Let's Play Pretend

Counting Down To Infinity

Desisyon ng buong Viceral family na umuwi sa Manila. Rosa was getting old and weak, ilang beses rin nyang sinabi na gusto nyang umuwi ng Pilipinas, and who were her kids to deny her that wish.

Emma and Tina insisted na manatili na lang ang mag-asawa sa kanilang apartment sa New York. The two were working regularly per hour, but when their spiky and energetic daughter heard the news of their unexpected visit back to the Philippines, hindi ito pumayag na hindi makasama. The two was left no choice kung hindi sumama na rin sa pamilya.

But it was a choice that they had to think a dozen of times bago ito matuloy.

It was quiet at first. Vice visited the grave of his father and Karylle made a surprise visit to his father and mother along with her husband and her daughter. Kay Zia at Coco rin na may sari-sarili ng pamilya, at sa kanyang Quizon family na napalapit na rin sa kanya.

Zsa Zsa was more than ecstatic, and she noted na kamukhang-kamukha ni Vice ang kanilang anak. She got his signature smile and eyes.

They were really happy, but as they say. Everything in this world isn't made out of sweetness and paradise.

Kelangan nilang magtago at ilihim ang kanilang presensya mula sa maraming tao. They have to be discreet. Kung hindi, baka mawala ang kapayapaan na pinaglaban nila para sa kanilang munting pamilya.

Karylle even remembered her conversation with her sister at kung paano sya na mula ng tanungin sya ni Zia.

"Hindi ba halos fifty na si Kuya Vice nung ikasal kayo sa New York? Ilang taon nga sya nuon? Forty-eight? Buti naman at nakabuo pa kayo. Tumatayo pa pala?" Zia teased with a naughty sneer, kaya naman mabilisang tinakpan ni Karylle ang tenga ng kanyang anak ng biglang tumawa ito ng malakas. "Eto ngang si Kennedy Eh, hirap na kami gumawa. You're lucky hindi pa tuyo yung pagkababae mo."

"Mommy, ano daw yung tatayo kay Dadi?"

Karylle looked down at her at bigla itong na mula ng tumawa ng malakas si Zia. "Karinna Marie Viceral!" She hushed her daughter in sheer embarrassment, buti na lang hindi nya kasama ang asawa kung hindi baka tupakin ang mag-ama at makisakay pa sa kalokohan ng kanyang kapatid. "Don't ask things like that!"

Karinna pouted her already pouty lips. Her eyes became glossy dahil hindi ito sanay na napapagalitan. "But why?" Reklamo nya sa nanay. "I was just only asking kung ano yung tumatayo kay Daddy."

Muntik ng mabitawan ni Zia ang sanggol na karga nya sa sobrang lakas ng pagtawa nya. And at that moment, Karylle deemed how much things really change.

And even though she almost died from second-hand embarrassment, courtesy of her own daughter. Things were changing for the better.

"We're here."

Tumigil ang sasakyan sa isang maliit na restaurant sa may liblib na parte ng Quiapo. It was big enough to cater thirty to fourty people but even that would make them all cramped up like sardines. A place of meeting and peace. A perfect spot for the couple's uncertain and a bit... Impulsive reunion with their friends.

In a moment, their line of vision connected. He smiled and wrinkles showed on both corners of his eyes, a sign of his passing youth at the ripe age of fifty-five. "Ready, sweetheart?" Pinatong nya ang kanyang kamay sa hita ng kanyang mahal at marahan na pinispisan ito. "We can always back out if you want to. Wala namang pumipilit."

Karylle shook her head and let out a weary smile. Tiningnan nya ang batang nakaupo sa kanyang tabi. She can't help but smile after seeing how bright her smile is, how her curly and thick locks were messily tied up dahil nagpapractice pa lang itong mag-pusod ng kanya. "Karinna." Hinaplos nya ang ulo nito. "Anak, do you want to stay here with manang Jessa and play Bubblewitch..." Narinig nyang umubo ng pa simple si Vice, kaya napa-iling na muli sya, thinking how attached the latter is to their daughter. "...or sasama ka samin ni Daddy?"

The little girl beamed, her small rows of pearly whites showing. Her eyes were wide and it glowed with happiness and excitement. "Please! Can I? Can I?!" Binitawan nya ang Samsung tablet sa tabi at biglang humawak ng mahigpit sa braso ng kanyang ina. "Mama, can I? Please?!"

"Manang-mana ka talaga sa tatay mo." Karylle noted with a smile as she stares at her daughter. "Ang kulit at ang Hyper mo."

Tumawa si Vice at napakamot sa kanyang ulo. "Oh ano na." Naiinip nyang tanong sa kanyang mag-ina. "Kanina pa naghihintay ang mga yun. Let's go?"
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When the door opened, agad tumakbo papasok si Karinna at dumiretso sa counter, never minding the gasp and smiles of the people inside the restaurant. The little girl was eyeing the line-up of cakes and desserts,she was particularly pointing at the Cheesecake she loved so much. Mabilisan naman sinundan ni Karylle ang anak, na kahit anim na taon na ito ay hindi pa rin sya mapakali pag nalalayo ito sa kanya.

"Karinna!" Hinawakan nya sa braso ang bata tsaka nya ito marahang hinigit papalayo sa counter. "Anak, mamaya na ha. Order tayo later. I'd like to introduce you to some people first."

Karylle turned and saw the bright smile of the familiar people seated at the restaurant. Nakaupo na at nakikipag-kwentuhan na si Vice sa kanyang mga baklang kaibigan. Nag-aasaran at nagkukumustahan kung ano ang nangyari at tila maton na maton na ang pormahan ng dating pinaka-bakla na nilalang sa balat ng lupa.

Her old friends was there. Sina Anne na kasama ang kanyang panganay na anak na si Erwin. Si Iza, Dianna at Mariel. Kasama rin ang mga naging kaibigan nya nuong host at artista pa sya, but what caught her attention was someone that she wasn't expecting.

Seated at the far corner of the restaurant ang isang babaeng Morena. May kasama syang bata, at halata sa mukha nito na iba ang lahi ng kanyang ama. Napaka-gwapo at ang puti nito.

Though she was hesitant at first, lumapit sya sa kinakaupuan nito, iniwan muna nya ang anak sa kanyang mga kaibigan.

"Zarah." Pagtawag nya sa pangalan nito. "You're here. I wasn't expecting you to actually come." Was her frank words at the lady in front of her.

Nagkibit balikat si Zarah at binigyan ni Karylle ng mahinhin na ngiti. "Well, I thought I should come." Hinigpitan nya ang kapit sa anak sabay muling tumingin kay Karylle. "After all, I had to see if the woman who saved my life, para magpasalamat muli sa ginawa mo at ni Vice para sakin."

"It's not that big of a deal, Zarah. It's what I owe you, and you deserve it. Let bygones be bygones." Karylle answered wholeheartedly. "I'm glad you're doing well."

Zarah nodded and smiled, sumulyap naman sya sa bata na kasama nina Karylle, sobrang likot at ang bibo nito. Sa sobrang kalikutan ay halos matumba na ang baso sa table nina Anne. "Your baby?" She Pointed at the Child. "Kamukha ni Vice, no?"

"Oo nga eh. Yung gender nga lang ata nya ang nag-mana sakin eh."

"I'm glad you're finally happy." Biglaang sinabi ni Zarah, with a genuine smile on her lips. "I'm glad you've gotten the peace you deserve."
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At eto na lang talaga yun. Hahaha!!!!!!! Sorry kung sobrang ikli ng epilogue nya, but this was the only thing that I could think of. A happy ending for all of them. Thank you ulit sa mga nag support sa story na ito. At sana abangan nyo yung mga sunod ko pang isusulat.

Thank you for reading!!!!!!