THE HILARIOUS HUSBAND (LEE BROTHERS #2)

Chapter 72

CHAPTER SEVENTY-TWO ANNOUNCEMENT

❥ ELISSE GARCIA ❥

“Go on. You should head inside, or you’ll miss your flight,” I said plainly to Ella, trying to keep my voice steady. Hindi kasi ako ‘yong tipo na madrama kaya wala akong ibang masabi sa kaniya.

We were at the airport. Hinatid namin siya ni Hope, kasama rin si Edward. Pero hindi na bumaba si Hope sa sasakyan, probably sensing that this was a moment I needed to share with my siblings.

Ella held onto her suitcase handle, her expression a mix of nervousness and a hint of shyness. Her aunt—her late mom’s sister—was taking her to Canada, both to study and to keep an eye on her. It was a good opportunity, one she’d wanted, so I couldn’t say no, kahit na noong una ay ako ang tutol dahil nag-aalala ako sa kaniya kung malalayo siya masyado. Pero dahil determinado siya, pumayag na lang din ako at sinuportahan na lang siya.

She looked up at me, her gaze hesitant. Simula no’ng makulong si Dad, naging madalang ang pagkikita namin. I’d seen her after I’d been discharged from the hospital, and then again, briefly, at the reception after Hope and I got married. She hadn’t been comfortable coming to the church and only stayed at the reception for a short while. I understood her hesitation—it couldn’t have been easy, not with everything that had happened and the weight of our family’s issues hanging over her.

“Sorry, Ate Elisse…” mahina niyang sabi at muling napayuko. “H’wag kayong mag-alala sa ‘kin, mag-iingat ako ro’n,” dagdag niya, kasunod ang mabilis niyang pagtalikod, hila ang suitcase niya.

I didn’t say anything, just watched her as she walked toward the entrance. Noong nasa tapat na siya ng entrance, huminto siya at nilingon kami ni Edward. And for the first time, after everything we’d all been through, she gave us a real smile. She even lifted her hand in a small wave.

In return, I nodded, pressing my lips together to hold back the mix of emotions rising in my chest. Edward waved back with a gentle smile, giving her a bit of reassurance from afar. As I watched her disappear inside, I felt both the weight of goodbye and a glimmer of hope for the fresh start she’d finally have.

⫘⫘⫘

“Are we late?” tanong ko habang pabiyahe na kami pauwi naman sa mansyon ng Mommyla ni Hope.

Hindi na namin kasama si Edward dahil may sarili rin siyang lakad ngayon. Inihatid lang namin siya saglit sa bahay matapos namin manggaling sa airport dahil kukuhanin niya raw ang sasakyan niya, gagala sila ng mga kaibigan niya.

One thing I appreciated about Edward since he started living with us was that he’d taken to letting me know every time he went out, even who he’d be with. And yes, he was still staying with us. Mukhang ayaw na talaga niyang umuwi sa bahay ng Daddy niya. Ayaw na niyang humiwalay—actually, hindi ko alam kung kanino niya ayaw mahiwalay—kung sa akin ba o sa Kuya Hope niya.

Ang totoo nga ay mas hinahanap-hanap niya pa si Hope kaysa sa 'kin. Like, kapag umuwi ako sa bahay nang hindi ko ito kasama dahil may kailangan siyang tapusin sa company, pagpasok ko sa bahay at natanaw ako ni Edward na mag-isa ay agad siyang nagtatanong kung nasaan daw ang Kuya Hope niya. Kapag naman nagkataong ako ang wala at si Hope lang ang nasa bahay ay parang wala lang. Kampante siya kahit hindi niya ako makita dahil alam niyang uuwi rin ako kahit ano'ng mangyari. Mas mukha pa nga na sila ang magkapatid kaysa sa amin ni Edward dahil sa closeness nila. Hindi na rin naiiba si Edward sa pamilya ni Hope dahil parang anak na rin ang turing nila rito sa kabila ng katotohanang hindi talaga kami half-siblings. At ganunpaman, hindi nag-iba ang pakitungo sa 'kin ni Edward. Gano'n din ako sa kaniya.