Isla Del Fuego (Alejandrino Trilogy 2)

25

"Kasper, you can't do that!" singhal ko sa kapatid ko. Hinawakan ni Hugo ang braso ko para pigilan ako.

"Why? Hindi ba ako puwedeng magpakasal kay Tatiana?" Kasper answered.

"Paano si Delancy?"

"Iniwan na niya ako! I begged, and she didn't listen. And now, I made my choice. I will marry Tatiana."

Nine months later, I came back to the city with Hugo. I am now two months pregnant with our baby. Hindi ko dapat pinoproblema 'to, pero nakakainis talaga ang ugali ni Kasper. "Why?" inis na tanong ko. "Why will you marry that woman?"

"May anak kami ni Tatiana. May malaking responsibilidad ako sa kaniya na dapat kong panagutan."

"Hindi sapat na dahilan 'yon. Marriage is a big thing, Kasper. Hindi mo puwedeng pag-isipan 'yon overnight."

"What do you want me to do? Hayaan ang anak ko?"

I sighed. "Kaya mong panagutan ang bata nang hindi nagpapakasal kay Tatiana."

"And then what? Paano kung magkaroon ako ng sarili kong pamilya? You're Delancy's best friend, 'di ba? You saw her suffer just because her Mom has another family. Do you really think I want my daughter to suffer like that?" Natahimik ako. "Kassandra, I know you mean well, and I love you for that. But I just want to settle down. Matututunan ko rin kung paano mahalin si Tatiana. She's a good woman."

He turned his back on me and left. Nakayapos pa rin sa akin si Hugo at pinapakalma ako. Niyakap ko siya at sumandal sa dibdib niya. "Babe, I don't want my brother to get hurt."

"It's okay, babe. Matanda na ang kapatid mo, he knows what he's doing."

"But he'll get hurt nga!"

Lumayo siya kaunti at hinawakan ang baba ko saka ako hinalikan. "Pain is always a part of life. Let your brother decide for himself, the least you can do is to stay beside him. Kapag nangyari ang kinatatakutan mo, then, comfort him."

"He doesn't love her."

"Babe, don't take this the wrong way, but his decisions are none of your business. At isa pa, you're pregnant. You're not allowed to be stressed."

Tumango ako at hinaplos ang tiyan ko. "I'm sorry, baby," I whispered.

Inakbayan na ako ni Hugo at nagtungo kami sa kusina. There's a bowl of mixed nuts and berries on the table, na hinanda ni Hugo. Luckily, I don't crave for anything weird just like others, pero palaging prutas at gulay na ang pinapakain sa akin ni Hugo. Hindi na kagaya noon na halos junk foods at instant foods ang kinakain ko.

"Babe, where do you plan to get married?" he asked.

Oo nga pala, we're getting married after kong manganak. This guy is unbelievable. He literally proposed to me after we made love. He was naked when he asked me to marry him! Sa tuwing maalala ko 'yon, hindi ko pa rin alam kung ano ang dapat kong maramdaman.

"Babe," tawag niya.

"Huh? What?"

"Tinatanong lang kita kung may naiisip kang name for our baby?"

"Hugo, two months pa lang akong buntis. Hindi pa nga natin alam kung ano'ng gender ni baby."

Umupo siya sa tabi ko. "If the baby's a girl, can I name her?"

"Ano bang gusto mong pangalan niya?"

"Isabella sana, and we'll call her Isla."

"Why?"

Saglit na may dumaang kalungkutan sa mga mata niya. "My Mom's name is Isabelle. I just want to name my daughter after her."

"Hmm, sure. Kapag babae, we'll name her Isabella."

"Thank you, babe. You know what? Mom always wanted to have a grandchild. Siguro, she's so happy, no? What do you think?"

"Oo naman. I know, your Mom is watching you, and she's very happy."

"I miss her so much, babe. Pangarap niyang makita akong ikasal, sana nakilala mo si Mommy. She would love a strong woman like you."

"I'm curious lang, babe. How did your Mom die? Is it okay if you tell me?" He didn't answer for a few seconds and I saw him swallow, kaya na-guilty ako. "Babe, it's okay if you don't tell me. I respect it naman."

Umiling siya. "I'm sorry, I just get emotional when talking about Mom. But she was diagnosed with cancer. Of course, we did everything to save her, but the cancer cells were rapidly growing. After years of battling with breast cancer, God called her home. You see, my Mommy is strong, like you. Siguro kaya mahal na mahal kita dahil pareho kayo ni Mom." I hugged him when he was about to cry. "Holy fuck! I shouldn't he crying in front of my future wife."

"Baliw, okay lang."

"But I'm a guy, babe. I shouldn't cry."

"Eh? Sino namang nagsabi niyan? It's okay to cry. Hugo, you've been making me happy since the day we met. Okay lang sa akin kung umiyak ka, walang guy o girl sa pag-iyak, Hugo."

He leaned forward and hugged me. "Babe, let's live a happy life, okay?"

"Oo naman."

"Promise me, through ups and downs, even in in-betweens, you and me will live a happy life."

"Bakit naman ganiyan ka bigla magsalita?"

He buried his face between my neck and shoulder. "Life is short. Hindi mo alam kung hanggang kailan ka tatagal. I saw how my Dad's world broke when Mom left us. Hindi ko alam kung hanggang kailan ako tatagal dito, pero sa isang bagay ako sigurado. I want to spend every second of my life with you."

"Ako rin, Hugo. Let's grow old together, hmm?"

"No, let's be soulmates. In this life, tapos sa next, at sa susunod ulit."

"Do you believe in that? Paano kapag hindi mo na ako kilala?"

"Hindi puwedeng hindi kita makilala. Tingnan mo nga, I lived in Spain during my childhood, you lived in America during yours. We met in Isla De Fuego. The waves brought you to me."

"Asus, waves talaga, hindi destiny?"

"Hindi, bangka ang nagdala sa 'yo sa akin, kaya gan'on."

"Ewan ko sa 'yo, baliw!"

He just patted my head and turned to make me lunch. I smiled as I watch him, but then, realized, tama nga siya. Someday, it's either I'll lose him or I'll leave him. I got to spend every single second of my life with this man.

Mas tumindi pa ito nang may mangyari sa kapatid ko. Because nine months after Kasper got married, he lost his wife and his daughter.