One More Chance

I

*riiiiiiiing*

I woke up with the sound of my alarm, it's already 8 in the morning. Tumayo na agad ako and washed my face before heading downstairs.

Pagbaba ko sa kitchen, I saw my husband preparing our breakfast. Lumapit ako sa kanya, hugged him and kissed cheek.

Issa: "Good morning love! Why are you the one preparing our breakfast? Where's manang? Or you should've wake me up."

AJ: "Oh you're awake. Good morning too love! Manang had to do errands and I woke up earlier than usual so I prepared breakfast." He gave me a kiss on the forehead. I just smiled.

AJ: "I'm almost done love. Gisingin mo na lang si Cayla." Tumango lang ako.

Pumanik ako sa kwarto ni Cayla para gisingin siya. Pagpasok ko, kakagising lang din niya. Lumapit ako sa kanya at umupo sa kama.

Issa: "Good morning my princess!" sabi ko at hinalikan siya sa noo.

Cayla: "Good morning mommy!" she said and hugged me.

Issa: "Let's go? Your dad prepared our breakfast today." Sabi ko at lumaki ang kanyang mata. "But first, wash your face and brush your teeth. I'll wait for you here." Nag nod lang siya at nagtungo agad sa banyo. Pagkatapos, bumaba na agad kami sa kitchen.

AJ: "Good morning princess." Lumapit siya kay Cayla at hinalikan ito sa noo. Kinarga niya ito at pinaupo.

Nag kukwentuhan lang kami while eating. Pinag-uusapan namin ang pag-aaral ni Cayla. She'll be turning 5 in 6 months and by that time magsisimula na ang pasukan dito.

Issaa: "Cayla baby, are you excited to go to school?" I asked.

Cayla: "Yes mommy. But I want to go to school in the Philippines." napatigil kami sa pagkain. Tiningnan ko si AJ and it is evident in his face na nagulat siya and don't know what to say.

AJ: "Why Philippines princess? Don't you like it here?"

Issa: "And who told you about it?" hindi kasi namin binabanggit sa kanya ang kahit anong bagay sa Pilipinas.

Cayla: "I saw it on youtube mommy. It's fun there, there's many beaches and the kids are friendly unlike here they are bullies."

Issa: "Love?"

AJ: "Love don't you think it's time?" umiwas ako ng tingin sa kanya.

Issa: "You know my stand about this. Alam mo naman siguro na I promised na hinding hindi na ako babalik dun. And you can't leave your work here, the company needs you. Dad needs you, hindi natin siya pwede iwan." I said.

AJ: "I know love pero matagal na yun. Can we just forgive and forget? And I'm sure dad would understand, he can visit us anytime or we can visit him here. Para na rin kay Cayla, diba we want what makes her happy." He said and held my hand.

Issa: "Princess, do you really want to go to the Philippines? Would that make you happy? How about Lolodaddy, won't you miss him?"

Cayla: "Yes. Please mommy? I don't like it here anymore. I don't have friends I can play with outside. I'm always in my room. And Lolodaddy can visit us. Please mommy, daddy?" She pleaded. Paano ko ba matitiis tong batang to.

Issa: "Okay princess, if that's what makes you happy." I heaved a sigh. "But we're not leaving yet; school doesn't start in 3 months there. And we have to tell your Lolodaddy about this."

Cayla: "Yey! Thanks mommy! Thanks daddy!" sabi niya and gave us both a kiss and hug.

AJ: "You're welcome princess, as long as it makes you happy. Finish eating your food na, we're going out later."

Issa: "Iniispoil mo talaga ang bata."

AJ: "Hindi naman love. Kung ako papipiliin hindi ko na rin gustong bumalik dun, and you know that. I'm afraid na baka iwan niyo akong dalawa, at hindi ko kayang iwan si Dad dito, kailangan niya ako." He let out a sigh. "Pero I'm doing this for her kasi alam kong magiging masaya siya dun." I don't want to be unfair with Cayla just because of my selfish reasons that's why pumayag ako sa gusto niya kahit na natatakot ako na malaman niya ang totoo.

Issa: "Hindi ka namin iiwan okay? Mahal ka namin, mahal kita period." I just smiled pero deep inside I'm worried. "Sige na, tapusin na natin to. Diba may lakad tayo mamaya, iprocess na din natin ang mga papers and documents na kailangan ni Cayla habang may oras pa tayo."

Limang taon naging tahimik ang buhay ko since I moved here sa US, 5 years kong kinalimutan ang aking nakaraan. Pero ngayon, unti-onting bumabalik sa akin ang mga alaala at ang sakit.

Ako si Isabel Beatriz De Leon na ngayon ay Issabela De Leon-Arcilla. I changed my name when I married AJ, because everytime I hear the name Bea and Beatriz, naaalala ko lahat ng sakit. AJ and Dad were the ones who stayed with me when I was broken, they helped me move on and stand up again. Tinanggap ako ng dad ni AJ like his own daughter. Si AJ naman ang ang nagsilbing lakas ko nang ako'y mahina. He loved me more then I love myself. Hindi naman ako nahirapan na suklian ang pagmamahal na pinapakita niya dahil natutunan ko siyang mahalin ng hindi ko narirealize. Hindi natuturuan ang puso na magmahal pero kusa mong matututunan na mahalin ang isang tao. I didn't regret loving him because he's a great guy, he always makes me feel how much he loves me, and how much he loves our daughter Cayla.. 

AJ: "Love are you listening?" I snapped back to my senses when I heard him.

Issa: "Sorry love. Ano nga sabi mo?" Tiningnan ko lang siya habang karga niya si Cayla.

AJ: "Sabi ko saan tayo kakain. It's time for lunch na. Are you okay? Parang ang lalim ng iniisip mo." We just got out from the cinema after watching a movie at hindi ko namalayan ang oras. I was so preoccupied with the thought of going back to the Philippines again that I forgot na we should enjoy this day.

Issa: "Wala love, I'm just thinking kung may kulang ba sa bahay so we can buy it here." I smiled. "Let's have pasta for lunch na lang, are you okay with that?" I asked.

AJ: "Good idea. Been craving for pasta din. Let's go shopping after, some of my clothes won't fit me anymore." Pumasok na kami sa isang resto at nag order.

Issa: "You should workout again and diet love."

AJ: "So I really am getting fat?" He asked with brows furrowed. I just laughed when our food came.

Issa: "You said that, not me." I said. Nilagyan ko ng pagkain ang plato ni Cayla at inalalayan siyang kumain.

After naming kumain, nagshopping na muna kami. Bumili si AJ ng bagong damit, I also bought myself new clothes since matagal-tagal na rin ako nakapagshopping. Bumili na rin kami for Cayla.

We then went to the Embassy para iprocess lahat ng documents and papers na kailangan ni Cayla. Buti na lang hindi kami natagalan, we were able to process the papers. We just have to come back here next month para makuha na ang visa at passport.