Where Eternity Begins (SOW #4)

23.

"Tata! Toto!" Ryle immediately greeted his Uncle and Aunt when we arrived. Kuya carried him and kiss his cheeks.

"Hello, my favorite nephew!" aniya. Ate Daniella also hugs Ryle. Ibinaba ni Kuya si Ryle kaya lumapit na ako at niyakap ko ang Kuya ko nang sobrang higpit.

"Na-miss kita, Ericianna." Tumango ako at mas yumakap sa Kuya ko.

"Na-miss ko rin kayo, Kuya," bulong ko bago humiwalay at balingan si Ate na nakangiti ngunit may luha sa mata. She wasted no time and immediately embraced me.

"Erich, na-miss kita! Ilang months na mula noong huli kaming makadalaw! Sobrang saya kong makita kayo ni Ryle!" She exclaimed while hugging me. Napangiti ako at niyakap siya pabalik. I even saw Kuya carried Ryle.

Ngayon ay sa bahay nila Ate at Kuya kami dumiretso. Dito kami pansamantalang tutuloy hanggang sa maikasal sila. Ate wanted us to extend and since bakasyon naman nila Ryle mula sa skwelahan, pumayag na rin ako.

Going back to this place means a lot of memories. Painful ones but, those are in the past. Ngayon, nandito kami para saksihan ang kasal ni Kuya at Ate. Nothing more.

"We prepared the room for you two!" Ate excitedly pulled me towards the room she's saying. Nakasunod naman sina Kuya sa amin.

"Here!" Ate opened a door and I saw a room for me and Ryle to sleep in. Sa pintuan pa lang, kita na ang mga nakasabit na frame sa pader. May mga picture 'yon na magkakasama kami. Noong binyag ni Ryle, hawak ko siya at nasa magkabilang gilid ko si Ate at Kuya. A large frame caught my attention and it melts my heart seeing the photoshoot of Ryle when he's still months old. Nakaupo siya sa upuan atsa likuran ang puting backdrop. My heart beats fast when I saw the sweet and happy smile in his face. Hindi man siya nakatingin sa camera, nakuhanan naman ang pag-ngiti niya.

Every precious moment deserves to be captured.

"Magpahinga muna kayo at kailangan natin ng energy bukas!" Masiglang sabi ni Ate Daniella. She went to Ryle who's busy watching the television with Kuya Eli. "Baby, pa-kiss nga si Tita. Na-miss namin ang baby na 'yan." Ryle looks at her and jumped to kiss her cheeks. Natawa naman ako, maging si Kuyana inalalayan pa si Ate nang muntik nang matumba.

"Miss you rin po, Tata!" My son enthusiastically stated. Pati si Kuya ay hinalikan niya sa pisngi kaya napangiti ako.

Lumabas na rin sina Ate at Kuya kaya naiwan kami ng anak ko. Nagsimula akong ayusin ang mga gamit namin habang nanonood si Ryle sa TV. Sumilip ako sa oras at nakitang mag-aalas tres na ng hapon kaya matapos kong mag-ayos ng gamit, nagpalit ako ng damit at nilapitan si Ryle.

"Baby, palit ka muna ng damit mo," sabi ko na agad sinunod ni Ryle. Lumapit siya sa akin at tahimik na nagpabihis. Isang sando ang isinuot ko sa kaniya para hindi siya mainitan.

Hindi maitatanggi ang resemblamce ni Ryle sa kaniya. Mula sa kulay ng buhok, kilay, mata, ilong, lalo na ang labi ay kuhang kuha mula sa kaniya. Sometimes, I imagine him with Ryle. Hindi maiiwasan dahil magkamukha talaga sila.

Jin knows that our son died. Noong nasa hospital, ang balitang pagkawala ni Rio ang naabutan niya. Ako rin, akala ko nawalan ako ng anak. The doctor told me that Rio didn't make it but there's another life. The life that manage to survive. My son, Ryle.

They are supposed to be twins but sadly, Rio didn't make it.

After knowing that Ryle is alive, I never told Jin. Dahil matapos kong gumaling, umalis ako sa lugar na 'yon sa tulong nina Ate. Ngayon, narito kami sa bagong lugar at nagsisimula ng bagong buhay.

But still, Kim and Rio are with us, engraved in our hearts and minds.

I still miss Kim. Kimberlich is our princess and my faith for her will never fade. Ang paniniwala kong buhay ang anak ko ay narito pa rin. I never consider her... lifeless. I don't want to.

"Mimi..." I heard Ryle called me.

"Hmm?" I brush his hair before planting a kiss on his forehead.

"Mr. Black gave me something po, kanina." Kumunot ang noo ko at takang napatingin sa anak ko.

"Who's Mr. Black, anak?" Nagtatakang tanong ko.

Ryle climbs and sit on my lap. Niyakap ko siya ng mahigpit at hinintay ang sasabihin niya.

"Mr. Black is the guy from the bus, Mimi. Dizzy po ako kanina then, he called me and gave me this po..." His hands went to his pocket and he pulled something and showed me.

"Ito po!" Pinakita niya sa akin ang isang kwintas na may locket. "Mr. Black said that If I feel dizzy on a bus daw po, hawakan ko lang daw po ito then mawawala dizziness ko and Mimi, it's effective po!" Ryle exclaimed but my attention is on the locket he's holding.

Unti unti kong inabot 'yon at binuksan. Natigilan ako nang makita ang litratong nasa loob.

Why is there a picture of us here? Especially, a photo of me, Jin and Kim.

No way. It's not what I'm thinking, right? He's not that guy.

"Mimi, ikaw po ito saka si Ate! Si Papa po ba iyong naka-hug po sa inyo?" I bit my lips when my heart beats wildly. Ryle looks hopeful seeing the photo inside.

"Mr. Black gave me this po, why does he have a photo of you and Ate?" He asked me. It's an innocent question yet my heart beats wildly.

"Anak..." Nanginig pa ang boses ko. Tumingin sa akin si Ryle. "Uh, anong gusto mong meryenda?" Pinilit kong patatagin ang boses ko.

Sorry, anak. Sorry kung nagsisinungaling si Mama.

I guiltily look at my son's eyes. Despite me, obviously avoiding the topic, his eyes stays innocent and understanding.

"Mimi, want ko po ng pancit..." He stated. Tumango na ako at tumayo para ihanda na ang gusto niyang meryenda.

"Okay, Mimi will cook it–"

"With sardines po, Mimi. Pancit with sardines," he added making me stop and again, ny heart is beating wildly. Calm down, Erich.

"Okay... okay, Mimi and Tata Dani will cook it for you, okay? Come, play muna kayo ni Toto Eli habang nagluluto kami ni Tata mo, okay?"

Ryle held my hand and we both walk out of the room. Dumiretso kami sa kusina at nakitang seryosong nag-uusap roon si Ate at Kuya kaya napahinto ako.

"We need to think of a reason para maipakita sa kaniya. Hindi tayo dapat magpahalata, love," Ate Daniella stated and Kuya Eli just nodded ad stare at nowhere, halatang malalin ang iniisip.

"How about after the wedding? Before we go to honeymoon, ipakita natin sa kaniya then we'll let him handle the rest," Kuya Eli suggested before he silence take over.

Ilang sandali pa nang tumango si Ate. "Okay, we will let him handle this. Siguraduhin lang niya na aayusin na niya. Kung hindi, ia-upper cut ko siya." Tumawa si Kuya at nilapitan si Ate.

Tahimik ko silang pinapanood at napaisip ako. Ganiyan din ba kami sa mata ng iba? Marahan ang mga tingin, masaya ang ngiti. Halata ba nila na mahal namin ang isa't isa noon?

"Erich, Ryle, nandiyan pala kayo!" I snapped out of my thoughts when Ate Daniella called us. I shook my head to clear my mind.

"Ate, Kuya, magandang hapon," bati ko. "Ryle wanted to eat pancit with sardines. Ate, pwede patulong?"

Ate smiled and nodded. "Sure, why not?"

Ryle and his Uncle played while we cook. Tahimik kami ni Ate pero ilang sandali pa nang magsalita siya.

"Kahit anong layo, may dala-dala pa ring bagay na nakakapagpaalala, 'no?" Makahulugang sambit niya kaya napanguso ako.

"Baka coincidence lang..." Mahinang sabi ko.

She chuckled. "Don't deny it, Erich. Bali-baligtarin mo man ang mundo, alam mo sa sarili mo na may dugong Anderson na nananalaytay kay Ryle. Raijin is still his father."

Natahimik ako at hindi na nagsalita. Napansin 'yon ni Ate kaya napabuntong hininga siya.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to bring that up."

Umiling ako at ngumiti. "Wala 'yon, Ate. Aware naman ako sa katotohanan. Alam ko rin na sooner or later..." Huminga ako nang malalin para maibsan ang pagbilis ng tibok ng puso ko.

"Sooner or later, Ryle will look for Raijin. Sooner or later, Ryle will need his father."