***
A loud noise that was approaching caused us to parted our lips. With smiles plastered on their faces, Titas and Titos, as well as my sisters and Vince's sister, arrived.
They came to hug me except Mama na nasa gilid lang naluluha na rin. Kita sa mga mata niya ang halo-halong emosyon, ang hirap basahin.
"Congratulations" They all said in unison. Si Tita Risa and Tita Van naluluha pa, the younger girls took my hand at tinitingnan ang singsing ko.
"Magkano kaya 'to pagsinangla?" Jill asked, natawa naman sila.
After congratulating us, nauna na silang bumalik sa loob ng hotel to give us privacy. We sat and someone served our food, light lang kase nagdinner na naman kami kanina.
"Thank you." Vince said while holding my hand above the table. I can see how happy he is through he's eyes, ganon din naman ako. Hindi makapaniwala sa lahat ng nangyayari ngayon, parang ang bilis na hindi ko maipaliwanag. We've been waiting for this day for what seems like a lifetime.
I remembered the last time I cried was when I was taking my degree in Harvard, sa unang linggo ko doon halos iyak ako ng iyak kase wala akong makapitan. Hindi ako sanay ipakita sa iba na mahina ako maliban noong nawala si Vince at ang magiging anak sana namin sa akin, para bang bumalik lahat ng sakit pag magisa na lang ako sa gabi o sa madaling araw nagigising ako para iiyak lahat ng 'yon. Yung sakit ng nawala si Papa sa amin parang nangyayari ulit. Halos gabi-gabi akong umiiyak at sinisi ang sarili, I didn't move on pero I move forward kase 'yon naman dapat diba, siguro hindi nawala ang sakit sa mga nagdaang tao because I used to it. Hindi nawala ang sakit pero mas lalong hindi nawala ang pagmamahal.
To be quite honest, taking a chance on Vince again was my biggest risk; I even asked myself if I deserved him after all we've been through. All he did was love me, but all I gave him in return was pain.
"Magbaback out ka na ba?" He suddenly asked that cut off my thoughts.
Natawa naman ako, "Of course, not. I just remembered all the pain and heartbreak we had back then, hindi ko nakita 'to, na tayo pa rin pala."
" Because we chose to. Sabi nga nila diba, God makes a way for everything na nakatadhana na."
You're always worth the risk, Mahal. I smiled in my thoughts.
"Thank you rin, Vince dahil kahit ilang beses na kitang ipinagtabuyan you're still here waiting for me kahit alam mong walang kasiguradohan."
———
Morning came and it was our last day, wala masyadong nakaplano, siguro iinom lang sila mamaya because we never had a chance last night.
"Anak?" Mama call me, kaya lumapit ako sa kanya.
"I am so proud of you, Aiks." She's caressing my hair now, tulad ng hili niya dati. I hugged her. Oo, at nagalit ako dati kay Mama o hindi galit ang tamang salit dahil masyado itong malalim siguro nagtampo ako, Oo. Doble ang bigat sa dibdib ko ng umalis dati dahil alam kong iiwan ko sila na may bitbit na sama ng loob, but after months I learned to forgive her after all sa kanya pa rin ako uuwi. Siya pa rin ang tahanan at bida sa buhay ako.
"Thank you rin, Ma." I said, Mama and I are not that showy or vocal about our feelings unlike my two sisters, sila ang mas emotional. Kami ni Mama hindi vocal sa mga nararamdaman namin but we showed our loved through our action, pag alam naming may malungkot sa aming apat andyan lang kami sa tabi ng isa't isa kahit wala kaming sabihin parang napaparating na namin na 'andito lang kami para samahan ang isa't isa'.
I pulled from the hug when someone entered the room, it was Titas and my sisters.
"Ay hala maling room ata napasukan natin." Jill said tapos hinila pa ni Tricia para sana isarado ulit ang pinto. I giggled, "Panira naman kayo ng moment." I laughed they all went near us, pinagitnaan kami ni Mama.
"Thank you po, Tita Risa and Tita Van for last night, sabi ni Vince kayo daw nagplano ng lahat ng 'to." I faced them and they smiled at me, halos sila na rin ang naging pangalawa naming ina, kahit busy sila dati they always make time for us if Mama is not around.
"We love you, 'Nak!" Tita Risa hugged me tight, ganon din ang ginawa ni Tita Van.
"Thank you rin sa inyong dalawa kahit ang papangit niyo." I joked and faced my two sister na nasa tabi ni Mama.
"Ay wow, Ate. Sana pala hindi na talaga tayo nakisama sa plano kagabi." Jill rolled her eyes.
"Nagsalita ang maganda." Tricia rolled her eyes too we just laughed at them, pero sa huli they hugged me naman. Nagdrama pa nga na dapat kasama pa rin sila sa bahay namin pagkatapos ng kasal at magkakapamilya na kami ni Vince.
That was my concern, I believe. Although we knew in our hearts that we would never leave Mama when we had our own family, the set up would never be the same. Ayaw naming maiiwan siyang magisa sa bahay that's why I want one of them to still live in our house, Vince told me that he want first to build our house before wedding and I agree. Matagal pa naman yung mga kapatid ko mags-settle, baby pa sila e. But the thoughts that I'll leave them and settle on our own makes me sad kahit malapit lang naman ang gusto kong location namin, pero nasanay kase ako na iisang kwarto lang kaming apat kaya ang hirap isipin ang pagaadjust.
———
Tonight was our last kaya nagset up na sila ng inuman sa likod nitong stay in namin.
"Ang malalasing ihahagis sa dagat" Tito Sentri said at napuno na naman ng tawanan ang paligid.
Tito's and Tita's are settled, kasama si Mama and Vince nagsisimula na maginuman. Ang iingay pa nila may nagdedebate, may nage-emo at nagbabardagulan. Kami namang apat busy sa pagluluto ng barbeque for pulutan.
"Ate Vir, hindi pa pala ang nagpapasalamat mula kagabi, thank you po for helping them and to this vacation." I said.
"You three are like sisters to me, kaya suporta ako sa kung saan kayong tatlo, and I know how important you are to my brother, so you don't have to thanked me, Aiks." She gave me a assuring smiled and tap my shoulder.
I realized how fortunate I am to be here today and still be able to share this moment with them after reflecting on the past and everything we all through. Yung lahat ng sakit na dinanasa namin worth it dahil napalitan ito ng saya at pagasa kasama pa rin sila.
"Shot puno." They all shouted in unison and toasted their drinks. Their laughter are like music to my ears, kulang nga lang ng isa.
I hope they have enough bbq, lechon (and treadmills) and drinks up there , Papa. I wish you were here to be able to walk me down the aisle on my wedding day. Miss na miss kana namin, Boss.
-🌷
———
A/N: Huhu (lame ud :<) malapit ko na talagang tapusin 'to at malapit na rin ang plot twist mga labs, Thank you ulit sa lahat ng readers. Labs na labs.
BINABASA MO ANG
How It All Started (Series 1)
General FictionLet's all sail together and witness how they were built and destroyed by love. How it all started. ------- She is a fearless, strong, and independent woman. She swore to do everything she could for her siblings and mother after their father died ten...
