"Lilian! Baby, come here." Pagtawag ko sa anak ko.
"Wait lang po!" Sagot niya.
She's now six years old. We tried several times the IVF bago siya nabuo. Ilang luha pa ang nilabas ng asawa ko bago nabuo si Lilian, kaya naman I treasured this girl so much, just like her mom.
"Don't you want to see ate Elisa and Elaina?" I gently asked while wiping her sweat.
Nakikipag laro kasi siya sa mga fur babies namin. I bought them as a gift to my wife after our wedding, it's been seven years already.
"Si ate Elisa lang po, ang sungit ni Ate Elaina."
I smiled to her.
"Ate Elaina is not grumpy baby, she was born like that. But believe me, she love you so much like Ate Elisa, you just don't see it." I said.
Lilian is so scared to Elaina, paano ba naman kasing hindi matatakot e laging ang lalamig ng tingin nung isa, parang nanghuhusga e.
Elisa and Elaina are now eleven years old, Lilian once asked us nga kung bakit late siya pinanganak, hindi raw tuloy siya makasabay sa dalawa.
Day off ko ngayon, ang asawa ko lang ang may flight but we'll fetch her later night, but first, we'll visit my sister muna.
"ATE ELISA!" sigaw agad ni Lilian pagkatapos ko siyang ibaba sa backseat.
"Careful" I reminded bago kinuha ang mga gamit niya at sumunod.
Napangiwi ako nang mabungaran ko ang mag asawang naglalambingan sa garden nila.
Maeve's wife did already retired from her work, Maeve still continued to be engineer.
"Napabisita kayo?" Bungad ni Maeve pagpasok ko sa gate nila.
"Boring sa bahay" Sagot ko naman bago ilapag sa garden table nila ang bag.
Naglalaro na ngayon si Elisa at Lilian sa faucet ng garden nila, while Elaina on the other is just reading a book.
Elaina is so bossy person, ang tahimik, the introvert word isn't fit for her. More on insouciant, a person who's lack of emotions, and always calm kahit madami ng nangyayari sa paligid niya. I amazed her for that.
"How's life these days?" I asked for the both of them bago dineretso ang tingin sa dalawang batang nagkakatuwaan.
"Fine" Maeve answered. Tumango ako.
"I'll just cook snacks for us." Sabi ng asawa niya. Tumango lang ako dito bago niya kami iwan.
"Ate, natatakot na ako sa anak ko..." Bulong ni Maeve sa'kin kaya kumunot ang noo ko.
"Bakit?"
"E kasi naman, kapag naga-away sila ng kapatid niya laging naglalapag ng batas...."
Malakas akong tumawa sa sinabi niya.
"Anong nakakatakot don?" Natatawa ko pa ring tanong pagkatapos maka recover sa pagtawa.
"Akalain mo eleven years old pa lang 'yan...."
"Maeve, every individual has their own intelligent. Malay mo matalino lang talaga 'yang anak mo, at baka nga may magiging lawyer ka in the future." Sabi ko bago siya inakbayan.
"Being a lawyer is dangerous, pero kung 'yun ang gusto niya, so why not?" Sabi niya kaya napangiti ako bago guluhin ang buhok niya.
Kahit malapit na kami tumanda, she's still my younger sister, walang nagbago.
I remember the first time when Elaina got a high fever, sa asawa ko siya unang lumapit since her wife has an important meeting that time.
Hindi niya alam ang ginagawa niya kaya halos lahat tuloy kami nagaalala nang isugod niya sa hospital si Elaina.
"Mama..."
Bumaba ang tingin ko kay Lilian na basang-basa na ang damit. Nakasimangot ito habang si Elisa ay tawang-tawa sa likod niya.
"Why? Do you want to change now?" I gently asked bago lumuhod para mapantayan siya.
"Can you scold ate Elisa?" Nakasimangot niyang tanong, maiiyak na nga ata e.
"What did she do?" I gently asked and hold her ting hand.
Akala ko ay sasagot pero umiling lang din bago nanaman tumakbo pabalik kay Elisa. Jusko.
Having a child is so stressing, now I understand Varsha why she don't want to spoil their children back then.
I kept spoiling Lilian when she was still a toddler, ayaw nga rin ng asawa ko pero tinatago ko, tamo nga at ako ang nagdudusa ngayon.
But having Lilian as our child is a blessing kahit sobrang tigas ng ulo. Lilian will be just only child since ayaw kong mag buntis, at ayaw na rin ng asawa ko, so.... yea.
I SMILED AT Lilian who was holding her big trophy. She won from a debate, and as journalism.
I took a picture of her as she raised her trophy, while my wife beside me is just cheering for her.
Lilian is smart, I could say that base on her academic achievements, and I'm proud of having a daughter like her.
"TOLD YOU, darling. All of your hard work will be worth it." Sabi ko when she approached us after the awarding.
"Iniyakan mo pa 'yung binabasa mong libro last week kasi hindi mo kuno maintindihan." Dagdag ng asawa ko that made us laugh.
The book she was referring to is the book Lilian used to research the topic for her debate.
"I wouldn't achieve this without the support from the both of you." Nakangiting sabi ng anak ko.
I pulled her towards me for a hug. Ganon din sa asawa ko.
"Congrats, Lian."
Napahiwalay ako sa mag-ina ko when I heard Elisa's voice. Kasama niya ang kapatid at mga magulang niya.
"Thank you, ate. Congrats din." Sagot ni Lilian.
Elaina was the representative of their school for swimming, at naipanalo niya iyon, champion kumbaga. Elisa on the other hand also won the chess, kaya may award din silang natanggap ngayon.
"One on one celebration na 'to" Sabi ng kapatid ko. Tumingin ako sa asawa ko, asking if she's agree.
Ngumiti eto at tumango. Binalik ko ang tingin ko sakanila bago pumayag.
We celebrated our daughters achievements just us in a simple but not simple restaurant.
We enjoyed the evening while talking about the future of these three.
And yup, tama nga ako noong sinabi kong magiging lawyer si Elaina because iyon pala ang kinuha niyang kurso for college.
Elisa and Elaina will now graduate senior high. Si Lilian ay kaka graduate lang ng elementary last year.
"We'll go in a separate schools na, how about me naman?" Ani ni Lilian kaya napatawa kami.
"Going in a different schools will not ruin our bond." Sagot ni Elaina. Napanguso naman ang isa.
We talked more about interesting things aside from their futures. Hinayaan din naming mag bonding ang mga tatlo, naiwan kaming apat sa table.
Wala naman kaming imikan bukod sa mga asawa naming panay ang chismisan.
I remember the first day they saw each other. My wife was too scared to talk to Varsha before, ang sungit daw, parang si Elaina lang daw.
But turns out, siya lang din naman ang nag first move. And look at them now, nonstop nang naguusap.
This is life, anyway. At least wala na kaming pinoproblema ngayon, kumpara noon.
This is the peace I want back then. Free from stress, and problems, but of course with the loves of my life.
It's too hard to achieve, but believe me, patience is the key. Always remind to yourself that God has a better plan everytime you almost want to give up because how hard life is.
Be patience and wait for your turn.
I love you!
YOU ARE READING
Unpredictable Smile (CTR series #2)
Aléatoire"Destiny did crossed our path together, only to separate it again. Thinking, what if I'm the first person you loved and met before? Will things like these will happen?"
