The Famous Unknown

Epilogue

"Kuya, relax." He chuckled. "Mukha kang taeng-tae."

I glared at him. "Shush, you fucker. Naging ganito ka rin noong kasal niyo ng asawa mong tangina ka."

He shook his head. "Nasa simbahan ka pero ganiyan pa rin ang bibig mo." Humalukipkip ito habang nakatingin sa akin. "For Christ's sake, pangatlong kasal niyo na 'to pero kinakabahan ka pa rin? Ano ka, babae?"

"Hey, man! Congratulations!"

My eyes turned to Ian who's with our friends. "Thank you."

"He looks like he'll faint any moment." They laughed like there are no one inside the church except us.

Cedrick, who's also with them, sober up. "Don't worry, bro, darating 'yon. Nakita ko kanina e, umiiyak nga."

The thought of Cecelia crying flashed in my mind. Hindi ko siya nakita simula kahapon dahil paggising ko noong umaga ay wala na siya. Kagabi ay nagka-stag party kami pero inuman lang at usapang seryoso.

"Dada!"

Napatingin kaming lahat sa tatlo naming anak na tumatakbo papunta dito sa altar.

Nag-squat ako at pinakatitigan silang tatlo. "Hey there. You are all looking good." Nakangiti kong sabi.

Sinapo ni Alescia ang mukha. "Am I pretty, Dada?"

"You are."

"Me too. Am I also pretty, Dada?"

Hindi ko maiwasang matawa kay Alera bago tumango. "Yes. Baby Alera is also pretty like Ate Alescia."

"But Moma is much prettier."

Ang mga mata ko ay napunta kay Franz na nakatukod ang siko sa balikat ko. "Yeah?"

Seryoso itong tumango. "Yes po. Moma is so pretty like a queen."

I stared at him. "Your hair is messy, little guy."

"He messed it earlier, Dada. The woman who fixed his hair nearly cried because of him."

"Ate!"

Bumuntong hininga ako. "What did you do, anak?"

He pouted and clung to my neck. "I hate her, Dada. She put wax on my hair! You hate that too, Dada, right?"

Masuyo akong tumango. "Yes, I hate it. But, Dada, can endure it. See my hair? It has wax."

Mas lalong humaba ang nguso niya. "I hate it. I want my hair messy because Moma said I look like you and you're handsome so I look handsome too."

Hindi ko alam kung tatawanan ko ang sinabi niya. "But you look like Dada even if your hair is not messy. Magkamukha tayo oh."

"Really? So I look handsome too?"

Alera hugs me on my neck. "You are handsome, Kuya."

Finally, Franz smiled, "Okay."

Tumingin ako kay Alescia. "Come here. I want to hug my little rays of sunshine."

Agad itong tumakbo papunta sa akin at sumiksik sa dalawang kapatid. I hug them tight. I can't help it and I teared up.

"Dada loves you three. Moma and I love you so.. so much." I whispered

"We love you too, Dada."

Natawa ako nang punasan nila ang mga mata ko.

"Don't cry."