Pride and joy is what I have seen reflecting in the eyes of my friends, Jax and Sephy, while they watched their daughter, Euphony, being interviewed in a very popular talk show, MadamKlara's Talk of Fame. She is only eighteen and she has already found her niche. Not only that, she is very successful. Talaga namang nakakaproud.
MadamKlara: You have clarified that this book is based on a real-life story.
Euphony: That is right, madame. The people behind the book are my parents' friends. They are with me tonight honestly.
MadamKlara: Why do you think your book is one of the best-selling pieces?
Euphony: Aside from my unique way of arranging and expressing my thoughts in giving you the picture of the story, this book is not only going to inspire you about love. It is so much more than that. I just really don't want to spoil the others who are not yet reading or those who are currently reading the book. Moreover, there are hundreds of reviews about the book that have been published. Everyone can check it. On top of this all, please somebody out there who's brave enough, please pinch me because this moment is so surreal to be real.
The audience laughed at her humor. Euphony really has that. No wonder she wrote beautifully the story of me and the love of my life.
MadamKlara: I actually have read the book but I am not yet at the end so here's the question. Did she marry her husband again?
Nilingon ko si Zacc na nakangiti ring nakatingin sa'kin. Ibinalik ako sa isa sa mga pinakamahalagang araw ng buhay ko, almost eighteen years ago.
Inside my heart, I grasped the same feeling I once had when I married my husband. Now that I am marrying him for the second time, it's the same emotion that I have inside of me, maybe just more intense. While my four year old Devine was our flower girl, my elder daughter was my little bride. Our little champ chose to stand beside his father while waiting for me.
"To the most beautiful woman in my universe, what else can I promise you except for loving you until the rest of my life?" Zacc muttered when we exchanged vows again.
"Well, what else?" I answered. "You've done so much than I deserve from you, my love and you've showed me so much already. What I can only promise you is the promise I have kept for almost a decade now...that you, Zacchary Harrison, will be the only man I love. Oh, there are actually two of you." I joked while glancing at my little man. Our son blinked at me and gave me a thumb's up. "You have me forever, babe. I am yours. And you will forever be my always."
Zacchary and I, despite our little fights, despite the storms that came to destroy our relationship and our family, remained true to keep our promises... after five years, after a decade, until forever.
Unlike the younger days, I can no longer stay up late at night. So before the thanksgiving party ends, the party for the success of Euphony's book held at the main branch of Coffee Chances, Zacc and I informed Sephy and Jax that we're going home. Coffee Chances now is not just a coffee shop. It emerged into a big one having its own event hall. Coffee Chances became known as palace for the coffee lovers. Literally, the architectural design of the place is of a palace.
"No worries, Chances. I'll look after your three musketeers especially your minime." Bumulong siya sa'kin upang 'wag marinig ni Zacc ang sasabihin niya. "Pinapaligiran ng lalaki si Chance. Napakagandang bata. Nasa tamang-edad na 'yan e ba't ayaw niyo pang payagang mag-asawa? She's 28."
"You just don't know, Sephy. His father may look so possessive but he's encouraging her to start dating. Nobody ages backwards, you know. Ewan ko sa anak ko, hindi pa daw talaga tumitibok ang puso at saka napakasungit pagdating sa lalaki."
"Talaga? E 'yang si Harmony. Nag-aalala kami ng daddy niya. Nahuli namin kagabing umiiyak at nagdadahilan pang dahil binabasa niya ang aklat na sinulat ni Euphie. Naku, nang titigan ko ang hawak niyang aklat, baliktad naman."
Nawala ang antok ko sa kinuwento niya. Kakauwi lang ni Harmony mula sa Netherlands. She stayed there for almost eight years. Right after graduation, she left the country. Umuuwi lang siya kapag may special occasions tulad ngayon.
"Sa tingin ko talaga Chances, hindi pangarap ang dahilan ni Harm nang umalis siya ng bansa."
"What do you mean?"
"Everyone knows she's in love with Zac." Wika niyang nagpalungkot sa'kin. I see that too. "Pero ikakasal na ang anak mo."
"He loves his fiancee, Sephy. I'm... I'm really sorry."
"Ano ka ba? Madidiktahan ba natin ang mga puso ng mga anak natin? Sarili nga natin hindi natin mautusan kung sino dapat ang mahalin."
Nagpaalam kami ni Zacc ulit sa kanila at kay Euphie. Matapos bilinan ni Zacchary si Chance na bantayan ang mga kapatid niya, nauna na kaming umuwi. Nasa kotse na kaming pareho ni Zacc nang maalala kong naiwan ang purse sa table kaya bumalik ako. I just got what I needed and immediately returned. However, on the way back, I accidentally saw my son talking to a drunk and crying Harmony. This sweet angel used to be so gleeful like my Chance. Harmony and Chance grew up together and were bestfriends.
"You don't get to tell me what I should do and shouldn't. You never chose me, Zac. It was never me that you see, it was always just another girl. Almost every girl except me."
"Harmony, lasing ka na. Alangan namang pabayaan kita dito! You are my sister's bestfriend and before you hated me, I was your friend. Hindi mo maaalis sa'king mag-alala."
"I never hated you, Zachary. I only hated myself for seeing no one else other than you." Harmony replied, causing my heart to twinge in pain.
"Come on. Don't be stubborn now. I will drive you home!" My son declared. He always sounds authoritative. I always see him as the man who makes women follow what he wants. Maybe, Harmony wasn't one of those women because she is always the opposite.
"Don't touch me. I can go home on my own. My parents are still inside so back off, you don't have to show your sham concern for me!"
"You are still so immature. Damn, Harmony. Grow up."
Nakailang hakbang na ang anak ko nang itapon ni Harmony ang hawak na bote ng gin.
"Why can't it be just me, Zac? Why can't you just choose me?"
"Harm, I'm sorry. You're right. It's just can't be you. You can only be my friend."
"Harm!" Tawag ni Chance na lumapit agad sa kaibigan niya. "Oh my gosh. Zac, leave! I told you to stay away from her!" Galit na singhal niya sa kapatid niya.
"Now it is my fault again. You both grow up." Zac muttered before leaving.
"Shh. Harmony, it's okay. I'm here. Don't mind my jerk brother."
"I thought I'd be fine, Chan but I was wrong. I still love him."
I don't want to hear more of their heartbreaks so I left. In the first place, it is not good to eavesdrop. Chance will always tell me when she gets home anyway. At least tell me the summary, she doesn't go to details especially those that need to be kept between her and her bestfriend.
"Okay ka lang, mahal?" Nakakunot ang noo ni Zacc na tinanong ako pagbalik sa kotse.
"Your son. He's there again, breaking Harmony's heart."
"I am sure it's not his intention."
Tumahimik na lamang ako.
"Love, do you think it's wrong that we left Devi at the party?"
"Zacchary, your daughter is already twenty-four. And her boyfriend's abroad so you shouldn't be worrying too much. Kaya ganyan 'yang si Chance. Masyado mong binakuran noon. Siniraan mo ba lahat ng lalaki sa kanya kaya galit 'yon sa lahat ng lalaki sa mundo?" Sita ko sa kanya. Ngumisi si Zacc saka umiling.
"Ayaw mo ba no'n, Chan? Mas matagal pa nating makasama sa bahay ang anak natin. Tama na si Zac. Wag na muna siya. Mami-miss ko sila kapag nag-asawa sila ng sabay."
"Para ka talagang timang. Normal 'yon!"
"Oo na. Eh ano namang magagawa natin kung ayaw magboyfriend ng anak mo?"
"Wala." Sagot kong nagpangisi sa kanya.
"Mabuti alam mo."
Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero bigla akong naging sentimental nang makauwi sa bahay. Nakikita ko nalang ang sarili ko ilang minuto ang nakalipas na nakahawak sa larawan namin ni Zacc na kasama si Chance, Zac at Devi no'ng nine at three pa sila. Ang bilis nilang lumaki. Parang kahapon lang, karga-karga ko pa sila ng puro saya lang ang meron sa puso nila, ngayon, kung hindi sila ang naiinlove, sila ang nasasaktan.
"Babe? Why are you still awake?" Zacc confronted me when he found out I was out of the bed.
"I am happy and sad at the same time, Zacc. Our children are no longer babies."
"Love, they always will." He retorted at my statement. "Isa 'yon sa mga maraming bagay na hindi mababago ng panahon tungkol sa'tin."
"Hmm. Marami? What else are the things that time cannot change about us, Zacchary?"
"Me being the perfect and handsome husband, you being the luckiest wife." Nakangising saad niya.
"Yeah right. Make it on top of the list of the things that time cannot change about you. Yang kahambugan mo." Sambit ko't umiling pa.
"I'm kidding babe. Yong seryoso, hindi mababago ng panahon kung gaano kita kamahal."
"Hmm." Yumakap ako kay Zacc saka pumikit. "I love you, hambog."
"I love you more, kumander."
"Seryoso Zacc, I love you more than I love you before."
"Ditto, love."
I smiled feeling proud of ourselves, feeling grateful of the kind of love we have shared.
I want to be on top of the hill right now and shout to the world that,
We made it!
Zacchary and I are forever each other's always, as promised.
~Fin.
©MadamKlara