I took a deep breath as I stare at their huge mansion, for the past years nothing has changed. May mga nabago lang sa pallette but it's still the same huge house before. I can't contain my nervousness habang nakatanaw dito. I felt someone held my left hand while the other is holding the Caldereta. All my uneasiness instantly vanished as I saw him smiling at me. My Uno.
"Are you nervous?" he asked the obvious.
"Hindi ba halata?"
"Awwts. Sungit" he chuckled and then wrap his arms on my waist. "Don't worry, I got you baby"
Nandito kami sa bahay nila para sa isang family dinner at para na rin bisitahin ang Daddy niya. Ang totoo niyan ay bihira na lamang siyang pumunta rito, at bumibisita na lamang siya para sa Daddy niya.
His Dad's condition is getting better after months of taking therapy. He was comatosed so he has to regain his muscle strength.
We don't have plan of going here tonight but his Dad asked us to be here. I know that his Lolo will be here too so I have to hold myself together and keep myself in tuck. This past few months ay ramdam kong galit pa rin siya sa kanila, hindi ko alam kung nagsisimula na ba siyang patawarin ang mga ito, pero sana ay magawa niyang magpatawad. Alam kong hindi madali ang mga nangyari at naiintindihan ko ang sitwasyon niya kaya naman araw araw kong pinapaalala sa kaniya na wala siyang kasalanan at para makausad kailangan niyang magpatawad.
"Mei! Nuno! You're here." sinalubong kami ni Maui ng isang mahigpit na yakap nang makapasok kami. She guided us towards the kitchen at sumalubong sa amin ang kanilang buong pamilya. Nandito din sina Astrid at ang iba niyang pinsan na hindi ko kilala.
"Oh. My Uno is here with my favorite Doctor!" Tito Zero acknowledge us.
I bowed my head to show respect and greet them a good evening. They smiled at me and offered us to sit down. Ibinigay ko sa mga maids ang Caldereta na dala ko. It's Tito Zero's request, dahil namiss niya raw ang luto ko.
I can feel the tension around, no one dared to speak except Tita Cruzete who offered us to eat.
"What do you want? Do want this...here take a bite of this" hindi magkandaugaga si Uno sa paglagay ng pagkain sa plato ko samantalang ang kaniya ay wala pa.
Ramdam ko ang tingin sa amin ng mga kasama sa lamesa, kaya naman hinawakan ko ang kamay ni Uno para pahintuin ito.
"Papatabain mo naman ako e!" pabulong kong biro sa kaniya.
"At least tataba ka na ang dahilan ay pagkain" bulong niya pabalik sa akin.
We heard a fake cough, it's his Lolo.
"How are you Uno? Bihira ka nang bumisita dito. Anong pinagkakaabalahan mo?"
I held Uno's hand under the table to help him contain his temper. He look at me with assuring smile. Gumaan ang pakiramdam ko nang makita ang maaliwalas niyang mukha.
"I'm calling Dad, everyday. I guess that's enough." he then shrugged his shoulder and smile to his Dad.
I saw a hint of sadness on Tito Zero's eyes but at the same time I can see that he understand where is Uno coming from. Of course he's also a father, he should've known how Uno feels.
"Anak, let us know kung may kailangan kayo ha! I'll gladly help" Tita Cruzete said trying to get Uno's attention.
"Maayos naman po kami." tumingin siya sa akin bago ipagpatuloy ang sinasabi. "At masaya", I gladly return his smile on me.
"So, when are you planning to get married?" One of his uncles asked. I guess it's Astrid's Dad.
"Hindi pa ho namin napapag usapan uncle."
"Are we invited?" magiliw na tanong ng isa niyang Tita, nakatingin siya sa akin kaya ako na ang sumagot, pero kahit ako ay nagulat sa pagputol ni Uno sa sinasabi ko.
"Of course-"
"We'll see" napalitan ng pagkakunot ng noo ang lahat ng nasa hapag kainan ang iba naman ay napaawang ang labi.
"Uno, ano bang sinasabi mo?" mahinang bulong ko sa kaniya.
"What do you mean?" bruskong tanong ng kaniyang Lolo.
"Well, I want our marriage to be simple as she is" he then look at me again.
"Sir Dad, hayaan na lang natin sila magdesisyon" Tita Cruzete said. May balak pa sana magsalitang muli ang kaniyang Lolo, pero nauna na ang pagtayo ni Uno.
Tiningala ko siya dahil kahit ako ay nagulat. Nandoon pa rin ang naniniguro niyang ngiti sa akin.
"I am so sorry po, but I don't think I can stand all of you for few more minutes. I guess we have to go" tumayo na rin ako dahil mukhang hindi na siya komportable dito.
But before we left he said these things that made me more proud of him, as a man and as a son.
"Daddy, I love you so much." he gave his Dad a genuine smile, then turned to his Lolo, "Sir Lolo, thank you for leading the way to braveness."
And for the first time after the day he learnt about the truth he look at her Mom straight to her eyes, "I will never forget everything you did for me Mom, I treasure you the most. You may hurt me a lot, but I promise to invite you in my wedding."
"I-I want you to know...na pinapatawad ko na po kayo." he then bowed his head on them. I got teary eyed seeing him stopping his tears from falling.
"A-All my life I-I tried so hard to make you proud. I-I hope I made you proud...kahit kaunti lang po" he then grabbed my arms and then made our way out.
Nasulyapan ko pa ang Mommy niya na umiiyak, at ang Daddy niya na may lungkot man sa mata, katulad ko ay proud din sa kaniya.
Pagkapasok namin sa sasakyan ay kaagad ko siyang niyakap para pakalmahin.
"You can cry now" at tila naging hudyat iyon ng pagkawala ng mga luha niya. Alam kong kanina pa siya nagpipigil ng pag iyak.
He may be brave and strong as a police man, but he's still the soft Uno I know. He still has the right to cry and show his emotions. Crying doesn't make him less of a man, it makes him more stronger for he was able to show how he really feel.
Some may say it's weak of him to cry like this, but when you're hurt, you're hurt. Men has feelings too. It's not all about us the women.
"I am so proud of you Crunos" I said to him in my most sincere way.
I can't imagine how much pain it brought him knowing what really happened. And it's so courageous of him to forgive the people who've hurt him, us.
I stared at him while he's playing with Skyla. He's still wearing his uniform habang ako ay casual lamang ang suot. He go straight here from his duty.
Tumatawa siya habang si Kylo ay masama ang tingin sa kaniya. Kinuha niya mula kay Uno si Skyla, kaya napasimangot siya. Si Skyla naman ay mukhang sanay na sa dalawa kaya humagikhik lamang siya.
"Ba't hindi pa kasi kayo mag anak?" nasamid ako sa biglaang pag tatanong ni Avril.
We're here at Hershel and Kylo's house. They settled here in Camarines Norte, while we're just having a vacation here, Uno on the other hand has something to work at while we're here.
"Avril don't pressure her" pagtatanggol sa akin ni Hershel.
"Eh. Ikaw din naman ah?" napaawang ang labi niya sa sinagot ko. "Bakit hindi ka pa nag aanak?" pagbalik ko ng tanong sa kaniya.
"Duh! Busy ako magbalik balik sa ibat ibang bansa" here we go again. She's bragging, perks of being a flight attendant. Hindi biro ang trabaho nila pero parang simple lang ito sa kaniya.
"Wala pa ba sila? Nagugutom na ako" hindi ko napansin na nakalapit na pala si Uno sa amin. Kaagad siyang humalik sa ulo ko na dahilan ng pag irap ni Avril.
"Aryana texted me, they're on their way"
Napagkasunduan kasi nila na magkita kita dito. Balita ko ay nakauwi na rin si Michelle kaya naman medyo na eexcite akong makita siya.
Hindi rin naman nagtagal at nakumpleto na kami. Nagkamustahan lang kami at nagkwentuhan habang kumakain at kumakanta ang iba.
"How have you been Mei? You look prettier" I smiled on Mich, she has changed a lot. She seemed more confident now, unlike before na parang kahit gaano siya kaganda ay may kulang pa rin. Maiksi na rin ang buhok niya ngayon, I wonder why she cut her hair.
"Maayos naman ako Mich. Ikaw? Sobrang ganda mo na lalo"
Nagkwentuhan lamang kami lalo pa at sumali sa usapan namin ang ibang girls.
Euphoria filled my heart, there's something with these people that brings join to my life. I may not be part of them but they never disregard me.
I was staring at Uno while he's laughing together with the boys. My day was complete just like that.
~💙