Love comes in a different way. There are love that starts with friendship, a love that starts with a stranger asking for time, or a love that started with a mistake. Hindi mo masasabi kung kailan dadating ang true love sa buhay natin. Dahil kahit mag-antay ka, hangga't hindi pa nakatakda ay hindi dadating.
And in my case, our love story started with a consequence. A consequence that made us face many trials and heartbreaks. Mga pagsubok na hindi namin inaasahan na dadating ngunit sa huli ay may magandang kinalabasan. Naging mas matapang kami para harapin ang mga bagay. Naging matatag ang pagmamahalan namin sa isa't-isa.
"Mama, kapag malaki na ko, makakahanap din ba ko ng girlfriend?" Tanong ni Zechariah. Nagsusulat ito ng assignment niya tungkol sa family.
"Oo naman, anak." Ngumiti ako dito.
"How 'bout me mommy? Magkakaron din ba ko ng boyfriend?"
"Hindi." Agad na sagot ni Zephyr. Napatingin kaming tatlo sa kanya na nakatayo sa likod namin. He was wearing an apron and holding a spatula, "Emmanuel, you will not be going to have a boyfriend until you're thirty. Understand?"
"Okay, daddy."
"No boys allowed for you little Emma." Pangaasar ni Zech sa kapatid na agad ko naman sinaway. Papaiyakin na naman kasi niya ang kapatid niya.
"Mag-assignment na kayo ulit."
"Mama, can you please not call me Zech? Katunog kasi ng pangalan ni kuya."
"Why not?" I asked him, "Maganda naman ang Zech."
"Ugh, no. I wanted to be called with a unique nickname and not Zech. It sounds like Zach."
"What should we call you then?"
"Hmm...I don't know."
"I will call you loser!" Sabat ni Emma samin.
"Huh? I'm not a loser, dork. You are a loser!"
"I'm not a loser, loser. Ikaw ang loser. Palagi kang natatalo ni kuya Zach sa basketball."
"It's because he's old enough! Shut up dork!"
"Kids, that's enough."
"Not only in basketball but in everything." Emma answered and gave a teasing laugh.
"I don't care if I always lose to kuya. I understand it because he's older than me! Ikaw nga dyan ampon!"
"Hindi ako ampon!"
"Zechariah, Emmanuelle, are you going to stop, or you want to be grounded for the whole month?" I warned them and they automatically stopped teasing each other, "What will you say to each other?"
"I'm sorry." They said in unison. I smiled and nod at them.
"Kids, snack time!" Sigaw ni Zephyr mula sa kusina. Agad naman nagsi-takbuhan ang dalawa papunta don. Niligpit ko muna ang mga notebook nila bago ako tumayo.
Bumukas naman ang front door at nakita kong si Zach ang pumasok doon kaya agad ko tong nilapitan at niyakap. He just stood there while I hugged him.
"Anak, where have you been? You made mommy worried sick!"
"I'm sorry." Anito. Muli ko siyang niyakap bago ko to hinila papuntang dinning room.
"Look who's here?"
"Kuya!"
"Kuya Zach!"
Muling nag-unahan ang dalawa na lumapit sa kuya nila at yumakap. Hindi naman umimik si Zach na pinagtaka ko. He always loves his siblings and I can't understand why he's acting cold right now.
"We missed you kuya. Bakit hindi ka na umuuwi dito?"
"Busy lang ako."
"Daddy made us some waffles. Let's eat!" Hinila siya ni Emma papuntang dining table at naupo sila don. Pinaghanda ko naman si Zach ng pinggan at nilagyan ng waffle ang plato niya.
"Zach—"
"I'm sorry." Sagot nito kay Zephyr na pinataka ko, "Hindi ko sinasadya yung ginawa ko."
"May nangyari ba?" Tanong ko sa kanila. Tinignan lang ako ni Zephyr bago niya binalik ang tingin kay Zach.
"We need to talk later Zacharias." Anito. Hindi ako umimik. I know that Zephyr is mad when he's calling our kids by their full name. Ayun lagi ang warning sa mga bata kaya pag narinig nilang tinawag namin sila sa buong pangalan nila ay alam na nilang galit kami.
After we ate our snack, Zephyr immediately pulled Zach to his office. Inasikaso ko si Zech at Emma tsaka ko sila dinala sa salas para tapusin ang assignments nila. After thirty minutes, Zach was walking down the stairs and his eyes are red from crying. Tahimik din tong humihikbi kaya agad ko siyang nilapitan.
"Anak, are you okay?"
"I'm sorry mom." He said and hugged me. Napatingin ako kay Zephyr nang bumaba siya sa hagdan at nginitian ako.
"What happened? Did your dad scold you?"
"I'm sorry for being an asshole. I just...I don't feel belong to anyone anymore. Papa has a family now. He has two kids and a newborn and you...you already have a family too. I'm all alone, mom."
"That's not true Zach. Anak kita kaya pamilya kita. Wag mong iisipin na hindi ka belong sa kahit anong pamilya." Sagot ko at pinunasan ang mga luha niya, "Zach, mahal na mahal ka namin ng daddy mo pati ng papa mo. You're our first son and we will always love you. You're a big brother now, that's why you should act like one. Ikaw na ang gagabay sa mga nakakabata mong kapatid."
"I still don't feel belong." He said.
"Your brothers and sisters love you, Zach. They always look after you. Palagi kang hinahanap ni Zech at Emma alam mo ba? Don't think that you're an outcast, son. Whatever happens, your dad and I love you. We love you so much. Kung may problema ka, sabihin mo samin. Makikinig kami."
"I'm sorry mom." Aniya at muling yumakap sakin.
"Why is kuya crying?" Tanong ni Emma kaya nilingon namin siya.
"Kuya is just happy." Zach answered and kneeled to face Emma, "Can you give your big bro a big hug?"
"Mm-mm!" Agad niyakap ni Emma si Zach at humalik sa pisngi nito. Nakisali din si Zech sa kanila. Nilapitan naman ako ni Zephyr at niyakap kaya nginitian ko siya.
"I knock some senses to my son that's why he cried." He chuckled, "Did you know that he twisted my arm last time? Ang sakit n'on ha."
"What?"
"Nahawa na siya kay Regan." Napa-iling ito, "But I'm glad that you're now back to yourself, Zach. Don't you ever do that again, okay? Wag mo nang pagaalalahanin ang mommy mo."
"Yes, dad. Sorry din sa ginawa ko."
"It's okay. Just don't do that again or I'll smack you down." He joked and they laughed.
"Halika nga. Group hug!" Saad ko at hinila silang lahat para yakapin.
"I love you." Zephyr whispered and kissed my forehead.
"I love you mama!" Zech shouted.
"No, I love mommy!" Emma said and stuck her tongue out to his brother.
"I love you, mom. Thanks for everything." Zach said and tightened his hug to me.
I smiled with contentment on my face. Hindi man perpekto ang pamilya namin ay at least sama-sama pa din kaming lahat. We never leave anyone behind or make someone feel that they don't belong to our family. Kahit si Zach man yan o si Zechariah o Emma, lahat sila pantay sa mata ko dahil anak ko silang lahat. And I'm thankful to have a husband like Zephyr who understands and loves me with all his heart. A man who never stop walking beside me and our kids.
"Can we make another baby?" Bulong ni Zephyr sakin.
"Baka marinig ka ng mga bata ano ba?"
"What? Di naman nila maiintidihan yan." Ngumisi ito at naramdaman ko ang kamay niya sa pwetan ko at pumipisil.
"Zephyr..."
"You're still sexy as ever, wife. I love you." He said and kissed my cheek.
"I love you too Zephyr. Thank you for everything."
"No, thank you Bela. For giving me these wonderful children, for loving a dumbass like me and for not leaving my side even if shit happens." He chuckled, "But seriously babe, thank you and I love you."
This won't be the ending of our love story but this will be the happiest new chapter of our lives. Another book has yet to be opened but I'm already excited to see what will happen to us next.