Oops! Ang larawang ito ay hindi sumusunod sa aming mga alituntunin sa nilalaman. Upang magpatuloy sa pag-publish, subukan itong alisin o mag-upload ng bago.
💖💖💖
This was a complete gathering. I met Brett's sisters for the second time around today. Glaiza, Anna, and April, 1st, 3rd, and 4th child, respectively. Brett was the second child.
I first met them in Tagaytay, on his nephew's seventh birthday. That was my first intimate party with Brett's family.
Walang ibang naroon kung hindi ang buong immediate family. Not even the cousins or aunts and uncles were invited.
Sila lang talaga. And unexpectedly, ako. I wasn't seeing the significance of my being there. Ako lang ang hindi kapamilya. I was not even an extended family member.
But surprisingly, I enjoyed it. Noon ko na-realize how humble and low profile they were, sa kabila ng karangyaan ng buhay. Hindi ako makapaniwala.
I had been with well off people at yabang ang lagi kong naa-associate sa mga iyon. But Brett's family were the exact opposite. They were down to earth. Non-judgemental. And they made me feel like I was one of them.
Brett's sister instantly bonded with me. Parang matagal ko na silang kakilala. Not even a hint that they made me feel I was nothing or below them. I was treated as one of them, cared for and loved.
I also saw and bonded with Tita Emma differently. Siya nga ang nagsabi sa akin na tawagin siyang Tita Emma at Tito Bernard ang asawa niya. Until such time, according to her, na hindi ko alam kung ano. Malayong malayo siya sa babaing una kong nakilala. She was always happy, smiling, and caring. Inasikaso niya rin ako, and making sure that I was tended. I was in awe!
I also slept in Brett's room that night. Nasasanay na nga ako. At kapag nangyayari iyon, I was imagining and feeling him for days kahit hindi ko na siya katabi. That was quite scary but beautiful. Ayaw ko lang talagang masanay.
Today was Tita Emma's sixty-fifth birthday. Kaiba sa birthday ng pamangkin ni Brett, this was star studded. Maraming bisita at inayusan ang likod ng bahay na ginamit din na barbeque party noong pumunta ang mga kaopisina namin.
All of Brett's sisters were married. Anna had two kids. Glaiza had just given birth to her third and April was also pregnant with her second child. The husbands were all here with the cousins and the entire clan. It was a great celebration at the poolside of their huge house.
Napakaraming tao. And I would forever wonder why I was here. Mula noong una, ilang ulit nang ipinakipag-usap ni Brett sa akin na gawin naming official ang kung ano man na mayroon kami. But I would always politely say that we were better this way.
Hindi naman siya tumitigil. He still treats me at lunch daily basta nasa office kami pareho and he ate breakfast with me on a regular basis as well.
He introduced me to all of his cousins as his best friend. I got the most curious look from everyone. Sino nga ba naman ang maniniwala? But then, I didn't care. Magiliw ang buong pamilya sa akin. That was all that mattered.
