"Are you sure you want to go with me to the hospital?" tanong sa akin ni Neil while I am combing my long and thick brown hair. "Yes, I'm sure. Okay na ako, okay? Sure na ako'ng tapos na ang period ko," matigas ko'ng replied sa kaniya to let him know na naiirita na ako sa tanong niya, then tumayo na ako sa upuan after fixing my hair. "I'm actually ready to go," nakangiti ko'ng sambit sa kaniya."Okay, if you say so. Let's go then," tugon niya na hindi na ako tinanong ulit at baka mabigwasan ko na siya.Mabilis lang ang byahe namin papunta nang hospital since malapit lang sa palasyo at dahil maraming reporters sa front door ay sa likod kami dumaan."Aren't they tired? They've been here for freaking five days straight," banggit ni Neil while driving paikot ng hospital."Wala, naghihintay talaga sila nang news from the palace kung kumusta na ang King. Kahit ako ay curious, eh. Not unless, someone would stand up at magsasabi kung ano ang totoong estado nang King," wika ko at nagkibit-bali
"Where's your husband? Mag-isa ka lang now sa kwarto?" tanong ni Diana over the videocall."Yes, apparently. Nasa ibang bansa siya now and closing a deal according to his Mom. I don't know," kibit-balikat ko'ng response at nahiga ako sa kama after combing my hair.Hindi ko na alam ang iba pang detalye since he is not responding to my texts and calls. Ewan ko sa kaniya. "According to his Mom? Are you telling me na hindi ka man lang tinatawagan or tine-text ng husband kuno mo para lang sabihin kung nasaan siya, or send you a message to greet you and say 'hi'?" sunod niyang tanong at kumunot na ang dalawang kilay niya."Yup, magtu-two weeks na. One week to go at kapag hindi pa rin siya nagpakita sa akin aalis ako dito at mag-isa ako uuwi nang Pilipinas just like what we talked about. Wala na ako pakialam sa kaniya. Bahala siya sa buhay niya," mariin ko'ng sinabi na may pagtatampo sa tono nang boses ko dahil two weeks na niya ako hindi man lang kinakumusta. Makita niya kapag siya bumali
Tanghaling tapat ng dumating si Princess Lorainne sakay ng puti niyang sasakyan."I will just change my dress and I will head to the hospital to visit Dad," bulong niya sa sarili na may pagmamadali at nag-park siya kaagad ng sasakyan, bumaba at pumasok sa loob ng palasyo nang napahinto siya dahil nakarinig siya nang ingay mula sa hagdanan."What's that noise?" tanong niya sa sarili at dahan-dahan siya na lumapit to see what's happening."Wendy!!!" sigaw ni Neil na may inis sa tono nang pananalita niya dahil iiwanan na lang siya basta-basta nang asawa niya kaya hinabol niya si Wendy na pababa na nang hagdan na may dalang maleta.Kumunot ang dalawang kilay ni Princess nang makita niya ang dalawa na nagsisigawan na naging dahilan kung bakit nagtaka siya kung anong pinag-aawayan nila kaya naman lumapit pa siya nang husto to hear what they are fighting about."I said give it back to me!!!" sigaw naman ni Wendy at padabog na hinabol si Neil dahil inagaw nito ang gamit niya. Habang si Princ
"Are you going back to the hospital later?" tanong ko sa kaniya while he hugged me from the back."Yes, I need to, at marami ako idi-discuss kay Dad since I am taking a break," sagot niya and he planted small kisses on my left shoulder na naka-exposed."Gaano kahabang break ang hiningi mo?" I asked more para alam ko kung aalis ba siya ulit at iiwan ako."Just one week at sabi ni Mom ako muna ang bahala sa other businesses ni Dad at baka ma-overfatigue siya. We don't want him to have another stroke," malungkot niyang replied at ipinatong niya ang baba niya sa kaliwa ko'ng balikat."I see. Um...aalis ka ulit?" tanong ko at lumingon ako sa kaniya."Yes. Pero 'wag ka mag-alala dahil from now on isasama na kita. Two weeks without you is fatal, baby. I wouldn't dare to do that again since you are capable of leaving me lalo na kapag may kasama ako ibang babae. Baka isang beses pa ako umalis at makita mo ako na may kasamang ibang babae, hindi na kita maabutan dito at hindi na kita mahanap. Se
Masaya na nagkukwentuhan ang King at Queen kasama si Princess Lorainne nang dumating sila Wendy at Neil. Nagbatian silang lahat nang lumapit si Princess sa nakababatang kapatid. "Let's talk for a minute outside and there's something I want to talk about with you," sambit ni Princess ng seryoso at tumingin siya sa parents nila. "Excuse us for a moment," aniya at hinatak na niya ang kapatid palabas ng kwarto.Pumunta silang dalawa sa walang masyadong dumadaan na tao at doon ay nagharap sila."Okay, we're safe here," wika ni Princess ng makasigurado siya na walang tao sa paligid nila by looking left and right around them."You're acting weird," banggit ni Neil dahil napansin niya na iba ang inaasta nito."Me, weird? Mabuti nga at ako ang nakarinig sa inyo ni Wendy at hindi si Mom and Dad, dahil kung hindi panigurado ay papagalitan kayo'ng dalawa. Lalo na ikaw," mariin na tinuran ni Princess at dinuro niya ang dibdib nito."Anong pinagsasasabi mo? Can you elaborate to me what you're sayi
"Mom, go ahead and go home. I will be the one to watch Dad. You've been here for days," sambit ni Princess sa Mom niya after nila kumain at nag-aalala na rin siya sa kalagayan nito. "No, my daughter. I will stay here. You should be the one to go home and I know you are tired from work. I have nothing to do anyways so, I will stay here and watch your Dad," banggit ni Queen Kristine na hindi nagpatinag sa anak niya at dahil alam niya na marami rin ginagawa ito.Samantala si Wendy at Neil ay nagliligpit ng mga pinagkainan nila, at hindi nakikisali sa diskusyon ng dalawa."No, Mom. I will watch Dad—" matigas na pagpupumilit na wika ni Princess nang bigla siya natigil sa sasabihin niya dahil biglang nagsalita ang Daddy niya."Go home, my daughter. I rather want my wife to watch me than you. And I know you have a lot on your plate right now so, go and have some good sleep. We will be fine here," tinuran ni King Noha na mas pinili ang asawa niya na makasama kaysa ang anak nila."You're just
"It's good to be back home," tinuran ni King Noha when he finally set his feet again at the palace after he had a stroke."Remember, do not overfatigue yourself again or you will surely be back at the hospital. Okay?" reminded ni Queen Kristine at ayaw niya na bumalik ito sa hospital. "Do not worry, I am strong like a horse," pabirong sambit ni King Noha."Yeah, right," komento na lang na sabi ni Queen Kristine at lumingon siya kay Neil at Wendy na pinapanood lang sila. "How about you two, do you have plans for today?" tanong niya sa mag-asawa."Actually, we are going on a trip. We'll be gone for one week but if you need anything just call us," sagot ni Neil without hesitation at gusto niya ma-solo ang asawa niya after they have been away for how many weeks because of his work."I see. I know you miss your wife so much, son, so we're not going to stop you. Go ahead and have fun. You deserve it," masayang responded ni Queen Kristine at nilapitan niya ang dalawa to give them a warm emb
For one week, Neil and Wendy spent their whole day together as they explored different places in Singapore without any problems or complications. Whilst, every night they would make love and enjoy their own world together.———"Good afternoon, Mom," bati ni Neil sa mother niya nang makauwi sila ni Wendy from one week vacation at lumapit ito at him to give him a warm embrace. "Good afternoon po, Mom. How are you po?" maligayang bati naman ni Wendy at nagyakapan din sila ni Queen Kristine."Welcome back to both of you. So, tell me, when will I hear baby news?" pabirong sabi ni Queen Kristine at hinimas ang tiyan ni Wendy like she is putting spell on it.Pareho na tumawa si Neil at Wendy sa tanong nito."Soon, Mom," maikling replied ni Neil like he is expecting it too."That's good news, son. By the way, come with me and I have something to tell you," bati na singit ni King Noha at tinapik niya ang kanang balikat ng anak niya as he signals him to come with him, at nauna na siyang naglaka