Tangled Ropes

Epilogue

"Kids gather around na!" It was already time to blow out the candles.

Me and Aire each held a twin and blew the candles. I kissed Khan on the cheek and watched him giggle.

"Wow, very good naman kay Mommy and Daddy." The magician said and approached us. "Mommy umamin ka nga, bakit ka very good mag-blow?"

"Huh?" I asked.

"Ng candles, Mommy." He answered kaya ngumiti lang ako while the guests laughed.

The celebration continued with games. I was getting tired kaya I sat down for a while. Hawak ni Mommy at ni Aire ang kambal.

Aire saw me and gave Mom the other baby. He sat beside me and offered a drink.

"Thank you."

"I'm sorry for the information about yesterday." He said. "But I really do want us to work. Can I have another chance, Luxiana?"

"Alam mo if I give you another chance it would be disrespectful to me as a woman. You hurt me through the years we were living together up until I gave birth. Bilang sa iisang kamay kung gaano ako kasaya when I was with you." I confessed. "I have always said yes to you but saying yes somehow feels very degrading for me."

"I understand." He said.

"But I also want us to work." I sid kaya nilingon niya ako. "If I give you another chance how will I be sure that you will be better? I have a daughter who I want to grow up in a house knowing that her husband should be expected to treat her with love and respect. How can I give that assurance to her?"

"I made you suffer long enough. I know what I have done and I know what I am able to do, you have my word."

"Sige bibigyan kita ng isa pang chance." I said. "But on three conditions."

"Yes, of course ano iyon?"

"I get to travel to a different place without you or the kids any time I want." I said kaya tumango siya. "Second is I want you to stop going to the cemetery on special occasions that include me like my birthday or our anniversary."

"Of course, ang dali naman ng mga iyan. For sure madali rin yung last."

"You wish." I said. "For a whole year, starting today hindi mo ako pwedeng galawin."

"What? You must be joking. We're married."

"And did that stop you from always thinking about Avery?"

"Eh for sure hindi mo rin kaya ang isang taon."

"Who told you? Of course kaya ko, I did it for 20 years."

"But we got married when you were 23."

"What's your point?" I asked. "Of course hindi ikaw ang nauna."

"Give me the name, I'll kill him."

"It was a 1 time thing with a friend. We just tried it."

"Friend? Oh don't tell me.."

"Gaga of course hindi si Marcus! You don't know him." I said. "Para din makatulong kung loyal ka ba sa akin. So do we have a deal?" I asked.

"Papayag ako sa conditions mo pero you need to bend something for me."

"Ano naman?"

"That 1 year should start tomorrow." He whispered as he licked my neck.

"Hmm, sige prove your worth to me. The one year starts tomorrow." Pagkasabi ko noon ay hinila niya ako sa kuwarto niya while laughing.

The End.