It's You

Chapter Two

"Kuya!" With tears, she rushed to hug me. All the people in the hospital seemed to look at us, of course, with this jaw-dropping face of mine.

"Slowly! The ball may fall!" I widely smiled overstretching my arms to welcome my little girl.

"I thought I'd never be able to see you again," maiyak-iyak n'yang sambit habang nakaakap sa'kin nang mahigpit.

"Masama 'yan sa baby." I hugged her back and caressed her hair.

"P-pero how?" Kumawala s'ya at napatingin kay Ivan na nasa tabi ko't nakapamulsa.

"Destiny's game, Love." Ngumisi s'ya at napasiklap sa'kin.

"Seems like we can't do anything freely anymore, Love." He came close and whispered to my sister though I could still hear. Oh com'on, Satan go away.

Pinalo s'ya ni Dianne at kinurot sa kiliran. She then awkwardly smiled at me showing her teeth.

These two never fail to increase my blood pressure. Before Ivan, it was me! She was my sister and she always will, maybe I could just punch Ivan once? Just once, Lord. Argh!

"Mum!" And a little sweetie came and hugged Dianne which seemed to play hide and seek with me.

"Geianne, he's your uncle, Uncle Dionne." Smiling, she introduced me to my niece. A little later, Geianne started to separate from Dianne's back and approached me slowly.

"Hi, Uncle Di," with that cute voice, binuhat ko s'ya. "So this is my beautiful niece," I felt happy as I carried the tiny being.

Dianne and Ivan smiled with me and Geianne, they must realize that my niece just became an angel in disguise and refrained me from punching her badass father.

Anyway, I'm relieved and thankful that my sister had a happy life while I was far from her, she never disappeared in my prayers.

~~

"So, you're successful than me now, huh?" Nakaupo kami ngayon at kita ang buong subdivision kasama ang refreshing green forests mula dito sa terrace nila.

"Well, there's always a brighter future outside syndication, Kuya." She sipped the nutritional juice she had and smiled at me.

"It's been years, really. It's not like me but, I'm happy for you, Dianne. I'm happy seeing you happy. I made the right decision to leave you in Ivan's hands after all."

"You know, you didn't even show me your face after being busted. Sobrang nag-alala ako sa'yo that time." Inilagay n'ya ang tasa sa mesa at nakangiwing tumingin sa'kin. "The only thing I knew was that you followed a woman and had your tattoo removed."

I couldn't help but smile.

...

I actually have known Ezra before approaching her.

I was the one driving the motorcycle on the day we targeted the ex-Venom member at the Dumaguete terminal.

I already noticed her as she got down the bus, for seconds, I thought of observing her inexplicably until I finally had my eyes on the target, I needed to get the flash drive before others could do so I went with the flow, I then sabotaged the syndicate I was with, who himself shot the target.

I started to investigate where the flash drive was. Hacking the bus's video footage, I coincidentally found out that the woman I noticed earlier was the seatmate of the target. Com'on. It was just like destiny.

Like a stalker, I followed her, and she wasn't aware of that.

I was at the back, three-chair apart from her while watching a movie. I never got to understand the movie because I was too focused on her reaction, I was staring at her average-long straight hair almost the whole time and at her back which looked beautiful as when she faces front. I was going nuts.

I even followed her when she went out and I must've floated on air because I almost lost her, but--- she found me. She had bumped me and not knowing that it was her, I still felt an electric impact when we accidentally had physical contact. I felt her slowly looking up to me, and from my peripheral vision, I recognized her, even when she tried to look away.

Perhaps it started there when she found me, she started to slowly bring back the missing piece of me and give my life a sense of direction at that very moment.

...

"Hey, Kuya. Ang laki na ng pinagbago mo ha, grabe ba ang torture sa'yo sa kulungan? Like, are you a pastor now?" Natatawang ani n'ya pa.

I smirked at sinimulan n'ya naman akong tignan nang naniningkit.

"Or, is this about that woman?"

"Nagbago ka rin naman, you got even talkative." Hinawakan at ginulo ko ang buhok n'ya nang nakangisi.

~~

With God's help through Ivan, I was able to work in where he was working too, inspired by my E. I was able to save slowly for our future.

~~

"E., dahan-dahan naman sa work, don't overdo it, too much is so much." I said through a video call. Namumutla na kasi s'ya, I could see she's tired but she's still beautiful no matter what happens. I could even picture in my head that if she goes bald, I'll still have this love for her.

"Hmm," kahit pagod, she managed to give me that smile that always encourages me.

"I miss you so much, E." I miss our personal conversations, face-to-face.

It's been almost a year since I last held her hands and I can't wait for the day I'll be holding it forever. I'll never let it go that time, ever, kaya konting tiis nalang, E.

"I miss you too, D. Alam mo, I always pray to Papa G that kahit wala ako sa tabi mo, you can take care of yourself and be happy," with a weak voice, she still managed to make it sound sweet.

"Hindi naman 'yun pwede, E. You are my vitamins, kung pwede ko nga lang sabihin you are my life---,"

"D.," suway n'ya pa at mapait na ngumiti.

"I know, He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life." I smiled at her and she did too. "Seems like you need some rest, kaya sleep na, E. Turn your phone off and let's together pray to God that we'll be able to see each other even in our dreams."

"Yes, D. He loves you,"

"He loves you too, E. Good night, see you later!" Waving with a smile, I bid.

Even if I still want to talk to her more, I knew I must end the call because I know she needs to rest, and praying for her is always what's best.

Most High, I pray that You give Ezra strength and energy to face each day with a smile and especially, with You. I love her so please never let me hurt her, heal her in whatever pains her at this moment, may it be physically, emotionally, or spiritually. Guide her always in every decision that she chooses to have, and protect her. I leave her in Your care because I know I cannot love her like You do. I love You too, Most High. I pray to see her in my dreams if You allow, but Thy will be done. Amen.

~~

And now, I can only see her in my dreams--the only place where I could possibly meet her again, in this life.

~~