Charmolypi | Ricci Rivero

five

May mga pagkakataon sa buhay natin na gusto nating ibalik pero hindi na pwede pa. Maraming beses ko nang sinubukan makalimot, napakaraming pera ang winaldas para lang maging okay ako. Pero walang lunas, sino nga bang ina ang makakalimot sa pagkawala ng anak niya?

Staring at win and ricci makes my heart hurt. Sana anak nalang namin, sana masaya pa kami ngayon. Pero may mga bagay na hanggang "sana" nalang talaga. The moonlight is illuminating their facial features, walang nakuha si win sa kanyang ina. Kung nabuhay kaya si maria, si ricci lang kaya ang kamukha niya?

I sighed and smiled to myself, binuksan ko ang phone ko at tinignan ko ang kaisa-isang sonogram ni maria, hindi mo man lang nakita ang mundo anak, the world I want to change for you.

"tita wave?" tanong ni win, pinunasan ko naman agad ang luha ko at nginitian siya.

"sleep ka na ulit baby." sabi ko, pero tumayo kasi kahit nahihirapan siya kasi mataas ang kama at pumunta sa akin.

Nakatitig kami sa mga building, nagtatanong tanong siya, then he saw my phone,

"what is this tita?" he asked, ngumiti ako,

"that's my baby girl, your ate maria"

"where is she?" tanong ni win, kitang kita sa mukha niya na gusto niyang makilala si maria, siguro para ay may kalaro siya.

Tinuro ko ang langit,

"she's up there, in heaven." tumango si win, at yinakap ako.

"wike my mommy? In heaven?" he asked, tumango na lamang ako.

"tita wave." sabi niya na bumasag sa katahimikan naming dalawa.

"what is it win?"

"I can be your baby, and you can be my mommy"

"what made you say that? Baby?" tanong ko sakanya, ngumiti siya.

"para po hindi ka na sad, tapos may mapapakiwawa na ako sa cwassmates ko" he said, I smiled and kissed his cheeks, then his forehead.

"sweep na tayo tita wave." he said, tumango ako, hinila niya ako sa kama, nasa gitna namin siya ricci. Kinuha niya ang kamay ni ricci para yakapin siya, at ganoon din ang ginawa niya sa akin. He slept with a smile on his face.

And I slept peacefully.

"baby, be quiet, sleeping pa si Tita Wave." narinig ko ang pagsaway ni ricci kay win, pumikit lang ako, enjoying the feeling of not waking up alone.

"dada, do you think mommy met ate maria in heaven?" pabulong na sabi ni win, hindi siya bulong eh, hininaan at binagalan niya lang ang pagsasabi niya.

"how did you know ate maria baby?"

"wast night, I woke up, then I saw tita wave sitting there, she was crying and wooking at a picture." pag eexplain ni win kay ricci, I heard him sigh.

"let's cook for tita wave baby, you want that? Do you think she'll smile na?" pumalakpak si win ng mahina, at binuhat siya ni ricci palabas.

I heard pots and pans banging outside, malamang ay linalabas eto ni ricci. Umupo ako sa kama, combing my hands through my hair. I decided to text juan.

Juan Gdl

Do you want to talk? For real?

Are you giving me the chance to finally know what the hell happened?

Yeah, if you're up for it?

Okay, where do you want to meet?

My condo nalang? Pls bring beer.

Same one you liked in college?

Yes pls.

See you, mga 9 at night ha, or 10? I have practice eh.

Sure!! I'll text u the details of my condo later.

Aight, see you wave 👋

See u uno.

When I heard footsteps approaching the door, ay nagkunwari akong tulog, naririnig ko rin ang pag palakpak ni win sa bawat paglakad at ang pagtawag ni ricci.

"tita wavveeeee, wake up na, we made you pancakes, then eggs, then bacons." pagyugyog sa akin ni wave, I opened my eyes and smiled at him, binuhat ko naman siya para maikandong ko siya.

"talaga? Did you cook ba? Or did you just make papak??" I teased him, pinindot ko pa ang pisngi niya. He just giggled. Umupo si ricci sa tabi ko, si win nasa gitna namin nakadapa, we ate sa kama, ngumiti lang siya, but his eyes shows guilt and pity. Isinantabi ko iyon at nag focus nalang ako kay win.
He was laughing and telling stories about his favorite cartoon and his teacher that he missed because wala siyang cookies today, and how ricci said na mag bake nalang kami later.

So this is what family feels like?