FINALE : The Aftermath

83 5 4

ni Mysctefied

ni Mysctefied

*Ashley C.*

"Ikaw talagang bata ka, tanghaling tapat nasa labas ka, where's your dad?" Pagtatanong ko sa anak kong amoy araw. Masyado kasing kunsintidor yung tatay nitong batang to.

"Elise, where is your Dad?"

"Mom... I'm in love" ginulo ko ang buhok nya at hinalikan ang noo nito. I smiled and went down on my knees para magkasing height nalang kami

"Honey, your just 5, what do you know about love?" Nginitian nya ko showing his incomplete set of teeth. Her name is Elise, Elise Ashley Castillo Damian, 5 year old daughter namin ni Ace... at paano nangyari? Long story-short, nagkita uli kami ni Ace, we sorted out things and then few months later BOOM.

"love is when I see Clang clang"

"clang clang? sino naman yang clang clang mo?" I said while I was playing with her natural curls. Maya maya pa'y nakita ko na si Ace na lumabas sa gate nang bagong lipat naming kapitbahay, may hawak hawak itong bola nang basketball at may akay akay na isang batang lalaki.

"Clang Clang!" "Eli!!" Sabay na sinabi nang dalawang bata, tumakbo ang batang lalaki papalapit sa amin ni Elise, I went up to my feet at tinignan si Ace na ngingiti na parang tanga. He went by my side and kissed my cheek. Pinanood naming dalawa kung paano maglaro ang dalawang bata... nakakatuwa... and at the same time, nakaka-miss din kahit papaano

"you miss him?" pagtatanong nya, I looked at ace and furrowed my brows.

"Selos ka?" I saw him scoffed and kissed me on the cheeks again, he wrapped his arms around my waist and placed his chin on my shoulders.

"You're my wife now, bakit pa ko magseselos?" sinapo ko yung ulo nya at tumawa. Maya maya pa'y may isang boses nang lalaki ang tumawag sa pangalan nang batang kalaro nang anak ko...

"Rence! Clarence Dela Cerna! Fix your things first bago ka makipaglaro"

"Yes dad. I know, I know" sagot pabalik nang bata... I slowly turned my head to the direction where the voice was coming from. A lean man was standing wearing a plain t-shirt and black shorts. He haven't had shaved dahil kitang kita mo yung bigote nito. I can't help but smile... he's grown a lot...

"oh, bakit natulala ka? Akala ko ba" pang aasar sa akin ni Ace, siniko ko ito at kumawala sya sa yakap. I heard him laughing na nakakuha rin nang atensyon ni Rence. He too was speechless... at napabalik ang tingin nya sa dalawang batang naglalaro. Naglakad sya papunta sa akin habang mas ginugulo pa ang magulo nyang buhok. I folded my arms as I smiled at him.

"So I Guess this time... something really starts?" he placed is hand under his chin, he looked at me and Ace at sabay naming tinignan kung paano maglaro ang mga anak namin. We all nodded like idiots na nauwi sa tawanan... It may have took me a while to solve the whole puzzle, to finish the game na walang nanalo...

And going back, I wouldn't regret any of our decisions, Pinaglaruan man kami nang tadhana... so what? In the end, we all lived happy. and I guess that's what all that matters...

"Dad. Clarence is so mean, ayaw nya ishare is Elise" may isa pang bata ang lumabas sa gate. Tinignan ko si Rence na mas naging makulay ang mukha, he had his smile wider at me... mukhang alam na rin nya ang natakbo sa utak ko. Ngumiti nalang uli ako and as I smiled may kaunting tubig na lumabas sa mata ko.

Another game has begun...

-FIN-

Seven Days (4/25/15)