I was literally frozen when my gaze stopped at a familiar set of eyes... but I did not know who it belonged to.
Among the Escadejases, a man was sitting with them, looking like he belonged there with all of his features and everything else.
Who is he?
He looks like Ethan Raziel.
The resemblance is uncanny.
I almost cannot believe my eyes.
"Eros Jaireh!" umalingawngaw ang sigaw ni Tita Amanda noong tumayo siya at tinakbo ang distansya sa pagitan nila ng anak para balutin ito ng yakap. "You didn't tell me you were coming home! Where have you been?!"
Hindi ko mawari kung pinapagalitan niya ba ito o ano, pero sigurado ako sa kaginhawaan sa tono niya. Ikinabigla ko nga lang ang mga reaksyon ng iba rito na parang hindi nila inasahan ang pagdating namin.
Si Kuya Silas at Ethan lang ba ang may alam na parating kami kaya sila lang din ang sumalubong? Why didn't Eros tell anyone else?
Ako naman ngayon ang niyakap ni Tita Amanda. "Oh, our dear Sienna... Thank God!" Basa na ng luha ang pisngi niya pero hindi niya man lang inalintanang punasan iyon. Tuwang-tuwa lang talaga siya na naririto ang kaniyang anak... at parang ako rin.
Eros' father was second to approach the two of us. Ako ang una niyang pinansin nang mahina niyang tinapik ang tuktok ng ulo ko at bahagyang ginulo ang aking buhok, bago siya nagtungo kay Eros para yakapin ito.
"You should have told us you were coming."
Eros shrugged. "Didn't wanna jinx it, Dad."
"So, you chose not to tell us?" boses ni Don Tercero ang sumunod.
Tumayo siya at kahit mayroon na siyang edad, kita pa rin sa kaniya ang taglay na kakisigan na tingin ko'y mas halata noong bata siya. Malakas pa rin siya hanggang ngayon at walang iba sa paglalakad.
Nakasunod sa kaniya ang kaniyang asawa na si Donya Froilana. They were both looking at me. I fought the urge to close my eyes and wait for criticisms, especially after everything, after trying to break them apart... but the hurt I was expecting never came.
They stopped to hug Eros Jaireh. Sabay nilang ginawa iyon. Nakita ko ang pagpipigil ni Eros ng emosyon. Still, fondness is evident in his eyes.
"I am sorry for worrying you. I just... I hope you didn't cry at night worrying about me." He specially said the last sentence for his grandmother whom he kissed on the cheek.
"Jaireh, it is my job to worry about all of you." I watched as she caressed Eros' hair. "There is not a day that I do not worry about you. Even when you are under the same roof, I still worry."
I can only see the left side of her face from here, but her ageless beauty is apparent in every curve of her every feature. The softness of her features even out those where Don Tercero's are rough, and all of those manifested on their children and grandchildren.
Nag-iwas ako ng tingin noong natuon na sa akin ang atensyon ng dalawang matanda. They would not let go of their grandson, but they pulled me in with them.
"How have you been?" marahang tanong ni Don Tercero.
"I'm sorry..." ang nasabi ko imbes na sagutin ang tanong niya. Na-alarma ang dalawang matanda sa sinabi ko, dahilan para bumitaw sila sa yakap at harapin ako.
Si Eros din yata ay nabigla dahil agad siyang nag-react. "Stop apologizing for something that wasn't your fault!" pagbabawal niya. Inabot niya ang kamay ko para pigilan pa ako. "Come on, we just got here... Don't do this."
BINABASA MO ANG
As the Chains Fall
Romance[ESCADEJAS SERIES #1] Eros Jaireh Escadejas lives in a world that suits him perfectly, where everything is already laid out in front of him. He was destined to not have to worry about anything because his family is powerful enough to solve all of hi...
