Tumingin ako sa kanya at kaagad na pinunasan ang mga luha ko. "Andyan na ang mga bata."Inayos ko kaagad ang sarili ko kahit alam kung mahahalata pa rin nila ang pag-iyak ko. Ramdam ko ang panginginig ng tuhod ko pagtayo. Huminga ako ng malalim bago buksan ang front door.
I opened the door immediately at sakto namang palapit na sila. Nakita ko si Tita Lorna na hinatid lamang ang mga bata sa may gate.
"Salamat po!" Sigaw ko.
She waved back at me. Ngumiti ako at tumingin sa mga bata.
"May ipapakilala ako sa inyo, dali!" I excitedly said to mask what I am feeling.
They excitedly ran to me at kaagad nilang nakita si Gaston na nakaupo sa may sala. Gaston cheerfully smiled at them at nahihiyang nagtago naman ang kambal sa likod ko.
Hindi ko maiwasang tumawa sa inakto nila. "He is your Tatay's cousin, go great him."
Pa unti-unti ay lumapit sila kay Gaston.
"Hi po." Yesh shyly said.
Gaston looked at her and Thiago unbelievably. "They really looked like Sandro, Sevie."
Napatawa naman ako. I watched him entertain the twins, at kung paano nahulog ang loob ng mga bata sa kanya agad-agad. His cheerful aura can really make a huge difference on his sharp manly features.
"You will be a great father, Gaston." Hindi ko mapigilang magkomento habang kandong kandong na niya ang dalawa.
He looked at me while smiling widely. "You think so?"
Tumango ako at tumawa sa reaksyon niya.
"Uncle! Uncle! You are handsome, but Tatay is way way more handsome. " Yesh said happily as she touched Gaston's cheeks in her hands for his attention.
Napatawa nam kami pareho sa sinabi niya.
"You think so?" Natatawang tanong niya.
"Hmmmmm, but don't worry uncle, Tatay has Nanay now so he can't be with other girls. You can have them instead." Yesh said seriously.
Doon kami tuluyang napatawa ni Gaston. I don't even know where she got those ideas! She continued talking to him like an adult at sinabayan naman lahat iyon ni Gaston.
He played with the kids for a few more minutes hanggang sa nagpasya na siyang umuwi. Bibiyahe pa siya papuntang metro.
The kids said their goodbyes at nag promise pa siyang babalik ulit siya dito para sa mga bata, and so, the kids are expecting him again.
Ako na ang naghatid sa kanya sa labas at naiwan ang mga bata sa loob.
"Maraming salamat." I sincerely said.
He opened his arms widely at kaagad akong yumakap. "You've done a great job, Sevie. For yourself and the kids."
Bumitaw kami pareho sa isa't-isa. "Mag-ingat ka."
He nodded at me. "Sana maging maayos na kayo ni Sandro."
I watched him enter his car hanggang sa tuluyan na siyang mawala sa paningin ko. Naramdaman ko ulit ang unti-unting pagbigat ng dibdib ko sa lahat ng kwento niya. I need to talk to Sandro.
I was anxious the whole time waiting for him in the sala. Napatulog ko na ang mga bata kanina pa. I walk back and forth at maya-maya pa ay napapatingin ulit ako sa wall clock, malapit ng mag alas nuebe.
Kinuha ko ang gatas ko sa center table at hindi ko namalayan na naubos ko na rin pala. I disappointedly walked into the kitchen to wash it when I heard the sound of his car.
YOU ARE READING
Loving Sandro Gunner Esquivel
RomanceShe was His. That is what she thought. May hangganan rin pala ang lahat, and that includes his love for her. She was his reminder of her best memories while she became the reminder of his ugly past.