Splendiferous Crescent

SC: ZERVANTES FAMILY

"Happy birthday, Attorney!"

Bahagya akong napapikit at napatalon dahil sa malakas na pagsabog ng mga party popper na dala ng mga kaibigan ni Selene. Kasama rin nila si Archer na hindi ko alam ay may ganitong plano pala.

I just invited them so we could celebrate Artemis' birthday. Wala na akong planong i-celebrate pa ang birthday ko dahil bawat araw ko naman ay espesyal.

"Happy birthday, inaanak!" si Ace naman at lumapit kay Artemis saka inabot ang may kalakihang kahon na dala niya.

"Ang laki naman niyan, Ace," my wife said and tried to lift the box but it seems too heavy. "Ang bigat pa. Anong laman nito? Semento at hollow blocks?"

"Hindi," si Ace. "Isang house and lot. Tinupi-tupi ko lang para pagkasyahin sa kahon."

Tumawa sila habang ang anak ko naman ay kumunot ang noo, too curious for the thing that might be in the box. Alam kong gusto niyang buksan iyon, pero nagkasundo na kami na mamaya na dahil kailangan niya pang i-entertain ang mga kasama niya.

Ramdam ko naman ang paglapit ni Archer at Helios sa akin kaya tumingin ako sa kanila. May mapaglarong ngiti silang tinatago na para bang may pinag-usapan kanina tungkol sa akin na hindi ko alam.

"So good at family planning, huh?" mapang-asar na sabi ni Helios at marahan akong siniko.

"Matipid," si Archer naman sa gilid ko at tumango-tango.

I just shook my head and chuckled because of their statements. Yeah, right. Today is my birthday as well as Artemis'. Kasabay naman ngayon ay ang wedding anniversary namin ni Selene.

"Sinigurado mo talagang makakabuo ka noong August at January, ano?" Tumawa si Helios. "Sumakto pa sa birthday niyo ng kapatid ko."

"Should I make you guys a tutorial?" I asked and chuckled.

Iniwan ko na rin sila roon at pumunta sa likod ng bahay kung nasaan ang iba. Selene's talking with Sol, Ella and Helios' wife while their children are with Artemis and Artem.

Rinig ko rin na kanina pa tinatawag ni Mama Leria ang dalawang apo, pero parang hindi narinig kaya tinawag na niya ang buong pangalan.

"Artem Hyperion Chase, Artemis Celimine Chace!" she shouted. This time, our son and daughter heard it and immediately ran towards their Lola.

Artemis is giggling while being kissed my their grandparents and Artem is just standing on the corner while having having a small smile on his lips.

I was busy looking at them silently until a hand was placed on my shoulder, the reason why I was able to sniff a familiar scent.

"Love," I said and traveled my hand to hold her waist and pull her closer to me. I am just not contented with the closeness we had.

"I love you," aniya at yumakap sa akin. Ganoon din ang ginawa ko at tumingin sa direksyon na tinitingnan niya rin.

"I love you, Selene. I always do."

I heard her breathe a smile and made her hug tighten but just enough to let me inhale and exhale an air. Who would thought that the girl I've been crushing for when I was in college will be my wife?

This has been my dream. And I didn't thought that this day would come, but here we are! I never regret that I knew her because now, I can feel like I'm whole with her. I feel like I'm complete. There's nothing for me to dream of because everything I want is finally mine.

Our life my not be as perfect as anybody would dream, but it's the most perfect thing that I would dream of. Yes, we sometimes fight over the things that we don't agree but it's just okay because after that, I'm still with her. We're still with each other.