It was early in the morning when I received the call. At first, I thought that it was just Leira being her morning self. Baka hinahanap na niya kami because we were only supposed to stay in La Union for three days pero heto kami ni Judas at ng mga apo namin, kaninang madaling araw lang kami dumating but I just knew that this short vacation will turn to a long one dahil tuwing kasama ni Jude ang mga apo niya ay tila ba nakakalimutan niya ang oras. It's a good thing na kasama rin namin si Belle at si Cindy. May katu-katulong kami ni Judas sa pagtitingin sa mga bata.
The vacation was for the long weekend. Gustong – gustong kasama ni Judas ang mga apo namin. As of now, we have fourteen grandchildren lahat yata sila ay paborito ni Judas pero sa ngayon, nakikita ko talagang hindi niya binibitiwan si Alonso. Alonso is now twelve years old. Parang anino ni Judas si Alonso, kung nasaan ang lolo, naroon ang apo. At an early age, namulat na si Alonso sa pag – spoil sa kanya ng dalawa niyang lolo – si Judas at si KD.
Belle has three children, aside from Alonso, there's Ariella and Aslan.
Cindy has four sons – yes, all boys, lalong ikinatuwa ni Judas ito dahil puro babae raw ang anak niya, si Cindy na ang bumawi para sa kanya. Cindy's boys ages are, the eldes – Leon, is eight, Lionel, is seven years old, Leonidas is six and her youngest boy, Leonard is four years old. Iyong apat na anak ni Cindy katumbas na katumbas niya noong bata pa siya. Natutuwa na lang ako tuwing nakikita ko siyang tila binabawalan ang apat niyang lalaki na katumbas niya naman ang ugali. I always hear Belle asking her brother – in – law what it's like living with five Cindys and I would see Bruno just smile and scratch his head.
Red and Aurora has four children too. There's Crimson, Gray, Scarlet and Sky Blue. Sam and Perseus has triplets, and they were names, Alpha, Delta and Sierra. All our children were happy with their lives and because of that, wala ring mapagsidlan ng kasiyahan ang asawa ko.
Most of the times, I found him sitting on out bed, looking up at the stars as if he was thinking about things at kapag tatanungin ko siya, isa lang ang isinasagot niya sa akin – na hindi siya makapaniwala na mayroon siya ng lahat ng ito ngayon. I would embrace him and tell him that he was the one who gave me all of this. Judas would even cry and thank me, pero hindi niya alam, sa kanya napakalaki ng pasasalamat ko kaya heto ako at gagawin ko ang lahat para maiwasan siyang masaktan...
But when I received that call this morning, isa lang ang naitanong ko sa aking sarili, how would I keep Judas from hurting when it's one of this brothers that is involved?
After talking to Leira for about thirty minutes, I put the phone down and looked at Judas who was outside at that moment. He was playing with Cindy's cubs and Alonso. Takbo sila nang takbo sa may tabing dagat habang si Judas ay panay ang habol sa kanila.
"Mom? Are you okay?" Maybe Belle noticed that I was in deep thoughts. Nginitian ko lang siya pagkatapos ay inabot ang kanyang kamay.
"I am, anak. Can you please tell the kids and Dad that play time is over? Sigurado akong gutom na ang mga pamangkin at ang mga anak mo." Mataman siyang nakatitig sa akin pero sinunod niya ako. Lumabas na siya sa glass door, ako naman ay sumunod sa kanya. I was walking slowly, still thinking how I would break this to Judas. I know how much he loves his brothers, and I also know how much Ido means to him. How could I tell him that Ido has passed and that we need to go home immediately because he is needed in there? Ang sabi sa akin ni Leira ay si Ernesto ang gumagawa ng lahat. Siya ang nag – aasikaso kay Ido at sa mga bata. Of course, Georgina would be so heartbroken right now. I need to be there for her too. Isa siya sa mga pinakamatalik kong kaibigan. We have been through a lot together and now that she needs me the most, I need to be with her but first, my husband needs me.
