Bunch of MENDOZAs

Epilogue

Xyzzy's POV

["You know what ate Xyzzy, Arianne replied to my message!]

I chuckled upon hearing the excitement in Raven's voice. Umagang umaga tumawag siya sa 'kin at nangangamusta. Napaka-hyper niya kahit 8 in the evening na doon sa America.

It's been three days since those four Mendoza guys bid good bye to me together with my girls. And until now, I cannot figure out what I should do next with my life.

"I miss you sweet guy." I said to him with a hint of sadness as I look at his face on the screen.

["You know you are always missed by us."]

I nodded and prevented my tears from falling. "How is he-"

["Will you cook sinigang for yourself ate?" He said, cutting my sentence. "For me."]

I smiled. "Okay."

He said good bye and I had nothing to do but to let him.

I sighed, folding the laptop and letting the tears fall. Kahapon ko pa pinag-iisipan na bumalik nalang sa dati kong bahay. It feels like I'm in despair here. Sobrang lungkot. Actually nakalagay na sa maleta ang iba kong damit. Pinipilit kong ibaling sa ibang bagay ang attention ko pero hindi ko talaga kaya. Everywhere I go in this house reminds me of those guys. How they made me smile, chuckle, fume in anger, scream in shock and teary because of happiness. It's too much for me to handle. I'm missing them so much.

I hung the towel and about to blow dry my hair when my phone rang.

I went to answer it when I saw that it's Andrei.

"Hi." I greeted trying to sound good.

["Hi love! Pwede ba kitang bisitahin?"]

I smiled. "Sure. Pwede mo ba 'kong tulungan mag-impake?"

["Ha? Where are you going?"]

"Uhm, babalik na 'ko sa dati kong  bahay. Bukod sa sobrang laki ng bahay na 'to para sa 'kin, ang lungkot sis. Lagi ko nalang silang naaalala."

["Eh ano. Hintayin mo 'ko. Pag-usapan natin 'yan. Bye!"]

He put off the call and that made me frown.

Ano nangyari kay bakla? Ano'ng meron?

About Ken, they said they sent him to the authority and who knows now what happened to him. There's that pang of guilt or whatever there but that's just all. Para mas nangingibabaw pa nga ang galit ko sa kanya. And I hope this too will fade.

Bumaba na 'ko sa kusina para kumuha lang sana ng cereals pero naalala ko yung sinabi ni Raven. I smiled at that.

Cook sinigang for myself? Sinigang never tasted the same anymore since they left.

Pinag-iisipan ko tuloy kung magluluto ba talaga 'ko... para sa amin nalang ni Andeng. And in the end, I found myself preparing the ingredients to cook their favourite Filipino food.

After minutes, someone's ringing the door bell and it is surely Andeng but I can't help to hope that it's them, surprising me. And I know it will never happen by now.

I opened the door and I wasn't wrong, it is Andeng.

"Sis! Nagluluto ka na ba?" He excitedly asked and get in.

"Magluluto palang ako ng sinigang. Ulam nalang natin. Wala naman na 'kong ibang nilulutuan eh." I said, closing the door.

"Sis ang konti, dagdagan mo."

Nagpunta ako sa kusina at pinakatitigan si Andeng. "Bakit ko naman dadagdagan eh tayo lang naman ang kakain? Baka masayang lang."

"Eh... wala lang. Iuuwi ko nalang yung sobra. At... gutom ako ngayon. Kaya dagdagan mo talaga." Pangungumbinsi niya.

I just nodded and went to get some more pork.

"Te, grabe ah, halos wala ka ng groceries." He said while roaming his eyes on the almost empty hanging cabinets.

"Eh 'di ba nga ako nalang naman ang nandito. Aside from that, iiwan ko na rin naman ang bahay na 'to. Babalik na 'ko sa dati kong bahay. And maybe I'll have a new start again; adjust faster you know." I said and started slicing the pork.

He faced me and smiled. "Sobrang miss mo na sila 'no?"

I locked my eyes on his and I swear I didn't want to cry but my damn eyes just did.

I felt his hug and so I closed my eyes and thought of how I would ease the pain alone.

"Maghugas ka ng kamay... may tatawagan tayo." Andeng smiled at me and wiped my tears.

Basta nalang din ako naghugas ng kamay at hindi na inisip kung sino ang tatawagan namin. Nagpunas ako ng luha at inayos ang sarili ko habang busy siya sa phone niya dahil nga raw sa tatawagan niya.

"Hi there!" Malakas na sigaw ni Andeng kaharap ang phone niya at ganun nalang ang paglaki ng mata ko nang bumati pabalik ang mga kausap niya.

Para akong wala sa sarili na lumapit kay Andeng para silipin ang screen kung tama ako.

And I smiled with sadness when I saw them... Zaine, Sam, Saphira, Aki, Mavie, Breii, and Raven. My eyes searched for the three more especially for the one who looks just like Breii but I got disappointed.

Binati naman nila 'ko ng sabay sabay at halos hindi ko na sila maintindihan lalo pa't ang lakas ng boses ni Mavie.

"Kamusta naman kayo diyan?" I asked.

"Mamaya na kamustahan. May surprise kaming ipapahatid diyan." Breii said and wiggled his brows saka sila tumawa ni Raven.

"Parang hindi yata ako matutuwa diyan ah." I said sarcastically.

They laughed louder and this time, Aki smirked. So I waited for his words.

"Matutuwa ka kahit mesa demonyo 'yon." He said and raised one brow.

Maya maya pa rinig kong may sasakyan na dumating. At halos mabagsak ang phone dahil binitawan ni Andrei sa 'kin 'yon at tumakbo para buksan ang pinto.

"Xyzzy! Yung delivery o! Halika bilis!"

Hawak hawak ko naman ang phone na nagpunta sa doorway. Andrei snatched the phone and pushed me a bit outwards.

Parang hindi ako makahinga sa paghihintay sa delivery na sinasabi nila.

Maya maya pa ay may bumaba na babae sa tingin ko nasa thirteen or fourteen years old palang. She's a real life Barbie with those big blue lenses and looks just like her brother.

I smile and as she runs with a big smile.

"Hi ate Xyzzy! I'm Zharina Rie Frenniere Mendoza!" She happily introduced herself and hugged me tight. "Can I live with you here together with kuya?" She whispered. "Papa Nick said the four of us can stay here as long as you want." She giggled.

Four of them...

My eyes got bigger when the other one who also has big blue lenses stepped out of the van.

"Mom just said 'yes' about me taking care of my sister with your help ate. Would you believe that?" He said with a smile that I missed.

Before I can even speak again, another man stepped out of the van.

"I missed my Claudia... but I miss our Xyzzy more." He smirked and winked.

Just when another Mendoza stepped out, my arms automatically hugged Rie tighter.

"Mom wanted me to be a man for the woman I love..." He says as he walks to us. "Brile Yu-Rhi Gomez Mendoza... hello my love."

- - - 03-16-20 - - -