To All Our High Hopes

Epilogue

ELISER'S POINT OF VIEW

"Kuya, be careful with Eli!" Sigaw sa akin ni Elishane sabay sabunot sa buhok ko.

Napadaing ako sa sakit ng pagsabunot niya. Narinig ko namang tumawa si Alexina. I pouted and glared at her but she won't stop laughing.

"I'm being careful with Eli! Alexina should be careful with Lian!" Pang-aasar ko kay Alexina.

Sumimangot si Alexina at umirap. "Kalung-kalong ko si Lian ng maayos, mali kasi ang paghawak mo kay Eli kaya ka pinagalitan ng kapatid mo." Tumayo siya at lumapit sa akin habang hawak si Lian.

Tinitigan ko ang maputing si Lian. When she grows up, this little girl will be pretty. I will protect this girl with every boys she will met. Mahirap na.

"Ang gwapo ni Eli. Kapag laki nito he will break so many hearts," aniya.

Ngumisi ako at umiling. "No he won't, I'll teach him how to be nice to girls until he'll meet a girl who can make him drive crazy in love," I looked at her and smiled.

She looked at me too and gave me a small kiss. "What a perfect Tito," she mumbled.

I smiled. "What a perfect Tita," I replied.

This woman have no idea why we're here. She though it's just a normal visit because Elishane invited her. We're all complete. She didn't know her Sister will come too. Pati ang buong barkada ay pupunta.

I will propose to her. And that's all I've been waiting for the past months.

Noong pagkatapos ng kasal ni Ate Alexandra. I can see the look on her eyes, she wanted to get married too but she can't tell me because maybe, she's shy. I can see that she's ready to settle with me. I can see all of it.

Kinakabahan ako ngayon at kagabi pa ako hindi mapakali sa kung paano ko siya tatanungin.

"Will you marry me?"

"Babi, will you marry me?"

"Baby, let's get married."

"Usto mo asawa?"

Damn! Every idea inside in my mind last night haunt me today. Some of it were cheesy and knowing Alexina, she hates cheesy lines. Wala na akong ibang maisip. Kung ano na lang siguro ang masabi ko mamaya nang buong puso, iyon na.

"Pakasal na kayo!" Rinig naming sigaw ni Elishane habang inaayos ang dalawang stroller ng anak.

Tumingin ako kay Elishane at kumindat siya sa akin. Isang hudyat iyon na pumunta na kami sa backyard.

"Kaya nga, Eliser. Pakasal na tayo. Ready na rin akong maging daughter-in-law at sister-in-law," sagot naman ni Alexina na pinamulahan ako.

Did she really just said that?

Nanigas ako sa kinatatayuan ko dahil sa kaniyang sinabi habang sila ay tinatawanan ako. Kinuha ni Elishane sa aking bisig si Eli habang nilagay naman ni Alexina si Lian sa stroller.

"Anak, naestatwa ka ata?" Tanong ni Mom sa akin at tumawa ulit sila.

"By the way, I invited your friends." Utas ni Elishane. Isa iyon sa mga plano.

Bumalik ulit ako sa katinuan at nilapitan si Alexina. I wrapped my arms in her small waist and kissed her nape.

"Finally, we're reunited," aniya at humarap sa akin.

All I can do is to smile and admire what I'm looking right now. This girl got me and I got her, too. It was just all joke not until I fell in love because of her sense of humor. I fell deeper in love when I get to know all her flaws and imperfections. That's when I realize that I will forever love this girl.