23
Six days after Arthfael's board exam, the results came out. We waited for it and nervously found his name. Katabi ko si tita Ari at Arthessa. Kabado kaming hinahanap ang pangalan ni Arthfael habang si Arthfael ay nakaupo sa harapan namin at tila kampante na makakapasa s'ya.
My heart almost fell the moment we found his name on the board top notchers.
He aced the board exam!
"Pasado ako, 'di ba?" Tanong niya nang natahimik kaming tatlo.
Arthfael was looking at us confusedly. He was frowning a bit while asking if he had passed.
"Pasado ba?" Tila bigla s'yang kinabahan dahil wala pa ring nagsasalita saakin.
Tumayo si Arthfael.
Gusto kong lumapit sa kanya at yakapin s'ya nang mahigpit pero hinayaan ko muna sila tita na maunang tumayo sa kinauupuan nila at yumakap sa kanya.
"Congratulations, anak! May engineer na kami!" Tita Ari cried while embracing Arthfael. Arthessa was hugging him around his neck. Nakikisiksik siya sa kapatid at mama niya. I heard her say congratulations to Arthfael too.
I got my phone and took a photo of the precious moment.
Arthfael was smiling and laughing a bit. He was teasing his mom for crying so much, but I could see how his smile grew wider every time he wiped her mom's tears. He looks so happy and proud too.
"Sabi ko sa 'yo, ma, magiging engineer ako." He said softly to his mom.
Tita Ari smiled and wiped her tears. Humiwalay s'ya sa yakap habang niyakap pabalik ni Arthfael ang kapatid niya at hinalikan sa noo.
"Pagkatapos nito, magiging doctor naman ako." He stated, and it makes me smile more.
He looks at me.
My heart throbbed when he spread his arms wide as if telling me to hug him, and I did. I stood up and put my phone on the table. I walked towards him and hugged him tight.
"I'm so proud of you, my engineer,"
He kissed my temple. "I will make you prouder,"
Sobra-sobra na, Arthfael. Kahit hindi mo na dagdagan pa, proud na proud na ako sa 'yo dahil kahit hindi mo pa nagagawa, kampante akong matutupad mo ang mga pangako mo.
Isiniksik ko ang mukha ko sa dibdib n'ya at mas niyakap nang mahigpit ang bewang niya.
I whispered to him, "I love you, babe." I was almost emotional, but I hid it.
"I love you more, Tangi." He kissed my forehead repeatedly and giggled like a kid.
I looked up to him. I caught him looking at my lips. He smirked, but he didn't kiss me there. He planted a kiss on my forehead. It wasn't like the first one, tumagal ang labi niya sa noo ko at napapikit ako sandali habang nakangiti.
Lumipas ang araw, buwan, at taon.
Ang nararamdaman kong namuo sa hindi inaasahang panahon ay mas lumalalim sa pagdaan ng bawat taon.
I am now here. I was standing at the point where I couldn't imagine what I would be like if Arthfael wasn't with me.
When Arthfael was around, the smile that I couldn't easily put on my lips before was now easy for me.
I've been dependent on him, and maybe it's okay. I know that we need to be independent too. We needed to grow up on our own and as individuals, but we chose to depend on each other and grow up together.
