Remnants of Our Drowned Love

Epilogue

Napakunot ang noo ko habang hinihintay si Zefidy sa loob ng sasakyan, nakagat ko ang dila ko habang pinapanood itong maglakad palabas kasama ang kan'yang best friend na anak nina Steele at Bryne Valentin.

The way people gawk at them reminds me of Pat and I's rendezvous at the hallways, library, everywhere. I'm quite famous.

Nakita ko pang maraming bumabati sa kanila, I heard they own the spotlight in here, they charm everyone that's breathing, hindi na ako magtataka, kanino ba magmamana ang mga 'yan?

"Tita! Hindi na po, may pupunta pa rin po kasi ako." Nahihiya itong tumawa, niyaya ko kasi itong sumabay sa amin.

"A date perhaps?" Tinaasan siya ng kilay ni Zefidy, halata mo ang mapang-asar nitong ngisi.

"'Di mo sure." Pagkatapos nitong magmano ay kaagad na lumipad ang kamay niya upang hampasin si Zef na O.A kung umaray.

"Mag-iingat, Ingrid."

"Nakikita ba nila 'to Tita Olie?" She lifted her fist. "Sila matakot sa 'kin."

Sabay-sabay kaming natawa.

"Best friend, huh?" I smirked at Zef.

Her eyes widen. "I'm straight, Ma." Nagkibit-balikat ako.

Sa bahay kaagad kami dumeretcho, sinundo ko si Zefidy upang makapagbihis, it's Friday and we happen to go to a dinner party then a movie night after dahil gustong-gustong panoorin ni Elon ang paborito niyang disney movie, paanong hindi namin susundin ang bunso, parang ang ate niya ito noon kung mag-tantrums.

"Ma!"

Pumunta kaagad ako sa kinaroroonan ni Zef.

Magpapapili lang pala ng pwedeng isuot, ang dalawang dress na nilabas nito ay akala mo pupunta siyang date.

Did I mention? She started to practice modeling along with her friend, Tj, si Ingrid kasi ay mas angat ang pagiging pokus sa pag-aaral ng business, manang-mana kay Steele ang batang iyon pati ang ugali.

Tinuro ko ang isang nagustuhan ko. "The daring one." Ngisi ko.

She smiled at me and nodded, satisfied with my pick, nasa isip niya nang iyon ang susuotin pero nagtanong pa rin siguro para magpaalam na rin, me and her mommy isn't that strict when it comes to her clothing, that's her and her fashion sense, hindi kami kill joy at ayaw naming sirain ang confidence niya sa pamimili ng gustong isusuot she's great at it, dahil tulad ng sabi ko ay palaging nakila Luisia.

"Mama!"

My mouth fell open as I saw how cute Elon's outfit is!

Bagay na bagay sa kaniya ang formal attire! 

"Oh my gosh, Elon you're so cute! Dito ikaw kay Ate dali!" Naunahan pa ako ni Zef panggigilan siya, kinuha niya ito at ikinandong at doon hinalik-halikan na gustong-gusto naman ng bunso.

"Hala! Malaki na 'ko ate, ih.."

"No, you're still my baby! Diba? Tabi tayo sleep."

"Yes!"

"Yes talaga kasi baby kita!"

Galing mang-uto.

I kissed Zion and Raig on top of their heads as Rue pulled a chair for me, I could only roll my eyes, she never gets tired of doing those little things for us.

"You look dashing," she whispered close to my ear, planting a soft kiss on my cheeks. Automatic na napangiti ako, ayan! D'yan niya ako nakukuha sa mga mabulaklak niyang salita! Inuuto niya pa rin ako na para bang makakatakas pa ako sa kaniya, well, wala akong balak!

"I heard from your teacher that you're doing great in school, Zion," paninimula ko nang maalalang tumawag ang homeroom teacher niya at nag-a-update dahil kuhaan na ng grades sa susunod na linggo. "Good job." I tapped his shoulders with a grin. "But you should sleep earlier than eleven, 'wag mong masyadong pagpuyatan ang acads or any gadgets."

I like hearing those kind of news where my kids doing good in school, growing and learning new things pero sana hindi niya pinapabayaan ang kalusugan, masama ang magpuyat ng sobra.

If you would ever ask me, I would choose this life loving Rue over and over again, even without all the money in the world, just Rue. Hindi ako daldalhin ng tadhana sa buhay ng mga bata kung wala si Rue and the thought of not having them as my children...God, thank you for my now and every day with them!

The party went smoothly, umalis din kami ng mas maaga at wala namang kaso 'yon sa kaibigan namin ni Rue sa trabaho.

Excited na excited si Elon habang pauwi, sa 'kin pa sila sumabay apat at kinukulit ako, pare-pareho ko silang sinuway nang magharutan sila sa backseat dahil naglalambing ang Ate.

See? If I wouldn't have these cuties hindi ako magiging ganito kasaya, sarap nilang gawing keychain apat...hay.

"Love! Popcorn din tayo, bakit sila lang?" Mahinang bulong ng katabi ko.

Tinignan ko ang mga bata sa lapag, tutok si Elon habang ngumunguya, tulad ng ate niyang nakaupo at nakasandal sa sofa, nakabalot pa si Elon ng comforter, buong katawan pa, lamigin kasi ang batang 'yan, katabi niya ang Kuya Raig at Ate Zef habang si Zion ay nagpatong ng unan sa hita ni Raig at doon nahiga at prenteng nanonood, palagi silang naglalatag d'yan sa lapag tuwing movie night.

"'Wag na magsasawa ka rin naman kaagad, tapos sasabihin mo maalat." I also settled myself on her lap pulling her arms to put it over my tummy. The movie is so good I swear.

I waited for her response with a grin, typically she'll rant about it, but she's oddly quiet, no response, kaya ibinalik ko ang tingin sa kaniya.

I catched her staring as if familiarizing my face for the first time, sus, it wasn't the first at all.

"Ganda mo. You've been heating up my whole system for years now, and I still like staring at your face, your body wasn't meant to just pleasure me, it was made to be my safe place.." I closed my eyes as she trail my face, from my forehead to the bridge of my nose, to my lips...as if it was her route and she'd go take that path over and over...

I smiled. "If that's your poetry, it was poetically messy but I like it, for it came from the lips of my lover."

She's at the verge of laughing out loud, she's just bitting her lips to suppress it, hinampas niya ako sa hita ng mahina.

"I love you, Ma."

"Anak kita?"

"Tanga." Lumukot ang muka nito. "Dapat I love you too 'yun!"

I laughed, cupping her face.

"Ingay mo nanonood mga baby ko."

"Woman, I'm your main baby." She rolled her eyes, that made me smile.

"Araw-araw, mahal kita."

Ngiting-ngiti itong umunat, surely because she's satisfied of what she just heard.

"Damn, yes, spoil me with that."

Rue kissed the tip of my nose, and hugged me close.

I value her deeply.

-FIN-

May your heart
Found someone
Who would keep
Loving you
Every day
Every hour
Forever
:)

Bitin? Bawi next time.