Saving Harper

My pulse raced. I stared at Xavier, as he waited for my answer. I opened my mouth but biglang nag ring yung phone ko. It was my dad. I held my index finger up kay Xavier who couldn't believe that I was torturing him this much by answering the phone in the middle of his second proposal. If you call it one. It was a condition. Parehong hindi proposal yon! I didn't want flowers or anything fancy, I just don't want him blurting it out of the blue. "Dad?" I answered.

"Harper, we're here sa hospital. Your mom collapsed a while ago while checking on a patient." I know my dad was trying too hard to hide the fear in his voice. Probably because I was pregnant and he doesn't want me to worry. "Because of fatigue and her medication. Nothing to worry about."

Anong nothing to worry about? She collapsed! "What?! We're on our way." I said quickly and ended the call, kasi yun lang yung kaya kong sabihin. Natataranta akong tumayo, Xavier shared my panic when he saw my reaction. "What happened babe?"

"It's mom." Naluluha kong sinabi sa kanya and he quickly got my things and his car keys. Umiiyak nako nasa kotse pa lang and Xavier tried his best na pakalmahin ako. "Love, please stop crying, the stress won't be good for our baby." He was pleading. That finally subdued my OA thoughts. Pag dating namin, Xavier did everything, tumawag sya kay Hilda to find out where mom's room is and he held my hand telling me na it's going to be okay. If wala sya dito, I'll probably be in pieces already, baka di pa ko makapunta sa ospital or Jem would need to pick me up.

Xavier hugged me bago pumasok sa hospital room. "I'm here love. We'll do this together." He kissed me and like always, it instantly calmed me down. It gave me the feeling that I can do and face anything because I have him. I took a deep breath and opened the door.

Mom was lying on the bed sleeping and my dad was seated beside her, holding her hand. While si ate Holly, Hilda and Nick were at the couch, talking in whispers. Tumuloy ako kay dad and I hugged him. "What happened? Is it serious?" Holly was the one who spoke up. "She'll be fine. Matigas lang yung ulo. We already said she shouldn't be working anymore since she's on a much stronger medication. Same thing her doctor said. Doctors really are the worst patients." "Dad overreacted." Hilda controlled her face para hindi simangutan si daddy. "I told you she'll panic!"

"I said 'nothing to worry about' when I called her." My dad looked guilty. I sighed with overwhelming relief. Kahit itago ng tatay ko, I knew he was really panicking kanina. I guess I got it from him. I'm just glad my mom is okay. "I'm sorry anak if I scared you." He apologized. "It's okay dad." I was finally able to smile though I was still a little worried. I don't want to lose my mom just yet.

I wanted to stay with dad for the night to look after mom so Xavier also stayed with me while my sisters left to go home. Alam din ni Xavier that I was still a little bit shaken up so he never left my side. Hindi pa nagigising si mommy but my dad said it's normal so I just waited. Nakatulog na si Xavier sa tabi ko and my dad was reading some book when my mom finally stirred awake. I got up to go to her other side.

"Hey mom. Are you okay?" I smiled as I sat down sa matching armchair sa tabi ng kama nya opposite my dad.

"Yes better." She smiled back. It was only at this minute that I wished I was a doctor. Para alam ko at maintindihan ko what's really going on with her illness, hindi yung ako lang yung natataranta. Or I was the soft one they have to look out for because I was pregnant. But I guess, the panic won't ease no matter how much you already know about what's going on. Look at my dad.

"I don't have a single doubt anymore na nagkaron ka ng pasaway phase in your life." Umirap ako and it made her smile. "I told you I was just like you once upon a time."

"Well, grow up." I chuckled. "But seriously, you're a doctor ma. Tapos ikaw pa yung matigas yung ulo sa bilin ng doktor mo. Can't you see the irony?" It was now my dad's turn to chuckle. "Makinig ka sa nag iisang anak nating kaya tayong lecturan."

"Okay, I promise. No more work." My mom squeezed my hand. I didn't want to say out loud that I'm not ready to say goodbye. Stop thinking about it, pasaway ka din Harper, you're pregnant so don't stress yourself.

Mom finally spotted the sleeping Xavier sa couch and she smiled teasingly. Napairap ako ng nakangiti, her look was pretty much how Hilda eyed me nung umupo si Xavier sa tabi ni Nick when we arrived. "I have good news for the both of you." Also addressing my dad. "You're having a grandson." I beamed and naiyak si mommy while smiling and stretched her arms out wanting a hug so tumayo ako to hug her.

Dad looked really excited. "Excited nako sa lalakeng apo!"

"I bet you are. Just don't go overboard with all the toys, please." I eyed him. Kahit alam kong hindi naman sya makikinig sakin.

"I can't promise that." He returned to reading not letting go of his smile. I'm extra happy that Xavier and I are having a boy, at least my dad will get to experience yung may batang lalake running around the house. Both my mom and dad. "I'm so happy for you and Xavier. Was he excited?" My mom squeezed my hand. I turned to Xavier, na tulog parin. "He wasn't really particular sa gender. He'll be equally happy if we were having a girl."

"Wait until he has three daughters growing up right before his eyes. Aatakihin sya everyday lalu na pag may nanliligaw na or would suddenly announce she's getting married. Or pregnant." My dad joked while still reading.

I would love to see Xavier as a girl-dad. Baka nga masiraan sya ng ulo over a daughter na magpapakilala ng boyfriend. I could already imagine yung magiging itsura nya.

"I hope I get to see my apo grow up." My mom said. Umirap yung tatay ko shaking his head. Mukhang sanay na sya na ganito magsalita yung nanay ko pag silang dalawa nalang. "Ma! Wag ka ngang morbid!" I glared at her. "Of course you'll still see him... and makakaattend ka pa ng kasal namin." I trailed the last one. Might as well give them an intro. Lumaki yung mata ni mommy and her excitement doubled. "Okay na kayo? And he proposed?"

"Yeah, sort of. If we can call saying 'marry me' in the middle of an argument a proposal." Ngumuso ako. My dad was just grinning. Di ko alam if he considers it a proposal or what. Or he's not surprised that I was handed a marriage proposal in the middle of an argument.

"You said yes?" My mom asked expectantly, ready to celebrate another engagement.

"I didn't get a chance to answer because guess what? You scared me to death." Natawa ako ng konti. "But I think alam naman nating lahat yung isasagot ko. He's always been the one for me. The moment I fell in love with him, I was already waiting for us to get to this point. Or rather hoping that we could get to this point someday." I corrected. Oo nga pala, I fell in love with him when he was still my fake boyfriend. I was just praying for everything to become real. "So it won't matter if he said it that way or wrote it on a billboard, or planned a grand proposal, my answer will always be a yes." Although, technically, I did say 'no' sa car proposal nya. Kasi naman he did it ng hindi pa kami okay.

I now found it so easy to share yung mga ganito kong naiisip and nararamdaman sa magulang ko. And I'm happy na umabot na kami sa ganitong point sa relationship ko with them, finally.

My dad cleared his throat and inirapan ko sya kasi mamaya he's being too "dad", making up for those times na sinabi nyang aatakihin sya about seeing his daughters grow up and talk about marriage. But he pointed at my back so I turned around.

I gasped and napatayo ako sa gulat when I saw Xavier down on one knee while holding an engagement ring.

"Harper, I thought about all the ways I would ask you to spend your life with me." He started to say. "Dapat itatanong ko na agad pag balik ko, or habang nagmamakaawa ako for you to take me back. Or kahit habang gigil na gigil ka saakin and tinataboy mo ko araw-araw. I wanted to ask you to marry me everyday. I was ready for your 'No' and I was even ready that you'll throw this ring at me every single time that I propose, among all the other things that you want to throw at me. But I realized that I need to do it properly. And there's no other perfect place or time to do it but now in front of your parents because I know how much they mean to you and I want this question and this moment to be as important." Tears were now rolling down my cheeks and Xavier took my left hand. "I love you so much and I promise to take care of you and our son and lahat pa ng magiging anak natin in the future. I promise to give you everything and be everything you need and even more. I promise to be the person who deserves you. And I want nothing more but to do all of those things for the rest of our lives. I promise to find you in every lifetime and love you there." He smiled sweetly at me. "Harper Javier, will you marry me?"

"Yes." I nodded countless times as I cried because of all the happiness I was feeling. "Of course, yes!" Xavier slipped the ring on my finger and kissed it and stood up to hug me. "I love you so much, Harper." He whispered in my ear. "I love you too." I kissed him.

I was now lying down on his lap sa couch staring at my engagement ring while smiling stupidly. Who gets three marriage proposals in one day?

After all the congratulations my parents gave us (done with so much tears of joy), finally nakatulog na sila and kami nalang ni Xavier yung gising. He insisted na ako na yung humiga so I can rest properly since ayaw ko pa ngang umuwi. He was running his fingers through my hair para makatulog na ko. But I was still feeling euphoric.

"So you really had a ring ready?" Tinaasan ko sya ng kilay and he smiled down at me, looking pleased at himself. As usual. "I've had that for weeks already bago ako umuwi dito. And I've been carrying it around."

"Alam mo ikaw ang daya mo! You heard everything I said to my mom kanina! Alam mo na I would say yes." I said accusingly and he chuckled. Well technically I said 'no' the first time he asked me but the 'no' was really for the timing when he proposed. "Sabi ko naman sayo kanina gagawin kong everyday yung pag propose ko sayo. Yung 1% chance lang na ibibigay mo yung bubuhay sakin."

"But it wasn't only a 1% chance." It was a hundred. Or more. Sya lang naman talaga.

*

More than a week after, it was already Christmas Eve. The days after Xavier proposed sobrang hectic. We told everyone about our engagement and lahat gulat and hindi gulat at the same time. I guess everyone knew that this will be our ending one way or another. Xavier's family cried and his parents said that we should celebrate our engagement during Christmas Eve together with my family and surprisingly, sobrang saya din ng pamilya ko about that idea. Me and Xavier getting back together meant we fell back to our daily routine, meaning we did everything together and it was perfect. Kahit halos araw araw kaming nag aaway over our list of gifts we should buy for everyone. But it was fun because I couldn't believe at how different last year's Christmas was for me. Xavier was extremely excited about everything and nakakahawa din.

Nights were reserved to our planning which also resulted to arguments kasi he tried asking me a couple of times if I changed my mind over him going back to Seattle. He finally stopped under the threat na ibabato ko talaga sa kanya yung engagement ring na binigay nya. Which I would probably ask back din after a few hours. We agreed that he would go back to Seattle, but nagmakaawa sya that I let him take a leave from his classes next term para he can spend that time with our son. Syempre I said yes since I already asked a lot from him dahil pinapabalik ko sya don. I'll visit him every chance I can, and pag pwede na yung baby namin, I'll take him as well and we'll go to different states for our vacation pag nandun ako. Xavier will go home every term break. FaceTime and reporting everyday, so basically lahat ng dapat naming ginawa the first time he went there. Was I dreading the time na aalis na sya ulit? Yes, but it's different now. Now I know we'll be doing it the right way.

When we arrived sa bahay ng parents nya, Xavier wasn't kidding about them taking Christmas very seriously. I saw the decors his parents put up but it seemed to have doubled. The Christmas lights were now strewn sa lahat ng puno nila dito and it looked really magical. Our son will love seeing this, I'm sure of it. And yung loob ng bahay nila felt like Christmas itself. My family was in awe of everything. Mukhang magiging bagong Christmas tradition na din namin to since we're now one family.

Xavier pulled me aside after dinner while everyone was socializing. Since nandito din yung extended family nila tito from France, everyone was busy sharing stories. Even my parents were really enjoying and they seem really comfortable getting to know everyone. Well, with Xavier's family, that wasn't very hard. "Babe, I want to give you my gift early bago pa magkagulo mamaya sa gift-giving." He pulled me for a hug and handed me a small box. "You already got me a gift." I said pointing to the necklace I was wearing, which he gave me days ago.

"Actually this is for our son." He said as he kissed my forehead and I opened the box. It was a key.

"Don't tell me you got him one of those ridiculous electric cars na pinaguusapan nyo ni Franco last week!" I pouted. Boys. E hindi pa nga pinapanganak yung anak namin!

"I wish. Baka ibato mo sakin e." Natawa sya. Kahit alam kong someday, magkakatotoo yun. I mean him buying our son that toy, hindi yung pag bato ko sa kanya non. "Buti alam mo. So what's this for? Susi sa kayamanan mo?" I joked.

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"Sort of."

Wait. Was he serious??? I suddenly imagined a vault full of money and gold coins. Snap out of it Harper, hindi to Harry Potter. I think yun ang iniimagine ko kasi kinakabahan ako kung ano talaga yung binibigay nya sa anak namin. He grinned at my shocked and worried expression and led me out of the house holding my hand. Okaaaay sana hindi totoong kotse! I will find it extremely ridiculous if he gives our child a real car. Napaka wild din naman kasi ng mga pinag iiisip ko.

He led me sa isang gate sa side ng garden nila near tatay's house and he opened it. We emerged to the side of a driveway and a beautiful house stood in front of it.

Wait what?

"You're giving our son a house?" My jaw fell and my eyes were wide as saucers. "Our son, future kids, you, us. This is for our family."

I was stunned. Sobrang ganda ng bahay na to. Napansin ko na to dati nung nadadaanan ko to from the street driving to their house whenever I go here for family lunches or dinners. I wouldn't think this was the house Xavier said was his. But looking at it now, it has the same inviting charm nung bahay ng parents nya and ni tatay. I knew instantly that Xavier designed this with tatay.

"Ohmygod love... it's beautiful." I was finally able to say. Tuwang-tuwa si Xavier at my lost-for-words expression. Well who gives a house as a Christmas gift?

He led me inside to open it. As soon as my eyes glimpsed the interior of the house, I also saw our future. Xavier would come back from Seattle after his masters to start our family here, the both of us watching over our kids running around this house, family lunches with everyone. Xavier and I growing old together.

"You love it?" The answer was already plastered on my face, but I think he needed to hear it.

"It's perfect." I spoke from my heart and the picture of our family was even more perfect as it played on my mind.

As we walked around inside so he can show me the whole of the house, we agreed that we'll move here during one of his future term breaks. I didn't want to live here ng mag isa lang ako because I'll only miss Xavier too much.

Nagsimula na din kaming mag lakad pabalik sa bahay ng parents ni Xavier, not wanting to miss any other family happenings inside. Ate Tiff saw us and hurried towards us. "Where the hell have you been?" Sumimangot sya kay Xavier.

"I showed Harper our house, bakit ka galit?" Xavier asked Tiff. I was also puzzled at Tiff's expression.

"Kasi your feelingera of an ex just showed up!" Tiff said furiously.

Kylie is here? WHAT THE FUCK.

"Ano??? Bakit daw? I sure as hell didn't invite her." We all stopped mid-way.

"She's 'dropping off some gifts'. My god that girl doesn't know how to quit!" Tiff seethed.

I was now boiling inside. Tangina the nerve of that girl! After I told Xavier what happened before when I saw her sa hospital, Xavier said that he never answered any of Kylie's calls or messages after their 'closure' talk. I believe him because now I know that she's just a scheming bitch. Well, I'm not taking this sitting down.

"I'll talk to her. She shouldn't have come here in the first place. Hindi naman kami friends." ;Xavier faced me, assuring me that he would fix this.

"Kasi epal sya." Tiff chimed. So true.

We continued walking to enter the house and there she is. Standing awkwardly in front of everyone. I think she didn't expect na madaming tao ngayon.

"Hi Xavier! Merry Christmas." She smiled sweetly at him, walking towards us and looked at me hoping na maiinis ako. I glared at her. My right hand that wasn't holding Xavier's balled into a fist containing my gigil.

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Hilda and Holly were frowning and wordlessly asked me kung sino tong babaeng to na bigla nalang nandito asking for Xavier. I rolled my eyes at them to indicate na epal tong babaeng to who's not supposed to even be here. "What the hell are you doing here, Kylie?" ;Xavier asked her sternly. Yung anticipation ng lahat ng tao na nakapaligid saamin was so palpable.

"I went here to talk to you and give everyone their gifts. But I didn't count everyone kasi I didn't know they'd even be here." She was clearly talking about me. Inirapan ko sya.

"You're the one to talk. Look around, I think you're the only one here who invited herself. Pathetic." I said with a mocking smile. I can't believe I was so insecure sa kanya dati. Psycho bitch. Hilda, Holly and Tiff uncontrollably sneered and snickered out loud. I think for once masaya si Holly na hindi ako sa kanya bitch ngayon and it would be the start of their, albeit, unusual friendship.

"Excuse me, I'm here for Xavier." Tinaasan nya ko ng kilay. Gusto ko na syang sakalin ngayon and dig my nails through her face. Relax, Harper. Hindi! I can't relax! I don't want to relax habang nandito tong babaeng to. "Kylie, just stop. I think I made it clear the last time we talked na we're never getting back together. So just leave." Xavier was still being polite. To give Kylie a small amount of dignity bago sya umalis. But she stood her ground. "No Xavier! I said I'll fight for you. We can fix this! I can't let you choose her over me!" She now pointed at me and inirapan ko ulit sya. God, this is so embarassing for her. "Hindi mo nga alam if ikaw talaga yung tatay ng anak nya!" SHE. SAID. WHAT.

"Tangina, Kylie! Wag " Xavier started to say in an infuriated voice but I completely lost it. I let go of Xavier's hand and stepped closer to Kylie and punched her solidly on the nose. She staggered back holding her bleeding nose. "Fix that, you psycho." I retorted.

The loud gasps of our families were almost drowned by Tiff's half-suppressed laugh. Xavier was beyond stunned at what I did.

"What the hell!" Kylie recovered and lunged at me. Tangina, bring it on, bitch, matagal nakong nang gigigil sayo. But before pa sya umabot sakin, Xavier already stepped in front of me.

"Don't you dare touch my wife!" He roared angrily and grasped Kylie's raised arm that attempted to hit me in retaliation. Ivan, Peter and Nick also stepped in to hold down the crazed Kylie. They ushered her out and Xavier's parents followed. "Anak, we'll take care of this, dito ka nalang and take care of Harper." Tita Tanya was now fuming then lumabas na sya. Shit. Did I just ruin Christmas Eve?

Xavier turned to me worriedly. "Are you okay love? Nasaktan ka ba?" He asked seriously examining me. "I just punched your ex and you're asking me if nasaktan ako?" Hindi ako yung kailangan magparetoke ulit ng ilong. A small smile played on my lips and hindi alam ni Xavier kung matatawa sya saakin, or mag aaalala pa rin, or magagalit because I just started a fist fight in my condition.

He took my hand and medyo kumirot because a bruise was now forming. Lumapit yung apat na doctor sa pamilya ko and examined my hand. Tatay came forward with ice wrapped around a kitchen towel, wearing the same worried expression as Xavier's.

"It's just a bruise, no broken bones but kailangan mo parin ng x-ray bukas." My dad said. Mukhang hindi din sya agree sa ginawa ko because he was shaking his head the entire time he was checking my hand. Now he's discovering kung sinong pinaka makalat sa mga anak nya.

"That was an impressive jab, apo." Tatay chuckled and Xavier groaned. "Tay, don't encourage her. Saan ka nakakita ng buntis na nakikipag suntukan."

"Wag kang KJ Xavier. It was awesome!" Tiff cheered and sinamaan din sya ng tingin ni Xavier. Inalalayan na nya ko to sit sa couch as the adrenalin was already wearing out and nararamdaman ko na yung sakit sa kamay ko. "I can't believe I'm saying this love, but it was actually awesome." Xavier whispered to me quickly and proudly para hindi marinig ng iba. Alam ko namang hindi nya masasaktan si Kylie kahit gigil na sya so I just did it.

Who are you kidding Harper, matagal mo ng gustong gawin yon. Hell yes.

Xavier's parents came back kasama sila Nick and Ivan and told us what happened outside. Kinausap nila ng "maayos" si Kylie and she won't be bothering us anymore. I think tita threatened her. Pero itsura palang nya was already very threatening.

Tita and tito also checked on me. "Harper, I would appreciate it if you can promise me not to do that again. I think I almost had a heart attack when that crazy girl rushed to you para gumanti." Tita Tanya hugged me. "Sorry tita. I promise." I said guiltily. It was enough for her.

"Gross, feel na feel mo naman Xavier na ang gwapo mo." ;Tiff made a face at her brother na natawa lang. Xavier put his arm around me and the other one still iced my injured hand.

"Teka lang ha, am I the only one still hung up on what kuya Xavier just said over there?" Hilda finally spoke up addressing everyone. Yung ibang naka paligid saamin looked confused because they clearly weren't focused on the words exchanged because of what I did. But I caught what Xavier said and yung sinasabi ni Hilda ngayon. I bit my lower lip.

"You just said 'my wife'!" Hilda exclaimed.

Xavier and I looked at each other knowingly. Xavier faced them. "Yeah, about that..."