SAUDADE

labing-dalawa

Third Person

Their head turned to who owned the oh so familiar voice. Irene's eyes began to water as she slowly ascended from her seat. Her hands covering her mouth in disbelief.

"Anak..." She whispered and hesitantly walked towards her. "Yo...you're back..." She let down her tears on her cheeks.

Greggy stood behind his mag-ina and looked at them...proudly. They're back in each other's arms again. "Mommy..." He heard her whisper.

"Mommy... I'm back..." She dropped her things and ran towards her mother and pulled her in a tight embrace. "Umuwi ka na..." Irene cried and hugged her daughter.

Issa's eyes were looking at her father, nodding towards him to sign an invitation to hug them too. And Greggy did. He walked towards his wife and daughter and joined in to their hug.

"I miss you... We miss you..." He whispered into his daughter's ears and stroked her hair.

"I'm sorry..." Issa whispered and pulled back to see her parents' faces. "I'm sorry that I had to go..." She continued.

Irene shook her head and caressed her daughter's face, "No... We understand naman... Kailangan mo yun..." She assured.

"Where have you been? Okay ka lang? How are you? Gutom ka ba? I baked brownies kanina... Do you want to eat? May ju-" Irene began to rant and Issa cut her off.

"Mommy... Mommy... Dahan-dahan lang..." She chuckled as she wiped her tears away. "May oras pa..." She whispered.

Irene only nodded and sniffed her tears away. Issa then looked at her father, then back to her mother, "Ako ba si Issa?" A smile crept into her mouth.

"If... If okay lang naman sayo..." Irene stuttered and held her daughter's hands. "Ingrid Clarissa Marie Marcos Araneta..." She smiled.

"I like that..." Her daughter smiled. "Friends na kami ni Yana... No bad blood between us..."

Greggy looked at her confusingly, "Kinaibigan mo ang patay na?" He questioned, earning a slap on his arm by Irene. "Ano ba..." She reprimanded.

Issa looked at her parents and chuckled, "I've been visiting her here and there naman..." She then looked at her father's hand that was resting on her mother's waist.

"Sana naman hindi na 'to all for show?" She commented and darted her eyes back to her parent's eyes.

Irene looked at what she first saw and smiled, "We're trying, love... We're getting there..." She looked at her husband.

"That's good to hear naman... I can't wait to watch you both do some cringe gurang things." She scrunched her nose.

Iren and Greggy scoffed playfully, "We're not gurangs!" They retorted which led to Issa laughing, "Okay, okay... Whatever floats your boat, parents..." She shook her head and looked at then once again.

"Ahh... I miss you both so much." She pulled them into a hug again. "And I miss everyone else too..." She whispered.

Greggy stroked her daughter's back, "We miss you too, kiddo... They miss you a lot too..."

"Okay. Done with the sappy moments! I'll call the kuya's... We're celebrating my coming home!" She grinned and jumped on her place. "My treat." She winked.

"Hmm, nako ah may pa my treat-my treat na..." Irene chuckled.

Issa smirked, "Of course! Two months ago, I designed a whole new branding of a fabric company. The owner was really satisfied so binigyan ako ng bonus..." She chuckled.

"I'm proud of you..." Greggy smiled, "You sure you don't want anything else? Interior Design na talaga?" He asked.

Issa nodded and smiled at her father, "Positive, dad. It's what I want to do for the rest of my life." Greggy then nodded and patted her head, "I'm glad..."