Man in the Rain

Epilogue (part 1)

A year later...

When can you honestly say that you miss a person? Ilang araw, buwan o taon ba ang kailangang lumulipas na hindi mo siya kasama?

I realized the span of time doesn't matter. If the person means the whole world to you... if you love that person more than yourself... Walang pipiliing oras ang pangungulila.

Wala itong pinipiniling sandali o kahit lugar. Mararamdaman mo na lang sa puso mo na may kulang.

I was standing on the balcony of our rest house and staring at the endless ocean, reminscing the first time I brought Blaire here. We ran on the shore, bathe in the sea then sat by the bonfire when the night came.

I couldn't help but smile. Malinaw pa sa alaala ko ang lahat. I remember her smiles, her voice. I remember the way she looked at me.

God, I miss her so.

Walang segundo o minuto na  hindi ko siya hinahanap-hanap.

Without her, I am only half a man. She completes me.

I sighed and looked at the ocean again.  I wish she was standing next to me right now. I wish she could see what I am seeing. She loves sunrise, sana ay pinapanood din niya ito ngayon.

I wish I could hold and kiss her now.

Blaire... My love...

Mula sa papasikat na araw sa karagatan ay naagaw ang atensyon ko ng tunog ng marahang katok sa pinto.

I went to the door and opened it. Ang una kong nakita ay ang kasambahay. Hawak niya sa isang kamay si Hope habang nasa mga bisig niya si Cohen.
And Cohen was crying.

"Sir, pasensya na po. Naistorbo ka po ba kayo? Kasi po itong si Cohen, ayaw tumahan. Baka po hinahanap kayo."

I smiled. Cohen. My little one.

Kung meron mang nakapagpapasaya sa akin at nakakapagpuno sa kakulangan sa puso ko, iyon ay walang iba kundi ang mga anak ko.

Inilahad ko ang mga bisig ko. "Give him to me."  The moment I held Cohen in my arms, he stopped crying.

"Naku sir, kayo lang talaga ang gusto ng bunso niyo. Kayo lang po ang nakakapagpatahan sa kanya." I heard the househelp say.

I don't know if that is a good thing but I couldn't help but smile proudly. Eversince Cohen was born, I am his favorite person in this world.

"You can go now. Ako na ang bahala sa mga anak ko," I told the househelp.

I took Hope's hand and guided her inside the room. I made her sit on the bed habang si Cohen naman ay buhat-buhat ko pa rin.

I stared at his little face. There's no doubt na kamukha ko siya. He got my eyes, my nose and my lips. Kahit nga hugis ng kilay ay sa akin niya nakuha. Looking at Cohen right now makes me realize that all the fears... the pain...  the tears Blaire and I had cried... all the sacrifices, it was worth it.

I kissed my little boy's  foreheard. He was all worth it.

I turned my gaze to Hope.

"Are you sleepy, baby?" I asked when I saw her yawn.

She nodded then rubbed her yes with the balls of her hands.

"I'm sorry you have to wake up this early," I said.

She looked up to me and smile. "It's okay,daddy."

My heart skipped a beat. Hope looks like her mother. She got Blaire's almond eyes and nose. They even have the same beautiful smile.

I sat beside her. "Are you excited, baby?"

She nodded and clapped her hands. "Yes!"

I smiled. "Daddy's excited, too."

I glanced at my wristwatch— twenty minutes before six.

I think we should go now. And as if on cue, I heard a knock on the door.

"Come in," I said.

The door opened.

"Everything's ready, Luke," she said with a genuine smile. Lumapit siya sa amin at kinuha mula sa akin si Cohen.  "Let's go."

I stood up and took a deep breath. "Relax, Luke," she told me.

"Thank you, Laura," I said then took her left hand and squeezed it.

I will post the second part later this week.