Ryle Alvarez (COMPLETED)

Chapter Thirty-Seven

"Why didn't you tell me about them earlier?" tanong ni Ryle habang pinagmamasdan ang dalawang anak niyang natutulog sa crib.

"I wanted to, pero naisip kong nahihirapan ka na nga sa mga nangyayari. Ayaw ko naman nang dagdagan ang mga iniisip mo noon."

"But still they're my babies."

Liway sighed. "Galit ka ba?"

Umiling naman si Ryle. " Why would I be mad? Wala na, nangyari na, eh. Wala nang magagawa ang galit ko, babe."

"Sorry," Liway whispered and leaned on his shoulder.

"Ilang months na nga sila?"

"Magwawalong buwan na next week."

Tumango si Ryle. "Can we celebrate that at my house?"

"Hmm? Bakit?"

"I'll introduce them to my parents. Ikaw na rin."

Nagulat naman si Liway. "Kababalik mo lang, ah. Hindi ba masiyadong mabilis?"

Natahimik naman saglit si Ryle. "Yeah, you might be right. Liligawan kita, this time, let's make it right, Liway."

She nodded. "We can always celebrate the babies at your house, Ryle. Sa tingin ko lang ay masiyadong mabilis na ipakilala mo ako sa mga magulang mo."

Ngumit lamang si Ryle sa tinuran ng babae. He looked at his twins as they were peacefully sleeping. Umalis naman si Liway sa tabi niya. Ilang saglit lang, bumalik ulit ang dalaga hawak ang isang OTG. Inabot ni iyon sa binata.

"Nandiyan lahat ang mga nangyari noong buntis ako."

Inabot niya rin ang ilang papel, kasama na ang sonogram ng early pregnancy ng dalaga. Ryle plugged it into his cell phone. Nakaayos ang mga files ng dalaga, from first trimester hanggang sa panganganak nito.

"I'll watch it when I get home," saad naman ni Ryle at itinago sa bulsa iya ang OTG. "Let's talk about you first, babe. Kumusta ka noong wala ako?"

Bumuntonghininga naman si Liway. "Mahirap. Ang hirap palang wala ka sa tabi ko. Noong una siyempre, akala ko okay lang. . . noong nalaman kong buntis ako, hindi ko alam kung ano na ang gagawin ko sa buhay ko. Mama was there to help me, but I was yearning for you."

Yumuko si Liway at nag-iwas ng tingin. Tuwing binabalikan kasi niya ang alaala sa mga nangyari ay nagiging emosyonal siya.

"I was still moving on from Papa's death at that time and not seeing you did not help at all. I was having morning sickness, cramps, my body was adjusting and all. . . gulong-gulo ako noon."

"I'm sorry you had to go through all of that."

Tumawa ang dalaga. "It was all worth it. Noong nakita at nahawakan ko ang kambal, naibsan lahat ng hinanakit ko. Alam mo bang takot na takot akong mahawakan sila noon? You know I did not like children, right? Iba pa rin pala talaga kapag sariling anak mo na ang pinag-uusapan."

"How were they like growing up?"

"Si Raya ang mabait. Okay lang sa kaniya kahit sino ang nag-aalaga, pero si Ryder? Diyos ko, halos maligo na nga kami nang sabay. Sobrang lakas niyang umiyak at palaging nagwawala kung hindi ako ang nakahawak. Mabuti nga at nakakasundo niya si Jester at Jones, eh."

"What are your plans for them?"

Liway heaved a deep sigh. "I honestly don't have any. Sa tingin ko ay bata pa lang sila. Planning something for their future scares me. Gusto kong masulit ang makasama ang mga anak natin, Ryle."

Anak natin. It was music to his ears.

"You still can, pero Liway, mahirap magpalaki ng mga bata. Alam mo 'yon. We have to be ready for their future."

Liway was contemplating wether she should say it, pero sa tingin niy ay deserve pa rin ni Ryle malaman ang totoo. She held his hands and kissed it. "Ryle, walang nakalagay na ama ang mga bata sa birth certificate nila."

"What?!" napagtaasan ni Ryle ang dalaga ng boses. "Liway, what the hell?!"

"I'm sorry pero at that time hindi ko alam kung gusto mo bang akuin ang mga bata!"

Ryle cussed under his breath and pulled Liway away from their sleeping babies. Nang makarating sila sa sala, saka nila tinuloy ang usapan.

"But still, they are mine, Liway! Para mo na akong tinanggalan ng karapatan sa mga anak ko no'n!"

Umiling si Liway. "That was not my intention. Ginawa ko 'yon dahil akala ko hindi ka pa handang magkaanak."

"I wasn't and neither were you! Pareho lang tayong hindi handa pero 'tang ina papanagutan kita!"

Liway burst into tears. "I didn't know. I'm sorry."

When Ryle saw the tears on Liway's face, he nearly lost it. He's been gone for a long time. He fought for this woman.

He took a deep breath. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "Hindi ako galit, Liway. I'm just. . . disappointed. Hindi dapat ako sumigaw."

Walang naging sagot si Liway pero patuloy pa ring umiiyak ito. Ryle pulled her in for a hug. Kumapit si Liway sa T-shirt ng lalaki at saka sumandal sa dibdib niya. Doon nagpatuloy sa paghikbi ang dalaga. Ryle wrapped his arms around her waist as he rocked their bodies side to side.

"Tahan na, hindi ako galit. Huwag nang umiyak, babe."

It took some time before Liway finally stopped crying. Hindi naman sila naghiwalay. Their bodies remained connected through a hug. Hinaplos-haplos ni Ryle ang buhok ng dalaga habang tumatahan ito.

"Liway?" he called.

"Hmm? Ano 'yon?"

"Liligawan kita. Naisip ko lang na walang ligawang nangyari noon sa atin. I figured that, I want you to experience that."

"Talaga?"

Ryle nodded. "At kapag sinagot mo na ako, I will never let anything tear us apart again. Ikakasal tayo at aayusin natin ang pamilya natin."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Papalitan ang birth certifictate ng kambal. I want my name on it."

"I'm really sorry for not putt-"

Ryle took her lips with a kiss. "It's fine now. Okay na tayo riyan. Let's focus on us, for now."

Ngumiti lang si Liway at yumakap kay Ryle. She kissed him back as they stayed in the living room reminiscing about the times they had when they were away from each other. Ryle was so attentive they did not notice the time that passed. Namalayan na lang ng dalawa nang marinig ang iyak ng isa sa mga kambal. They were talking to each other for hours.