"Hi Tita Aly, kailan ka po uuwi?"
"Yes, Tita. We miss you!"
Sabay na sabi ng mga anak ko sa harap ng laptop. We're video calling Aly from Manila. Halos ilang buwan na din kasi itong hindi dumadalaw dito sa'min.
"Tita is a bit busy, e. But you can come visit me in my place. I'm sure mommy will allow you." nakangiting sabi ni Aly. Agad ko siyang pinandilatan ng mata kaya mas natawa siya.
Sabay na lumingon sa'kin ang kambal at nagtanong. "Mommy, can we go to Tita Aly's place? Please, mommy." they both pouted, putting their hands together.
I sighed. "I'll think about it. Come on let Kuya Josh wash your hands. Kakain na tayo." My brother led them to the sink. My mom and Felix was preparing the dining table, while I decided to went inside my room to talk to Aly.
"Hey, wala pa rin bang improvement sa inyo ni Felix?" bigla niyang tanong. I closed the door and went towards my bed.
"We already talked about this, Aly. Wala na talaga kami."
"Come on, Beatrice. It's been 5 long years since that happened. Hindi mo na ba talaga bibigyan ulit ng pagkakataon 'yung tao na pumasok sa buhay mo? He's close to the twins and he's very hands on. Kung ako sa' yo, matagal ko na 'yang tinanggap ulit. Kita mo naman na nagbago na 'yung tao." she said. Nakikinig lamang ako sa kanya habang nakaupo sa aking kama.
"I don't know, Aly. Mahirap kasi ang sitwasiyon ko sa kambal. Ayoko mabigla sila dito. All they knew was that their father was working abroad kaya hindi ito umuuwi sa bahay. Siguro hihintayin ko nalang na lumaki sila bago ko sabihin ang totoo."
Kumatok si Josh sa aking kwarto at sinabing kakain na raw kami. "Susunod nalang ako. Sandali lang."
"Ikaw bahala, Bea. If that's what you think is best for the twins, then wala akong magagawa kundi suportahan ka. Anyway, my dad wanted to see them. Alam mo naman pag matatanda, atat na atat magka-apo. Bago pa nga lang ako kinasal, nanghihingi na agad ng apo."
"I'll think about bringing them to the big city. Natatakot pa rin kasi ako Aly."
"He's not here anymore, Bea. Nasa ibang bansa na siya nakatira kaya wala kang dapat ipag-alala. Besides, my dad already prepared our old house in Quezon City just in case you decided to stay here for good."
Napangiti ako at marahang tumango. Si Tito talaga. Nakakahiya na tuloy.
"I'll think about it. Anyway, I need to go. Keep safe, Aly. Love you!" I closed my laptop and go downstairs.
Naabutan ko si Felix na naghahain ng pagkain sa kambal. I can't help but think about what Aly said. Yes, Felix has been helping me ever since he knew I was pregnant with the twins. He was with me before and after pregnancy. He fulfilled the responsibilities that Caleb left on me. Kaya hindi ko lubos maisip kung papaano ako tatayong mag-isa kung hindi niya ako tinulungan sa lahat.
But I already clear everything about us five years ago. Sinabi ko sa kanya na mas gusto kong unahin muna ang mga anak ko. Akala ko nga dati lalayo na siya ng tuluyan, but he didn't. He said that even if we can't be together again, he will still do everything for me and my family. And I'm happy that he's here with me through this chapter of my life. Friendship was the only thing I can offer to him. And I guess I can never ask for more than what we have right now.
After dinner, we prepared the twins for bed. Tinulungan ako ni Felix lalo na kay Ady dahil malikot ito. Kung titignan, mukha silang mag-ama pero hindi ko maipagkakaila na mas kamukha ni Ady si Caleb habang sa'kin naman nagmana si Sienn. They are non-identical twins but their features were a combination of mine and Caleb's. However, their attitude are completely different from us. Kahit bata pa lamang, nakikita ko na ang pagiging mahinahon at tahimik ni Sienn samatalang masyadong puno ng kuryosidad at liksi si Ady.
