"And she's the most beautiful back then. Indeed, right?" If it wasn't enough, Tito Bernard had to smirk to my poor Papa.
Halos suntukin ko ang pagmumukha ni Tito Bernard na sinabayan pa ng iba ko pang tito at tita. How my parents first met when they were all just teenagers and free of their spouses and children.
I couldn't help but to I imagine that there came a time when everything was in place for the both of younger versions of themselves. Him and her against the world. Masaya lamang sa isa't-isa at wala nang iniisip pang iba kung hindi ang pagmamahalan nila.
Each must be the love of their lives back then. Naghiwalay nang mga bata pa't bumalik matapos ang ilang taon ngunit mali. I didn't know what I'd do if I ever lost the love of my life. Bahagyang sumakit ang aking dibdib ngunit umakbay na lamang sa aking ama.
They say love finds a way, but maybe, it finds a way not towards our most beloved but to a better version of ourselves instead. Because love doesn't condemn, it trusts and stays honest. Love knows when it does not always have to stay.
So, for my love to stay this way, I would be grateful for all eternity and to the heavens up above. I promise to fight on the difficult times, but I also promise to surrender the heartaches. Not just for security of my heart, but also to the many versions of love that went wrong and had to leave.
Sa buhay na ito ay nasunod ako at ibinigay na sa akin. Hinding-hindi ko iyon bibiguin at sasayangin dahil baka sa ibang buhay ay hindi na ako ganito kaswerte. Hanggang kaya ko at hanggang tama ay ipaglalaban ko.
"Your mom's company is basically broke without you, hija. Naku, kung ako ang asawa mo ay hindi ako susunod sa'yo. I can't believe you've asked that of him," my tita snided.
"And you've let your daughter, Nick! Pinasalba mo pa rin sina Mara! Mabait ka pa rin pala, ano?"
"That's enough. Let's just enjoy dinner," ani ni Papa sa mga nangangantyaw sa amin.
Nakisali na lamang ako sa kanilang mga kwentuhan. Sa bawat pasaring nila ay nagtitinginan na lamang kami ni Papa. Panay ang kaguluhan nina Arjuna at Justine kaya naman mas lalong nabuhay ang dinner para kay Papa.
Kaya sayang-saya ako habang nakikita siyang nakangiti at kumakain kasama ang pamilya. Like the heavy flow of a water fall from years of drought was the life after a near death. Hindi iyon isang panaginip dahil kung totoong nangyari iyon ay mas totoong nalampasan namin iyon. My place was safe, and happily eating his sugar friendly cake.
Sobrang sinuwerte ko na yata sa buhay na ito dahil isa-isa nang dinidinig ang mga panalangin ko.
"The cake tastes so good! Here, taste it!" punong-puno ang bibig ni Arjuna habang inaaya si Melody.
"Hindi naman para sa'yo 'yan, kuya, e! That's for people with health problems!"
"I'm gonna pretend we didn't hear that one, Justine," the older generations laughed.
Pumangalumbaba na lamang ako.
Ang magaling na si Arjuna ay sinadya pa talagang ngayon din ipakilala ang kauna-unahang babaeng sineryoso niya. Melody, the girl with the chinky eyes and button nose, was stiff as a tree and eyes wide as saucers. But nevertheless, hmm, pretty.
Kung iyon ang gusto ng pinsan ko , despite all of her flaws that I might have yet to see, then to hell with it if his mother didn't even offer a hand shake.
"Tita? Tita, why is there a cake? Is it someone's birthday?" ang isa ko pang pamangkin na kumandong sa akin.
"No, Agot. I'm just happy to see everyone here. Also, cakes make everything even better. Don't you think?"
Ang Pang-Limampu't Pito
Start from the beginning
