ALEJANDRA: She Can't Forget *Completed*

The way it was supposed to be...

----

Kasalukuyan kaming nakaupo ni Ethan sa dalampasigan, paharap sa isang bakanteng lupa sa talampas na nakadungaw sa dagat. Bahagya kaming nakatanga dahil may kataasan ang lupang iyon. I am sitting between his legs. Sa kandungan ko'y ang sketch pad nya kung saan nakadrawing ang bahay na dinisenyo nya para sa amin.

"Lalagyan natin ng infinity pool ang bahaging iyon." Tinuro nya ang bahaging ng bakanteng lupa malapit sa dagat. "Tapos, papalagyan ko ng duyan. Doon tayo magkukwentuhan. You would ask me about my day at work and then I would ask you about our kids, what you did all day--"

Napaharap ako sa kanya. 'Kids? As in plural?" Tanong ko. He kiss my forehead and and smile at me.

"My sweet, I want a big family, I am an only child and so you are. Masyadong malungkot kung iisa lang. Ahh can you manage atleast five?"

"Five?" Natatawa ako. I cant believe we are talking about having kids right now. "Ang dami nun, baka magasgas ang ovaries ko."

Natawa na rin sya sa sinabi ko. "Im sorry, okay. You decide, since youre the one to carry them."

I smiled at him and give him a peck on his lips. I can see how excited he is on planning our lives together. At sobrang saya ang dala nun sa akin. When my mom died in a heart attack si Ethan nalang ang naging permanenteng lalake at tao sa buhay ko. There's papa and mama Mildred yes-- but they never stayed long. They come and go. May mga anak kasi sila. My brothers. But I merely know them.

Sa madaling salita, halos kay Ethan umikot ang mundo ko sa loob ng dalawang taon.

"Five kids then." He smiled wider. "Hindi mo naman siguro ako iiwan pag nalosyang ako dahil sa taon-taong pangangànak."

"Oh my sweet, with the thought of you giving me beautiful children would just make me love you even more." He gave me three sweet tiny little kisses in my forehead.

"So, the house would--"

"Home my sweet, our home."

"Okay, our home would be three storey. One guestroom, four bedrooms. Pano yan lima anak natin?"

"Syimpre ee-extend natin yun pag malalaki na sila, magsishare muna ang dalawang girls sa iisang room."

"Dalawang girls? So tatlo ang boys?"nilaro ko ang pinong buhok sa panga nya.

Tumango sya. "The girls would be name Sonata and Lyrica. Because you love music."

"I like it." Ngiting komento ko. "And the boys?"

"Ohw, my oldest dude will be name after my grandpa,Nathaniel--I hope you dont mind."
Umiling ako.

"Not at all. And the two other boys?"

"Owh, they'll be Yshmael and Ymmanuel. What do you think?" Nakatingin lang ako sa kanya habang nagsasalita, tila ba tuwang-tuwa sya habang iniimagine ang mga bagay na iyon. Masyado pa kaming bata kung tutuusin, pero ang marinig ang mga bagay na iyon mula sa kanya, na para bang pinaplano na nya ang lahat, I just find it so sweet of him. At his young age, already planning for a life with me. What else could I ask for?

Tumango ako at ngumiti. Pinagdikit ko ang mga noo namin."Beautiful names...."

"As beautiful as you my sweet."