In Another Life, I would

IALIW 2

Farrah Amelie

Wala sila tinatanong kahit ano regarding kung saan ako nag stay this past years or kung si Yuan ba ang tatay ng anak ko. We just have a good and festive late dinner that time, we talked about kuya Chandler and ate Everleigh upcoming wedding, which is sa isang araw na, technically. If you're confused who is kuya Chandler, he is the brother of Yuan Adriel and fiance of ate Everleigh.

Lahat kami ay nagulat nang bigla nagsalita si Ate Leigh.

"OhEmmGee! Farrah Amelie. Yung gown mo?!" she suddenly told us.

"Ha? Teka, kasali pa din ako sa entourage?" I asked ate.

"Oo! Anong akala mo tinanggal ka? In your dreams." she quickly answered me back.

Natatawa ako sumagot, "Wala na ako sinabi ate." but seriously I really thought my name will be replaced because there is no guarantee that I will be here in time and coming back in Philippines this early is not in my option nitong mga nakaraan buwan. But things changed, I suddenly need to be back, because the situation itself forced me.

"Mukha kasya naman kay Farrah ung gown, ate Leigh." bigla sabi ni ditche Lian.

"Oo nga, beb. Nagkaroon siya konti laman pero mukha kasya naman sa kanya." segunda ni ate Brie.

"Balita ko nakauwi na ung Dora. Asaan na? Para masukatan ko at mai-adjust ko na agad for tomorrow ang gown niya." someone said.

My eyes widen. No way! You must be kidding me. Lahat kami ay napalingon sa may entrada ng dinning. Ate Caila & kuya Mage is standing there, kuya is grinning from ear to ear while ate have this nagmamadilta expression! Wala pa din pagbabago, maldita pa din siya!

"Ay, ang sungit naman po." I retorted back.

"Dapat lang! Ano ka gold? Pwede ba." as I heard those comebacks of her. I immediately went to her and hug her tightly. "I miss you too, ate Caila." I whisper and hear her snorted kasabay ng pagyakap niya sa akin pabalik.

Naagaw ang atensiyon namin nang inalok ni DL si Kuya Mage. "Ankel, pays?" Nakaupo ang anak ko sa hita ni Yuan at nakuha pa talagang alukin ng fries ang kanyang uncle, na ngayo'y nasa gilid na nila.

"I'm okay, buddy. Kain ka lang dyan." then he caress DL's hair. I saw how Yuan suddenly paused for a moment; I know napansin niyang hindi naiilang ang anak ko kay kuya at para sanay na si DL sa presence ni kuya Mage, hindi lang si Yuan ang nakapansin nun kung hindi pati silang lahat na nasa dinning table.

"You got a lot of explaining to do, little girl." ate Caila told me in a low voice. I sigh heavily because I know it won't be easy.

And that night, they all let me off from the hook. We just continue our late dinner, after that sinukatan na ako ni Ate Caila for the adjustment if meron man dapat i-adjust, tinuloy namin ang kwentuhan about sa details ng wedding nila kuya Dler at ate Leigh. At nun naghikab na ang anak ko, we all called it a night. Almost 2 am na din yun, we all bid our good nights to each other, and they kissed my sleepy son on his head. Ung iba ay lumipat lang sa kabilang bahay, kila ate Brie para daw hindi na mahirapan sila Manang mag-ayos sa ibang guest rooms.

Hindi naman ako nahirapan kay DL, lalo na nun pinag half bath ko siya after that nagpakarga siya ulit kay Yuan at nakatulog sa bisig nito. Yuan put him to bed, pero nagising agad nung naramdaman niya ibinaba siya. He even asked Yuan, "Sleep, Papa?" and tapped his side. Yuan smiled and told him, "Papa will sleep on the other room, mate."

DL stared at him, as if silently asking him why there. I sighed, "You can sleep beside him, Adriel. Hanggang makatulog siya ng tuluyan." Pero mabisyo ang anak ko, nun tumabi sa kanya si Yuan he immediately went to Yuan's chest at dun nahiga. Iniwan ko silang dalawa dun para maghalf bath, bago ako tuluyan makapasok sa CR nakita ko na tinatapik-tapik ni Yuan sa hita si DL habang kinakantahan niya. Paglabas ko ay inaayos na ni Yuan si DL sa gitna ng bed, tucking him carefully. Malalim na tulog ng anak ko.