Months after Kento recovered from GBS, Leah slowly began to feel exhausted and frustrated as well. When Kento started his therapies at the center, Leah would always be present and tried to learn as much as she could in the hopes of encouraging Kento to continue with the therapies and exercises on his own. She thought that because he was familiar with the therapies being a therapist himself, it would be easier for him. However, Kento didn't seem to be as enthusiastic as they hoped he would be. He was grumpy and complained a lot.

"Every person heals and recovers differently." Kristin, one of the head therapists, told Leah. Kristin noticed that Leah participated less and was starting to be less enthusiastic compared to when Kento started his therapies at the clinic. "I know it can be tiring and frustrating for you as it is for him. Pero, remember, napagdaanan mo rin ang pinagdadaanan ni Kento ngayon." Kristin reminded Leah of her therapies before.

"Di ko naman sya asawa..." Leah lamented to Andrea.

"...yun nga...pero mahal mo"

Leah looked at Andrea and nodded.

"Naaawa din ako sa Nanay at Tatay nya. Napapagod na rin sila..." Leah continued.

"Ikaw. Ano ang nararamdaman mo? Ano ang gusto mong gawin?"

Leah tearfully shook her head and shrugged her shoulders.

---

Leah was always with Kento. From the time he was diagnosed until he 'woke up', she was always present. The only time they were not physically together was when she'd take him home after his therapies. Things changed drastically since Kento fell ill. Somehow, GBS robbed Kento of his sweet, loving, and caring nature. Suddenly, the sweet texts and notes stopped. Many times, Leah would pull out the shoebox of notes from Kento. He started giving her these little notes and words of affirmation and encouragement a few weeks after he became her therapist. Leah would also tearfully watch and re-watch videos Kento made and those she filmed when they were together.

Because he was unenthusiastic, Kento's progress was slow. Although he could stand on his own for a few seconds, he hated having to try walking or taking a few steps on his own. He refused to do most things on his own; He seemed to enjoy how his Nanay doted and cared for him since he recovered. She took care of most of his needs and personal care. Tatay and Ate Ai soon admonished her for it.

"Oo nga't kawawa sya pero mas magiging kawawa yan kung hindi nya subukan gawin. Sabi ni Doc, kaya nya. Alam nya rin na kaya nya. Hayaan mo." Tatay said.

---

Kento was aware how tired and frustrated the people around him were but somehow he relished in the attention that was showered upon him. "Ilang buwan pa..." he naughtily thought to himself. But, after meeting Raffy, the little deaf boy, at the clinic, Kento immediately realized how painful everything was for everyone else and not just him.

On the way home from the clinic, he would glance at Leah from time to time as she looked out the window on her side of the car. Since his illness, he only reached out to hold Leah's hand when he first 'woke up', after that, he rarely tried to reach out to her.

Leah sensed Kento's glance and turned to him. "Bakit?" she asked. Dark circles around her eyes showed how tired and exhausted she was. Since Kento got sick, there had not been a day where Leah did not feel emotional or cry. Kento slowly lifted his arm and pulled Leah to lean on him. She was startled but carefully and slowly inched toward him.

"Thank you." Kento said. He buried his nose into Leah's hair, her scent instantly bringing back good memories and warmth.

Leah looked up at him and saw tears threatening to fall.

"Thank you kasi hindi ka sumuko. Hindi mo ako iniwan." Kento managed to say without his voice breaking.

Leah sat up and wiped Kento's tears with her thumbs. She too, began crying. She didn't reply but instead, gently pulled his face and pressed her lips against his then hugged him.

"Manang, dito mag-d-dinner si Kento. Mag-s-shower lang ako." Leah said as soon as they arrived at her house. She pushed Kento's wheelchair into the house.

"San mo gusto?" Leah asked Kento.

"Sige na, umakyat ka na at mag-shower. Ako na bahala sa sarili ko." Kento said. Leah was surprised by Kento's reply. After he was discharged from the hospital, Kento would normally and dryly say "kitchen" or "sala". Leah would then rush to do whatever personal agenda she had and immediately return to Kento. They would eat in silence, hang out for a little bit, and then she'd bring him home. Tonight, however, Kento gently spoke and reassured Leah that he would manage himself.

---

When Leah came out of her bedroom, she thought she was imagining hearing soft piano music being played. Her life since Kento's confinement became so routinary that she hardly noticed changes in her (immediate) environment unless it was mentioned to her. Leah wondered if they had new neighbors or if someone just decided to play their music louder than usual. Although the music sounded muffled it seemed to get louder as she neared the living room at the foot of the stairs. Leah scanned the first floor of the house in search of Kento. She walked to the kitchen but found it empty. Ate Yolly appeared from the back door with a plate of food and asked, "Kakain na kayo?"

"Si Kento?"

"Sa sala? Hindi ba ikaw ang nagpapatugtog ng mga piyesa ng Daddy mo?" Manang Yolly asked as she brought the plate to the table.

"Umakyat ako at naligo" Leah replied. Manang Yolly looked at her and saw that her hair was still wet.

Leah slowly walked toward the den. She only entered this room when Kento needed help in the toilet. She was still apprehensive about picking up her violin again. The music seemed to become louder as she came closer. Once she got to the door, the melody suddenly became very familiar. It was one of her favorite pieces that she and her dad also used to play together before – Daddy on piano, Leah on violin. Leah felt goosebumps on her arms when she realized who the composer was – Beethoven. Suddenly, she remembered Raffy, the deaf boy at the clinic. Another surprise for Leah was that it was Kento who was playing the piano! And he was skilled! She only knew that he played in church when Nanay gave her a music sheet which she said she found in Kento's things when the family was arranging a space for Kento on the ground level of their house. Leah looked at the score and noticed that it was unfinished. According to Nanay, it was Kento's composition, but she had never heard him play it either.

Leah quietly stood in the middle of the den. Sensing a presence in the room. Kento slowly opened his eyes. He saw Leah watching him play, with tears in her eyes. Kento smiled, finished the piece, and them launched into an upbeat tune – the same song he sent to her at the beginning of their relationship.

(oh) LEAH can't you tell and see

What you're doing to me

Oh LEAH this feeling I just can't hide

Keeps driving me wild

Oh anna I need you here with me

I wish you could be

Oh LEAH won't you stay with me

Kento sang while playing. He nodded toward Leah and she came closer. Overwhelmed with emotion, she bent down and hugged Kento. She sat on his lap, forcing him to stop playing. He pushed his wheelchair away from the piano so that his hands could freely caress Leah's body as they kissed.

a/n:

youtube for the videos