Aya
"Lakan! Mayumi!" I called out to my children as soon as I was back in heavens.
Bathala appeared. "Mahal kong Mayari. Nagbalik ka."
"Opo, Ama. Nais ko lamang kausapin ang aking mga anak."
Two little heads popped out from behind Bathala's robes. "Hello po, Ina!"
They both looked so worried that I knew I couldn't stay angry at them for long. I outstretched my arms and they ran to it. We fell down and they peppered my face with kisses. My two little ones will remain as baby angels, toddlers in heaven, because they had not been given the chance to grow up. It constantly breaks my heart when I am reminded of the circumstances that got them here, but I am thankful everyday that we will spend eternity together.
"Kayong dalawa. Anong ginawa niyo?"
They were immediately contrite. "Patawad po, Ina. Nais lang po namin makita ang aming Ama."
"Pero di ba, sinabi ko sa inyo na hindi pa niya tayo kilala? Hindi pa tama ang panahon para magpakilala tayo."
"Huwag kang magalit sa kanila, Mayari. Ako ang pumayag na bumaba sila sa lupa."
I turned to my father. "Kayo? Bathala naman!"
"Mayari."
"Patawad, Ama. Ngunit hindi ko alam kung matatanggap kami ng kanilang Ama. Ayaw ko lamang masaktan ang aking mga anak."
He nodded and touched my face. "Umaasa ako na magiging masaya ang katapusan ng kwento ninyo. Kung kaya ko lamang alisin ang sakit na inyong naranasan..."
I teared up. I knew he was a loving father and my pain was something he did not wish. He hugged me and then left me to my children.
"Ina?" Mayumi asked. "Bakit po Pogi ang tawag niyo kay Ama? Iyon po ba ang pangalan niya?"
I decided to spend the entire Earth day with them and answer some of the questions they had. Then, it was time for me to head back. "Ina! Gusto niyo po ba tamaan ko na lamang ng pana ko si Ama?" Lakan suggested.
"Hindi na kailangan, Anak." I winked. I did not want them to worry that we would not fall in love again. I was unsure but this was my burden.
*
Theo was clumsy and unsure and very tentative during the date.
He first offered a seat by the corner. "Ay teka, baka isipin mo may masamang balak ako sayo. Hindi ako manyak ha? Dito na lang sa may window. Gusto mo? May araw, maliwanag. Pero ano... naka-sunscreen ka ba? Baka sensitive yung balat mo?"
When I agreed to a window seat, he couldn't decide which of the two chairs to take. "Ito maganda yung view nung mga plants... pero itong isa kasi maganda view nung fountain. Dito ka na lang... or dito sa kabila."
When he stressed even over the appetizers, I chuckled, put my hand on his and said, "Relax ka lang. Get what you want and I'll get what I want."
While waiting for our food, he stopped to stare and smile at me. "You're very beautiful. I'm sorry if that sounds creepy. I... I just wanted you to know."
I have been told this before but it only mattered to me now that Theo was telling me as much. "Thank you."
"I... May sasabihin ako but again baka creepy... it's just... I feel like we've met before."
My heart skipped a bit. Could he start to remember? I had hope, but I also worried that he would remember the awful parts and I did not wish that. "And what if we have?"
"Nagkakilala na ba tayo? I checked my pictures, my files pero wala eh... I... please tell me naman?"
I smiled sadly. "You wouldn't believe me if I did."
"Masama ba akong tao sa'yo? Did I hurt you?" He asked, worried.
"No. No. You were very... kind."
"Sana maalala ko. Para kasing hindi ako mapakali na may hindi ako maalala about you eh."
I remained silent.
"Do you date often?"
"No."
"Oh good."
I raised my eyebrow.
He looked apologetic. "Don't get me wrong. I'm just happy na medyo may chance ako. Kung maraming kalaban, I doubt you'd be interested in me."
"And why do you say that?"
"Wala naman akong ibang alam kundi work. I don't even travel. Wala akong masyadong interests... except..."
"Except what?"
"Again, you may find this creepy... but I've had a strange affinity for the moon. When I was younger, I'd always look at it and talk to it whenever I'd had stuff I was working out. But then one day, nung narealize kong hindi naman sumasagot and my problems are still problems, I stopped. I never could understand it. I find it the most mysterious and I couldn't figure it out so I just shut it out."
That tugged at my heart. I had heard those pleas but I never knew until recently that he was the one I was waiting for.
"I haven't felt that pull for something until..." He suddenly turned to me as if making a connection, but he did not verbalize his thought. "Anyway, if you don't mind me asking, bakit hindi ka masyadong nagde-date?"
"I'm careful with who I see. Ayoko na kung sinu-sino lang ang pinapapasok sa buhay ko."
"Bakit?"
"Gusto kong makasiguro na magiging mabuti sila sa aking kambal na anak."
Theo dropped the fork he was holding. "Teka, kasal ka ba?"
"Dati. But we lost him."
"Okay sinisigurado ko lang. Pero nako... hindi yata ako papasa sa yo."
"Bakit mo nasabi?"
"Wala akong alam sa mga bata eh. Kambal pa. Sige na basted-in mo na ako."
I chuckled at that. "My angels can handle you."
"Talaga? Ipapakilala mo ako sa kanila."
"We'll see."
He beamed at me. "Okay then. Sana I could prove myself worthy."
"You don't mind that I have children?"
"Why should I?"
It was then that I fell in love with him all over again.
