The Ruthless Game

Epilogue

Epilogue: "It is you. I belong with you. You are my home. I look at you, and somehow I can see 50 years from now on the front porch of some old house In the middle of nowhere and we're together."

Six years ago, I married the love of my life. We had a church wedding witnessed by our loved ones and a few people close to our hearts. It was very solemn and intimate just how we had always wanted it to be. 

We flew to US after getting married, and I quit working because I didn't wanna be away from my husband. Their company is US based and he is needed there but when I gave birth to our first born, we decided to go back to the Philippines.

Tahimik ang buong bahay pagpasok ko marahil ay tulog na lahat sila. It was past 11 anyway. Dahan-dahan akong pumanhik sa taas papunta sa master bedroom. I turned the knob and opened the door quietly. I smiled and felt giddy seeing this scene before me. 

It's amazing how you

Can speak right to my heart

Without saying a word

You can light up the dark

Try as I may, I could never explain

What I hear when you don't say a thing

I leaned on the doorway and watched him dancing with our little Damien, who just turned one a month ago, while singing softly.  My eyes went to the huge bed, and there I found our five year old Dylon, our second eldest, Drusty four year old, and our two year old Dariel sleeping soundly.

As his eyes met mine, I smiled at him and mouthed, "Hey." Lumapit ako at niyakap silang dalawa. Tumingkayad ako at dinampian siya ng halik.

"You're home."

That sounded nice. "Yes, I'm home."

I went out to meet up with my Jia, Patty, and Satiago. We had dinner then coffee afterwards. Medyo napasarap ang kwentuhan kaya late na rin akong nakauwi. My husband is very generous and understanding; he gives me space and time for myself even if we already have four kids. 

After taking a shower, I went towards my kids and kissed them one by one. May kanya-kanya na silang kwarto pero kapag weekends ay dito sila natutulog sa kwarto namin. Napangiti ako habang pinagmamasdan sila. They are a spitting image of their dad. 

Gumapang ako papunta kay Dylan na nagbabasa at padapang pumwesto sa ibabaw ng katawan niya. "How was your evening with the kids?"

He put the book on the bedside table and wrapped his arm around me. "Action-packed." I chuckled. "They just have so much energy."

"Aw. Napagod ka?" Bahagya akong bumangon at hinalikan siya sa labi. "Thank you for taking care of the kids while I was out."

He just smiled and brushed my hair away. "Where did you have dinner?"

Kinwento ko sa kanya ang ginawa namin at mga pinag-usapan namin. "Si Santiago iniinis ako, love," sumbong ko sa kanya. "Wala daw nakuha ni isa sa akin ang mga anak natin."

He just smirked. "Don't worry, love, I'll make sure our next baby will look exactly like you."

"You want another baby?"

"Two."

I pouted. "Love naman. Pinaghirapan kong ibalik yung shape ng katawan ko. Isa na lang. Baby girl naman."

Sa isang iglap ay ako na ang nasa ilalim at siya na ang nakadagan sa akin. "Fat or not, I will love you just the same."

Ipinaikot ko ang mga braso sa batok niya. "Talaga?"