Maniwala sa Magic ng Pasko (A Bu-Lakan Fic)

Epilogue

"Matti!"

I shout, relieved when we finally find him. I swear, I'm buying a child leash the next time we bring him along to Simbang Gabi. It's only the first night and I'm about to have a heart attack.

"Mama! Tita Ninang!"

He cries as soon as he reaches us. As much as I want to scold him for leaving our sight, his crying face erased whatever litany I was about to spout.

"Matti anak, saan ka nagsususuot? May nangyari ba sa'yo? May masakit ba sa'yo?" My sister frantically checks up on her son, looking for scratches or bruises. Thankfully, there was none. Looks like his tears are tears of relief.

"Oh, nasaan yung baseball cap ko na nilagay ko sa ulo mo kanina para di ka mahamugan? Yung may letter D?" I ask my precocious nephew.

"Ni-ni-bigay ko kay kuya na ni-samahan ako ka-ka-kanina."

"Sinong kuya?" I ask, scanning the crowd, trying to find my lucky cap.

"Si Kuya iyakin. Ni-tulungan niya ko nung na-fall ako kanina."

"Asan siya?"

"Nandyan siya kanina, ngayon wala na."

"Dei, hayaan mo na yung cap mo. Papalitan ko na lang. Ang mahalaga safe si Matti." My sister turns to her son. "Anak, wag mo nang uulitin yun ah. Sobrang natakot si mama at Tita Ninang kanina. Di ba good boy ka? Wag ka nang hihiwalay sa amin ha?" Matti nods and gives his mom a hug and a wet kiss.

I smile as I watch the sweet moment between my sister and my nephew. She's right. No matter how fond I was of my lucky baseball cap, Matti's safety was what's important. Besides, I'm sure I'll find it again. I don't call it my lucky cap for nothing.

And who knows? Maybe this kuya iyakin could be the answer to my Simbang Gabi wish.