After All This Time

Nothing But The Truth.

Ricci's POV

Kumpleto na halos lahat ng bisita namin. Our parents were the ones who welcomed almost all of our relatives na ininvite namin. Nagtatago kami ni Pat at ni Ryle dito sa kabilang function room. Karga-karga ko si Ryle at hawak ko naman ang kamay ni Pat.

Maya-maya pumasok si tita sa loob.

"Mga anak, kumpleto na daw lahat ng relatives natin. Let's go?"

Nagkatinginan kami ni Pat at ngumiti sa isa't isa. Naglakad kami papunta sa loob ng kabilang function room ng reastaurant. Pagpasok namin sa loob, everybody gasped.

Naglakad kami papuna sa harap kung saan nagprovide yung restaurant ng speaker at mic. I grabbed the mic from kuya Rash.

"You got this brobro."

We smiled at each other. I started to talk.

"Hi everyone. I know a lot of you are shocked sa ummm... nakikita niyo. Pero first I want to introduce myself first. Ako po si Ricci Rivero, boyfriend ni Patrice. And umm... I would like to formally introduce Ryle Patrick Tolentino Rivero, our son."

—

Patrice's POV

Shock is an understatement. Tahimik ang buong function room. I grabbed the mic from Ricci.

"Umm... hello po sa inyong lahat. I know biglaan po and unexpected yung pag-gather namin dito sa inyo pero Ricci and I thought that this is the perfect time po to introduce our baby to the closest people to our hearts. This is our son, Ryle. He's turning two po on November 22."

Everybody started to clap which made me and Ricci smile.

Someone shouted from the back. It was Miles, Ricci's cousin.

"Kelan ang kasal??"

Kinuha niya sakin ang mic.

"We'll get there. Ang plans po namin is to finish college po muna and everything. We have all the time in the world naman po. I hope you will enjoy the food po."

—

After dinner, pinakilala ako ni Ricci sa relatives niya and so did I. Naging smooth naman ang lahat. Inaasar pa nga ng ibang relatives niya si Ricci. Naunahan pa daw sila and everything.

"Thanks for coming po."

The last to go was Tito Paolo's sister's family. Bineso nila ako isa isa and said welcome to the family. Ricci's relatives were very welcoming to me and our baby which made me happy. Syempre hindi naman nawala sakin ang kabahan kasi first time kong makikilala ang family niya.

"We could finally go home na!"

Naghiwa-hiwalay na kami ng sasakyan at umuwi na. Sinusundan namin ang sasakyan ng bodyguards. Si Ryle tulog na sa balikat ko. Napagod siguro siya kanina dahil halos lahat ng tao dun ay nilaro siya.

Pagdating namin sa condo, hinatid kami ng dalawang bodyguards na si kuya Edwin and kuya Marco sa unit namin sa taas tapos umuwi na rin sila sa dorm nila.

Hiniga ko na si Ryle sa bed niya tapos hinalikan ang noo niya. I can't help but to stare at him. Grabe, mahal na mahal ko ang batang ito.

Lumabas ako at pumunta sa kusina para uminom ng tubig. Ricci was talking on the phone.

"Sure yan ah?"

Ricci mouthed 'Andrei' kaya tumango lang ako.

I miss all of them. Lahat ng teammates ni Ricci. Nabanggit ni Ricci sakin na eventhough Ben, Abu, Jollo, Kib, and Andrei already graduated from the team, nag-uusap usap at nagkakasama-sama pa rin sila.