Epilogue
After 25 years
“Si Mommy parang first time ikasal.” Reklamo ng panganay kong anak habang inaayusan niya ako. Pati nga ako hindi ko alam kung bakit nenenerbiyos ako.
“Oo nga Ate. It’s as if Dad will not show up at the wedding. Para namang may choice pa si Daddy. He’s stuck with her for the rest of his life.” At humagikgik ang pangatlo kong anak. Tiningnan ko ng masama but she grinned more. If only…if only she didn’t have his Dad’s curly hair and hazel brown eyes. Pati ata kalokohan ng ama nakuha ng pangatlo naming anak. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko natagalan ang buhay na may anim na taong baliw akong nakakasalamuha araw araw.
“Elisse, how does a decrease in allowance sounds to you?” Baliwalang sabi ko habang nakatingin pa din sa salamin. Napangisi si Erin, ang panganay kong anak.
“It sounds awful Mom. Ate, you’ve done a great job. Mas lalo mong pinaganda si Mommy. I’m sure Dad will drag you to the altar once he saw you. Buti na lang talaga Mom pinatulan mo si Dad ano?” Sabay bawi niya. Lihim akong napangiti. They may consider their father as the president pero ako pa din ang finance at nasa akin ang budget. At alam na alam nila na walang patutunguhan ang gobyerno nila kung wala ako.
“Balimbing ka talaga.” Sabi naman ng Ate niya. Elisse just grinned at her sister.
“Mommy, bakit hindi na nakabahag ang groomsmen ni Daddy? It would have been fun. Gusto kong ma experience ang naging kasal niyo dati. Ang saya saya.” Nakangising pa ding sabi niya.
“That was 25 years ago Elisse. When those groomsmen are at their prime. Ngayon, kapag pinasuot sila ng bahag baka magsilayasan ang mag bisita natin. Now go and check on your other siblings kung okay na sila.” Humagikgik ang dalawa kong anak. Imagining the video na napanood nila countless of times. Kahit ako, tuwing napapanood ko ang video namin, tawa pa din ako ng tawa.
“Okay.”At umalis na siya. Soon after, I found myself being ushered into the entrance of a small chapel sa isang resort kung saan gaganapin ang aming renewal of vows for our 25ht wedding anniversary. Hindi ko mapigilang hindi mapangiti. Who would have thought that we could last this long.
Twenty-five blissful years. Although, not smooth sailing yet very fulfilling. Sino ang mag aakala na ang lalaking hinahabol habol ko dati na halos magkaroon na ng nervous breakdown sa kakaiwas sa akin ang makakatuluyan ko?
And now, we have five beautiful children. As a mother I couldn’t ask for more and as a wife, I am thankful.
I am thankful that Jayson have been very patient to me. Na hindi siya nag give up nung mga panahon na nag iinarte ako.
Nung tinanong ko siya tungkol sa mga pinagdaanan namin, at kung bakit hidni siya nag give up, iisa lang palagi ang sagot niya.
‘Because I am brave and I deserve the best.’ Buong yabang niyang sinasabi. And soon he would explain a quote na hindi ko alam kung saan niya napulot. At kahit sa mga anak namin palagi niyang sinasabi,
‘Girls are like apples...the best ones are at the top of the trees. The boys don't want to reach for the good ones because they are afraid of falling and getting hurt. Instead, they just get the rotten apples that are on the ground that aren't as good, but easy. So the apples at the top think there is something wrong with them, when, in reality, they are amazing. They just have to wait for the right boy to come along, the one who's brave enough to climb all the way to the top of the tree...’
