Gunned Down

Epilogue

"But Mommy, it's my seventh birthday already. Why is Daddy working? Does he love me?"

Hinaplos ko ang buhok ng aming panganay na anak. Nakaramdam ako ng awa sa kanya pero nginitian ko nalang siya.

"Daddy loves you but his work is important. He's needed there. Huwag kang mag-alala, uuwi iyon mamaya. I assure you that."

His mood enlighten up and I'm relieved to see that. My first child, Xion Rafael Pzarova.

"Really?! I'm excited! What should I wear, Mommy?"

I laughed. Sobrang naeexcite na naman siya.

"Mommy! Mommy!" My girl ran to me while crying. Her name is Breen El Pzarova

Nag-alala ako kaya sinalubong ko siya saka kinarga. She's five years old. Pinunas ko ang mga luha niya.

"I had a dream." She said while crying

"Hush, baby. What is it? Is it bad?"

She nodded and hugged me tight. Her small arms are surrounding my neck.

"I dreamt of Dad. He, he left us."

Bigla akong kinabahan kaya natigil ko ang pagpapaalo sa kanya.

"N-no, baby. It's not true. Hindi mangyayari 'yan, okay?" Hinarap ko na siya sa'kin at pinagpatuloy kong punasan ang pisngi niya.

Tumango-tango siya sa'kin saka muli akong niyakap. Karga ko pa rin siya.

"Where is Daddy? I will go tell him my dream."

"He's at work. You know he's a soldier and his work is to protect people, to protect us from bad guys."

Inosenteng humarap sa'kin ang anak ko.

"Superhero si Dad?"

I nodded at her.

It's been eight years. We already have two children. Ang panganay ko'y lalaki and I'm so okay with that. Gusto ko kasing may kuya ang mga anak ko para may magtatanggol sa kanila at may lalapitan sila bukod sa Daddy nila. Xion Rafael is 7 years old now. His second name, I got it from my Dad's very own daughter, Rafaela. She's still in prison though and we visited her recently.

While here comes my five year old daughter, Breen El Pzarova. Noong una sabi ko Reen lang para do'n sa unang asawa ni Daddy na namatay na si Reena, ang mommy ni Rafaela. And then the El is derived from my name naman. Ang tawag kasi sa'kin ni Papa, 'Elle' and to shorten it, we just put El and added B on Reena eleminating the last letter, a.

Sinabi ko kay Pion noon na iyon ang gusto kong ipangalan sa mga anak namin. They are not just made randomly but they are from the special persons of my loved ones.

Sumapit ang hapon at alas dos na nang tingnan ko ang relo. Malapit na magstart ang party ni Rafael. Natanaw kong tuwang tuwa siya kasama pa ang ibang mga bata. Nasa sala naman sina Xia na nilalaro ang iba.

Pumunta ako sa kwarto ko saglit para tahimik. I planned to call Pion and gladly he answered with just few rings.

"Uuwi ka o diyan ka matutulog? Madali akong kausap, Pion."

Narinig ko pa ang ilang mura niya.

"Where's Rafael?"

"Nasa baba siya nalilibang pa ng mga kalaro at sa oras na hinanap ka niyang wala ka pa rito, tayo ang magtutuos." I warned him at tototohanin ko talaga kapag hindi niya nagawa.

Then I heard an engine starting.

"Yes, commander."

Lihim talaga akong napapangiti sa tuwing sinasabi niya iyon. And now I'm smiling like crazy.