Vacation With My Cousin

SEQUEL : 25 Years later

Nabalik ako sa realidad when someone hug me from behind, umakyat pala ito sa opisina ko. She giggled as I faced her and kissed her forehead at niyakap pabalik. "Hmp daddy, sasabihin mo na namang 'thank you for making me feel complete'?" inunahan na ako nito sa linya ko. I always tell her that line because it's true, that is what I feel towards her.

I chuckled. "No Chant, thank you for making me feel better." I cupped her face and smiled at her. Nakunot ang noo ko nang biglang itong napalabi at naluha, napailing ako kasi alam ko na ang iniisip niya "Hey, I'm going to be alright baby girl." I said trying to make her feel better

Mas humigpit pa ang yakap nito sa akin at sinandal ang ulo niya sa dibdib ko, "I wish my hug can take away your stupid lung cancer too daddy." she finally cried.

Nakaramdam ako ng lungkot. Hinaplos ko ang buhok nito at napabuntong hininga na lamang.
I pulled away from our hug to face her "Hush now baby girl, wag ka nang umiyak" I said as I wiped her tears away "itatak mo ito dito." tinuro ko ang ulo nito "..diyan sa utak mo at sa puso mo na I will be happy if ever I will leave this world, so be happy for me, be glad for I will see my love again." nginitian ko si Chanty as an assurance that I will honestly be happy. "I am still gonna be by your side baby girl, hinding hindi kita iiwan but for now don't you worry, I will keep fighting para samahan ka sa mundong ito. You're the strongest woman that I've known Chandria, iba ka sa lahat and I am sure you'll be alright without me" pinunasan ko ang mga luha nito "baby, words aren't enough to thank you for making me feel better, for fixing my broken pieces and for filling the void. I love you baby girl." mas lalo pa itong umiyak at humihikbi na parang batang inagawan ng laruan, I chuckled because of that and I kissed my daughter's forehead and hug her even tighter.

"Let's go downstairs na nga lang dad, kumain na tayo so we can visit mum at the cemetery. I cooked your favorite tinolang manok." sabi nito when she pulled away from our hug at nagpupunas pa ito ng luha at sipon niya.

"Siguradong tinolang manok yan ah baka para na naman noong last time na naging sinigang" I teased her, inirapan lang ako nito at binelatan. Nagtatawanan at nagkwekwentuhan kaming bumaba para kumain na.

And I did stay with her as my promise, I tried to fight death para samahan muna si Chanty kasi alam kong hindi niya pa kayang mag isa sa mundong ito. We celebrated her debut, we also celebrated thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, and we traveled around the world. I made sure na sa huling mga taon na kasama niya ako ay masaya siya.

Dalawang taon ang lumipas at mas lumala na ang sakit ko. Napaluha ako nang yakapin ako ni Chanty na iyak pa ng iyak. "D-Daddy.." she sobbed hard. I so badly want to fight pa para samahan ang anak ko pero nakaramdam na ako ng pagod, nasasaktan na din ako para sa mga pamilya ko kasi hindi ko na kayang nakikita silang nasasaktan sa sitwasyon ko

"Chant, daddy loves you, remember that, okay?" I said carressing her face "I am going to be better. Thank you for making me feel complete, anak" I reminded her as I looked at her puffy and watery eyes. Napatingin naman ako sa mga tao sa paligid ko, kina Hannah at Chaos, Casey at Charm, sa mga pamangkin ko at kaibigan ko na nagpupunas pa ng luha. I looked at them and smiled at them.

"D-Daddy.." Chanty called me dahilan para mapatingin naman ako sa kanya. Nasasaktan ako sa lungkot ng mga mata nya kahit nakangiti nya akong tinitignan "Be happy now. Thank you for everything, I love you so much dad," she said between her sobs but still trying to smile to make me feel better "I will wholeheartedly let you go now." a tear escaped from my eye as she kissed my cheek goodbye.

Lumapit sina Charm, Hannah, Casey, Chaos at mga kapatid ko sa akin na nag iiyakan pa at isa isa nila akong niyakap. "Gwapo pa din ba ako?" tanong ko sa kanila, they all grinned at me. Hinaplos ni Casey ang mukha ko at masayang ngumiti "Oo naman! Maiinlove pa din siya sayo pag nagkita kayo" nag pupunas ng mga luha nitong sagot sa akin. I smiled at everyone and closed my eyes, inaantok na kasi ako gusto ko ng matulog.

"Lucho.."

"Lucho.."

"Lucho, wake up!"

"Garcia, wake up now!"

Napangiwi ako nang masilawan sa sinag nang araw ang mga mata ko. I yawned and streched. "Hayyyyy! Tulog mantika ka padin talaga" pagmamaktol nito. Napatingin ako sa kanya— she crossed her arms at nakatagpong kilay pang nakatingin sa kawalan. Masaya akong napangiti sa nakikita ko ngayon.

Lumapit agad ako dito at mahigpit at masaya syang niyakap. "I miss you! I miss you! I miss you!" I happily stated.

"Baby I miss you too but hindi ako makahinga." reklamo nito sa akin at pilit kumuwala sa mga yakap ko

Napatawa naman ako at hinawakan ang mga kamay nito. "We meet again Chant. You don't know how happy I am to see you again." Napaluha ako sa saya. She gave me her sweetest smile as she caressed my face "..and we will never part again Lucho, hinding hinding hindi na tayo maghihiwalay pa muli. I love you Lucho Miguel Garcia and I'm glad to see you again my love."

Napangiti ako sa kanya at nang makita ang buong lugar, both beautifully and perfectly made. I am glad we're here, in a place called eternity. A place where there's no sufferings but pure and genuine happiness lang—kung saan pantay pantay ang mga tao, kung saan walang judgments, kung saan masaya lang, kung saan walang ending at lugar kung saan palagi ko syang kasama. Hinawakan ko ang magkabilang pisngi nito and looked at her beautiful eyes "I love you Chandria Tyna, and I am very happy that we meet again." I said will all sincerity then I kissed her like her lips were air and I couldn't breathe. I missed her so much.

We finally meet again Chanty, this time, I promise to stay with you in this world where life isn't temporary and forever is real.

THE END.