Rachel's POV
Maaga kami umalis ng bahay. Pinag day off ako ni Mika dahil may ipapakilala daw siya sa akin. Ilang beses ko na tinanong kung saan kami pupunta pero ayaw naman sabihin. Matulog na lang daw muna ako at gigisingin na lang niya kapag makarating na kami.
"Babe, we're here." Pag alog niya sa akin. Nakatulog na pala ako nung pumasok kami sa nlex.
"Nasaan tayo?"
"Pulilan" Bumaba siya at umikot para pagbuksan ako ng pinto. "This is where our family's history started. This is the ancestral house turned mausoleum."
Spanish period yung style nung bahay.
"Our ancestor Miguel Alejandro Reyes is a spanish businessman. Siya ang unang tumira sa bahay na ito. During my great great grand father's era, he turned this house into a mausoleum. Since nasa Manila na yung seed of power ng kompanya minsan na lang may umuwi dito so it was only fitting that the former heads of the family live here."
Umakyat kami sa second floor at pumasok sa unang kwarto.
"That's my great grandmother. Mikaela Reyes. Siya naman ang asawa niya si Aereen Reyes."
Nakaharap kami ngayon sa dalawang picture. Yung isa kamukhang kamukha ni lolo Mikaelo at yung isa naman medyo hawig ni daddy Michael. So may history na rin pala sila na both girls ang nagpakasal.
"Everyone thought I was named after my lolo but the truth is we are both named after his mother. I was a splitting image of her during her youth. Yung second name ko naman kinuha sa asawa niya. I remembered her as the kind old woman who let's me get away with everything. Sabi nga ni lolo nung buhay pa siya, siya ang abogado ko." Mika chuckled.
I was just so dumbfounded how she looks exactly like her.
"Baka magulat ka may male version ako." Natawa uli siya.
"Kamukha namin si lolo Miguel. This gorgeous face came from him." Nag pogi sign siya kaya tinampal ko yung noo niya. I just marveled on how beautiful their family is.
"Gorgeous ka? Talaga lang ha?"
"Oo, patay na patay ka nga sa akin! Aray!" kinurot ko siya dahil sa kayabangan niya.
"Kaya pala hinabol mo ako sa Calatagan noh?" nakaismid kong sagot sa kanya at nag hands up na siya. Weaaaak.
"Let's go. I want you to meet someone special to me." Hinatak uli niya ako at nagpunta sa isang pang kwarto.
"Hi lola!" Bati niya pagpasok namin. "I guess nag dilang anghel ka. I found someone na makakatapat ko. I found someone that I will love with all my heart till I draw my last breathe. I found someone who will love me for who I am. And here she is." She held me by the shoulder and pinakilala ako sa lola niya.
"Babe she's lola Anastacia. She's my grandmother." I closed my eyes and stated my greetings and a prayer.
"Meron pa babe." Lumipat kami sa isa pang picture. "Hi twinnie!"
I saw a boy around 8 or 9 years of age, who looks exactly like her.
"Babe this is my cousin, Miko Aaron Reyes." Sabi niya. "Anak siya ni uncle Manny. Ironically we share the same birth date. We were raised together until they had to transfer to US. Tapos nabalitaan ko na lang they got into an accident and uncle, auntie and Miko died."
After a short prayer ay lumuwas na kami sa Metro. I felt so happy to see this side of her. The loving side of Mika Reyes.
×××××××
