Mimi Turns Pretty - SOON TO BE PUBLISHED ✅

Epilogue

"Happy birthday, Lola!"

Lola's smiling while closing her eyes and making a wish before blowing the candles that says "72".

Niyapos ko si Lola and I whisper, "I love you, Lola."

Ngumiti lang siya, "Love you too, Apo."

Lola looks behind me to see Ollie, "Anong regalo mo sa akin, Oliver? Kabayo?"

I laugh and lightly pat Lola's cheek, "Talaga kayo Lola, palabiro!"

Kumunot ang noo ni Lola, "Hindi ako nagbibiro. Ang gaganda ng kabayo ni Oliver, pwede ko pustahan 'yon tingin ko mananalo ako sa karera."

Lola's getting more and more ridiculous throughout the years.

Ollie puts his hands on my shoulder, "Gusto niyo, 'La lahat ng kabayo dito ibigay ko po sa inyo e."

I roll my eyes, "Kaya 'yan kung ano anong naiisip ni Lola, spoiled kasi sa 'yo."

We're at the farm celebrating Lola's birthday and my and Ollie's first anniversary with my family. Ollie built a small cottage on the side of the house with a heated pool for my family when we come to visit.

Lola's a frequent visitor here, sobrang spoiled kay Ollie na isang tawag lang from her, susunduin agad ni Ollie sa bahay namin. She spends minsan a whole week here, pumipitas ng prutas at naglalakad lakad. I usually come over here kapag weekends, although I would love to spend every moment with Ollie, may mga kanya kanya kaming responsibilities. He lets me run the business with Kuya and I let him take care of his business here.

We went into a joint venture rin ni Ollie. We started to put up our branches of 'La Conchita's Café in some malls here in Central and North Luzon. Sabi ni Kuya it was just a plot para madalas akong pumunta dito para bisitahin si Ollie, pero hindi ko naman kailangan gawin 'yon. When Ollie misses me, kahit alanganing oras at kahit anong araw, he drives to Manila just to be with me, even if it's just for a few minutes.

Ollie's business is not just the farm, the tables that were brought in for Lola's birthday party two years ago? That was from Ollie's handicrafts business. He saves driftwood or dying trees and makes them into furniture. That's why the name of the business is so appropriate, Tree Of Life – creating something new from something that otherwise should have been dead.

"Okay guys! Let's dig in!"

Kuya leads the charge in preparing dinner for tonight, nagtulong kami sa kusina to cook a proper meal for our family. Natuto si Kuyang magluto while running the business and he found that he quite enjoyed it too.

I flinch kapag naghahalakhakan ang mga Aunties ko, but it still brings a smile to my face. Hindi lang siguro ako sanay na maingay dito sa farm. Ollie doesn't seem to care habang kumakain siya smiling at my Aunties and Uncles, minsan butting in to joke around with them.

Dad pats Ollie in the back habang nauupo sa tabi niya, "Oliver, this house is amazing. I can't believe you designed this you could have been one hell of an Architect."

Ito pa lang ang first time na nakita ni Dad ang bahay ni Ollie ng malapitan, I've sent him pictures because I was sure he was going to love it, but the awe on his face when he saw it upclose was just priceless.

I watch as Dad and Ollie talk shop about the materials used sa bahay and the inspiration that helped Ollie design it.

I tuned them out for a while as I watched my family laugh and joke around. This was something that I could have never had kung nanatili ako sa US. If I didn't come here two years ago, I wonder what would have happened to me? I would probably be as bitter and lost as I was, and the scariest part was I wouldn't have even known it.