The Unfinished Business (Completed)

Chapter 50

Pagbalik namin sa bahay nina Ian, hinila nya na agad ako papasok.

"Surprise!!!" sigaw ng lahat sa'min.

Nagulat kami and were taken aback sa intensity ng surprise na yun pero mas lalo si Ian, na tila may inis pa dahil alam nyang mauudlot ang gusto nya sana. Naroon sa bahay nila ang mga kapatid ko, sina Mama at Papa at ang mga kaibigan namin.

"Ma, Pa," yakap namin sa isa't isa.

"Congratulations anak!" bati nila sa'kin. They also hugged Ian. "Anak! Soon!"

"Pare, congratulations! Finally!" bati ni Hugo at akbay nya kay Ian. 

Malaki naman ang ngiti ni Ian. "Salamat, salamat," sabi naman ni Ian.

Yumakap si Ate sa'kin. "Ang sabi ko kina mama kina Therese ka natulog kagabi at umoo rin si Therese nung kinonfirm ni Mama yun sa kanya," mabilis na update sa'kin ni Ate Isabel. "Nang nalaman nila kagabi na engaged na kayo sabi ni Papa sunduin ka namin kung nasaan ka ngayon din."

"Mukhang kami na ang namanhikan ah," sabi ni Mama sa Dad ni Ian.

"We'll make it formal balae. Very soon," sabi ng Dad ni Ian.

"Hiramin ko muna today si Maggie, Ian ha. Alam mo na, may Maid of Honor duties sya mamaya para sa rehearsal dinner," sabi ni Therese. Bumulong sya sa'kin. "Hinahanap ka ng Mama mo sa'kin. Dito ka natulog kina Ian 'no?"

"Oo," maikli kong sagot na natatawa sa pagkataranta ni Therese at Ate Isabel.

"Kayo talaga. 'Di pa kayo kasal!" bulong nya ulit. "Baka maunahan nyo pa kami ni Hugo na magka-baby."

"Wala pang nangyayari sa'min," sagot kong natatawa.

"Wala nang naniniwala nyan," sabi ni Therese at turo sa mukha ko. Hinuhuli nya 'ko.

Umiling ako. "No, look. Tingnan mo si Ian. Bad trip. Dapat kasi ngayong umaga," nguso ko kay Ian.

Tumawa ng malakas si Therese. Natawa na rin ako.

Sabay-sabay kaming lahat na nag-brunch. It was such a fun get-together. I knew it would beat the rehearsal dinner sa dami ng tawa at kwento ng lahat ng mga pinagdaanan namin at kaartehan namin ni Ian. Pati pagpapa-kipot ko at ka-torpehan ni Ian naidetalye.

"Ficks was such a huge part of this happiness," sabi bigla ni Ian in the middle of our laughter. "Let's thank him and remember him always saying, 'Group Hug!'"

Natahimik ang lahat.

"God, thanks for everything. For gifting us with love we're sharing with each other," simula ni Ian. He turned to me and smiled. "Bless Mama and Ficks. We all know they're here with us. They will never be forgotten." Naiyak si Ian. "We miss them so much but I know you need them more there where you all are." Hinagod ko ang likod nya. His Dad also broke in tears. Hindi naman lingid sa kaalaman ng lahat how much he loves Ian's mom.

"We miss you Ficks! Tita, hello!" sabi ni Hugo to break the ice and for Ian to continue the prayer.

"Bless us. Guide us. Let love rule our hearts. Always. Amen," tapos ni Ian.

"Amen!" sabi ng lahat.

Hugs were shared after that and we all felt those were more meaningful than ever before.

My family had issues, Ian's family had difficulties, Ate Lou and Kuya George almost lost a baby, Hugo and Therese have challenges and Ian and I kept on finding each other. Life is continually going to give us something to conquer, finish, close and complete. It's neverending kaya dapat we deal with it always, with help from one another.