropped jacket, yet I still feel the cold lingering on my skin. Mukhang walang balak na tumila ang ulan. 

I felt my phone vibrating from my pocket, so I took it out and checked who messaged me. It was a message from various people telling me about the typhoon. There were also three text messages from Reeve that I quickly read.

Reeve:

Is it still raining cats and dogs there? Take care of yourself, wife.

Reeve:

Use the umbrella I gave to you earlier.

I gasped and the heat burned my cheeks when I read his third text. How blunt can he be?!

Reeve:

Don't get wet in the rain, wife. I will only allow you to get wet when I'm eating you :)

He even put a smiling emoticon in his text! How naughty! I bit the inside of my cheeks before I decided to compose a message for him.

Me:

I will use your umbrella, don't worry about me and just worry about yourself. Can you also lessen your bluntness? I can't handle it! 

Ibinaba ko ang cellphone ko nang mapansing bahayang humina ang ulan. Mabilis akong sumilong sa payong na pinadala ni Reeve at naglakad takbo papunta sa sasakyan ko. Thanks to Reeve's umbrella, I didn't get wet until I reach home.

My eyes grew wider when Celine who is mopping the floor welcomed me. She slightly jumped out when she saw me. Bumaba ang mga mata ko sa tiles at napansing basa ang sahig.

"Celine, what happened? Bakit basa ang sahig?" I asked in confusion and curiosity.

Napakamot siya sa noo at parang nagdadalawang isip na sumagot. "Ma'am. . . Ano kasi, 'eh."

"Did the ceiling leak, causing the tiles to get wet? Or did it flood outside, and the flood made its way inside?"

Umiling siya. "Hindi, Ma'am! Ang totoo po niyan ay dumating na po si sir Reeve na basang-basa po sa ulan." She bit her bottom lips. "Akala ko nga po lumangoy siya sa baha,"

"What?!" I exclaimed out of horror.  "Where is he? I didn't saw his car in the garage!"

"Iniwan raw po niya sa restaurant niya dahil baha doon sa kalsadang dinadaanan niya."

I gasped and covered my mouth. "You mean to say he commuted?!"

She nodded. "Opo, Ma'am."

Tumango na lang ako sa kanya at mabilis na dumiretso sa kwarto namin ni Reeve. The moment I opened the door, my eyes instantly darted to the tall and muscular man sitting on the sofa. Mabilis akong lumapit sa kanya at sinapo ang mukha niya. I cussed when I felt how hot he was!

"What happened?" My voice was gentle, painted with concern. "Why the fuck are you so hot?" I asked.

Mapungay ang mga mata niyang tumingin pabalik sa akin. "W-Wife?" His voice is low, and a bit raspy.

I nodded and sat beside him. "Celine told me what happened. Is that true?"

"Y-Yes." He seems shy about mentioning it. His lips pursed, and his forehead slightly knotted. "I-I rode a bus, then a taxi," pag-amin niya.

My nose scrunched in annoyance. "Bus?! Pauwi dito? It's raining cats and dogs outside!"

I stiffened when he leaned his forehead on my shoulder. "Hmm. . . I love that you care about me, but I'm okay, wife."

I shook my head. "No, you're not okay." I touch his foreahead, and his neck. "You have a fever!"

He shake his head and cupped my cheeks, mas naramdaman ko tuloy ang init ng katawan niya. "I'm okay, wife." He even smiled to make me not worry yet, I'm not convince.

I stared at him. His eyes were droopy, and his voice was low and raspy, a sign of fever. Not to mention that he's blazing hot right now.

"Shut up and go to bed, Zuriel Reeve!" Pinandilatan ko siya ng mga mata na ikinatahimik niya. "I'm the doctor here kaya sundin mo ang inuutos ko. Go to bed and lay down there while I prepare you something. Do you understand?"

"But wife—" Pinitik ko ang noo niya na nagpa-awang sa bibig niya. Inalalayan ko siyang tumayo papunta sa kama.

"No more buts!" Nilagyan ko siya ng comforter bago ko tinungo ang drawer kung saan nakalagay ang aking complete medicine kit. Kinuha ko doon ang unused thermometer at ginamit iyon sa kanya. Nahuli ko siyang pinapanood ang bawat galaw ko.

"Don't remove it until I say so. Do you understand? I'll just take a shower, then I'll make a soup for you."

He pouted. Napakamot siya sa noo at parang batang paslit na tumango. "Alright, Dra Kelsea," he said sarcastically.

I took a quick shower before I went to the kitchen to make a porridge for Reeve. It was just a simple lugaw na nilagyan ko ng itlog. I marched back towards our bedroom, holding the bowl of the porridge I cooked.

"Did the thermometer go off yet?" Tanong ko at dahan-dahan na nilapag sa side table ang niluto ko. "I cooked lugaw for you,"

He slowly nodded. "Yes, it did,"

I cussed silently when I saw how high his fever was. Binigyan ko siya ng matalim na tingin bago ko inilapag sa ibabaw ng side table ang thermometer at kumuha ng isang banig ng paracetamol.

"Shit! 39.1!" I glared at him when our eyes locked on each other.

Umungol lang siya habang namumungay ang mga mata. I took a deep breath at dahan-dahan na kinuha ang bowl at sumandok. Hinipan ko muna iyon at dinala sa tapat ng bibig niya.

"Say ahh, I'm gonna feed you para makainom kana ng gamot,"

"Ahh. . ." Matalim ko siyang tinignan nang malandi siyang umungol. He chuckled lightly but ended up coughing. 

I bit my bottom lips to stifle a laugh. "Ayan! Maligo ka pa sa ulan, ha?" I said sarcastically.

Sumimangot siya at dahan-dahang binuksan ang bibig kaya sinubo ko sa kanya ang niluto ko. There was a small smile painted on his lips that I didn't give meaning to. Nakakaanim na subo pa lang siya nang umayaw na siya at nagreklamong masakit ang ulo at busog na siya.

"Here, take this," I commanded, giving the medicine. I watched him taking the meds and water.

"T-Thank you, wife," bahagya akong nanigas nang yakapin niya ako sa aking tiyan.

I gulped, and caressed his hair. "Sige na, matulog ka na. I'll set an alarm later para makainom ka ulit ng gamot."

Hindi siya umimik at nakayakap lang sa'kin. I continued caressing his hair at inayos ang comforter sa katawan niya. "Sleep now, Reeve," sinubsob niya ang mukha sa may bandang tiyan ko at hindi na talaga nagsalita.

I sighed, but a soft smile crept on my lips before I slowly and carefully stood up to get a damp and cold compress I would use for him. I went straight to the kitchen to get ice and another bowl that I filled with water. Bumalik ako sa kwarto at sinimulan punasan ang noo, braso at leeg ni Reeve. I once again damp the towel and leave it on his forehead.

THE STORM had stopped the next morning, yet the damage remained behind and people were already outside trying to clean up the mess that the typhoon made. Nauna akong nagising at may lagnat pa rin si Reeve, although bumaba na iyon kahit papaano.

I won't deny that I worried about him, that's why I filed for a one-day off from work. 

Mahimbing pa rin na natutulog si Reeve nang bumalik ako sa kwarto. I slowly went to the side of the bed and placed the tray of food on the bedside table. I sat on his side and caressed his hair, waking him up.

"Wake up, sleepy head," I softly muttered.

Unti unti naman siyang nagmulat ng mga mata kaya kaagad ko siyang nginitian at kinapaan ng noo at leeg.

"Good morning," I greeted him.

Halatang nabigla siya na makita ako ngayon. His lips parted, and his sleepy eyes grew wider when he saw me. "Y-You didn't go to work?"

I pressed my lips together and shook my head. "No," I croaked. "I already prepare your breakfast. Eat, so you can take your medicine ," sabi ko pero nakatingin pa rin siya sa akin.

He sat from lying down and dipped his head into my neck. I felt his warm breath against my skin. "Thank you for taking care of me," he said softly.

Napalunok ako at bahagyang lumayo sa kanya. I took the bowl from the tray, and turned around at him. "I'm a Doctor, and it's my obligation to take care of you," I blew the food and started feeding him.

I watch him eat and drink his water. My lips lifted because he looked so cute, with his lips slightly pouting.

"So, tell me, how do you feel? Masakit ba ang ulo mo?" Tanong ko.

He shook his head, but his lips lifted in mischief. "My lips hurt. Do you want to kiss them and make them better?"

Kinurot ko ang matigas niyang sikmura kaya natawa siya ng mahina at hinapit ako para mayakap. Suddenly. I felt his lips on my head, kissing me there.

"I love you," he whispered, making all the follicles in my body shiver.

My heart begins to thrum, and my stomach swooped when he cupped my face. Napalunok ako nang magtama ang mga mata namin.

"I love you, Kelsea. You don't have to answer me back for now. I'll wait for you,"

"Hindi ka ba napapagod maghintay?" My voice became low and weak. "You've been waiting for me for 11 years. . . And now, you are willing to wait again," nahihirapang sabi ko.

"Listen to me, wife." He cupped my cheeks. "I won't get tired on waiting for you, alright?" he muttered while staring directly to my eyes.

My mouth fell open, but I quickly pressed it together when my heart beat quickened. "I-I need some time for a while to think about," I muttered, looking down, but he held my chin.

I looked at the man in front of me. Is he really for real? Do I deserve his love? Do I deserve someone like him? He's good to be true. He exceeded my standards in one sweep.

His eyes softened. "It's alright. I understand. Your feelings matter," he muttered gently, assuring me.

I looked softly at him. "I'll get there. . ."

A sweet smile slowly curved on his lips while nodding.

"That's enough for me not to give up," he uttered and kissed me on my forehead.

© Fushia