Every End of the Day

CHAPTER 37

"Alei!"

Nakangiti agad akong yumakap pabalik nang tumakbo sa akin palapit si Tita Ally. Pabiro ko pang inirapan si Primo nang makita ang natatawang pag-iling niya habang kasabay sila Tito Drake papasok dito sa bahay, dala pa ang ilang maleta ni Tita.

"Welcome back po, Tita," nakangiting bati ko.

"How are you?" she asked, softly. Marahan niya pang inayos ang buhok ko. "I already heard everything. How's your health? Ayos ka lang ba?"

I smiled and nod my head. "Opo. Maayos naman na po, Tita. 'Wag po kayong mag-alala."

Tumango na rin si Tita. Nang magawi ang tingin niya kay Wind ay maharan din siyang napangiti. Si Wind naman ay agad na napaayos ng tayo sa gilid ko saka napaklaro ng lalamunan bago nag-bless at bumati.

He still tried his best to smile genuinely. "Welcome back po, Attorney."

"Ang pormal ng Attorney, Tita na lang. Thank you Wind, for taking care of her," may maliit na ngiting sabi sa kanya ni Tita Ally.

Napansin ko ang unti-unting pagkawala ng pagkatensyon ni Wind nang sabihin 'yon ni Tita.

"You've worked so hard during the past years. It's been so late but I want to let you know that I am really sorry for making you feel at fault about the things that happened back then. It was never your fault, I've should known better. I'm sorry if I've been so harsh." Mayamaya lang ay tumabi na rin si Tito Drake kay Tita saka ito nakangiting inakbayan. Si Tita naman ay nakangiting napailing lang bago ibinalik ang tingin kay Wind. "Wind, alam kong hindi naging madali lahat. Nakita ko kung gaano mo talaga kamahal si Alei. Kaya salamat, salamat sa lahat lahat."

"If Felice is still with us, she will definitely like you for Alei. No doubts," sabi ni Tito Drake kay Wind saka ito mahinang tinapik sa balikat.

Naging bakas naman sa mukha ni Wind ang pagkabigla, mukhang hindi makapaniwala. Napa-bow pa siya saka paulit-ulit na nagpasalamat habang nahihiya pang napapakamot sa batok, halatang sabog na sa ginagawa dahil sa kaba.

Tita Ally smiled faintly before nodding her head. Her eyes then became a little bit teary. "She will. Wind is very much like Dylan. Alei and Wind compliment each other, just like them back then. They are like the younger version of them, maybe that's the reason why I got so scared back then. I don't want history to repeat itself, masyado kasing masakit."

Marahang ngumiti si Tito Drake saka mahinang hinalikan sa gilid ng ulo si Tita Ally habang tinatapik ang balikat nito. "I want to protect Alei to the best that I can, something that I didn't had the chance with Felice. Kaya pasensya na, Wind, kung napagbuntungan kita noon."

Saglit na napatingin sa akin si Wind bago siya maliit na ngumiti. "Naiintindihan ko po. You love Alei as your own. Kung ako rin naman po, ganoon din po ang magiging reaksyon ko."

"There are times where in our emotions will be all over the place, times where in we'll let it rule our minds, times where in we will be irrational, and it's okay," Tito Drake said. "We're all human, we're bound to feel those emotions. Nasaktan ka eh."

Nakangiting tumango si Tita Ally habang pinapakinggan si Tito Drake. "'Wag mo lang sisisihin ang sarili mo sa mga bagay na hindi mo kontrolado," Tito continued. "It's been so long, as much as you forgive other people, I hope that you would also do that favor to yourself."

Tinapik ni Tito Drake sa balikat si Wind. "Thank you for bringing her back to us, and for saving her."

Wind breathe in heavily as he looked up, nagpipigil na magluha ang mga mata. Agad naman siyang nilapitan nila Tita Ally saka ito marahang hinigit para yakapin. Ganoon din ang ginawa ni Tito.