I was born to love you

1. Oh my gosh!

Verona, Italia

"Oh my gosh! Are you freakin' fucking me?! Oh my gosh!"

Halos malaglag ang Versace shades ko habang kausap si Hera - my cousin - sa phone. She was just telling me how sure she was about being pregnant again. It's like oh my gosh talaga! I remembered last year that she was almost baliw because she wasn't sure that she can bear kids and now she's pregnant again. How insane is that?!

I'm like so happy!

"Kaya umuwi ka na dito, miss ka na ng kambal ko." Narinig ko sa boses ni Ate Hera ang kasiyahan. Sa mga panahon ngayon ay palagi ko nang naririnig ang tonong iyon sa loob ng pamilya ko. I used to hear that from my mom or from my uncles and aunts - but I seldom hear that from my cousins. Naalala ko noon, kay kuya Yto ko unang narinig ang fulfillment sa boses niya - the day after he married Nikita - paalis sila noon papaunta sa kanilang honeymoon and I bade them goodbye. I talked to Kuya Yto and I heard that exact tone on his voice.

I shrugged on the thought. One by one my cousins are settling down and I'm really happy for them - espcially for Uncle Lukas' lot. Last year our family suffered a great lost and it's really hard for us to move on. I'm still missing Auntie Apollo and all her funny comments.

Palaki ako ng mama ko at ni Auntie Apol. Palibhasa kasi ay si Mama ang paboritong kapatid ni Uncle Luke - who happens to be Auntie Apol's husband. We were really close - kaya nga lumaki ako na nakapalibot sa akin ang tatlong anak nila Auntie. Madalas akong tawagin ni Auntie na extended na bunsong anak niya. I just smiled at that thought. I really miss her and I know Mama misses her too.

Ipinagpatuloy ko ang pakikipag-usap kay Ate Hera sa phone. She was telling me the details of her pregnancy at naisisingit niya rin doon ang kasal ni Yllak at ni Yna. Ang alam ko ay bukas na iyon. I really wanna go but I'm really busy tomorrow.

Pinapunta ako ni Papa dito sa Verona para asikasuhin ang winery expansion. I'm meeting the inverstors, I'm planning the launch. Ang dami-dami kong ginagawa and sadly, ngayon lang ang day off ko at kahit na family affair iyon ay hindi ako makakauwi. My father raised me as his little CEO. I like what I'm doing. I love it whem my dad would smile at me and say that he's proud of my work. Tapos mapapatingin ako kay Mama na nakatingin sa amin ni Papa with tears in her eyes. Tuwing naiisip ko ang tagpong iyon ay talagang nagiging masaya ako at iniisip ko na walang masama sa naging desisyon ko na sumunod sa yapak ng Papa ko.

Anyway, lahat naman kami ay expected mag-excel sa business world. Our surnames make our competitors shiver with fear. Marinig palang nila ang Consunji ay hindi na sila mapakali. Our names have been the foundation of the business world today.

Ate Hera ended the call because Apollo peed in his diaper. I was just laughing. Naalala ko noong isang araw na magka-skype kami, she was wearing her Louis Vitton dress and Achilles peed on her. She was really pissed. Inaway niya si Hades dahil doon at bilang kapalit, binilhan ni Hades si Ate Hera ng dalalwang Michael Korrs ensemble and a tennis bracelet. I was just rolling my eyes ad I listened to her.

Demonya talaga ang pinsan ko at alam kong namana iyon ng mga pamangkin ko.

Itinago ko sa Hermes bag ko ang phone ko at nag-ikot sa siyudad. Verona is my favorite city in Italy because this is the setting of Romeo and Juliet. I love the fact that their love story unfolded in here. That fact alone makes me wanna live in this place. I walked and walked, I took pictures and uploaded it in IG. I'm really enjoying this day off.

Huminto ako sa tapat ng Balcony ni Juliet. I looked up and imagines myself being wooed in there. Alam kong hindi happy ending ang nangyari kay Romeo at Juliet but I want my own Romeo. Someone who can love like him - iyong wagas, iyong sagad sa buto, iyong kahit malayo siya sa akin ay dama ko siya at ang presensiya niya.