Someone to love

24. Sorry

I was just eyeing the twins - my twins and I just couldn't help but to feel that stinging feleing of happiness. Hindi ako makapaniwala. I am now a dad. After all the years that I had been away to the woman I love - after all the pain and the heartaches we had gone through - I realized that those are just moments that came in our lives to get us ready for this lovely moment that's in front of my eyes. The twins - my twins are so lovely. Nasa loob sila ng incubator. Parehas na nakapikit ang mga mata. Both have black hair and fair complexion. Nakasara pa ang mga mata nila. They're hands were so small. Napapangiti ako. I can;t believe that they are mine. Hindi ako makapaniwala na binigyan ako ni Hera ng ganito kagandang regalo.

I sighed again. I want to name then - bigla ay naalala ko na Achilles ang gustong ipangalan ni Hera sa magiging anak namin - so one of them should be Achilles and the other should be... I smiled. I remember how much Hera loves her mom so I decided on that moment that the other baby should be named - Apollo. Kapangalan ng mama niya. I know Hera would be so happy.

Napatuwid ang tayo ko nang biglang may umubo sa likuran ko. I looked back and I saw Mr. Lukas Consunji standing before me. Nakatitig lang siya sa akin. Maya-maya ay lumapit siya para makita ang mga anak ko. Tulad ko ay nakangiti rin siya.

"What are their names?" He asked me.

"Achilles and Apollo." Mabilis kong sagot. Tumingin siya sa akin.

"Apollo..." Inulit niya. Ipinikit niya ang kanyang mga mata at saka ngumiti. "I now know who my favorite grandchild will be." Natatwang sabi niya. Marahang kinatok niya ang salamin sa harap namin. Wala pa man siyang sinasabi - pakiramdam ko kailangan may sabihin na ako at matagal ko naman na iyong nais ipaalam sa kanya.

"Mahal ko po si Hera, Mr. Consunji." Biglang wika ko. Muli siyang tumingin sa akin. Seryoso ang hitsura niya ngayon na para bang kaunting pagkakamali lang ay sasaktan niya ako. He looked murderous. Nakakuyom din ang mga palad niya.

"Kung mahal mo si Hera, bakit ngayon lang?" He asked me. Inuusig niya ako. "Sa tingin mo ba hindi ko alam ang nangyari noon? Hera was a wreck right after leaving her."

"Ginawa ko iyon dahil kay Laide Consunji."

"You could've fought for her, Vejar. A Consunji always fights his battles with all of him." Bigla ay natigilan siya. "But then, I remember that you are not a Consunji. You're a Vejar and you're a coward for not fighting for my daughter. If you only knew how much she wanted to fight for you and the love she has for you. Hera was so young back then but her guts and her faith and you are enough for her to fight. Hindi mo nagawa iyon. Natakot ka."

"I wanted to give her my best."

"That moment, you were the best for her."

Naikuyom ko ang palad ko. Damn! Lukas Consunji is one smart guy. Huminga ako nang napakalalim. Alam kong tama siya. Matagal na akong nakabalik galing Scotland pero hindi ko nagawang lapitan si Hera noon. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero ngayon ko lang naisip na dahil inuna ko ang takot ko - takot na baka hindi na ako ang gusto niya - na hindi na ako tama para sa kanya. Na kahit isa na akong Vejar na may direksyon sa buhay hindi ako babagay para sa kanya. She changed. She matured. She is wiser now and smarter - how can I make sure that I'm still the best for her? Dapat hindi ako nagpadala sa takot ko noon kay Laide Consunji. She opened up my doubts and my fears. Noon ko naisip na baka nga hindi pa pwede. Tama si Lukas Consunji - I could've fought for her.

"You should've fought for her like how I fought for her mother. Inayawan ako ni Apollo noon, pero hindi ako sumuko." Malumanay na wika niya. Natahimik lang ako. Nang akmang magsasalita na ako ay bigla namang sumulpot mula sa likod niya ang kapatid ni Hera, si Hermes.