There are things that love could do. It can hurt you and make you happy at the same time. Different feelings that you can feel when you're in love. Pero sa naranasan kong pag-ibig ay puro sakit at hirap ang naramdaman ko. Akala ko hanggang dun lang ang pag-ibig na para sa'kin. I already give up but I guess it was not still my ending.
"Mom and dad, Bela and I are getting married." Anunsyo ni Zephyr sa magulang niya. Ang dalawa ay hindi agad nakasagot at nanlalaki ang matang nakatingin sa'kin.
"Yown!" Sigaw ni Jupiter na siyang unang nag-react, "I want the hairy one!"
"O-Oh my god!" Tili ni tita Fatima kaya napa-ngiti kami ni Zephyr, "Babe! Ang anak ko ikakasal na! Saturn! Saturn!"
"Nasa tabi mo lang ako. Kalma." Sagot ni tito Saturn habang may ngiti sa labi niya, "At last! Pagtapos ng madaming taon ni''yung magda-drama, ika-kasal na din kayo."
"Everything has it's right timing after all." Zephyr said and wrapped his arm around my waist.
"Indeed. Ahh, memories are flashing in my mind. Naalala kong ganyan din ang sitwas'yun namin ni Fatima noon. I'm just so glad that Fatima forgave me dahil kung hindi ay baka nasa asylum na ko ngayon." Pagke-kwento ni tito Saturn. Nag-tinginan naman kami ni Zephyr.
"We also want to tell you something." Ani Zephyr. Napatingin naman sila sa'min.
"Shit! May laman na!" Singit ni Jupiter sabay labas ng cellphone niya, "Oh damn, I'm gonna tell this to Sandro."
"It's not that." Zephyr said before he hold my hand. I took a deep breath and meet his parent's eyes, "Zach...is not my son."
Katahimikan ang bumalot sa salas. Gulat ang bumalatay sa mukha ng tatlong kaharap namin namin. Nakagat ko ang labi ko bago ako humugot ng malalim na hininga para mag-salita.
"I-I'm sorry. Hindi ko po alam na hindi si Zephyr ang ama ni Zach. I-I thought he is with me that night but I was so drunk. I'm sorry if I put your son in a situation that he don't deserve." Napayuko ako.
"I didn't tell you these because I know how much you loved Zach since the day he came to my life. At isa pa, gusto ko din munang makausap si Bela noon para magkalinawan kami ngunit iba ang nangyari." Sagot ni Zephyr. Nanatiling tahimik ang magulang niya kaya napalunok ako. Hindi ko alam kung galit sila pero natatakot ako. But I know I deserve their hate.
"Zephyr..." Bulong ni tita Fatima.
"But mom, I love Bela. I don't care what she did in the past because it doesn't matter anymore as long as she's with me. It hurts me to let my son go but I can't be selfish to Laurent—"
"Laurent?!" Sigaw na naman ni Jupiter, "Man, that was unexpected! I really need to to this to Sandro."
"Like what I said, ayokong nakawin ang karapatan ni Laurent sa anak niya. Zach is still my son too but...I guess that's it, right?" Napayuko si Zephyr kaya naman hinawakan ko ang kamay niya at mahigpit na hinawakan.
"Zephyr, are you willing to accept all of this?" Tito Saturn asked. Tumango si Zephyr bago ako tinignan.
"I already accepted this from the very start, dad. And I already told myself when I got Bela back that problem won't separate us again. I'll be stronger to face anything as long as Bela is with me."
"That's all I need to hear." Sagot ni tito kaya napatingin kami sa kanila. They are smiling at us making me teary eyed.
"Welcome to our family Bela. I mean, you're always welcome here but welcome to the Momtenegros." Tito Saturn added.
"Maraming salamat po."
"My, bakit naulit ang nangyari sa nakaraan?" Naiiyak na saad ni tita Fatima. Hindi ko naman na-gets ang sinabi niya.
"And Zephyr really did what Xyrus did twenty five years ago." Sagot ni tito at tumawa.
"Yeah. Because that was the right thing to do." Sagot ni Zephyr. Kunot-noo ko naman siyang tinignan dahil hindi ako maka-relate.
"Oh, hindi mo pa alam Bela?"
"Ang alin po?"
"This same thing happened between our family too." Tita answered with a smile, "Hindi si Saturn ang ama na kinilala ni Zephyr noon kundi ang uncle Xyrus niya. Zephyr is five years old that time, going six just like Zach. And I remember that I left Saturn for almost six years too. Ngayon naman ay itong anak ko ang nangiwan ng matagal. Namana ata niya ang ka-dramahan namin ng daddy niya."
"History repeat itself?" Gulat kong sagot. Di ko alam na may gano'n palang kwento ang buhay ni Zephyr.
"Yes! Hindi ko inasahan to." Humalakhak si tita.
"Basta pag nagkaron ako ng love life di ako tutulad kay Kuya." Singit naman ni Jupiter.
"Hindi talaga dahil makukurot kita sa singit." Ani tita Fatima na kinatawa namin.
"Dad, si mommy oh!"
"Sumunod ka na lang sa mommy mo, anak."
"Kailan pala ang kasal?" Tanong ni Jupiter, "Best man ako kuya!"
"Ayoko nga." Pangiinis naman ni Zephyr.
"Bakit?! Kapatid mo ko dapat ako ang best man!"
"Si Laurent ang best man ko."
"Wag na 'yun! Ako na lang!"
"Shut up Jupiter."
Napa-ngiti ako habang pinapanood na magtalo si Zephyr at Jupiter. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko sasabihin kay Zach na si Laurent ang tunay niyang ama. Masyado pa siyang bata para maintindihan ang mga bagay pero ayaw ko namang lumaki siyang si Zephyr ang alam niyang daddy niya. It won't just be unfair to Laurent, Zach would think we are lying to him, too.
I sighed and stared at Zephyr as he talk to his brother. I'm lucky to have this man in front of me. Sa dami ng lalaki sa mundo siya ang binigay ng Diyos sa'kin. Hindi ko inakala na hahantong kami sa kasalan dahil ang inaasahan ko lang ay ang connection namin dahil kay Zach. But love is indeed unexpected.
Lumingon siya sa'kin at parang tumigil ang mundo nang ngitian niya ko. My lips automatically smiled back at him. I love this man...so much.
—•—
"Zephyr, kailan natin sasabihin kay Zach ang totoo?" Tanong ko. Kasalukuyan kaming pauwi sa bahay ni Zephyr.
"I still don't know Bela." Aniya at hinawakan ang kamay ko, "I don't know if he will understand this. He's too young."
"I'm sorry."
"Shh. Enough with the sorry okay?" Sinulyapan niya ko bago niya i-garahe ang sasakyan.
Pagpasok namin ng bahay ay agad sumalubong si Zach sa'min. Yumakap to sa'kin bago nagpakarga may Zephyr. Pilit akong ngumiti habang pinagmamasdan silang dalawa. Ang hirap sirain ng illus'yun na to. Bakit ngayon pa nangyari ang mga to? I can't ruin our so-called happiness. I can't ruin my son's happiness.
"Mommy are you okay?" Tanong ni Zach sa'kin. Tinanguan ko to, "You know mommy ninowng Laurent is asking me if I want him to be my dad. What does it mean?"
Nagkatinginan kami ni Zephyr.
"Don't you want Laurent to be your dad?" Zephyr asked. Naupo kami sa sofa at kinandong niya si Zach.
"Well, ninowng loves me and he plays a lot with me but you're still my number one dad!" Ngumiti ito bago niya niyakap si Zephyr. I sighed as I keep myself from crying. Pano namin sasabihin sa kanya ang totoo? Zach would be hurt.
"W-What if daddy is away? Will you treat Laurent as your dad?" Tanong ni Zephyr. Tinignan ko to at napansin kong naluluha na din siya.
"Are you going to leave me?"
"Of course not." Niyakap nito ang bata. Hindi naman ako maka-imik dahil wala akong masabi. I can't even think about the words to tell my son. I can't tell the truth knowing that he won't understand this at all.
'At first he won't understand it but eventually he will. There's a process Bela. A slow process that you both need to do. The one who will slowly walk away and the one who will stay. Mahirap sa una pero kung dahan-dahan mong ipapa-intindi sa bata ay matatanggap niya to.'
Tila nag-echo sa isip ko ang boses ni tita Fatima. Ayan ang sinabi niya sa'min ni Zephyr para maintindihan ni Zach ang mga bagay. Siguro nga kung dahan-dahan namin tong sasabihin sa kanya ay maiintindihan niya.
"You know son, when I was in your age I have two dads." Kwento ni Zephyr.
"Really?!"
"Yes. I have your grandpa Saturn and your grandpa Xyrus. They love me a lot and they always play with me too."
"But how come you have two dads? I only have one. Can I have two dads too?" Tanong nito kaya nagtinginan kami ni Zephyr.
"O-Of course you can. You want to have two dads?"
"Yes, daddy. Where is my other dad, mom?" Bumaling ito ng tingin sa'kin, "Do I have a grandpa Xyrus too?"
"You have your ninong Laurent, anak." Sagot ko dito.
"Then, can I call him dad too?"
Katahimikan ang bumalot sa'min. Pumatak ang luha sa mata ko na agad ko din pinunasan. Hindi din maka-imik si Zephyr. I know this is hard for him because he raised Zach as his own. I didn't know this would happen too. Akala ko ay magiging masayang pamilya na kami ngunit dumating ang problemang to. But that's okay right? Because problems will make the family stronger.
"Can I call ninowng my dad?" Ulit ni Zach kaya tumango ako at hinawakan ang mapupulang pisngi niya.
"Yes Zach. He's your dad." I answered him.
"Cool! I'm going to tell Sevin that I have two dads!"
Kinagabihan ay tinawagan namin si Laurent para pumunta dito. Kailangan namin i-explain ang proceso na gagawin namin para makilala siya ni Zach. Hindi naman kasi puwede na kami lang ni Zephyr ang gumawa ng paraan. He needs to be with Zach too.
"Hey, good evening." Bati ni Laurent nang makapasok ito sa bahay.
"Dad!" Sigaw ni Zach kaya gulat na napatingin sa'min si Laurent. Tipid lang akong ngumiti dito.
"A-Alam na niya?"
"Hindi pa din. Pero unti-unti namin tong pinapaalam." Sagot ko sa kanya. Kinarga naman niya si Zach.
"Daddy told me that he has two dads when he was in my age and I asked him if I can have too! He said you'll be my dad ninowng! I will call you dad too."
"That's good to hear, son." Sagot ni Laurent dito. Naupo naman kami sa sofa.
"Kailangan kasama ka palagi ni Zach, Laurent." Saad ni Zephyr, "He needs to feel your fatherhood to him. Alam kong madali na lang para sa'yo 'yun lalo na't palagi mong kasama si Zach noon."
"Yes I know but how 'bout you?"
"I will tell him that I'm busy as I slowly push him to you. Tsaka natin sasabihin sa kanya na ikaw ang ama niya."
"But won't it make him hate you? I mean, bigla bigla kang lalayo sa kanya at itutulak sa'kin tsaka natin sasabihin na ako ang ama niya?"
"Hindi naman biglaan. I will do it slowly, man. Nahihirapan din ako pero sa tingin ko 'yun na ang pinaka-mabuting gawin. Matalino naman si Zach alam kong maiintindihan niya to."
"I will always be here for him too. Tutulungan ko siyang kilalanin ka Laurent." Saad ko.
"I-I...okay." Tipid itong ngumiti, "Thank you. Akala ko mahihirapan akong makipag-ayos sa in''yung dalawa. I never expected this to happen but I guess destiny really loves playing with people's feelings."
"I'm sorry for not realizing everything." Sagot ko sa kanya.
"No, no, it's my fault too Isabela."
"Anyway, tapos na natin pagusapan yan kaya wag na natin balikan ang nakaraan." Singit ni Zephyr bago ako hapitin palapit sa kanya.
"When is the wedding by the way?" He asked.
"Maybe a year from now. Gusto ko munang ayusin ang mga bagay tungkol kay Zach at isa pa gusto ko din muna bumawi kay Bela."
"Best man ba ko?" Naka-ngiting tanong ni Laurent. Zephyr chuckled as he nod.
"Of course. You're my best friend remember?"
"I'll just get us some drinks." Paalam ko kay Zephyr. Tumango ito kaya tumayo ako at pumunta papuntang kusina.
Binuksan ko ang ref para kumuha ng cold water nang makaamoy ako ng mabahong bagay. Agad akong nakaramdam ng hilo at tila umikot ang paligid ko. I run towards the sink and start vomiting.
"What the hell..." I whispered as I feel my head spinning. Nag-dilim ang paningin ko hanggang sa mawalan ako ng malay.
I woke up in a bed with curtains around me. Nasan ako? Una kong nakita ay ang mukha ni Zephyr na naka-tingin sa'kin at sa tabi nito ay si Jupiter na nakatutok ang mata sa hawak na cellphone.
"Baby, are you feeling better?" Tanong ni Zephyr at inalalayan ako umupo.
"Mm-mm. Medyo masakit lang ang ulo ko." Ngumiti ako, "What happened? Nasa hospital ba ko?"
"Yeah. Nakita kitang walang malay sa kusina kanina kaya dinala kita dito."
"Si Zach?"
"Naiwan sila ni Laurent sa bahay." Aniya kaya tumango ako, "Anong nangyari sa'yo? Bakit nawalan ka ng malay?"
"I don't know. May naamoy kasi akong mabaho sa loob ng ref tapos bigla akong nahilo. Nasuka ako at a'yun, nag-collapse ako."
"Baka may nakain kang iba?" Tanong nito ngunit tinignan ko lang siya at ngumiti. I giggled and pulled him to sit in my bed.
"What gender do you want, babe?" I asked him.
"Huh? Gender of what?" Kumunot ang noo nito. Narinig ko ang pagtawa ni Jupiter habang nakatingin sa'min. Mukhang na-gets niya ang sinabi ko.
Bago pa man ako maka-sagot ay lumapit ang doctor sa'min at may hawak na papel.
"Kamusta ang pakiramdam mo, hija?"
"Maayos na po ako." Ngumiti ako.
"No headaches? Di ka naman nasusuka? O nahihilo? Walang masakit sa'yo?" She asked and I shook my head, "That's good to hear. I recommend you to visit you Ob-gyne to check you up properly. Iwasan natin ang stress lalo na't nasa first trimester ka ng pagbubuntis."
"Opo, doc." Ngumiti ako at sinulyapan si Zephyr na nakikinig lang.
"You can discharge now at binigyan kita ng reseta para sa—"
"W-What is that again?" Singit ni Zephyr.
"Ang alin, mister?"
"''yung sinabi mong first ano? What? What is that?" Aniya at mahina akong natawa.
"Ah, nasa first trimester pa lang si misis sa pagbubuntis kaya naman—"
"She's w-what?" Gulat nitong sagot kaya tuluyan na kong natawa.
"Mukhang hindi pa alam ni mister." Nakitawa na din si doc sa'kin, "I'll leave you both now."
"You sound like an idiot, bro." Tumatawang saad ni Jupiter bago kami iniwan.
"Come here Zephyr." I pulled him.
"Baby, y-you're...?"
"Yes, I'm one month pregnant." I giggled, "Noong isang araw ko lang nalaman at hindi ko agad sinabi sa'yo. Hindi ko naman inakala na mahihimatay ako ng gano'n."
"Y-You're pregnant?" Ulit niya.
"Oo nga, sabi."
"I'm going to be a father?" His eyes widened, "H-Holy shit—"
"Zephyr!" I screamed when Zephyr suddenly fell unconscious. My lips form a smile as I look at him unconscious in the floor. Hanggang sa matawa na lang ako. This is the best reaction he had for me.