Chapter 22

CHAPTER XXII

I woke up to the smell of antiseptic. The room was all white and I figured out that I was in a hospital.

“Babe? Are you awake? I’ll just call the doctor. “

He went outside the room and I saw myself with a dextrose.

Ginalaw ko ang braso to find that my left wrist was wrapped.

“Good morning, Miss Isla. I am Dr. Raquiza Gutierrez. How are you feeling?”

“Fine.”

“Your cut was deep but thankfully, Mr. Doyle was quick to send you here. You’re all fine now but you need to take care of yourself. I suggest you to consult a doctor for your mental health.”

She left the room and Kade was now beside me, holding my hand.

“You made me worry so much. I thought I would lose you.”

“Kabit ba talaga ako?”

“No. I already ended things between me and Coleen. I cleared everything and we can be together now.”

“I hope so, Kade. I hope so.”

I was discharged from the hospital days after. I also consulted a shrink for those hallucinations. She told me to visit her every free time I have.

Kade brought me to his beach house, far away from the city. Far, far away from those toxic people.

I am okay now. Kade was treating me like I’m injured. He would always make alalay to me.

“Be careful, babe.”

“I’m not pilay, Kade.”

He was doing all the work. He cooks, cleans and even does the laundry and the dishes. Gusto kong tumulong pero ayaw niya.

“I want to help!”

“Hindi pwede. Let me do this. You’re a queen and a queen should sit on her throne.”

“Whatever.” I rolled my eyes.

“Stop rolling your eyes at baka pagsisihan mo.”

“Huh,”

I was there all day like a lazy b*tch. I would wake up, eat, watch movie, chill, eat, go for a walk, eat and sleep. Feeling ko nga ang taba-taba ko na.

“Kade, can you let me do the something please?”

“Okay, I’ll let you choose one chore. Just one, okay?”

“Yes po,”

“Yun lang ang gagawin mo.”

“Opo,”

“I want to cook.” I added.

“Okay, you’ll cook tonight’s dinner.”

“What do you like ba?”

“Can you cook your specialty?”

“Hmm, okay!”

“Now, go and watch some movie while I do the laundry.”

“Yes po,”

I went to the living room and opened the T.V. Ito lang ang tanging libangan ko because only he has phone. He wouldn’t let me use one as per advised by the shrink. Iwas daw muna ako sa stress, toxicity.

The following days were me cooking for him and him doing everything in the house. We were like husband and wife. Masaya ako and I think he is starting to gain my trust again.

Alam kong nagsisi siya sa ginawa niya. I accepted his apology to me.

“Sorry for what I’ve done, babe. I want your trust again. I’ll earn it even if it takes forever.”

He was sincere and sweet to me. Para bang ordinaryong tao na lang kami na ang importante lang ay ang pagiging masaya.

Simple lang ang buhay naming dito at ganito ang gusto ko kapag nagkapamilya na kami.

“What do you want our kids gender to be?”

“Gusto ko kambal. Girl and boy.”

“Me too. What do you want their names to be?”

“Siguro Drake and Dream?”

“I love those names, though.”

“When do you want to settle down?”

“I’m ready when you are.”

“I’m ready when you are. Though, gusto ko ng magka-baby.”

“Gusto mo gawin na natin ngayon?”

“Che! You have to first have the band on me.”

“You mean a ring? Soon, babe.”

It was ‘I-don’t-know-how-many-days’ already. I woke up without him. When I searched the whole house, he was nowhere to be found. I found a note on the fridge.

‘I’ll be out and be back tonight. I love you and take care. –Kade’

I cooked my own breakfast and ate while watching T.V. I was eating a lot and medyo hindi ko na napapanaginipan si Coleen. Medyo okay na ako. Maybe the days away from toxicity was getting in me.

Maghapon akong nandoon lang at nasa harap ng T.V. I was watching cartoons when a phone rang. I followed the sound to the bedroom.

I answered the call.

“Hello?”

“Hi, babe. Please wear the dress inside the box outside the door. And go to the beach.”

“O-Okay? You’re weird.”

He dropped the call. Alam kong andito lang siya sa tabi-tabi. I grabbed the ebox outside. It was a nude colored dress that reaches my knees. I wore slippers and tied my hair in a bun letting some strands down.

As I exit the door that leads to the beach, a song played.

Going out tonight, changes into something red

Her mother doesn’t like that kind of dress

Everything she never had, she showin’ it off

Drivin’ too fast, moon is breakin’ through her hair

She’s headin’ for something’ that she won’t forget

Havin’ no regrets is all that she really wants

We’re only getting older, baby

And I’ve been thinkin’ about it lately

Does it ever drive you crazy

Just how fast the night changes?

Everything that you’ve ever dreamed of

Disappearing when you wake up

But there’s nothing to be afraid of

Even when the night changes

It will never change me and you

“Hey there, beautiful.”

“What’s this?”

“You’ll see.”

He led me to a table where a candlelight dinner is served.

“How did you manage to do all this?”

“I went this morning to get everything needed and had some help from my friends.”

“Nasaan na sila?”

“They went home. Kanina pa.”

A mellow song was playing while we are eating.

After that, we had some talks and I was surprised when he knelt on one knee and popped the question.

“Isla, will you marry me?”

“Yes!”

I hugged him and gave him a kiss. I was teary-eyed while hugging him.

He slipped the ring in my ring finger.

Small diamonds are embedded along the band extending the brilliance of the center diamond. It has the initials K.E.D engraved inside it.

“You’re K.E.D?”

“Yes, Kade Edward Doyle. Why?”

“Do you remember giving someone a handkerchief back in high school?”

“Yes. It was, hang-on. Was that you?”

I smiled widely and nodded.

“I finally met my savior!” I exclaimed.

Indeed, I met the boy who comforted me and the man I am engaged to you is none other than the love of my life, Kade Edward Doyle.