Del Rico Triplets #2: Retracing The Steps

Kabanata 40

"Mom is excited for us. Hindi tayo makakarating nang maaga sa kanila kapag sinabayan kita." Ngumisi pa siya matapos sabihin iyon.

Umikot ang mata ko.

"Maliligo lang..." bulong-bulong ko habang tinatanggap ang gatas mula sa kaniya.

Ininom ko iyon nang diretso. Inayos niya ang buhok na nakakalat sa mukha ko habang umiinom ako. He's so focus on what he's doing that I don't know whether he knows about me staring at him.

Inabot ko sa kaniya ang baso habang sumasagap ng hangin.

"I'll return this to the kitchen. Maligo ka na," aniya na may munting ngiti sa labi.

I nodded my head and walked towards our room. Sumambulat agad sa mukha ko ang mabagong amoy noon. I smiled as I stare at the picture frames hanging on our wall. May picture ni Tarian, ako, si Max at kami ni Troi. We haven't had a proper family picture. Saka na raw kapag kumpleto na kami.

Tinungo ko ang bathroom at nag-umpisang paliguan ang sarili. I was waiting for Troi to join me but true to his words, hindi talaga siya sasabay. Sinabon ko ang aking mukha habang nakababad ang buhok sa shampoo. Kitang-kita ko ang repleksyon sa gilid kung saan may salamin.

Bahagyang namumutla ang aking labi at balat dahil sa paliligo ng ulan. Alas kuatro ng hapon ngayon at saka lamang namin naisipang umahon. Saktong pagdating naman ni Maxton kaya doon na dumiretso si Tarian para salubungin ang kapatid.

Hindi ko mapigilang hindi mapangiti kapag naaalala kung paanong nagkaayos ang dalawa. Tarian seemed distant on their second meeting while Max look so persistent. I truly see how much he likes to be a big brother to my son.

He's so calm, full of patience and will to extend his love for his brother. However, Tarian is so hard to please. Kahit anong kausap sa kaniya ni Maxton ay ayaw nitong sumagot. Maliban na lamang kapag niyayakag ko siya upang 'di mapahiya ang kapatid. I let them bond, tho at kalaunan, miski ako ay napapalapit ang loob sa bata.

Somehow, my heart tightened at the sight of Maxton's lonely eyes. Mataman man itong nakatingin sa amin ni Tarian nang may ngiti sa labi, nakikita ko pa rin ang kinukubli nitong pagkasabik sa atensyon ng isang ina.

I am a mother to Tarian and I don't think it would be a burden to mother him, too. That afternoon, when Troi asked me to take him back, hindi ako agad nakasagot pero hinayaan ko ang sarili kong maging panatag muna sa kandungan niya.

That same night, I went to visit Evangeline's grave. That is the first time I've met her, not accidentally or whatsoever. Siya talaga ang sinadya ko. Nakikita ko pa lamang ang puntod niya kung saan nakaukit sa magandang paraan ang kaniyang pangalan, kumakabog na ang dibdib ko.

She's dead now, I know. Ngunit hindi maitatanggi ang pagpunta ko rito ay para humingi ng tawad sa isang taong alam kong kinuhanan ko nang malaking karapatan para sa isang bagay.

To be Troi's wife is so romantic that it pains me while thinking that I don't deserve him. But then, Troi has been in so much pain, too. If I don't deserve him, maybe he deserve me. He deserve to have me after all the struggles he'd faced. Tarian deserve a complete family and I would love to extend it to the innocent Maxton.

Nanginginig na inilapag ko ang pumpon ng bulaklak sa kaniyang lapida.

Maria Evangeline L. Mijares.

I smiled bitterly when my mind immediately added Del Rico on her name. She was supposed to be one of them but I took her life accidentally. Fate took her too early.

"Evangeline..." I muttered her name softly.

Tears stroll down on my cheek when I sit beside her.

"I'm sorry..." I took my handkerchief and tried to look decent in front of her.