This I Promise You

44

Grandparents

"Wow...You look like a princess."

A woman my age said that the moment she saw me.

She's about 5'10 feet tall or so, has deep-set eyes, an oval-shaped face, and a modern medium-shag haircut with layers. The black sequin-embellished open-back dress she's wearing complements her slim figure too. From one look, you can already tell that she's a high-fashion model.

"Because she is, baby."

Ezekiel said, then slid his arm around his fiancé's waist. Napangitii naman ako habang nakatitig sa kanila. They look so good together.

"I'm not anymore though. I'm just a ordinary person now." Tugon ko sa inuntas nilang dalawa.

"Really?" Pagtataka ni Kiel sabay tingin sa kanyang kapatid na nasa likuran ko at karga ang aming anak.

"I'm so happy to finally meet you... Sobrang ganda mo pala talaga kaya pala baliw na baliw sayo si kuya Evan."

"You don't have to tell her that, Reiana. She knew it already." Usal ni Evan.

Mas lalo naman akong napangiti.

"Salamat. You're very pretty too, and masaya rin ako na nagkakilala na tayo."

"Woah! I like her even more with her Filipino accent, Kuya Evan." Untas ni Rei tapos napunta naman kay Brandty ang atensyon. "And who's this handsome boy, by the way?"

Brandty has been watching our guests the whole time since they arrived. Kakagising niya lang din kasi tapos hindi pa pamilyar sa kanya ang mga dumating kaya tahimik lang siya habang karga ng kanyang Pappa.

"Hi, little prince. Can you tell us your name?" His tito Ezekiel said that.

Niyakap bigla ni Brandty si Evan at itinago ang mukha sa leeg nito.

"Sorry, nahihiya lang siguro and kakagising lang din kasi." Sabi ko nalang.

Tumango naman si Ezekiel at Reiana na pareho paring nakangiti habang pinagmamasdan ang kanilang pamangkin.

"His name is Brandt Puerto dela Cerna."

Lahat kami ay napabaling kay Evan dahil sa kanyang sinambit.

We never talked about this, but I know how much he wants to introduce our son like that ever since he found out about him.

"We call him Brandty." Dagdag pa ni Evan.

I saw how Ezekiel's smile slightly faded, maybe because of how surprised he was, but he immediately smiled again while nodding his head.

"It's amazing to finally meet you, Brandty."

Ezekiel caressed his nephew's back, and it made Brandty slightly turn his head to him. Nginitian ni Kiel si Brandty at bahagya akong napahinto nang makita ang butil ng luha sa kanang mata ng aking brother-in-law.

I'm not the first one who saw that because Rei immediately held Ezekiel's arm the moment she saw the tears in his eye.

A little later, tumawag na ang front desk sa amin para ipaalam na handa na ang pinareserve ni Evander na private beach dinner. Nagpaalam naman ako kina Ezekiel at Reiana na bibihisan lang muna si Brandty.

Sinabihan ko si Evan na samahan nalang ang aming mga bisita pero sumunod pa rin talaga siya sa amin ng anak niya sa kwarto. He and I had already freshened up and changed our clothes earlier while Brandty was still sleeping and our guest was still not here.