UNDER Series #5: Controlling her desires.

EPILOGUE

"Tita Mera!"

Isang ngiti ang bumalot sa mga labi ko ng salubungin ako ng mga ngiti sa labi ni Yuela.

"Tita, guess what?" Rinig ko na naman ang kaartehan sa bunganga n'ya na mukhang may ipagyayabang na naman sa akin.

"I...won the freakin contest." She smiled at me, her lips formed so proudly.

"Hmm? Did you?" Nang aasar na tanong ko sa kan'ya.

"I did, 'cause' I'm the prettiest among them all, and!" She points out. "I'm the smartest."

Natawa na lang ako dahil doon kasabay ng pagyakap n'ya sa akin.

"That beauty contest was a piece of cake," muling sambit nito. "Wala ba silang mas magandang kayang ilaban sa akin? Like, look at me...I look like a goddess, then the competitors that I have look so cheap–"

"You're mouth is running so filthy again, Amaryllis." I heard a cold yet stable voice.

Napatingini naman ako dahil doon ng makitang naglalakad si Levaine habang may hawak na libro patungo sa direksyon ko.

He was wearing his eyeglasses, and he was holding his algebraic book in his hands which made me laugh.

"You, and you're Tito Drix was so the same." I laughs at him. "Lagi nalang academic book ang binabasa n'yo."

"He, and Tito is a study freak, what can we do?" Isang boses pa ang narinig ko ng bumungad sa akin si Lexian.

Napabuga na lang ako ng hangin ng makita ang tangkad ng mga batang 'to, they are all 13 now and their heights are screaming a pole in every inch.

Hindi ko rin naman sila masisisi, dahil sa mga magulang nila na lumalaban rin naman sa tangkad. They just inherit their parents heights.

Yuela was now competing in every beauty contest that she could join, while Levaine was focused on his studies, and Lexian was so into his sports.

All of them go on different paths, but they don't forget to bond with each other every time.

"How are you, Tita?" Leviane asked me, as I gave them fruits for snacks.

"I'm fine, baby." I answered him.

Ang akala ko ay hindi ko magugustuhan ang mga bata, not until these three came into my life. Meron pa silang bunso na lang kasa kasama ni Lewis, which is Yulewia who's 6 by now.

Yuela, Yulewia, Lexiane, and Leviane were like a sun that I didn't know would light my world.

They've been my support system this past year's lalo na...wala si Drix sa tabi ko.

Isang malambot na ngiti ang pumorma sa mga labi ko ng makita ko ang dalawang singsing sa kamay ko.

A ring for my engagement, and my wedding ring.

It's been 5 years since me and Drix got married, pero walang isang taon ko s'yang nakasama after that event.

I'm now 34, and everything changed around me, but I'm still here drowning myself longing for my man.

Limang na taon ko ng hindi kasama si Drix, pero unti na lang...unti na lang babalik na s'ya sa akin–

[Hacovo, we need you here! There was a huge fight in the city jail and they needed a hand for rescue!] My radio beep.

Bumuga ako ng hangin dahil doon, at nginitian ang mga batang 'tong tinuring ko na ring mga pamangkin ko.

"I need to go, some people need to be saved." Paalam ko sa kanila.