Epilogue
"WAG KANG MASYADONG makulit at wag mong bigyan ng sakit ng ulo si Tita Ellise at Tito Sage mo," Ria tells Ben—our eldest six-year-old son. "At saka kung maglalaro ka, wag mong kalimutan magpalit ng damit after. Don't get soaked with sweat or else you'll have pneumonia. Drink your vitamins regularly. Brush your teeth after eating. Take a bath everyday. And when you don't feel well, just tell your Tito or Tita, okay?"
I chuckle, and Ria looks at me questioningly. "Babe, he's not going abroad. We'll be coming back here the day after tomorrow."
"Kahit na! Pinapaalalahanan ko lang siya. Baka makalimutan niya," paliwanag niya.
"Mom, I'm a big boy na. I can take care of myself," says Ben, crossing his arms.
"You're still five, and you're still our baby," I say, ruffling his hair.
"But Tito Nick said that I'm a big boy na because we will hunt chikababes daw."
Kumunot ang noo ko. Aba, gago tong pinsan ko, ah! Tinuturuan na ang anak ko ng mga kabulastugan. "You're still our baby." I pinch his nose. "Don't believe anything your Tito Nick tells you. He's a dumb, stupid, ass—"
"Benedict!" suway ni Ria. Pinanlakihan niya ako ng mata. "Language."
"Tito Nick is dumb, stupid, ass-what?" Our son looks at us in confusion.
"Forget what your Dad said, baby. He's just joking."
"Da! Ma!" Celeste—our three-year-old daughter—runs to our direction. May putik ang kanyang mukha. Her white shirt, short and boots are muddy.
Sumunod ang yaya nito sa kanya. "Celeste!" Nang nakita kami nito, agad siyang nag-sorry. "Sorry po talaga. Ang kulit niya po kasi. Gusto maglaro sa putik."
"It's okay," sabi ni Ria. She crouches down to tuck a stray strand of hair behind Celeste's ear. "Baby girl, don't play with the mud. You have toys. You can play with your dolls instead."
"I'm bored with my dolls," she says, pouting. "I want something else."
"Go take a bath," I tell her gently. "You're going to stay with your Tita Ellise and Tito Sage for two days."
"Really?" Her eyes widen, and then she smiles. "Yehey! I can play with Ate Elisha, Saddie and Sky!" She jumps up and down happily.
Agad siyang kinuha ng yaya niya at iginiya sa banyo para paliguan.
Dumating si Ellise at Sage para sunduin sila Celeste at Ben.
"Hello Tita, Tito," Celeste—who's done taking a bath—says happily as soon as Ellise and Sage step inside the house.
"Hello baby," Sage and Ellise say simultaneously.
"Tito Sage!" Ben runs to Sage enthusiastically, fist bumping. He ruffles Ben's hair and smiles fondly at him. Then Ellise crouches down, and Ben kisses her cheek. "Hello po Tita."
After that, Ria and Ellise exchange greetings. Matipid din kaming nagpalitan ng batian ni Sage.
"Hello, baby sis," I tell Ellise, and she rolls her eyes at me.
"Kuya! May mga pamilya at anak na tayo tapos bini-baby mo parin ako."
"Old habits die hard." I pinch my sister's nose, and she winces.
BINABASA MO ANG
Forgotten Love
Genel Kurgu(Cortez Series #2) Five years ago, Adrianne had lost her memories to an accident. May mga alaala siyang naalala, at may iba naman na hindi pa. She was able to live a normal life despite the tragedy, but there are fragments of the past that still con...
