See You Tomorrow, Yuki (EDITING)

TWENTY-SIX

Enraged by the sudden news he heard from his parents, Hakim put down his spoon. Tanghaling-tapat, at sa di kadalasan na nga nilang pagkikita at pagsasama sa iisang hapag, ganito pa ang malalaman niya.

"Bakit ni'yo ginawa 'yun?" mahinahon pa niyang tanong, pero dama pa rin ang pinipigil niyang galit.

"That's... you see..." his mom.

"BAKIT NGA?" mariin niyang tanong.

"'Wag mong taasan ng boses ang mama mo," banta ng tatay niya. "It's not like you'll be losing the hospital."

"You put Yuki's house as a collateral. So now that you can't pay your debts, you're telling me that the house isn't hers anymore?" Ginantihan niya ng ngisi ang mga magulang niya. "At wala siyang kaalam-alam?"

"Pwede naman siyang bumalik sa kwarto niya sa ospital. Isa pa, kailan pa naging kanya 'yung bahay? That house is ours. It's under your dad's name. We bought that for Kisan—"

"MA!" Hakim yelled and made both his parents flinch. "PATAY NA SI ATE. PATAY NA! WHEN WILL YOU STOP HARASSING YUKI?!"

"Hakim!" his dad.

"'Yung bahay ko na lang sana. Even without it, I have so many places I can go to. Pero si Yuki?"

"Ano? Ano ngayon? Nangyari na. Anong gusto mong gawin namin ng papa mo? Bumalik sa oras na 'yun at—"

Matapos ang malalim na paghinga, sumagot si Hakim sa nanay niya, "No. Go and tell her. Apologize. Bring her the house back."

"As if that's easy? Your mom and I could've used the hospital for the payment, but you're still our son. Magpasalamat ka na lang."

"I'll lose the hospital anyway," pag-amin ni Hakim na hindi lubos naintindihan ng mga magulang niaya. "Do you know what she told me before I left? Bantayan kayo at siguraduhin humihinga pa kayo. Hindi niya pa kayo napapatawad, kaya 'wag ni'yo nang dagdagan."

Nagmamalaki pa rin ang mga magulang niya. Ni walang bakas ng pagsisisi, kaba o takot sa mukha nila sa kabila ng mga sinabi niya.

"You don't know Yuki. She can go any length to protect herself and what's hers. And she can do anything she sets her mind into. She can fight you head on even if you're her family." He paused. "I WARNED YOU."

- - -

"It's been a while, isn't it?" Thea awkwardly asked.

Four years and finally... kaharap na niya ang pinakamamahal na pamangkin. Inaral ng mga mata niya bawat detalye ng mukha ni Yuki. Mahaba pa rin ang buhok na nakaipit sa magkabilang tenga, makapal ang mga kilay, matangos ang ilong, almond-shaped ang mga mata, mataba ang pisngi, at rosas ang mga labi. She thinks to herself, how could all these beauty fit in her tiny face? But for real, she is Yuki.

"Kasalanan mo't hindi ka nagpapakita sa tuwing dumadalaw ako," biro ng dalaga sabay tawa nang mahina.

"I thought a lot about what to say when I see you, but I can't think straight right now."

"Then... let me just ask you something. Tita," tugon niyang nginitian ni Thea, lalo na ang huling salita. "Kumusta? 'Yung buhay sa loob? I'm sure it's hard, but I still want to know."

"Hindi gano'n kahirap. You know, Yuki? I feel so much better, knowing that I'm doing the right thing. When I come out, I don't think I can go back to my old life confidently. But I know I won't lose my way again. I'll make it up to Hazel's mom and everyone with my life."