SASKIA
Nahilam ang mga mata ko sa luha habang nakatitig kay Migs na ngayon ay nakaluhod sa harap ko. Parang gustong lumabas ng puso ko mula sa dibdib ko. Ang sarap sa pakiramdam na tila ba ipinagsisigawan niya sa mundo na mahal niya ako. Ang sarap sa pakiramdam na hindi na ako tinatago at hindi na maling mahalin siya.
"Mommy." Hinatak-hatak ni Tintin ang dulo ng suot kong bestida at napalingon ako sa kanya. "Um-oo ka na. Ang haba na nga ng hair mo!"
"Say yes, Mommy!" Lumundag-lundag si Savi sa sobrang excitement.
Muling bumalik ang tingin ko kay Migs at parang nagmamakaawang lumabi siya sa akin. Bahagya naman akong natawa sa ginawa niya at ikinulong ang mukha sa mga palad ko. Bumaba ang ulo ko sa kanya para bigyan siya ng halik sa labi.
"Yehey!" Narinig kong sigaw ni Tintin at Savi kasunod noon ay ang palakpakan ng mga tao sa paligid namin.
Tumayo si Migs nang hindi hinihiwalay ang mga labi sa akin, ipinulupot niya ang mga bisig niya sa baywang ko at binuhat ako.
"I promise, you won't regret this." Bulong niay habang magkalapit ang mga labi namin. "I love you, Saskia."
"Mahal din kita, Migs." Siniil ko siya muli ng halik sa labi.
Tuloy ang kasiyahan pagkatapos ng speech na iyon ni Migs. Para pa rin akong nakalutang sa alapaap nang hilahin ako ni Migs papunta sa mesa kung saan magkasamang nakaupo ang pamilya namin. Si Tintin at Savi naman ay nagmamadaling bumalik sa mga pinsan nila para makipaglaro.
"Bakit hindi mo pa ginawang marriage propasal, Kuya?" Tanong ng kapatid niyang si Audrey.
"As much as I would like to ask her to marry me and I would love to marry her first in the morning tomorrow, I know we have a long way to go. I want to be able to still court her and win her mind, soul, and heart." Tinitigan ako ni Migs na para bang ako ang pinakamagandang babae sa balat ng lupa.
"Sabi mo yan, ha? Liligawan mo pa rin ako." Biro ko.
"Araw-araw kitang liligawan at pagsisilbihan hanggang sa huling hininga ko." Dinala niya ang kamay ko na nakasalikop sa kanya sa mga labi niya. "I'm going to love you and our kids like it's my only mission in life."
"Speaking of kids, when are we going to have another grandchild?" Nakangiting tanong ni Sir Phoenix.
"Nako, sir, matagal-tagal pa." Namumulang sabi ko.
"Please, don't call me sir. Mula ngayon Dad na ang itatawag mo sa akin. You're a part of this family as much as Tintin."
"And you can call me Mama." Sabi ni Ma'am Cassie.
Nahihiyang tumango ako sa kanila. Kahit sa panaginip hindi ko naisip na matawag na Mama at Dad ang mga magulang ni Migs. Ang sarap sa pakiramdam na alam kong tanggap na tanggap ako ng pamilya ng lalaking mahal ko at ama ng mga anak ko.
"She's graduating next year, Ma, Dad. Iyon muna ang priority namin ngayon. She's work so hard for this and I don't want to take this away from her. I know she'd be a wonderful teacher someday." Nagniningning ang mga mata niya habang nakatingin sa akin.
"Oh, a teacher. What a noble profession." Ani Ma'am Cassie... este, Mama Cassie pala.
"Iyon po kasi talaga ang pangarap ko bata pa lang ako. Akala ko nga po hindi na matutupad, pero heto nga po isang taon na lang ang layo ko mula sa pangarap ko."
"Ano ba ang teaching specialty mo? Kung SPED teacher ang gusto mo, pwede ba namin ipasok si Ronnie sa klase mo?" Sabi ni Coco habang kumakain.
"HEY!" Nalukot ang mukha ni Ronnie.
"Kung hindi si Yvo ang inaasar mo si Ronnie naman." Bumuntong-hininga si Anais.
"I'm just saying." Tumawa si Coco at nagkibit-balikat.
"Huwag ka na din mahiyang tawagin akong Mammy, Migs." Sabi ni Mammy.
"Don't mind if I do, Ma'a- Mammy."
"O, sige na. Pwede mo na din akong tawagin Ninang." May kasama pang irap na sabi ni Ninang.
"Ate, kanina pa tayo picture ng picture. Nagugutom na ako. Hindi pa ako nakakain." Reklamo ni Cosme nang madaanan ko sila ni Yuka. Kausap ni Migs ang mga kaibigan niya ngayon, nasa mesa pa rin sina Mammy at ang mga magulang ni Migs, nagkukuwentuhan at nakikipaghabulan naman ang kambal sa mga pinsan nila. Papasok sana ako para ayusin ang sarili ko sa CR nang maabutan ko ang dalawang ito habang kinukuhaan ng picture ni Cosme ang gagang Yuka.
"Isa na lang, Cosme! Ito naman!" Sumimangot si Yuka. "Last na talaga 'to. Kailangan mong makuha yung perfect shot. Ikaw naman kasi kapag alam mong hindi ko anggulo, huwag kang pindot ng pindot lang."
"Tama na nga yan. Kumain na muna kayo, nagugutom na si Cosme. Hindi ka pa ba nauubusan ng memory d'yan sa phone mo?" Saway ko kay Yuka.
"Nagdelete ako ng pangit na mga shots ni Cosme. Last na talaga 'to." Sabi ng gaga.
"Bahala ka na d'yan. Babalik na ko sa table." Inabot ni Cosme ang iPhone ni Yuka sa kanya.
"Cosme! Si Tate! Nandyan si Tate! Yung sikat na football player. Last na 'to. Piktyuran mo ko kasama siya!" Hinabol ni Yuka si Cosme.
Nangingiting nailing na lang ako habang nanonood sa dalawa. Hahakbang na ako papasok ng bahay nang makasalubong ko si Hazel.
"Hazel..." Mahinang sambit ko ng pangalan niya nang magkaharap kami.
"Saskia." May ngiti sa mga labing sabi niya bago yumakap sa akin. "I'm so happy for you and Migs."
"S-salamat, Hazel." Sabi ko nang bumitaw siya sa pagkakayakap.
"I wish you two the best." Masayang sabi niya.
"Hazel, gusto ko sanang humingi ng tawad sa'yo-"
"No, don't be. We're lucky because we both dodged a bullet there." Tumawa siya.
"Hanggang ngayon kasi binabagabag pa ako ng kunsensya ko, ng mga pag-aalinlangang kung tama ba ang relasyon namin na ito." Nagbaba ako ng tingin at napakagat sa pang-ibabang labi.
Hinawakan niya ako sa magkabilang kamay. "Migs, loves you. I knew the first time I ever saw you together. He's the happiest when he's with you. Ilang taon naging kami pero sa loob ng mga taon na iyon hindi ko siya nakita na tumawa at ngumiti katulad nang ginagawa niya kapag magkasama kami. I'm a very logical person but I believe that you coming into our lives was a divine intervention. It saved us from a long, messy annulment."
"Salamat, Hazel ha? Kung ibang babae ka siguro, matagal mo na akong sinunog. Ang bait-bait mo sa akin pati kay Baby Migs at kay Savi."
"Because it's not your fault, Saskia. As bad as it sounds, we were using each other to feel good about ourselves."
"Maniwala ka man o hindi, minahal ka ni Migs."
"Siguro nga we did loved each other at some point but not in a romantic way. Since college when we were still friends, I've always admired Migs because he was everything I wanted in a man and he'd always put me on a pedestal. The romantic relationship we had was too forced. I felt like I always had to be the poster girlfriend for him and I know he feels the same when he's with me. To keep our love, we have to keep performing, pretending. We were caging each other in an image and he found freedom in you."
May maliit na ngiting umukit sa mga labi ko.
"It's what real love amounts to, letting a person be who he really is. I found freedom I've never had before when we ended our relationship. I found a love that doesn't require me to mold myself into whatever seemed to be what people expected from me. Andrei, my seven-year-old son thinks I'm the perfect mom and it's the best feeling ever."
Nag-loading sandali ang isip ko. Pitong walong gulang na ang anak niya. Ibig sabihin... posibleng...
"Oh, no!" Agad na sabi niya nang siguro ay mabasa ang mukha ko. "It's not Migs'. I'm very sure of that. We haven't been intimate since we got engaged. I don't think Migs would ever be with any woman other than you. I haven't seen him with anyone for years. He's faithful."
Tumango ako at sinubukan kong takpan ang kahihiyan ko. Change topic. "Mas matanda pala ang anak mo kaysa sa kambal."
"Maybe just a couple of months apart." Ngumiti si Hazel at pumihit ang ulo sa isang sulok ng malaking hardin kung saan naglalaro at nagtatakbuhan ang mga bata. Sinundan ko ang tingin niya at nakita ang isang batang lalaki na may itim at alon-alon na buhok na nakikibaghabulan sa iba pang mga bata, kasama doon si Tintin at Savi.
Muli akong yumakap kay Hazel at hindi ko na napigilan ang mapahikbi. "Hazel, maraming-maraming salamat. Saka sorry, sorry talaga sa mga kasalanan namin sa'yo ni Migs. Feeling ko hindi ko deserve ang kapatawaran mo pero salamat."
"Ano ka ba? I know you're a good person. And Migs is a good man, he's helped our business beyond what I could have hoped for. Nakabawi na siya sa akin. Please, don't cry. You don't want to ruin your makeup, do you?"
"What is happening here?" Biglang narinig ko ang boses ni Migs mula sa likod ko at agad kaming humiwalay sa isa't-isa.
"Oh, nothing. Saskia was just telling me how much she regretted her decision to say yes to you." Biro ni Hazel.
"She wouldn't say that." Sabi ni Migs bago ako hinapit sa baywang at hinalikan sa noo. "Sinabi mo ba yun, Sas?"
"Sabi ko secret lang natin iyon." Sinakyan ko ang biro ni Hazel.
"I don't believe you two." Hinalikan niya ang tungki ng ilong ko.
"Okay, love birds. Get a room." Natatawang umiling si Hazel at kunwari'y umirap. "I'm going back to the party. Baka nakakaistorbo na ako sa inyo."
"Totoo ba yun? Pinagsisihan mong um-oo ka sa akin?" Ipinulupot niya ang magkabilang bisig niya sa akin at nag-iwan ng isang halik sa labi.
"Um-oo lang naman ako kasi ayaw kong magmukhang masama sa harap ng maraming tao." Inipit ko ang mga labi ko para pigilan ang ngiti ko.
"Talaga lang, huh?" Idinikit niya ang katawan ko sa kanya. "Maybe I need to remind you why you said yes to me. How 'bout I take you upstairs to my room. What do you say?"
"Tigilan mo ako, Migs. Nakakarami ka na saka may party pa, 'no! Boyfriend pa lang kita ngayon kaya wala munang anuhan." Umirap ako sa kanya.
"What?" Kumunot ang noo niya.
"Wala munang... alam mo na." Nahihiyang sabi ko.
"Okay." Kibit-balikat na sabi niya.
"Okay lang sa'yo?" Gulat na tanong ko.
"I respect your decision to stay celibate. All I want is to be with you and our daughters. Babawi na lang ako kapag kinasal na tayo." May pilyong ngiting naglalaro si labi niya
"Pwede naman siguro kahit mga once a month lang." Nanguya ko ang pang-ibabang labi ko.
MIGS
"Flores, Saskia Joyce." Saskia walked up the stage in her black toga gown. Pride swelled in my chest as I watched her. She looked as beautiful as ever, her face glowing with so much happiness.
Everyone clapped just as they did with every graduates but our clap was the loudest among the crowd. We cheered for her as she took her diploma and bowed in front of the audience. My eyes burned with tears as I tried to keep it at bay. She had struggled to be here, to be able to walk up that stage and get her diploma. All those sleepless nights she spent studying and reviewing while taking care of me and our daughters had finally paid off.
"Mommy ko 'yan!" Tintin shouted as our two girls cheered for Mommy, holding up the drawing they made for her.
This was what she had always wanted. Seeing her achieve her dream and morph into the woman she was now was the most satisfying thing in the world.
We waited for the graduation ceremony to end before we were able to see her. Saskia immediately ran towards the kids and I as soon as she got out. She hugged our little girls before I wrapped my arms around her waist and gave her a kiss.
"I'm so proud of you, babe. You made it." I whispered, still not letting go. "I love you so much."
"Migs, mahal din kita..." She buried her face into my chest and I stroked her hair.
"Magiging teacher na ang inaanak ko." Ninang Jodie said as he hugged Saskia.
"Ikaw pa lang sa angkan natin ang unang nagkaron ng diploma sa kolehiyo." Her mother tearful said as they hug her.
"Ate, sabi naman sa'yo matatapos mo din ang college." Cosme wore a proud smile on his face.
"O, selfie tayo! Dali!" Yuka held her phone up for a selfie shot and we posed right behind her.
After that, we headed back to our home where a surprise was waiting for her. I had invited my family for a graduation party. I ask them to take care of the dinner while we go to her graduation. It was just an intimate dinner with only my family and Saskia's. Everyone was having a wonderful time. Saskia and Mama had grown close over the past year. Mama would always take her out to go shopping or do groceries with her. Dad treated her as her own daughter and my siblings loved her. Her family and my family had already become one.
"We're so happy for you, Saskia." Mama held Saskia's hand.
"Salamat, Ma." She hugged Mama.
"So, should we be expecting another grandchild this year of the next?" Dad asked.
"Dad, we should be expecting a wedding first." Drey smiled.
"Yeah, when are you two going to get married?" Coco asked, his arms around his wife's.
"Dapat lang pakasalanan mo na ang inaanak ko, 'no? May degree na yan!" Ninang Jodie proudly said.
"That's the reason why my parents are here. Gusto ko sanang hingin ang kamay ni Saskia sa inyo, Ninang, Mammy."
"M-migs!" Saskia exclaimed in shock.
"Oh my God!" Ronnie exclaimed when I took out a box and knelt in front of Saskia.
"Saskia, it had been more than a year since the day I asked you to be my girlfriend. In front of our family, I promise to love you for all eternity with every fiber in me, with every pulse of my heart, and with every bit of my being. I will dedicate my life to you and our children. Please, marry me." Instead of asking, I was begging her.
"Hihindi pa ba ako? Eh ang tagal kong hinintay ito." She said, teary-eyed and held her hand out to me. "O, yan na. Lagay mo na."
I chuckled despite the tears and put the ring on her. I wrapped my arms around my soon-to-be wife and kissed her. Napuno ng palakpakan ang bahay.
"YEHEY! We're going to have a baby sibling!" I heard Savi say.
"Magiging Ate na tayo!" Tintin excitedly said.