The Three Brothers and I [COMPLETED]

Epilogue

Ayato’s POV

I was once lonely. Since my mother left me for the reason I don’t know, I hated the people around me. I hated talking, I hated myself, I hated Japanese women, and I hated living my life. But a girl moved in to our house. I hated her before. Annoying siya sa paningin ko. I hated the fact that she’s also Japanese dahil naaalala ko sa kanya ang aking ina.
But who would’ve thought that the girl I once hated became the center of my life. Ang daming pinagdaanan namin. She taught me how to forgive and let go. Kung hindi dahil sa kanya ay hindi ko malalaman na wala na pala ang aking ina. And I felt so guilty and remorse dahil buong buhay ko ay kinamuhian ko siya. Iyon pala patay na siya. That’s all thanks to Yumi.

I thought back then, ano kayang ginawa ng babaeng ito sa’kin at gano’n nalang ang kapit ko sa kanya? I never admitted that thing to myself. I was denial at kahit nahalata na iyon ni Evo, hindi ko pa rin inaamin sa sarili ko dahil takot ako. I was afraid that she might leave me just like my mother. But I regretted not holding on to her. Dahil nawala siya nang hindi ko man lang naprotektahan at nasasabi sa kanya ang mga bagay na gusto kong sabihin.

I yearned for her. For six years wala akong ibang ginawa kundi hintayin siya. They told me she was dead, I once gave up but she appeared in my dream saying that I should wait for her. I gave in again. I waited and believed that she’s not dead.

Until her appearance made entrance. Pero hindi niya ako nakilala dahil iba na siya. Hindi na siya ang babaeng minahal ko but she is. Ang gulo. Nasaktan ako sa loob ng anim na taon, at sa kanyang pagbalik ay panibagong sakit na naman ang naranasan ko. Lalo na nang malaman kong Evo was hooking up with her. Not the dirty one.

I waited again, frustrated and wasn’t able to think what I need to do para lang maalala niya ako. Then time came. The time I’ve waited for a very long time. She returned at noong bumalik na siya’y pinangako ko sa sarili ko na hindi ko na siya bibitiwan. I’ll hold on to her. I’ll risk everything and let my fear go para makasama siya.

And now’s the beginning of our new journey.

“Ayato! Bro, congrats. Akala ko tatanda kang walang asawa.” Brent said as he patted my shoulder.

“Sinabi ko naman sa inyo diba, nagbabakasyon lang noon ang mapapangasawa ko.” we burst into laughter.

My friends and colleagues congratulated me. Today’s our wedding day at hindi na ako makapaghintay na maging akin siya, legally.

“Son,” I heard him call. “Congratulations! You’re a grown up man now. Mas nauna pang ikasal ang bunso kaysa sa dalawang kapatid niya.”

I laughed at the thought. Oo nga ‘no? Ako ang bunso sa aming tatlo pero ako naman ang naunang ikasal. It doesn’t matter, hindi naman importante ang edad. I’m 26 at hindi na ako bumabata. Pareho naman kaming 26 ng mga kapatid ko. Mas matanda lang sila sa’kin ng ilang buwan. Our old man is a hustler, you know?

“I haven’t seen Drake around. Nasaan siya?” I heard him asked.

“I don’t know. Hindi na siya nagpakita sa amin. Yumi told us he came here with her from Japan. Pero kinabukasan no’n ay hindi na namin siya nakita. We can’t reach him either.”

He patted my shoulder, “He’s just sulking. Oh, your bride’s here.”

I saw the car stopped in front of the church and Kirstin went out of the car at tumakbo palapit sa amin wearing weird expression. Bigla akong kinabahan.

“Nawawala si Yumi,” She said and I was shaky as hell, “Sa tingin ko ikinulong siya.”

Anong ikinulong? My family panicked.