Chasing Laurel

Ending

"Where are we going, Dada?" I smiled when I heard my princess. I turned my gaze only to see her in her pink ruffled dress. She has her favorite headband and her favorite doll on her hands. Hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti dahil sa kaniya. She really is our sunshine.

"We are going to attend Mama's graduation, princess. Come here, sweetie" lumapit naman siya sa akin. I kissed her cheeks before I scooted her on my arms. Saglit ko lang na inayos ang buhok ko habang buhat buhat ang limang taong gulang kong anak na babae. "Where's your brother, princess?" I asked her while we are heading on our garage. Magagalit sa akin si Isla dahil late na kami.

"Kuya Adi is with Tata Preston, Dada"

I kissed her rosy cheeks again before we head up to the garage. Naroroon na si Preston at si Casper na ngayon ay walong taong gulang na. My son is close with Casper so I wasn't shocked when I saw him punching Casper. Inasar na naman ata ng pinsan niya kaya ganoon. Pikon pa naman iyang anak kong iyan. No doubt, mana sa akin. Aedriano Lorenz is a carbon copy of me and Adrielle Kaila is the carbon copy of Isla too. Litaw na litaw ang ang mga features namin sa mga anak namin kaya ay hindi maipagkakailang anak nga namin sila.

"Dada! Kuya Casper told me I am ugly because I don't have girls! Why is that?" napatingin ako sa salamin at doon ko nakitang nakabusangot ang anak kong lalaki. Adrielle is busy playing her doll—not minding his brother who is throwing tantrums.

"You're just five, buddy. Maaga pa para diyan. Magagalit si Mama kapag ganiyan. Huwag masyado makikinig sa kuya Casper mo ha?" kung pwede lang magmura ay namura ko na ang batang iyon. He's just eight but he surely is a chick magnet. Ang sabi ni Preston ay pinagsasabihan naman daw nila ni Rian pero ewan ba daw nila kung bakit ang kulit pa rin nito.

"But Dada, I am Kuya Adi's girl, right?" singit naman ng babae ko. Damn. I need Isla right now.

"You are our forever girl, princess. Always remember that and no one will ever mess with you because we are here to protect you. Always take that in your mind, darling" I assured her that makes her giddy even though she didn't get what I meant. Adi, on the other hand, is still not yet done with our topic.

"So, I am not ugly kasi I have a girl, Dada?"

"You are not. Kung ugly ka, ugly rin si Daddy kasi magkamukha tayo. And Daddy is the most handsome man in the whole world, okay? So meaning, you are the second of the most handsome man in the whole world, okay?" pang uuto ko. Malilintikan ka talaga sa akin, Casper.

"Okay po, Dada!"

I sighed when finally, they changed the topic. Adi got my ipad and they shared it. They played cocomelon. Hinayaan ko na lang sila. Halos isang oras lang ay dumating na kami sa pagdadausan ng graduation ng asawa ko. Finally, my wife has her college diploma now. She did really deserve this. I remembered the time where the twins are just one. Ayaw pa sana niyang pumasok dahil ayaw pa niyang iwan ang anak namin pero napapayag ko siya. Kasal na rin naman na kasi kami noon kaya ay wala ng problema. Sa unang taon niya ay nakita ko ang pag-struggle niya pero sinugurado ko naman na nababawasan iyon dahil halos ako na ang humahalili sa kambal kapag nag aaral siya. Our businesses are in good shape kaya ay halos sa bahay na ako noon nagtatrabaho. I don't mind. I love taking care of our kids. Nasa ikalawang taon na ata siya nang matuto na siyang mag manage ng oras niya—and that is the thing that makes me salute to my wife. Damn. I am a fucking lucky man. I really am. My wife is really incredible and I couldn't stop myself from falling in love with her every single day. We're married for already five years now but the feelings I have for her keeps on growing. Lunod na lunod ako. Pota. Nakakabakla mang sabihin pero sa araw araw na magkasama kami ay hindi lumilipas ang araw na napapatitig na lang ako sa langit at nagpapasalamat. Salamat. Salamat dahil binigyan Mo ako ng isang Isla. Nagkadireksyon ang buhay ko nang dumating siya sa buhay ko. Nalaman ko kung ano ang purpose ko sa mundo. Putangina. Ang swerte ko! Hindi ako mabait. I've done the worst thing on my past. I hurt my wife. I am not a good son and I am not even a good citizen but He gave me this satisfaction. He gave me this family. Damn, who would not cry with that, 'no? 'Nginang swerte ko! Kahit ata sa kabilang buhay ay patuloy pa rin ako sa pagpapasalamat.