"LIFE WORTH LIVING"

"WHATEVER you are trying to say I think we'd better eat first so that you can rest," she said releasing herself from the young man and grabbing his arm then guiding him to sit on a chair.

"By the way, I haven't told you yet that Mama is coming home my sister, Danica," after a while while they were eating that's what she heard from the young man.

Ara's feelings are divided in two because of that.

She is happy because after a long time Daniel could finally be with his mother. And saddened because even though the young man had not yet told her the real reason for his sister and mother's reason for coming home, she seemed to have guessed what it was.

"We'll get a second opinion," he said in an encouraging voice then held her hand tightly.

Ara nodded then reached the young man's face and gently caress his cheek. "That's exactly what it should be, I hope the first diagnosis about you was wrong," she actually seemed to feel hopeful at what Daniel had said even though in fact there is still no certainty at all.

"Soon, I hope we can get married," when Daniel remained silent those were the words that escape the young lady's lips.

That was when she saw the young man's eyes seemed to lit up because she said. "Can we let Mama and Danica know about our plan? Is that okay with you?" he asked her.

"It's okay. If you want, let's take them as witnesses as well," with what she said, Ara felt the quick warming of the corners of her eyes, but she held back.

"I'm sorry if I can't give you the kind of wedding you really deserve, I'd still like to see you wearing a wedding gown."

Ara felt deep regret in Daniel's words but instead of feeling sad she just smiled instead.

"The fact that you are going to marry me, it doesn't really matter even if I wear a rag on our wedding day. The important thing for me is to be with you, that's what will really make me happy and nothing else," she said unable to suppress her own emotion which she quickly dried as soon as she felt them on her cheeks.

"I'm so sorry I'm just so happy and I can't help myself but cry," Ara even added when she saw the young man still staring at her. "And another thing, I believe it will not be the first and the last time, we still have silver and golden anniversary where we can be wed at the church, right? You would still be able to see me wearing a beautiful wedding gown," she told the young man.

It was when Daniel simply nodded and smiled, he reached for her and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"I'll take care of these, you can go to bed and take a rest," when she noticed Daniel has finished his meal already.

"Are you sure?" Daniel asked her.

"Sure, Mama hasn't taught me much about cooking yet, but I'm good at the house chores. You remember, I have my own rag that I use in the library, don't I?" she even reminded the young man.

When Daniel left her in the kitchen Ara started taking care of the dishes and utensils that they used in preparing dinner a while ago. As a matter of fact, there were only a few of them. But it took her a while because as soon as the young man came out, she finally shed her tears.

She immediately put the dishes in the sink and turned on the faucet so that the young man would not hear her crying softly.

There are no enough words to explain how heavy her heart feels at that moment. But she can't show Daniel that she is behaving like this. Because as she said before, he will draw his strength from her, so she needed a lot, she had to start saving so that she has something to give.

*****

HE had just come out of the bathroom and had just finished taking a bath when Ara entered his room, he knew that she had come from the kitchen and washed the dishes.

"Would you like me to lend you a shirt so you can have a change of clothing? Maybe you want to take a bath?" he asked the young lady who he noticed that her eyes were puffy but he decided not to mention them anymore and pretend that had not seen or noticed.

"Yeah sure, so that I smell good when you hug me," she replied to him then laugh softly.

"Why I'm very lucky that you love me so much," Daniel said as he took Ara's hand and pulled her closer to him for a tight hug.

"I am the one who's luckier because even though there are a lot of beautiful girls in the university who were trying to get your attention, I am the one you chose to marry, the one you chose to love, so much," Ara replied.

Daniel's heart was filled with unexplainable happiness when Ara told him that. If only she knew he is the same. That despite the many men she could love, he was still the one she chose. That even in this situation she still hadn’t left him.

It was then that he lovingly held Ara's small and beautiful face in his hands. Then he stared at it. He was struck by the admiring look in such a way that it seemed as if when he did that he could memorize every angle of it.

"I'm luckier because, despite everything, you still chose to stay by my side," he said. "Take a bath, I'll just hand you your clothes," he continued after a simple kiss that he planted on Ara's beautiful and small forehead.

It was then that the young lady just nodded and then entered the bathroom. He just followed her with his gaze and when she entered, he accidentally caught sight of the bed.

The mark that left there immediately grabbed Daniel's attention. At the same time the warm caress of happiness in his heart.

Ara was not the first virgin woman that he had in his life. But he was sure she would be the last.

It isn't because of his illness that could be the reason for his death. It is because of the fact that even though he would be able to survive this, he had no other woman to love other than Ara, and that is the reason why he offered marriage to her.

He was in such a state when he heard Ara's consecutive calling from inside the bathroom. Then he hurried to move and took a shirt from his built-in cabinet then handed it to the young lady.

"Oh your bedsheet," Ara said who also immediately noticed the red mark on the bed cover.

“Yeah, I’ll replace that don’t worry,” he said.

"But your maid will see that when she washes it," Ara said worriedly.

"I'll wash it now, okay?" Daniel said then smiled at her.

Ara just nodded at what he said and didn't speak again.

"I won't be long, or do you want to come with me?" he asked as he changed the bedsheet.

"All right, so you have someone with you," his girlfriend agreed with him.

Daniel smiled and then stared lovingly at his future bride. No matter how short his life will be, all he can say is that it has been meaningful, because of Ara.