#DS5Unbowed #EmbRace #PuppyCouple #DaggerSeries
EPILOGUE
EMBER'S POV
One year and eight months later...
"Torta—"
Napangiwi kami nina Mireia at Lucienne nang makita namin kung paanong napatiklop ang katawan ng malaking lalaki na hindi nagawang tapusin ang sasabihin.
The man's name is Daze, also known as Darien Zeon Henderson. He's a half-Filipino and half-Australian budding actor that Belaya introduced to us a couple of months ago. He has a house here in Tagaytay, and he usually frequents The Dawson's Nook, Mireia's newly opened café.
Sa harapan ng lalaki ay ang isang magandang babae na blangko ang ekspresyon sa mukha habang walang kakurap-kurap na nakatingin sa binata. She has the kind of beauty that will make any woman hold on tight to their self-esteem because she is that beautiful.
She's not only that, though. She's both beauty and brains. She's Sorcha Byrne, a twenty-four-year-old genius, an employee of Dagger, and part of the forensic team of the research department. She was also the one who just gut-punched the hell out of Daze. Which is impressive for being that small and Daze being a giant.
"If I know how to find evidence of a crime, I also know how to hide it, Henderson. Stop calling me "torta" or I'll turn you into one."
Pagkasabi niyon ay walang lingon-lingon na lumabas siya at tumawid sa kabilang panig ng kalsada kung saan naroon ang building ng Dagger.
Tumingin sa pwesto namin si Daze. "I think she likes me."
Parang nag-practice na sabay-sabay kaming nag-thumbs up na tatlo sa kaniya. Tahimik na pinanood namin siyang bumili ng inumin hanggang sa dala iyon na lumabas na rin siya ng café.
"Ganoon ba talaga ang mga artista? Ang lakas ng fighting spirit?" tanong ni Lucienne.
"Siguro. Si Belaya rin ibang level ang fighting spirit eh," sagot ni Mireia.
Lucienne and I both nodded in agreement. Kung mabibili ang fighting spirit ay siguradong pwedeng ng maging supplier si Belaya dahil hindi siya nauubusan niyon.
Nagpatuloy kami sa pagkukuwentuhan. Mula rin kasi talaga nang magbukas ang TDN ay lagi kaming napapagawi rito. Kapag unang dalawang linggo ng buwan ay may baking class si Mireia na sinasalihan din namin ng Dawson's Wives kapag hindi kabi busy. Pero kadalasan ay talagang nagpapalipas lang kami ng oras dito.
Sabi nga ni Lucienne ay bagong tambayan daw. Lalo na siya na kulang na lang ay dito tumira dahil lagi siyang pumupunta rito para magsulat.
Maging ako ay kalimitang nagagawi rito lalo na kapag wala akong training. Na mas madalas na ngayon kesa noon. I officially halted my training since April.
"Akala ko ma-a-update ko na ang picture mo," sabi ni Mireia sa akin at itinuro ang nakasabit na larawan ko. She has a corner of pictures of the family. "Next year ba lalaban ka sa Olympics ulit?"
I won a gold medal last year during the Olympics. It's a great comeback after I skipped the World Cup for my honeymoon. "We'll see. I'm kind of enjoying being a bum right now."
"Sus. May tambay ba na laging nakapaskil ang mukha sa nagkalat na magazines at news articles?" tanong ni Lucienne.
"That's because of Perenne's charity. It's my mother's baby."
"That you successfully handled," she returned.
Natuloy na kasi ang pagretiro ni Papa. Kasalukuyang magkatulong na namamahala ang asawa ni Ellena at si Kuya Angelo. Ellena's also working, and she's doing a wonderful job. Bilang ambag ay ako ang humahawak sa opisyal na charity ng Perenne. It makes me feel closer to Mama. After all, she's the one who started it.
"Speaking of baby, kamusta naman si Lia?" napalitan ng pag-aalala ang tono ng boses ni Mireia.
Lia and Gun have officially decided to try for baby number three. They made it official when they climbed their favorite mountain again, where Gun proposed before.
Napabuntong-hininga si Lucienne. "Disappointed. She really thought she was pregnant when she missed her period."
"They still have a lot of time. Siguro kailangan nilang magbakasyon muna. Parehas din silang abala sa trabaho ni Gun eh." Nilingon ko si Lucienne ng may maalala ako. "Eh kayo ni Thorn? Akala ko ba gusto mo ng tatlong anak?"
"Gusto ko nga ang kaso parang mamumuti na ang buhok ni Thorn sa pag-aalala. Hindi pa rin niya kasi nakakalimutan ang hirap ko sa panganganak kay IC. Saka ang tanda ko na rin. Kakayanin ko pa ba?"
"Grabe ka naman sa matanda," angal ni Mireia. "You're just in your early thirties. May iba nga kahit mid-forties nagbubuntis eh."
"Dati malakas ang loob ko pero parang ngayon ay nagdadalawang isip na rin ako. I have two young children. I can't be selfish about it and decide without thinking of the consequences. Ayoko naman silang maiwan kapag may nangyari sa akin. Tapos iyong risk pa sa baby na dadalin ko."
Tumango si Mireia. "I do understand your point. I don't think Axel could survive watching me go through what I needed to with Pami again."
Mireia had a complicated birth. Maging si Pami ay kinailangan manatili sa NICU ng isang linggo.
"How about adoption?" I asked Lucienne.
"You've thought about it?"
Nagkibit ako ng balikat. "I'm open to it, and so is Trace. Napag-usapan namin after ng charity project na ginawa namin sa Perenne. Bumisita kasi kami sa mga orphanage. They said that there are at least 2 million orphaned or abandoned children out of the 109 million in our population. Pero less than 150 children lang ang nagkakaroon ng pamilya bawat taon."
"Thousand?" Mireia asked.
Umiling ako. Hindi man lang naka isang libo ang naampon na bata sa isang taon. Patuloy lang nadadagdagan ang bilang pero halos walang nababawas.
It wasn't a surprise to see them bothered by it. Magulang din sila. I've seen them with their babies. Knowing that there are millions of children out there who don't have the chance to experience a life with a family that will love and care for them will really break anyone's heart.
"Maybe my baby Coco will come to Thorn and me in a different way," bumubulong pa rin na sabi niya.
"Coco?" magkasabay na tanong namin ni Mireia.
Gumihit ang ngisi sa mga labi niya. "Coconut bars ang bago kong obsession ngayon. Kasalanan ni Lia kasi siya ang nagpadala ng isang malaking tupperware no'n sa bahay."
I loved those. Pinadalan din kasi ako ni Lia no'n. Hiningi ko pa nga ang recipe para kapag naisipan namin ni Trace na subukang gumawa.
Tumingin ako sa orasan ko. Speaking of Trace. "Hindi niyo ba pupuntahan ang mga asawa niyo? Tanghalian na." Ngumisi si Mireia at napailing naman si Lucienne. "What?"
"Napaghahalataan ka kung bakit ka lang dumadalaw dito sa TDN," sabi ng manunulat.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Pumupunta ka lang rito kasi gusto mong masilayan ang sinisinta mo."
Hindi ko na napigilan at napatawa ako. Totoo naman kasi ang sinasabi niya. Kung pwede lang na tumambay sa Dagger mismo ay ginawa ko na. Pero kilala ko si Trace. Siguradong hindi makakapagtrabaho ng maayos iyon dahil wala siyang gagawin kundi kulitin ako. Kaya kapag tanghalian ay kung hindi ako ang pumupunta sa kaniya ay siya naman ang umuuwi sa farmhouse.
"Mamaya pupunta rito si Axel." Inginuso ni Mireia si Lucienne. "Iyan naman tatambay lang talaga rito. Nasa Manila kasi si Thorn at nasa school naman si Cookie. Pag-uwi no'n mag-o-overnight kila Belaya at gustong kasama ang Kuya Arctic niya."
Tumango ang isa pang babae. "At si IC hiniram ng nanay ni Belaya. Baka hindi na ibalik sa akin iyon kaya pwede akong mag-relax."
Napatawa ako sa paraan ng pagkakasabi niya no'n na parang normal lang na basta na lang may kumukuha sa mga anak niya na walang planong ibalik. Kung sabagay normal naman talaga. Hindi na nila kailangan ng babysitter dahil ang daming nag-vo-volunteer para ro'n.
"Hindi ka magsusulat?" tanong ni Mireia kay Lucienne.
"Bakasyon ako ngayon. Saka na ako magsusulat kapag nagkaroon na ng love life si Coal."
"Baka mauna pa sina Domino at Luna."
Lucienne nodded in agreement. "At saka hindi ko pa tapos ang libro nitong si Ember at ang masuwerteng nakapikot sa kaniya. Wala pa nga akong title."
Napatawa si Mireia. "Akala ko ba Anpanget?"
"Kung si Trace lang ang bida, why not? Iyong tipo na sa ending magigising siya at panaginip lang pala ang lahat at imahinasyon niya lang si Ember. Pero dahil bida rin si Ember, hindi pwede."
"Sasabihan kita kapag may naisip ako," natatawa ring sabi ko sa babae bago ko binalingan si Mireia. "Si Pami pala nasaan?"
Pami, or Paris Milaciel, is her and Axel's one-year-and-four-month-old daughter.
"Hiniram ni Marthena," sagot niya na ang tinutukoy ay ang pinsan. "Nagpapractice na ata. Mukhang hindi magtatagal eh mamamanhikan na si Orson."
"Good luck," magkasabay na sabi namin ni Lucienne.
All the Dawson siblings will not make it easy for Marthena's boyfriend. They are all protective of those they consider family. "Kung ako kay Orson simulan na niyang ligawan ang magkakapatid na iyon ngayon pa lang para hindi na siya magkaroon ng problema in the future. Kahit ata si Potchi hindi basta maliligawan sa higpit ng magkakapatid na 'yon."
Kinuha ko ang wallet at cellphone ko na nasa lamesa at ipinasok ko iyon sa bulsa ng malaking hoodie na suot ko. Nakuha ko lang sa damitan ni Trace. Mas gusto ko kasing sinusuot ang mga damit niya dahil maluluwag ang mga iyon sa akin.
Nag-iinat na tumayo na ako. Kanina pa ako nagugutom pero hinihintay ko pa si Trace na mag-break. "Pupuntahan ko muna ang asawa ko. Wala pa namang ganang kumain ang isang 'yon kapag hindi ako nakikita."
Tumawa lang si Mireia habang si Lucienne naman ay umaktong naduduwal. Imbis na manatili sa kinauupuan ay tumayo rin sila.
"Sasamahan ka na namin," sabi ni Mireia na ikinawit ang braso sa akin.
Lumabas kami ng The Dawson's Nook at tatawid na sana kami sa kabilang bahagi ng daan nang mapansin namin ang mga batang lalaki na nagkukumpulan sa gilid. They're all squatting on the ground while looking at something.
Mukhang hindi lang ako ang curious dahil maging si Mireia ay nakatuon din ang atensyon sa direksyon nila. Tanging si Lucienne nga lang ang naglakad palapit at nakisilip sa pinagkakaguluhan ng tatlong bata.
"Psst. Ano 'yan?" Napapitlag sa gulat ang mga bata at may isa pa na napasigaw sa pagkabigla nang magsalita si Lucienne. Nakangiting kumaway ang babae. "Nagsasabong kayo ng gagamba? Magkano ang taya?"
Lumapit kami sa kanila at tatawa-tawang hinila ni Mireia si Lucienne. "Kinunsinti mo pa."
"Hindi po kami nagsasabong," tanggi ng bata na kulay asul ang suot. "Nakita po kasi namin ang mga 'to no'ng dumaan kami."
The boy moved away so we could see what they were looking at, and to my surprise, I saw a small box full of what seemed like chicks.
"Parang patay na nga po iyong isa tapos ang weird po ng itsura nila," pagbibigay-alam ng isa pang bata na nakasuot ng sando na puti.
"Iuuwi niyo ba 'yan?" tanong ni Lucienne.
"Hindi po pwede eh," sagot ng nakasuot ng berde na t-shirt. "Ipangsasabong lang ng tatay namin 'yan kapag lumaki. Iyong alaga ko ngang si Birdie inilaban po eh. Natalo kaya kinatay po nila."
Nangilid ang luha ko nang makita kong parang maiiyak ang bata. Kawawa naman si Birdie.
Napakamot sa ulo si Lucienne nang makita ang reaksyon ko. "Patingin nga niyan. Paanong weird ang itsura?"
Inabot sa kaniya ng bata ang kahon at inangat iyon ng babae para matignan namin ng maayos ang laman. Napakurap ako at napatitig doon.
Tumingin sa amin si Lucienne pagkaraan. "Ako lang ba o parang hindi mukhang sisiw ng manok 'to?"
"They're ducks." Inilusot ko ang kamay ko at hinawakan ko ang isa na nakapikit. Tatlo sila na nasa kahon. "He's not dead. We should bring them to a vet."
"Iuuwi mo?" tanong ni Mireia.
I bit the inside of my lower lip. "Last month nag-uwi ako ng dalawang usa. Nakalimutan kong sabihin kay Trace kaya nang pumasok siya sa barn, bigla na lang siyang sinipa ng isa."
Patrick and Squidward are young deers that I adopted when I saw someone selling them near the market. Kasama ko si Cristiano no'n at papunta kami dapat sa Mahogany Market. The two have different personalities. Si Patrick mabait at medyo clumsy, pero si Squidward kapag natatakot siya o nabubulabog siya sa pagtulog ay bigla na lang naninipa.
"Hindi naman magagalit sa'yo si Trace. Iyon pa eh patay na patay sa'yo ang isang 'yon," sabi ni Lucienne.
"We kind of agreed to talk about it first before adopting another animal. Kasi kung hindi baka sumabog na ang farmhouse kapag hindi ko napigilan ang sarili ko."
Hindi ko naman kasi pwedeng iuwi lahat ng hayop na makita ko. Not because I want to means I can. Just last week, I nearly bought seven puppies that I saw being sold at the side of the road. They weren't abused or anything. Mukhang nabuntis lang talaga ang aso ng may-ari at masyadong marami ang mga naging anak no'n para alagaan niya.
Kaya nagkasundo kami ni Trace na pag-uusapan muna ang ganoong bagay bago kami magdesisyon dahil kung hindi ay baka maging sa loob ng kuwarto namin ay mayroon ng hayop samantalang paminsan-minsan ay naroon na nga sina Potchi, Bingo, at si Sir Francis Bacon na malaki na ngayon at sa kamalig na natutulog pero paminsan-minsan ay natitripan niyang sumama sa amin sa bahay.
I looked at the box again. They're so small and cute.
"Kami na ang bahala ni Mireia sa mga 'to. Let's just meet here at TDN later," sabi ni Lucienne na napapailing. "Have lunch with Trace first. Baka matulala na sa gutom iyon kapag hindi ka pa nakita."
NAG-ANGAT ako ng tingin mula sa pinapanood nang marinig ko ang pagbukas ng pintuan. Inilagay ko ang hintuturo ko sa tapat ng mga labi ko nang makita kong nakatingin sa akin si Potchi na nakaupo sa tabi ko.
"I'm home, princess!" Nakangiting naglakad papunta sa likod ng sofa na kinauupuan ko si Trace at yumuko siya para halikan ang noo ko. "Nagdala na ako ng dinner. I-text mo na si Cristiano para makakain na rin siya. Nakauwi na ba?"
"Kumain na raw sila pero umalis lang siya ulit dahil may bibilin lang siya."
"Hindi pa rin ba siya sinasagot no'ng nililigawan niya?"
"Sinagot na siya. Sila na last week pa," sabi ko.
"Wow! Dapat palang mag-celebrate tayo."
Hindi ako sumagot at sa halip ay nilingon ko lang si Potchi na nakatitig pa rin sa akin. It's like she's telling me with her mind to come clean already.
"Princess?"
Nilingon ko si Trace. "H-Ha?"
Kumunot ang noo niya at ibinaba niya ang hawak niya na paper bag at lumapit siya sa kinaroroonan ko. Inilapat niya ang likod ng palad niya sa noo ko. "Do you have a fever again?"
"Nope."
"Nahihilo ka?"
Umiling ako. "I'm okay."
Bumuka ang bibig niya na akmang may itatanong pa pero natigilan siya kasabay nang paninigas ng katawan ko.
"What was that?" he asked.
"H-Ha? Wala." Tumikhim ako at nginitian ko siya ng pilit. "Umm... Trace, can we talk?"
Napuno ng pagkabahala ang mga mata niya. Walang salita na kinuha niya si Potchi at yakap ang aso na umupo siya sa tabi ko.
"What's wrong, princess? May problema ba? Did I do something wrong? Was it because we didn't get the cotton candy flavored ice cream when we went out for dessert during lunch?"
Trace and I are about to celebrate our second anniversary this year. Two amazing years. Walang nagbago sa Trace na nakilala ko noon at ang Trace na kasama ko hanggang ngayon. We learn something new from each other from time to time, but we also fall more in love with each day that we spend together.
He spoils me like it's his favorite thing to do. He wants to give me everything that I want, and I know that it breaks his heart when there are things that he can't instantly say yes to, even if it's for our sake, but most especially if it's for mine. It just makes me love him even more.
I learned that marriage is not just about giving because sometimes it's also about compromising. When there are inevitable arguments and decisions that need to be made, who's right or wrong shouldn't be the most important thing. Wala dapat manalo dahil wala namang kompetisyon. Having different views is not supposed to be a competition. In the end, the most important thing is that both of our opinions are heard and that we respect and value each other's differences.
"Of course you didn't do something wrong, hubby. Walang problema. Wala tayong problema. Ang Team Embrace pa ba?" Inabot ko ang pisngi niya at marahang tinapik ko iyon. "And that cotton candy ice cream? That's not your fault. Kasalanan ng ice cream shop iyon."
"Then what happened?"
Here goes nothing. "There's something that I really want."
Nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya. "May gusto kang bilhin? Hindi ba mabili rito sa Pilipinas? Gusto mong tawagan ko si Luna? Maraming kakilala sa ibang bansa iyon."
How can I be this lucky? Any woman who belongs to him will be lucky. I'm just grateful that the universe chose me to be that person. "It's not that... but..."
"Tell me. Gagawan natin ng paraan," seryosong sabi niya.
"I'm not trying to manipulate you or anything. You can say no. I promise that I won't get hurt."
There's no mistaking the worry in his eyes. "Tell me. Please?"
"Naalala mo noong minsan na muntik akong bumili ng pitong puppies? You made a joke that you wouldn't be surprised if I suddenly brought home a crocodile."
Nalusaw ang pag-aalala sa mukha niya at napalitan iyon ng pagkasindak. There's nothing but straight-out panic in his eyes. "Princess... did you... did you bring home a crocodile?"
"No!" Sunod-sunod na umiling ako. "Hindi iyon ang ibig kong sabihin."
He let out a sigh of relief. "That's good. I don't think they're friendly, and they might look at Potchi and decide that they want her for dessert."
Potchi barked as if agreeing.
"So if it's not a crocodile—"
Naputol ang sasabihin ni Trace at alanganing napangiti ako. I know he's hearing the same sound he heard awhile ago. Hinawakan niya ang kumot na nakatalukbong sa akin at dahan-dahan niyang ibinaba iyon.
"Umm..."
"Please tell me those are Albert's babies," he whispered.
"Well... they could be his foster babies?"
His gaze went back to the three ducklings sleeping on top of me. They needed heat, which is why I took them while Cristiano was out. Nasira kasi ang heating lamp na binili ko noon kaya naghahanap siya ng panibago.
"We don't need to keep them. Nakahanap na ako ng maliit na farm na interesadong kunin sila kung sakaling makaka-survive sila. But until then, can we keep them with us for now?"
Hindi siya kaagad sumagot at sa halip ay nakatingin lang siya sa tatlong mga duckling na komportableng komportable sa pagtulog nila.
"I wouldn't take them with me if it wasn't an emergency. A couple of kids found them near TDN. Inilagay sila sa kahon at itinapon." I pointed at one yellow duckling with black streaks on his side. "This one nearly died."
"Do they have names?"
"Louie, Huey, and Dewey. Named after Donald Duck's nephews—" I stopped when I realized that I was getting excited. "Or something else that the other farm owner would like to name them."
Bumuntong-hininga si Trace at dumukwang siya para kintalan ng halik ang noo ko. He doesn't look angry. Now that I think of it, he never gets angry at me. Ang huling beses na kinakitaan ko siya ng ganoong ekspresyon na para sa akin ay nang nasa ospital siya at gusto ko ng itigil kung anuman ang meron kami noon. Though he is more hurt than angry at the time.
"Ember..."
Ember. He's only using my name when there's really something important that we seriously need to talk about.
"Yes?" I whispered.
"I know who I married. I love who I married. I will never get angry at you for being you. Hindi mo kailangan matakot na magsabi sa akin."
"But—"
"We talked about agreeing on things first before bringing home another animal because I don't want to be surprised the way I was with Patrick and Squidward. Not just because they scared the living daylights out of me, but because I want to know what I'm expecting so I know how to act around them. Para rin mapag-usapan natin kung sakaling maisipan mo na naman na mag-uwi ng pitong aso. Lucienne's addicted to online shopping, and you're not far from being an impulsive buyer. Alagang hayop nga lang ang binibili mo." Hinaplos niya ang buhok ko na ikinangiti ko ng bahagya. "I will always be amazed at the way you have a lot of love to give. But if we take in all the animals, even those that don't need saving, we will run out of space for those who really need us."
He's right. That's the problem when foster furparent adopt all the animals they foster. They wouldn't have enough space to foster animals that urgently needed a home since they wouldn't have enough facilities to take care of them anymore because they have too many animals on their hands.
"That's why I talked with Belaya's sister, and she agreed to sell more of the land at the back of the farmhouse near the barn and convert it into a safe haven for animals. We can promote it online para kapag may interesado na mag-adopt." He ran a finger on top of one of the sleeping animals. "But you can keep these three since you named them already."
Malakas na napasinghap ako. If not for the ducklings, I would have hugged the hell out of him.
As if on cue, the door opened, and Cristiano walked in. Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin niya sa amin. Mukhang alam niya ng sinabi ko na kay Trace ang tungkol sa bago naming mga alaga. Walang imik na naglakad siya palapit sa akin at inabot ko naman sa kaniya ang mga duckling. Tinapunan niya kami ng maliit na ngiti na mag-asawa bago siya naglakad muli palabas para magtungo sa kamalig.
I turned to Trace with wide eyes. "Are you sure? Really really sure?"
"I'm sure, princess." His eyes softened, and he placed his hand gently on my stomach. On my eight-month pregnant bump. "So when our little surprise gift comes out, he'll learn how to have the same heart that you do."
We both believe that our baby was conceived when we went to Peru to celebrate our first anniversary.
I didn't know I was pregnant. They said that having an irregular period is not uncommon when you're taking contraceptive pills. I was also busy with training because I planned to compete last July for the Olympics again. It wasn't until I was in my third month of pregnancy that I found out that I was with a child and I wouldn't have known if I hadn't passed out from exhausting myself too much.
"You mean our little Lush Jr.?"
Nalukot ang ilong niya. Iyon kasi ang tawag ni Lucienne sa baby namin. Trace suggested the first name, and I loved it, so I agreed, but I also told him what I wanted for a second name.
Yumuko si Trace at napahagikhik ako nang iangat niya ang suot ko na hoodie kasama ang suot ko sa ilalim na shirt at hinalikan niya ang tiyan ko. "Kairos Lucian Dawson." Muli niyang hinalikan iyon. "Kairos means 'right time' which reminds me how we met at the right time and how we were given a gift at the most special time."
"And Lucian?"
I chose that second name because if Trace's gift is to make everyone around him feel happy, I know that Lucienne did the same for him long before I came into their lives.
"And Lucian na nagpapaalala sa akin sa best friend ko na habang-buhay ko ng magiging sakit ng ulo," sagot niya.
Natatawang idinampi ko ang mga labi ko sa kaniya. Nang hindi pa ako makuntento ay inulit ko iyon hanggang sa hinila niya na ako para mapaupo sa kandungan niya.
"Is it fireworks time?" he murmured.
"Later," I giggled. "Magpalit ka muna ng damit."
"Bakit pa ako magpapalit kung puwede naman na tanggalin?"
Napapailing na pinanggigilan ko ang mga pisngi niya. "Magpalit ka muna ng damit para makakain na tayo. Nagugutom na ako."
He gave me another hot, wet kiss before he stood up. He started walking towards our room when I called him.
"Before you change your clothes, can you please bring me my pillow first?" I asked, talking about the pregnancy pillow that Belaya gave me.
"You got it, princess."
Pinigilan ko ang ngiti ko nang pinanood ko siyang pumasok sa madilim na kuwarto. Tumayo ako at kinagat ko ang ibabang labi ko habang naghihintay.
"AHHHHH!"
I burst out laughing at the same time that Thorn came out of the kitchen. He was chuckling under his breath while we listened to Trace still screaming inside the room.
I kind of feel bad after Trace told me about the land he's planning to buy and for him not being angry and instead being so sweet about our new babies. Kaya lang ay nauna na akong nangako kay Lucienne at kanina pa siya nasa ilalim ng kama habang hinihintay si Trace para takutin.
Pilit na kinontrol ko ang tawa ko nang humahangos na lumabas ang asawa ko ng kuwarto habang bitbit ang malaki kong unan. Kasunod niya si Lucienne na gulo-gulo ang buhok habang suot ang isa sa mga pantulog ko na kulay puti.
Masayang itinaas ni Lucienne ang kamao niya. "Success!"
Hindi makapaniwalang tinignan ako ni Trace. "Princess... you betrayed me? You? Kumampi ka sa kalaban?"
"I have no choice. If I didn't agree, Chihuahua ang ilalagay niya sa cover ng libro na isusulat niya para sa atin."
Lukot ang mukha na nilingon ni Trace si Lucienne. "You blackmailed my wife. How could you?"
"Ang bilis mo naman magpatawad," pang-aasar ni Lucienne sa kaniya.
Nakangusong lumapit sa akin si Trace. Ibinaba niya ang unan sa sofa bago siya yumakap sa beywang ko. "Hindi talaga ako nagtatanim ng sama ng loob pagdating sa prinsesa ko. Pero sa'yo may isang garden na ako." Pinaningkitan niya ng mga mata ang babae. "Ano na naman ba ang naisipan mo? Ang layo pa ng Halloween ah?"
"Wala lang. Naniningil lang ako." Nag-thumbs up ang babae. "Mula ngayon bayad ka na sa pagtawag sa akin na killer writer."
"That was ancient times!"
"Ang memory ko hindi pang-ancient." Umismid si Lucienne bago humalukipkip. "Anong dala mong dinner? Gutom na ako."
"Hindi para sa'yo iyon. Para sa prinsesa ko lang." Tinapik niya ang malapad na dibdib. "Ganoon talaga kapag the best husband."
"Mas the best ang asawa ko. May dala rin kaming pagkain."
"Mas the best ako. Bahay ko 'to," sagot ng lalaki.
"The best pa rin ang Bossing Thorn ko. May bahay din kami."
Naiiling na sinundan ko sila ng tingin habang naglalakad sila papunta sa kusina. Pagkaraan ay hinanap ko ang slippers ko para sumunod sa kanila pero hindi ko makita iyon. Baka nasipa sa ilalim ng sofa. Wearing just my pink socks, I waddled my way to the kitchen. Thorn gave out a low laugh, and he wrapped an arm around my shoulder to guide me there.
Naabutan namin sa kusina sina Trace at Lucienne na hindi pa rin nauubusan ng pagtatalunan.
Bihirang matahimik ang bahay namin. I don't think we will ever have a quiet life. There's always someone over, or Trace and I are the ones who're visiting the others. I didn't mind one bit. I love that the life I have now is always filled with laughter and smiles. Just like it will always be. Dahil ang buhay na kasama si Trace ay buhay na hindi nagtatagal ang lungkot.
I've been through so much that it wouldn't surprise me if I finally gave up and fell to my knees. I received hate from people that don't understand me or care to know me, I accepted criticism before for reasons that shouldn't be of importance to what I do but are still being given for me to shoulder, I carried the guilt and pain from people that should have been the foundation of strength in my life at one point, and I experienced the great weight of betrayal, which felt like a new devastating kind of loss.
And still I'm standing here. Whole.
Trace triggered the changes in my life. He found me at the moment that I needed something to shift. He didn't disrupt the structure that had already been built, instead, he was what set everything off to return to its rightful order.
I now have the family I thought I already lost, Trace opened his life to me and shared with me the family he has, and now we're going to have our own.
He is 'The One'. He is my one. The one that I've been waiting for, for what seems like forever.
There are moments in our lives where we can't help but ask why. Bakit sa atin nangyayari ito? Bakit tayo pa? Ano bang nagawa nating mali para maranasan natin 'to? I have the answers to my questions now.
"I think I have the perfect one."
Napatingin sa akin sila Trace nang magsalita ako. My words are for Lucienne, but my eyes remained locked on my husband.
"I have the perfect title."
I was suddenly overwhelmed with emotions. Nagsimulang mamasa ang mga mata ko. I let the words that seem so easy to say now fall from my lips. The same words that I found no meaning in before because he wasn't in my life then. "I love you, Trace Dawson."
Sa isang iglap ay nasa tabi ko na siya. His brother's arm let me go so that Trace could take me into his arms.
"What's wrong, princess?" he asked softly.
"Nothing's wrong. Everything feels right." Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kaniya. "I have the perfect title."
Not submitting to pressure. Not bowing down.
Unbowed.
Everything that happened, everything that hurt me, everything that tried to make me fall over by the pressure placed upon my shoulder... I went through all that still standing so that it could lead me here. A place that I can call mine.
In a universe where Trace Dawson exists just for me, the way I exist so I could belong to him.
Trace didn't press me for answers. Instead, he leaned down and gently touched his lip to mine, as if he didn't need words to understand what I was feeling.
"I love you, Ember Nile Dawson."
FIN