INIANGAT ni Jude ang mukha. Naningkit ang kanyang mga mata. Pinaikot-ikot niya ang ballpen sa mga daliri.
"Wait," ibinaba niya ang ballpen at notebook at kinuha ang gitara sa tabi. He strummed a few strings and hum the lyrics in his mind. Napangiti siya. Kinuha niya muli ang notebook at ballpen at isinulat ang nabuong chords at lyrics.
Umihip ang malakas na hangin at muli niyang naiangat ang mukha sa harap. He witnessed how all the brown leaves from the near tree flew freely before they landed on the ground. Iginala niya ang tingin sa paligid. Maganda ang araw. Mahangin pero hindi masakit sa balat ang sikat ng araw.
The sea looks calm today.
He closed his eyes. Dinama niya ang hangin sa kanyang mukha. The sounds of the chirping birds. Ang marahang paggalaw ng mga dahon mula sa mga puno sa tuwing umiihip ang hangin sa paligid.
Huminga siyang malalim at bumuga ng hangin.
Ngumiti siya.
"Jude?"
And now he's hearing Mari's voice now. He's losing his mind again. He really missed her so much. Damn, much!
"Jude!"
Naimulat niya ang mga mata. He felt his heart drop. Did he hear it right? Sa tingin niya ay hindi na 'yon sa isip lamang niya.
Dahan-dahan niyang ibinaling ang tingin sa likod. Bumungad sa kanya ang nakangiting mukha ni Mari. Nililipad ng hangin ang mahaba at bahagyang alon-alon nitong buhok. It was half tied with a handkerchief. His favorite look of her. Tumigil yata sa pagtibok ang puso niya ng ilang segundo.
Napatayo siya habang yakap ang gitara.
She was glowing...
... and beautiful.
"M-Mari," it barely came out as a whisper.
Tears welled up from his eyes but he managed to smile still. Is this real? Si Mari ba talaga ang nasa harapan niya? Ibinaba niya ang gitara sa batong upuan at nahilamos ang mga kamay sa mukha.
Hindi niya magawang lumapit lalo na nang makita ang twin stroller na nasa harap nito. Nasisilip niya ang dalawang bata na mahimbing na natutulog. Lalong naninikip ang dibdib niya. It felt surreal.
Tawa.
Iyak.
Galak.
Kaba.
Tuwa.
Iyak.
Tang ina! Hindi niya alam ang gagawin.
"M-Mari," he gulped.
"Happy –" He didn't let her finish her words.
Tinawid niya ang distansiya na nakapagitan sa kanilang apat at niyakap ito. He made sure the twins were not disturbed. He buried his face on her neck and cried in pure joy. Hinigpitan niya ang yakap niya rito at parang batang umiyak sa tuwa.
"Shshs," alo nito. He missed her voice. He missed her so much. He missed her warmth. God, how he missed Marison so much. "I'm here now."
"I missed you." Kumalas siya para hawakan ang mukha nito. "I missed you. I missed you." Sinapo niya ang likod ng ulo nito para halikan sa noo. "You're finally home."
"I'm home." Ibinaba niya ang mukha rito. Nagtama ang mga mata nila. Umangat ang isang kamay nito para haplosin ang pisngi niya. Her smile grew brighter. "We're home." Ibinaling nito ang tingin sa kambal.
At tila nakaramdam ang isa sa kambal dahil bigla itong umiyak. Natawa siya. Mabilis na kinuha ni Mari ang isa sa kambal sa stroller. Her twin was still sound asleep.
"Jude, meet Sunset Lilac," pakilala nito sa anak nilang babae. Bahagya nitong isinasayaw si Sunset para patahanin. Her purple hooded dragon onesie romper pajamas look cute on his little girl. His little girl. Natawa siya. Napansin 'yon ni Mari. "Why are you laughing?"
"I just remembered something."
"Ano?"
"I used to call you little girl."
She chuckled, "I told you, I'm not."
"Yes, but you become my little girl's mother."
Napangiti ito. Tumahan na rin ang anak nila pero gising na gising naman na. "Do you want to carry her?"
Namilog ang mga mata niya. "I – I don't know? Paano kung masaktan ko siya –" Mari cut him off.
"It's fine. Come here, hold her."
Bahagya siyang kinabahan pero excited din siya. Sa pictures lang niya nakita ang kambal and now he's holding one of them for real. Hopefully, he didn't mess this up.
Inalalayan siya ni Mari hanggang sa nasa mga braso na niya ang dalawang buwan pa lamang na si Sunset. She was big for a 2 months old baby. He was torn between so many overwhelming emotions and unnecessary worries but he chose to ignore all of those and settled in admiring his daughter in his arms. The longing that he felt for the past months was immediately filled with too much happiness. He found contentment in the presence of Mari and their children.
And now he's staring at his daughter.
His daughter...
... Sunset Lilac Salvaleon Savio.
"She's beautiful," and he couldn't take off his eyes to her little Sunset. "She looks just like you, Mari."
Natawa ito. "Trust me, Sunset looks a lot like you."
"Really?"
"Mapapansin mo rin in the coming days."
Kinarga nito ang kakambal ni Sunset at ipinakita sa kanya. Lalo lamang lumaki ang ngiti niya. The twins were too fluffy and cute. Kasing laki rin ni Sunset. Puffy and red cheeks. His little boy was wearing the same hooded dragon onesie romper pajama pero blue naman 'yon. The cute spikes at the back of the onesie were kind of funny but too adorable to his little dragons.
"Hi, there Lyre Hazael," kausap ni Mari sa anak nila. Gising na gising na ring katulad ni Sunset. She glanced at him. "Meet your, Daddy Jude." Kumurap lang ito habang namimilog ang mga mata. Mayamaya pa ay sumilip ang isang ngiti mula rito.
"He looks just like me," manghang komento niya.
"Kamukha mo ang dalawa. Hindi ko alam saan napunta ang genes ko."
Natawa siya nang malakas.
"Silly! I'm sure it's just out there somewhere."
"I carried them in my womb for nine months and gave birth to them but they ended up looking like their father."
"Ayaw mo?"
Ngumiti ito nang matamis. "Did you hear me complain?"
"You sounded like one earlier."
Natawa ito. "I'm not."
"Then let's go home," pag-iiba niya.
"Kina Thad?"
"I don't think so."
"Huh?"
He smiled. "You'll know."
"OH –"
Natulala na lang si Mari sa kinatatayuan niya. She was admiring the big house in front of her. Much to her amusement, it did kind of reminded her of the house Thad was assembling a few months back, only that this was grand and homey – and beautiful!
Nakaharap pa sa dagat.
Malapit lang sa bahay nila Au, Balti at rooftop ni Chi.
"Welcome home!"
Ibinaling niya ang mukha kay Jude. "Napatayo mo ang bahay na 'to within seven months?"
"It's almost finished, mga ilang touches na lang and furniture. Come."
Inilalayan siya nito makapasok sa bahay. Ito na ang nagtulak sa stroller ng kambal. Ang weird din dahil wala silang nakasalubong ni isang Faro boys sa labas. Au and Chi was nowhere in sight.
May malaking front garden sa harap ng bahay. Wala pa nga lang gaanong mga halaman at mga bulaklak. But she already loved it. Ang daming pwedeng gawin doon. Gusto niyang punuin 'yon ng mga bulaklak.
At nang makapasok sila sa loob ng bahay ay lalo siyang hindi makapagsalita.
This was her dream house!
The interior. The colors. The ambiance. A house fronting the sea. The ground floor looks so big with all the cut-out windows. Rinig na rinig sa loob ang hampas ng alon dahil nakabukas ang malaking French doors palabas ng pool area. Ang liwanag ng bahay at kahit nakapatay ang aircon ay tumatagos ang hangin sa loob.
"Jude –"
"I was already working on this house before you left," nakangiti nitong sagot. "And it has more than seven rooms."
"You built this even if –"
"I built this for you. Designed this for you. Ikaw lang at ang mga anak natin ang ititira ko sa bahay na 'to. Well, Simon." He sighed and chuckled. Natawa rin siya. "It's inevitable."
Na touched siya sa sinabi nito.
The house was really beautiful and homey.
"Sa tingin ko naman ay may VIP access si Simon sa lahat ng mga bahay ng mga kaibigan niya."
"Well, at least now may nakikita ka nang structure sa lote niya."
Namilog ang mga mata niya. "He's building his house?"
Natatawang tumango ito. "One step at a time but based on Thad's calculations and Simon's lack of will, the highest probability date of the construction completion will be early next year."
"Gusto ko tignan mamaya. Saan ba banda?"
"Near the forest groove but we'll check on it later." Dahan-dahang kinarga ni Jude si Lyre. "Sunset and Lyre's room is finished. Let's go up." Hinintay muna siya nitong makarga niya si Sunset bago sila umakyat ng hagdan.
True, madami ngang kwarto sa itaas. Meron din naman sa ibaba, pero halos nasa second floor ang ibang silid.
"Sa ground floor, we have our living room, kitchen, dining, one guest room, storage, electrical room, and a workout room. I made sure na malaki ang kusina to give you enough space. I know how you love cooking. You don't need to worry about anything. I've already covered it for you."
"Isn't it too much?"
"Nothing is too much for my family," he smiled. Tumigil sila sa isa sa mga silid na nandoon. "And here's the room of the twins."
Pagbukas ni Jude ng pinto ay bumungad sa kanya ang magandang silid ng kambal. It was divided into two design – two mural paintings. Half of the room is painted with a golden hour of the lighthouse. Kalahati ay gabi na kung saan napapalamutian ng madaming bituin ang kalangitan at umiilaw ang mga lampara ng mga bangkang naglalayag sa dagat.
It was beautifully painted.
"Akala ko simple lang ang silid ng kambal?"
Jude chuckled, "I changed my mind. Madami akong time sa nakalipas na buwan. Pinagkatuwaan kong pinturahan ang kwarto ng kambal."
Namilog ang mga mata niya. "Ikaw ang nagpinta niyan?"
He nodded. "The Faro de Amoré," he smiled. "Sunset's bed is here." Turo nito sa crib kung saan ang golden hour. "And here," kung saan gabi, "will be Lyre's side of the bed." Inayos nito ang pagkakarga sa bata. "Did you like it, Lyre? This is your new room."
"Why do you keep a lot of secrets?"
"You knew I draw."
"Yes, but not paint."
"What can I say?" A smug smile slipped on his face. "Thad and I came from a family of artists. It just runs in the blood."
Napangiti na lamang siya habang minamasdan si Jude.
Aliw na aliw itong kinakausap ang anak nila.
Iginala niya naman ang tingin sa paligid. The room was big at halos kompleto na rin ang mga gamit. A part of the room ay nag-silbing little playroom dahil sa dami ng mga laruan at stuffed toys. May mini bookshelves na punong-puno na ng mga children's books. She saw toy instruments as well.
Jude designed the twin's room and he's already spoiling them. Lalo siyang napangiti. Mukha ngang madami itong oras sa nakalipas na pitong buwan.
PINAGSAWA niya ang mga mata sa magandang view ng dagat sa harap niya. May terrace sa second floor na malapit lang din sa kwarto ng kambal at master's bedroom. Natuwa siya dahil nagawang mapatulog ni Jude ang dalawa. Iniwan niya muna ito roon at nag-ikot-ikot siya sa second floor hanggang sa tumigil siya roon sa terrace kanina.
Kanina ay may na buksan siyang recording room. Na amaze siya, madalas yata roon si Jude nitong nakaraang araw dahil makalat.
Naibaling niya ang tingin sa hammock sa isang tabi kasama ng glass round table na yari sa rattan, pati na rin ang dalawang upuan doon ay made out of rattan.
Dinama niya ang hangin na tumatama sa kanyang mukha. She missed Faro de Amoré. Maganda ang Canada pero alam niyang uuwi at uuwi pa rin siya sa Faro. She will forever stay here. This is her home.
Napasinghap siya nang maramdamang may mga brasong yumakap sa kanyang baywang. She smelled Jude's familiar scent and of course, sino pa ba ang yayakap sa kanya? Silang apat lang naman sa bahay.
He rested his head on her shoulder.
"I missed you," he whispered.
She smiled.
Of course, she missed him too. She missed him every day. She missed him even if she doesn't want to. She never stops missing Jude.
"How are you?" pag-iiba nito. Kumalas ito sa pagkakayakap sa kanya at hinila siya paupo sa hammock. He didn't let go of her hand.
"I'm happy," sagot niya rito.
He smiled. "I can see that."
"I've discovered a lot of things about myself," nakangiting kwento niya. "I've been disappointed a lot of times with myself but I learned something... na sa shock ako minsan sa sarili ko. Kasi nakaya ko siya, Jude. Nagawa kong i-overcome 'yong mga bagay na akala 'di ko kaya. May mga times na nalulungkot ako at naiinis ako but nothing that I cannot handle. I've learned to manage and control my emotions now. I was too hard on myself back then pero ngayon, iniisip ko na lang that there are situations in my life that are out of my control and I have to be patient with my progress and to be kind to myself.
Alam mo ba, binalikan ko 'yong mga kantang 'di ko na tapos noon and re-write most of it. I've recorded a few of my recordings. Ipaparinig ko sa'yo 'yong iba and let me know kung maganda or may isa-suggest ka para gumanda pa lalo. I know you're the best, papa-mentor ako sa'yo."
She couldn't help but laugh.
She missed this.
This kind of conversation with Jude.
She had been longing for this moment again.
"I have so many things I want to do and create but I realized I wanted a simple life where I can be who I am. I want to make music, Jude, but I also want to be a hands-on-mother to Sunset and Lyre. I've narrowed down my options and guess what where it leads me?"
"Where?"
"To you." Titig na titig ito sa kanya. "I found myself going home to you."
Muli siyang ngumiti.
"I don't want to do all those things by myself if I have the option to divide my happiness with my family in Faro de Amoré... and with you."
Ngumiti ito bago siya siilin ng halik sa mga labi. It was a sweet gentle kiss. Bahagya rin itong lumayo agad but she couldn't calm her heart. His gaze could melt her at that moment. It was too sincere. He adored and loved her with those black piercing eyes. She could never doubt the honesty in his eyes.
Ramdam niya ang malakas na tibok ng kanyang puso. Kahit sa nakalipas na isang taon simula nang makilala niya si Jude ay ganoon pa rin ang reaksyon ng kanyang puso rito.
"I love you, Mari. I may have not realized it sooner but I hope I am not too late? I want us to be a family. I want you to be my wife. I want you to be the mother of my children. I want to rest with you when I'm feeling tired. I want to love you every day, every single second of my life, and in every best and worse of it." Umangat ang isang kamay nito sa kanyang pisngi. "Let's start again. Let me do it right."
Tears welled up from her eyes.
She had been hoping for this day. The day when she will no longer question each of his actions. The day when she will no longer doubt his love. The day when she no longer hates herself for loving Jude Asrael Savio.
Sa pagkakataon na 'yon ay naiyak siya sa harap ni Jude. Hindi dahil sa lungkot pero dahil sa sobrang saya.
"Mari –"
"I love you," she said in between her smiles and tears. "I never stop loving you, Jude. I couldn't hate you because I love you with all my heart and with all that I am. I may have hated myself for loving you too much but God didn't allow me to suffer for long because He helps you forgive yourself. God cleared the way for us so when we meet again we can now love each other right."
Ikinulong niya ang mukha nito sa kanyang mga kamay at pinagdikit ang kanilang mga noo. They look at each other's eyes and smile.
"Will you marry me, Lucia Marison Salvaleon?"
Natawa siya. "Where's your ring?"
He chuckled, "It's in our room." Jude stood up and gently pulled her up on her feet. "It's my mother's ring. I just found it." Magkahawak kamay na tinungo nila ang master's bedroom.
"Just found it?"
"My dad and I, we really didn't talk a lot but just last month, I decided to visit him and we talked and I've mentioned all the things that happened to me for the past ten years... and I have mentioned you and that I am a father now."
Napangiti siya. "Jude, that's great to know."
"I know. It feels like a heavyweight was removed from my chest. I feel... oddly better." Binuksan nito ang pinto ng malaking silid at pumasok sila roon. Nakabukas ang malaking floor to ceiling na bintana that leads to a small balcony. "And he gave me my mother's ring. It was the same ring Dad had given to my Mom. I know how much Mom cherished it."
Hinila siya nito malaking kama, sa side kung saan ang mesita.
Yumuko ito para buksan ang unang drawer at mula roon ay kinuha ang isang red velvet vintage ring box. Sa gulat niya ay bigla na lamang itong lumuhod sa harap niya. Dapat maiyak siya kaso natawa siya.
"Mari!" inis na tawag nito sa kanya.
"Sorry –" Pigil niya ang matawa lalo. "Wait, natatawa ako."
"I'm serious."
"I know." She pressed her lips together. "Okay, ulit."
"Lucia Marison Salvaleon, can I hold your hand and love you for the rest of our lives?"
Binuksan nito ang kahita ng sing-sing at bumangad sa kanya ang kumikinang na diamante ng sing-sing. Namilog ang mga mata niya at umawang ang bibig sa sobrang ganda nun. It reminded her of Rapunzel's crown. There were little diamonds around the big diamond. Little butterflies and flowers on the lining.
"Jude, it's beautiful."
"Is that a yes?"
Natawa siya. "I guess?" Tumaas ang isang kilay nito. Muli siyang natawa. "Of course! It's always a yes." Inilahad niya ang kanang kamay rito.
"Thank God," he slid the ring on her ring finger at doon niya napansin ang bracelet na gawa niya. Jude was wearing it. Napangiti siyang lalo.
Tumayo ito at hinalikan siya bigla sa mga labi at sa pagkakataon na 'yon ay nabigyan na siya ng pagkakataon na gumanti ng halik dito. She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer so she can kiss him better.
It was a sweet, intense, passionate but hungry kiss that ended them up on the bed. He straddled on top of her, nakatukod ang isa siko sa kama para hindi siya masyadong madaganan nito as they hungrily kissed each other.
"J-Jude," anas niya rito, bumaba ang halik nito sa likod ng kanyang tenga.
"Hmm?"
"Ang kambal –" He kissed her again and tried to search for the side zipper of her dress. "Jude..."
"They're sleeping," he chuckled, umawang ang labi niya nang maramdaman ang bahagyang pagkagat nito sa kanyang leeg.
Dumiin ang hawak niya sa mga balikat ni Jude. "How are you sure?"
"I've attached a connecting speaker," he trailed kisses on her now exposed chest, "if they cry, we will hear them in our room."
Namilog ang mga mata niya rito. "Seriously?"
Umangat ang mukha nito sa kanya at bahagyang natawa. "Thad's idea so we could monitor them even if we're in our room and we have a connecting door with the twins, ako na tatakbo kapag umiyak."
"Planadong-planado ah?"
"That's what you get when you have friends who would be willing to carry your sufferings with them but let's not talk about it right now. I'm much more interested in taking this dress of yours away." Napasinghap siya nang mabilis nitong maalis ang panyong nakatali sa kanyang buhok. Napangiti naman ito nang mapansin ang signature sa panyo. "You kept it?" manghang tanong nito.
The first autograph she got from him.
"You also kept this." Inangat niya ang kamay nito kung saan nakasuot ang bracelet na bigay niya rito.
Jude chuckled, "Of course! I plucking love you, Marison, love Jude."
Namilog lalo ang mga mata niya. "Jude!"
Nakakahiya pa rin talaga 'yong inukit niya roon.
Tawang-tawa naman ito. "Enough," he gives her a naughty smile, inisang baba nito ang side zipper ng dress niya, "let's make love before the twins wake up."
Umangat ang mga kamay niya para maitaas ang suot nitong T-shirt. "Then let's get this off from you –" Hindi na niya natapos ang sasabihin. Mabilis siya nitong siniil ng halik sa mga labi. She felt him smile in between their intense kisses.
And wait, did she already greet Jude a happy birthday?
I think not.
Maybe later.