Burning Desire (Alejandrino Trilogy 1)

34

We've been here Maldives for three days. All we did was bond, naging mas masaya si Tamara lalo na nang makitang nagkakalapit na kami ni Tiana. The pain still lingers, but I'm sure I can take it. I can love Tiana the way I love Delancy. Nagtatampisaw sa dagat ngayon ang mag-ina, habang ako nama'y nasa dalampasigan at pinapanood lang sila.

"Adi!" tawag sa akin ni Tamara at kinakawayan pa ako habang buhat-buhat siya ni Tiana.

Hinubad ko ang suot kong muscle-tee at sumunod sa kanila. Nang naroon na ako sa tabi nila, kaagad inabot ni Tamara ang kamay sa akin. Binuhat ko siya at nilaro-laro. Tatawa-tawa lang si Tiana habang pinapanood kami. I swayed Tamara and it caused a splash towards Tatiana causing her to shout at us.

"Mommy!" Tamy squealed as she playfully kicked both her feet.

"I'll get you for that!" pananakot ni Tatiana at nagsimulang maglakad palapit sa akin. Sinundot niya ang tiyan ni Tamara kaya humagikgik ang bata. Yumakap si Tamara sa akin at pilit nilalayo sa ina niya ang katawan.

"Mommy, stop! Stop!" she kept giggling.

Itinaas ko si Tamara at pinaupo sa kanang balikat ko at dahil mas matangkad ako kay Tatiana, nahirapan siyang abutin ang bata. Sinubukan niya ulit sundutin si Tamara pero muntik siyang mawalan ng balanse, mabuti na lang at nahapit ko ang kaniyang beywang bago pa man siya matumba. Ilang dangkal lang ang layo ng mukha naming dalawa, ngumiti siya nang matamis sa akin kaya tumugon din ako sa kaniya.

"Mommy, bad!" biglang sabi ni Tamy at tinuro si Tatiana.

Kunwaring nagtampo si Tatiana sa sinabi ng anak namin at humalukipkip pa. "Am I, now? Sweetie, you just made Mommy feel awful."

Nakasimangot siya at nag-martsa paalis papuntang dalampasigan, natatawa naman ako sa pagkukunwari niya. Tumingin ako kay Tamy na nakatingin sa papalayong bulto ng kaniyang ina. Napalabi siya at tumingin sa'kin.

"Let's go, you have to tell Mommy you're sorry." natatawa kong sambit sa kaniya at tanging tango lang ang tugon niya.

Bumalik kaming dalawa sa dalampasigan kung saan naroon si Tatiana. Nakaupo ito sa picnic mat at may hawak na juice box. Hindi niya kami nilingon at nakanguso pa rin siya.

"Go, tell her you're sorry," I whispered to Tamy.

Lumapit naman siya sa ina at niyakap ito. "Sowi, Mommy."

I chuckled with her response. Tiana said she turned three last February, that was three months ago. Tamara could only pronounce some words correctly, kumbaga, hindi pa maayos ang bokabolaryo niya. She kissed Tatiana's cheeks and kept going until her mother turned to her.

"Am I still bad?" tanong ni Tiana.

"No!" Mabilis na umiling si Tamy.

"Okay then, you're forgiven."

Tamara clapped her hands and hugged Tiana again then kissed her, this time on her lips.

"Aw, my baby's being sweet. Kiss Mommy again," natatawang sambit ni Tiana.

Without another second wasted, she kissed her again. Then Tamy turned and ran to me and pulled me by my hand. She's pulling me towards Tatiana.

"Adi, kiss Mommy!" she exclaimed excitedly.

I inched closer to the both of them. "You want me to do what?"

"Kiss Mommy!"

Mukhang nagulat si Tiana sa sinabi ng bata. "No, Tamara. You're Daddy doesn't need to-"

I cut her words by giving her a peck on her lips. She was shocked. She looked at me with wide eyes and her mouth gaped open. Then it turned into a smile, a sweet one. Mahina akong natawa nang mapansin ang pamumula ng mukha niya.

"You're blushing," bulong ko.

"N-No, I'm not."

"You are blushing, sweetie. Don't deny."

"D-Did you... You called me sweetie, right?"

I slowly nod my head. Lumapit siya sa akin at niyakap ako. Sobrang higpit ng yakap niya. Unti-unti kong naramdaman ang panginginig ng katawan niya hanggang sa unti-unti na siyang humihikbi.

"Thank you," she whispered. "You don't know how happy I am right now."

Umupo siya ng tuwid at nakaharap sa akin. I caressed her face and smiled at her. She stopped crying but tears are still streaming down her face.

"Get used to it, Tatiana. Because from now on, I promise to prioritize your happiness. I promise to prioritize you, our daughter, our family."

Muli, unti-unti na naman siyang humikbi and this time, humahagulgol na talaga siya.

"Adi?" Tamy looked at me, her eyes showing glint of sadness.

"It's okay, Tamy. She's just happy, don't worry about Mommy." saad ko at bumaling kay Tatiana. "Sweetie, stop crying. Our daughter is worried."

Tumango naman siya at pinunasan ang mga luha gamit ang likod ng palad. "How about Delancy?"

That brought a pang of pain in my heart, but I ignored it. "Don't worry, she is out of the picture. From now on, it's just the three of us."

"I love you, Kasper."

I dipped my head and gave her a quick peck. I heard Tamara giggling and clapping. She's now sitting on my lap.

"Love Adi!" she said so I gave her a kiss on her cheeks as well.

"I love you too, my sweet."

Tumagal kami ng ilan pang oras sa dagat. Gusto raw manood ni Tatiana at Tamara ng papalubog na araw. May nirentahan akong isang magandang lugar para mas maganda ang tanawin para sa kanila. Kaya naman nang alas singko na, bumalik na kami sa hotel room namin para magpalit. Nagsuot ako ng simpleng cargo shorts at beach sandals habang si Tatiana at Tamara ay nakasuot ng sundress na may magkaparehong disenyo.

Malapit nang lumubog ang araw nang makarating kami sa nirentahan kong lugar. May lamesa roon na para sa aming tatlo at may pagkain na ring nakahain. If Delancy's here, we would've celebrated our anniversary here. Ngayon rin kasi ang mismong araw ng dapat ay anibersaryo namin.

I shook my head with that thought. Dapat ay sila Tamara at Tatiana na ang pagtuonan ko ng pansin ngayon. And speaking of them, nakaupo ngayon si Tamara sa isa sa mga silya habang si Tatiana ay nakatayo at nakaharap sa papalubog na araw. Nakatalikod siya sa amin at nakayakap sa sarili.

Lumapit ako sa kaniya at niyakap siya mula sa kaniyang likuran. Ipinatong ko ang baba ko sa balikat niya at hinaplos ang braso niya. Nanatili lang siyang nakatitig sa dagat.

"Kasper, look, the sunset is beautiful."

"Yeah, you too. You're beautiful."

"Have you really forgotten about Delancy? Kasper, didn't you love her at all?"

I was taken back by her boldness and her sudden question. I must admit, hearing Delancy's name still makes my heart beat fast and break at the same time. But she already made a choice and so have I.

"I did, Tatiana. And I'd be lying if I tell you I don't. I still love her, Tiana, but like how the sun slowly sets and cease the day, I'm slowly trying to get her out of my mind and my heart. Tiana, I'm hoping for a new sunrise, like a new beginning, a new day with you and our daughter. That's why..." I slowly bent my knee and pulled out a ring from my pocket. "Tatiana Hudson, will you be my wife?"