🌺

"Will you stop crying? Hindi pa ako patay, Georgina."

George scowled at Dos as his lame attempt to crack a joke. Kanina pa nakaalis sina Jarvis at Dr. Zamora after giving Dos a quick but thorough look. Siya naman ay hindi matigil sa kakaiyak dahil sino ba naman ang matutuwa knowing that your boyfriend—yes, he is still her boyfriend, is suffering an illness. At hindi lang 'yon basta lagnat o kung ano. It was fucking cancer!

"How can you drop a bomb like that and expect me to not react like this?!" bulalas niya dito at mas lalo pang umiyak.

Now she understood why he had pushed her all these years. Tapos 'yung sinabi pa nito noong debut niya. About her not deserving a wilting rose or something.

Pero hindi niya maitatanggi na may kaunting tampo siya dito. Bakit hindi ito nagtiwalang kaya niya? That she can very much take care of him? Na kahit anong pagsubok ang ibigay sa kanya, kakayanin niyang lampasan iyon para dito?

"Why did you hide this from me?!" dagdag niya pa. "You've been suffering all these years tapos I had no idea? All this time inakala ko that you were just playing with me tapos may sakit ka pala! You could've told me about it! I can take care of you—"

"You don't need to, Georgina," kalmadong sagot nito. "You can't waste your time taking care of me. You have a whole life ahead of you."

"But I want to because I love you!" bulalas niya. "And a life without you isn't a life worth living, Dos. You should know that by now."

Dos heaved a sigh and gently brushed her hair before his knuckles trailed her tear-smeared cheeks. Then he leaned in to kiss her lightly on her forehead.

"I know and I'm sorry for pushing you away," he said as he wiped her tears off. "And I'm sorry kung naramdaman mong hindi ko gusto magkaron ng pamilya kasama ka. But that's my only dream, baby. Ang bumuo ng pamilya at makasama ka habangbuhay. Pero hindi ko kayang ibigay 'yon sa'yo. I'm on borrowed time. I'm not even sure if I'd last long enough to see your hair go white."

"I don't need a forever, Dos," she said as she looked him straight in his eyes. "I'd take anything you can give. Be it an hour, a minute or even a measly second. I'll take it as long as I get to spend it with you."

Niyakap siya ni Dos ng mahigpit and she buried her face on the crook of his neck. He gave her light kisses on her head as they stayed like that for a few minutes. Maya-maya ay naglagay ito ng espasyo sa pagitan nila.

"Do you want to eat something? Sigurado akong nagutom ka sa kakaiyak mo," offer nito which made her nod.

Sa totoo lang kasi ay hindi pa siya nagdi-dinner mula ng dumating ito. She was in the middle of contemplating whether to order something for herself or just go to the mall and eat out. Buti na lang pala at tinamaan siya ng katamaran. Otherwise, this wouldn't have happened.

Tumayo siya mula sa pagkakalong kay Dos. He too followed and even kissed her cheek before heading straight towards the kitchen. Noon niya lang napansin ang pag-vibrate ng telepono niya na nakapatong sa coffee table.

"Naia? Napatawag ka—"

"Is Jarvis there?" tanong agad ng babae who sounded frantic over the line. "Pasensya na George but I need to speak with him. It's an emergency."

"Kakaalis lang nila around twenty minutes ago," sagot niya dito. Sakto namang napatingin siya kay Dos who was already looking at her with an eyebrow raised. She mouthed 'Naia' to him and he went back to checking the fridge for supplies. "Why? Is there anything wrong? Is my inaanak okay?"

"Mavi's fine, George. Pero feeling ko, madadagdagan ang bilang ng inaanak mo ngayong gabi."

Her forehead creased. "What? Are you pregnant again?"

"Huh? Hindi!" bulalas agad ng babae. "Si Yoon, George. Yoon's gone into labor. Kakatawag lang ni Inno."

"What?! Yoon's in labor?!"

Napatingin agad sa kanya si Dos. He too looked genuinely shocked.

"Yes," kumpirma nito. "Papunta na sina Box, Yvo at Cole sa ospital ngayon. I can't 'coz I have to take care of Mavi 'coz we can't seem to get a hold of Seven. Si Synn din hindi ko ma-contact. So I was hoping nandiyan si Jarvis para matulungan niya 'yung kuya niya since none of the guys here know anything about the stress of having your wife give birth—"

"Wait lang," putol niya sa babae. "Isn't it too early? I mean, last time I chatted with her online, she said she was just seven months pregnant."

"Kaya nga hindi kami lahat dito ready—Box wag 'yan! Hindi pa kailangan ng walker nung mga baby! Get Mavi's carrier instead!"

She could hear all sorts of panic sa background.

"Yvo hindi pa kaya kumain ng baby ng cookies! Bakit mo pinapasok 'yan sa bag?!" It was a different girl's voice. Baka si Cole na 'yon.

"Alam ko 'yon hindi ako tanga. Para sa'kin 'to 'no! Bawal na ba magutom sa ospital?"

"Eh bakit sa nursing bag mo pinapasok? Put it inside your own bag, stupid!"

"Ate Naia, itong stroller din po isasama ko? Di ata kasya yung kambal sa isang carrier lang eh."

"Oh shoot!" Si Naia na iyon. "Pwede na ata yang stroller muna."

Nagulat siya nang biglang hablutin ni Dos mula sa kamay niya ang telepono.

"Naia? Yes. It's Dos. May biniling carrier si Inno at Yoon. Nasa storage. Yes. Doon. Meron ding mga feeding bottles at new born baby clothes sa paper bags katabi 'non."

Napatingin siya sa kasintahan. How did Dos know? Was he that close to Inno? To Yoon? And he's not usually the type to meddle with his cousin's or brother's business.

Pero there's something in the way he talked—more like commanded, that looked very sexy and attractive. Napakagat tuloy siya sa kanyang labi.

"Pupunta kami ni George. We'll just eat— I can practically see you grinning, Naia. Stop that. Okay. Bye." Ibinaba n ani Dos ang telepono at bumaling sa kanya. "Will you be fine if we just grab some take out? We can eat on our way there."

She can't help but just stare at him. She's still overwhelmed with everything she just found out. Samu't-saring emosyon ang nararamdaman niya ngayon and she couldn't focus on what she should be feeling at that very moment.

"Dos," she called making him turn his attention towards her almost immediately. "Do you... Do you love me?"

Kitang-kita niya ang pag-kunot ng noo nito. "Yes. Sinabi ko naman sa'yo diba? I love you. I've been loving you since I was seventeen—"

She didn't let him finish and kissed him. She was on her tippy toes while her arms were wrapped around his neck. Ramdam niya ang pagkagulat ni Dos ngunit agad naman itong natauhan at hinagkan siya pabalik. Bumaba ito ng kainti at niyapos ang maliit niya katawan bago siya buhatin at paupuin sa may kitchen counter.

"Galit ako sayo," she muttered in between kisses as she started to cry again. Dos cupped her face and gently wiped her tears.

"I know, baby. I'm sorry," he whispered as he tucked the loose strands of her hair behind her ear. "I promise to make it up to you. Please stop crying. Hindi ko kayang nakikita kang malungkot."

"Pero natiis mo ako for ten years," sumbat niya dito. "Pinaiyak mo ako for years—"

"I'll make up for that too," putol nito sa kanya sabay kintal ng isang magaang halik sa mga labi niya. "I'll make up for all the pain I've caused you. I did what I did because at that time, that was the only way I could protect you from getting hurt. Inakala ko na mas okay yung maaga pa lang ay mawala na ako sa buhay mo para hindi ka na masaktan in the future. I was wrong because I failed to remember how stubborn you are."

"Mahal kasi kita," aniya. "Kahit paulit-ulit mo akong saktan, I will still end up loving you, Dos. And kahit pa may posibilidad na iwan mo ako uli, mamahalin pa rin kita."

"And I will love you 'til my last breath too, Georgina." Hinawakan nito ang kanyang kamay at masuyong hinalikan ang likod 'non.

Hindi nanaman magkandamayaw ang paglandas ng mga luha sa kanyang mata. It took hours for her to finally calm down and they finally went to the hospital to check on Yoon.

Pagdating nila doon ay agad nitong hinanap ang mga bata. She was a little bit shocked dahil daig pa nito si Inno sa pagka-excited makita ang kambal. She was excited too but, Dos was on a whole other level.

"Maybe you can make an exception?" ani Dos sa isang nurse. He even dared hold her hand. "Kahit ngayon lang, miss."

She wasn't jealous or anything dahil mas natawa pa nga siya at his lame attempt to seduce the attending nurse. Pero given his good looks and innate charm, they got to see the twins before Inno or Yoon could.

"Patay ka kay Inno kasi inunahan mo siya," she teased him. "Pero you're mas patay sa'kin. Who gave you the right to flirt with that nurse right in front of me, huh?"

Dos' smile faded as she folded her arms. Kunwari ay badtrip siya. She wanted to tease him because it wasn't right na unahan pa nito si Inno at Yoon makita ang anak ng mga ito.

"Baby—"

"Don't baby me," she spat. She worked her butt off of Teatro so her acting should be convincing. "Tawagin mong baby yung nurse na nilalandi mo kanina. Happy ka 'don."

She rolled her eyes before turning her back at him for an added effect. Lihim siyang napangiti dahil sa ginawa. And also because Dos looked like he just legit saw a ghost.

But before she could even walk out completely, nahuli nito ang braso niya and he pulled her back—into his waiting arms. Napasinghap siya nang bigla na lang siya nitong halikan.

Agad niya itong tinulak palayo. They were in a freaking hospital!

"Dos!" impit niyang hiyaw dito. But he refused to let her get away kaya't hapit pa rin siya nito sa baywang. "We're in a hospital—"

"You're jealous," seryosong sambit nito. "I had to kiss you para patunayan sa'yong wala kang dapat ikaselos."

She felt her cheeks heat up so she rolled her eyes at him. Di niya napigilan ang kilig kaya't napangiti siya dito.

"But, I do find you hot when you're jealous," dagdag nito. "Maybe I should flirt with other girls more often to get this kind of reaction from you, baby."

"Or maybe I should just dump you, jerk," she rebutted. Dos chuckled and olayfully pinched her cheek. "Ouch! Masakit!"

"I call you 'baby' tapos 'jerk' ang endearment mo," he teased. "How sweet."

"What do you want ba?" pagsakay niya sa pangiinis nito. "Do you want me to call you 'daddy'?"

Nagulat ito sa sinabi niya at biglang napaubo. She grinned. Her annoying cat can be quite shy din pala pag minsan. Time for payback.

"Ooh," she muttered innocently. "You have a daddy kink pala. Why didn't you say so? I'll call you daddy na lang from now on kasi you call me baby—hey!"

Dos suddenly pulled her towards a door. Fire exit ata yon, and pinned her by the wall close to the corner. She could clearly see his eyes go blank. Is he... mad?

"W-What?" she stuttered while looking at him. "A-Are you mad? I was just joking—"

Instead of answering, he stepped closer towards her and pressed his body over her. Napasinghap siya. She felt him awake and hard.

"Stop testing me, baby," bulong nito sa may tenga niya. Napalunok siya. "We can lock the bathroom again and see where this supposed kink takes us."

Her heart started to pound inside her chest loudly. Sobrang bilis din 'non at tila nanghihina din ang mga tuhod niya.

She wanted to test him. Kung ano man ang binabalak nito, she was all for it.

"W-We can go home na lang," mahina niya suhestiyon dito and her hands went up his chest. "I mean, I think Inno's fine on his own and Yoon will be awake tomorrow pa so..."

Dos groaned when her hands trailed down towards his bulge and started to gently massage it.

"Damn it, baby," he muttered like he was fighting something inside him. She chuckled.

"Or, we can always use your car," bulong niya dito. "I think I just saw a dark portion there sa may parking lot—"

Hindi na niya naituloy ang sasabihin dahil muli nanaman siyang hinila ng lalaki pababa ng emergency exit. He muttered some curses he couldn't quite understand kaya natawa siya.

She loves this man so much she's willing to give everything she can for him and more.

Even if in the end she'd end up hurt, at least she'd get to love and be loved by Dos Montecillo.

Until their very last breath.

🌺