Masters of War

LXXXIX.

INT. CEMETERY — 12:30 PM

"Zeus?"

Napaangat ang labi ko nang makita ko siya sa labas ng mausoleum ng daddy ko. He was standing there, as if waiting for me to notice his presence. May dala siyang basket ng bulaklak sa kanan niyang kamay at bouquet sa kaliwa.

"I knew you'll be here," tipid niyang ngiti. "May I come in?"

Tumitig ako sa kanya bago ako marahan na tumango. Gusto kong mapag-isa pero alam ko na ang totoo, mas kailangan ko ng kasama.

"Sure," I answered and unlocked the gate for him. Ibinaba niya ang basket ng bulaklak sa harap ng puntod ng daddy ko bago iniabot sa akin ang bouquet. It's small bouquet of pink roses.

"Happy birthday," he softly said after I took the flowers from his hand.

"How did you know?" I quietly asked. "Thank you."

"Yvanna posted an IG story of your throwback pictures and greetings," he explained. "It's your dad's death anniversary today, too. Right?"

"Yes. Why do you know all these?"

"When you allowed me to come and pick you up here, I remembered the date written on his tomb," he replied. "I figured that if I want to be a part of your life, I also need to show my respects to your dad."

"Zeus..."

"Hera, I mean it when I said that I love you," he added. "I mean it when I said I'm not going anywhere. You have to believe that."

Naupo siya sa tabi ko at tumingin sa mga mata ko. "I'm really sorry. I know that my approach that night was wrong. There was never a day for these past few weeks where I didn't regret making you leave. I know I could've done it nicely. I know that I should've held your hand and told you to wait as I explain to Io. I know that you will listen. And there is no enough explanation to what I did. I was an asshole."

Tahimik lang akong nakinig. I think that for these past few weeks, I was busy being mad to actually listen to how sincere he is. But tonight I did. I am finally listening.

"I made a wrong decision that night, yes. But that doesn't mean that I left. Hindi totoong tinalikuran kita. Nandito pa rin ako. Sa'yo pa rin ako babalik."

Yumuko ako at kinuha ang kamay niyang nakakuyom. Zeus always do this when he's unsure and nervous.

"I understand that you had to set it straight with Io," I finally replied. "I... I'm just hurt with the approach."

"I'll learn from this, Hera," he promised. "I'm sorry. I told you that I won't break your heart but I still did. And I regret that every day. I regret making you cry. Kasi no'ng nakita kitang umiiyak dito, nagdasal ako. Nangako ako rito sa harap ng daddy mo na hinding-hindi kita papaiyakin. Na ako ang bahala sa'yo. But look at what I did. And I know you need time kaya hindi kita hinabol kahapon. Pero alam kong kailangan mo ako ngayon. Kahit ngayon lang, Hera. Let me stay."

"Then stay," I nodded slowly. "Stay, Zeus. You're not going anywhere. Dito ka lang. Sa buhay ko."

"Kahit sapakin mo ak—what!? What did you say, Hera!?" gulat niyang tanong.

"Umuwi ako sa bahay pagkatapos nating mag-usap kahapon. Nalinawan ako sa sinabi ni Mommy. She knows you now and she wants to meet you. And she made me realize that people can make mistakes and still love you nevertheless," I explained. "Even Yvanna, she pushed me to be with you again kung sa'yo raw ako magiging masaya. Pero sabi ko... gusto ko maging okay muna ako."

"Then I will give you time—"

Hindi ko na siya pinatapos sa sasabihin niya nang agad akong umiling.

"Kaya lang... nang makita kita na nakatayo rito, okay na ako. Alam mo kung bakit? Kasi alam ko na isa ka sa parte ng pagiging okay ko. Ng pagiging masaya. Kapag hawak mo 'yong kamay ko habang inaayos ko ang sarili ko. Pwede naman 'yon, 'di ba?"

"Yes, Hera..."

"Good. Because I plan to keep you now, Zeus," ngiti ko bago ako bumaling ng tingin sa puntod ng daddy ko. "I'm keeping him, Dad. Alam mo na kung kanino ka magmumulto kapag nasaktan ulit ako," tawa ko pa.

"Tito, I'm very sorry for hurting your baby girl. Please don't haunt me po," he pleaded with a playful smile. "I promise to take care of Hera, Tito," he sincerely added.

Tumawa lang ako sa sinabi niya. Bigla niya naman akong niyakap kaya napangiti na lang ako bago ko ipinulupot ang mga braso ko sa baywang niya.

"I'm not going anywhere," he whispered. "And you're not allowed to leave anymore. I'm not going to make you leave me again."

"Kahit barumbado ako?" tawa ko sa pisngi niya.

"Kahit barumbado ka. Kahit ginasgas niyo ni Yvanna ang sasakyan ni Io," tawa niya.

"Binayaran ko naman! Gaga siya, eh! Luka-luka ang ex mo na 'yon. Pakialam niya kung sa app lang kita na-meet! Mahal mo naman ako, 'di ba?"

"Oo," tango niya habang natatawa.

"And hindi naman ako cheap! Gano'n talaga, mahal kita, ipaglalaban kita sa harap niya. I'll put her in her place!" duktong ko pa at mabilis niyang hinalikan ang mga labi ko.

"You can put any girl in their places, Hera. Hindi na kita paalisin," biro niya pa.

"Subukan mo lang na paalisin ulit ako. Kakapunin kita nang makita mo!"

"Kakapunin? What is that?"

"Puputulin ko 'yan ano mo..."

"Goddamn, Hera. That won't happen! Malulungkot ka!"

"Well..." I scrunched my nose and he just pinched me.

"Mahal kita, Hera. Thank you for keeping me."

"Thank you for always fighting for your spot in my life, Zeus," I softly said as I caressed his cheeks. "You don't have to anymore. I am done pushing you away. Now stay. Stay with me because I love you."

"I will, Hera," he nodded before pulling me again for another hug. "I will always stay."