Epilogue
“Did you enjoy last night?”
“Our wedding? Yeah. It was almost like a shotgun wedding, you know, I was just kind of forced, but… that was the best day of my life.”
“Good.”
“Thank you, Blake.”
“Do me a favor, Nicolle.”
“What is it?”
“Stay with me. Forever.”
“How long is forever?”
“Hundred years? Ten? Five? Two months? Two days? I don’t know. Just… just stay with me.”
“What if I die?”
“Don’t think about—“
“What if I die?”
“Then you take me with you.”
“No.”
“Okay. What if you die?”
“I want you to be happy. Maybe find someone to date. Find someone to take care of you. Get married again. But I want you to be happy.”
“I could only be happy with you. Only you, Nicolle. Only you.”
***
Naramdaman ko na lang bigla ang paghawak ng prinsesa ko sa kamay ko. Tinignan ko siya at ngumiti. “This is our home,” sabi ko sa kanya.
“I know, dad,” sabi niya sa akin. “Uncle Vincent showed me a picture of it.”
“But you never saw it in person.”
“It’s because it’s my first time here, dad! I’ve been living in New York for my whole life.”
“And how long is that whole life you’re talking about?”
“Seventeen years?”
Nag-bend ako pababa para magkalebel na kami. Pinindot ko bigla ang ilong niya. “You’re seven years old, Nikki.”
Tumawa siya ng malakas at bigla akong niyakap. “I thought it will work this time!” sigaw niya.
Binuhat ko siya sa balikat ko at naglakad na papasok sa bahay namin sa Pilipinas. Nandito pa din siya. Matibay pa din kahit na ilang taon na ding hindi nagagamit.
Sabagay, madalas ko namang ipalinis eh.
“Dad! Put me down!” patuloy na sigaw ni Nikki habang tawa ng tawa. Sira ulo ata tong batang to. Hindi ko naman kinikiliti tumatawa pa din.
Ayt. Katulad ng nanay niya eh.
Pagpasok naming sa loob ng bahay, ibinaba ko na siya. Nagsimula na naman siyang magtatatakbo. Binayaan ko na lang siya. Mapapagod din yan. Maya maya makakaramdam yan ng jet lag. Kauuwi lang kasi naming galing New York. Eh first time niyang magbyahe palabas ng US. Kaya panigurado knock out yan mamaya.
Ilang minuto lang ang lumipas, nakita kong nakahiga na sa kama si Nikki at kinakati ang ilong niya. Inaantok na nga.
“Hey, Nikki. I’m going outside, okay?”
Hindi na siya sumagot. Alam kong tulog na to. Kaya lumabas na ako.
Dumiretso ako dun sa tulay at tumingin sa ilog. Malapit ng maggabi. Orange na ang langit. Biglang pumasok sa isipan ko yung voice record ni Nicolle na araw araw kong pinapakinggan.
YOU ARE READING
Officially Blake's
ספרות נוערI knew at that moment, that we belonged to each other. The bunny and the bear, with all their craziness and differences, they belong in each other's love. *** She's an ice princess. And now, she was sent to melt here in the Philippines. He's a bro...
