Author's Note:
I will write a note here as another precaution. This is an EXTREMELY CLICHÉ happily ever after kind of ending. Yes, you read it right. This is the end guys. Last bonus chapter for The Road Back. I will also say sorry this early for the grammatical and typographical errors. This is also quite long, so find a comfortable seat. Other chikas on the author's note at the end of this chapter. Enjoy.
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"Lia, kumain ka ng marami. Mara, leave some eggs for your Ate," I told my girls. After the girls, I turned to the boys, "Kuya, you want some apples? Aaron, finish your pancakes. Stop with the phone."
"Ron, listen to your Mom," Thomas commanded and my younger boy immediately followed.
In case you are wondering why we are in a mess, well, it's because today is game day. Actually, games day. Uh.haaa more than one guys but not mine or Thomas'. It's game day for the kids. Before I explain further, let me first give a roll call.
Fifteen years after I came home from London for Mika's wedding, I am now a businesswoman slash volleyball assistant coach slash mother of four. Superwoman levels ano?
All of our businesses are doing great, no more explanation needed. And yes you read it right, I am now part of Coach Ramil's assistant coaches. I retired from playing five years ago after my last stint in the national team. Medyo old na rin po, 26 po ako nung bumalik ako dito sa Pilipinas. You do the Math. Hindi ko rin maiwan ang volleyball kaya nung nag-offer si Coach Ramil na maging part ng coaching staff niya right after ko mag-retire, go agad ako. And finally, I am now a mother of four. Yes, four, Tyrone who is now 19, the twins Amelia and Aaron who both just turned 15, and last but not the least our bunso, Tamara Cestine Galang-Torres who is 13. We call her Mara.
Kung nagtataka kayo, ganito kasi. Nung nabuntis si Mika sa pangalawa niya, sumunod si Kim diba. Eh sa hindi ako nagpapatalo, sumunod na ko. Mika had a boy while Kim had a girl. The year after that, Cienne and Carol followed. Both had girls too. Yung kay Mika nasundan pa ng isang girl. Si Cienne, tumigil na. Si Carol isa lang daw ang kaya niya. Si Kim naman, well, hindi na talaga masusundan. You'll find out later.
Then we go to my husband. He's perfect. That's all. Hahaha. Nagretire na din po si Thomas sa basketball career niya at nagfocus na lang sa sobrang lumalaki na business namin. Mas naunang nagretire sakin yun. The family business calls kasi. At mukhang na-enjoy na niya yung basketball. He's now contented playing with his sons who are both playing the same game he loves.
So now we go to my kids. Quick run through lang po tayo, you'll get to know them better later. Sasabihin ko na ngayon pa lang, Thomas and I bred athletes. All are physically gifted. Haha. The boys are playing their Dad's game while the girls are playing my game. Kuya and the girls are all playing in the UAAP while Ron is in the NCAA.
Kuya Ty is in the UAAP now. Since K-12 na nga, ngayon lang siya magsta-start ng college. Fortunately and of course because of his hard hard work, Tyrone was able to get in the varsity program. Where else do expect him to play? Siyempre, La Salle. He's quite a highly recruited rookie. I remembered UST, ADMU and NU are the other schools that visited us to talk to Tyrone. That's why I am so proud. But since he went to La Salle Greenhills for high school, DLSU is a no brainer choice.
Aaron is now in Grade 10 in the same high school as his Kuya Ty. He's also in the high school varsity team. He still has more years in high school so the universities aren't bothering us yet. Ron's game is different from Thomas and Tyrone who are both guards. Ron is growing so much taller lately and he's playing as a forward. At least ngayon may outlet na tong si Ron sa lahat ng energy na tinatago niya sa katawan niya.
