After running away on his wedding day, Calyx Royce returns to his hometown to fulfil the broken promise to his bride-to-be, only to learn that she has not forgiven him and has forgotten about him . . . literally!
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Childhood best friends, Calyx an...
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NAPATAYO si Calyx at halos matumba ang kaniyang upuan nang makita si Anaise. A soft breeze passed everyone. Aakalain na may anghel na dumaan sa kanilang harapan. Nakasunod si Vivian kay Anaise na nakatingin sa kanila, minamanmanan ang bawat kilos.
"Hoy, Cal! Na-miss kita!" magiliw nitong bati nang makalabas sa veranda.
Calyx remembered the old days he would see Anaise coming down the veranda. She would sometimes hop or do a catwalk when she went out—the sun served as her spotlight while the breeze gave her the breeze effects with every step.
Aminado naman si Calyx na maganda si Anaise. But he had always seen her as his one true best friend. But now, he saw a different Anaise—a grown, beautiful woman.
"A-Anaise . . . " His tongue was twisted, and even his stomach was in knots.
"Hoy, bakit natigilan ka? Na-miss mo 'ko, 'no?" pabiro nitong usal at tinapik pa ang braso ng kababata.
But instead of making fun of her, he was stunned and speechless, not just with his best friend but with the baby she had in her arms.
"A-anak mo?"
Tumawa nang malakas si Anaise. The same contagious laugh he had heard years back—a burst of laughter he had missed dearly.
"Gagi! Kapatid ko 'to! Siya si Amelie! Cute-cute 'no? Kamukhang-kamukha ng Ate Anaise niya?" Bumaling si Anaise kay Vivian na nakangisi. "Ang galing ko, Ma! Akala nga niya baby ko si Amelie!"
Naiiling na napangiti si Vivian sa sinabi ni Anaise.
Inayos ni Anaise ang pagkakarga niya sa sanggol na kulay rosas ang suot na onesie. May munting imahe rin ng mga teddy bear na kulay pink sa onesie nito.
"Ah . . . K-kapatid mo pala."
"Yup! Carbon copy ko si Amelie noong baby rin ako. Papasa kaming mag-nanay." Anaise giggled.
Calyx had mixed emotions with that revelation. May bahagi sa kaniya na kumalma na hindi nila anak ni Anise si Amelie ngunit may malaking bahagi rin sa kaniya ang nalungkot. Marahil dahil may bahagi sa kaniya na umasa na nagbunga ang pinagsaluhan nilang sandali.
"P-puwede ko po bang makausap si Anaise na . . . kami lang?" Napalunok si Calyx. Kinakabahan siya na muling tanggihan ni Lucas.
"Hindi puwede!" hiyaw ni Lucas—katulad nang inaasahan niya.
"Sige lang!" ani Vivian.
Nagpalitan ng tingin ang mag-asawa at kita niya ang pag-iling ni Lucas.
Lumapit si Vivian at may binulong sa asawa. Napansin ni Calyx ang pamumula ng punong-tainga ng ginoo at saka tumikhim. Pilit niyang pinanatili na propesyonal ang hitsura sa harap ng lahat. Nanatili naman na nakangiti si Vivian sa kanila.
