5 Years Later
Andito kami sa isang ice cream parlor ngayon. It's my 6th birthday and we're celebrating it with Elmo and his family. Nakasuot ako ng blue tshirt and black shorts tsaka nakasuot ng Vans na pambata. Elmo was wearing the same outfit though his shirt was color orange.
"Mom! I want Julie's ice cream too!" sambit ng batang Elmo habang kinakalabit pa ang mommy niya.
"Anak, you told me na yung Chocolate Overload ang gusto mo. Kaya yun ang inorder ko for you." sabi naman ni Tita Priscilla.
"Julie, share kayo ni Elmo ha?" sabi naman sa akin ni mama. Tumango ako saka tumingin kay Elmo na nakatitig sa ice cream dish ko.
"What flavor is that?" tanong niya.
"Birthday Ice Cream." sagot ko naman. "Gusto mo?" tanong ko.
He smiled his toothless smile and nodded. Ngumiti din naman ako saka inusog ang ice cream dish sa gitna naming dalawa and started sharing.
"Aww. Look at you two!" bulalas ni mama. "Oh dali, picture muna kayo." sabi ni mama sa amin saka kinalabit si Kuya Fort na siyang may hawak ng camera.
"Julie, Elmo smile muna. 1...2...3!" pinicturan kami ni Kuya Fort at pagkatapos nun ay ginulo niya ang buhok naming dalawa ni Elmo. "Happy Birthday, baby!" bati niya sa akin and even kissed my cheek.
"Thank you, kuya!" sabi ko.
"Nakakatuwa no? They always share what one of them has." ani papa kay Tito Edward.
"Oo nga eh. Alam mo, magiging sobrang close yang dalawang yan. Parang kami ni kuya nun. We share everything kaya sobrang close kami." sang-ayon naman ni Tito Edward.
Tumango sina mama at Tita Priscilla sa kanila. Kami naman ni Elmo ay patuloy lang sa pagkain ng ice cream ko. Maya-maya ay dumating na rin ang ice cream niya at nang ilagay yun sa harap namin ay tumingin siya sa akin.
"Share tayo ha?" sabi niya sa akin. I smiled and nodded and we ate his ice cream too.
Pagkatapos naming kumain sa ice cream parlor ay nagtungo kami sa isang amusement park. Nakahawak ako kay kuya nun at si Elmo naman ay kay Tito Edward.
"Julie!" tawag niya sa akin. Lumingon kami ni kuya at nakita ko siya pumiglas kay tito saka siya tumakbo palapit sa amin and held my hand. "Sakay tayo sa airplane!" aniya.
Tinuro niya ang isang ride na puro eroplano ang sasakyan. Tinignan ko naman si mama sa likod at tumango sila ni papa kaya tumakbo na kami ni Elmo papunta dun.
"Hey wait up!" narinig kong sigaw ni kuya. Tumatawa lang naman kami ni Elmo as we run hand in hand towards the ride.
"When I grow up, I will be a pilot. Tapos lilipad tayo hanggang outerspace!" sabi niya sa akin nang makasakay na kami.
"Ako din!" sabi ko naman.
"Kung saan ka, dun din ako." he said and held my hand again.
*****
"Bru!!!"
Lumingon ako sa tumawag sa akin and saw Elmo running towards us.
It was our Junior year in highschool. Uwian na namin from school nun and pupunta kami nina Maqui at Peachy sa mall to buy materials for our project.
"Oh?"
"Gusto mo sumama? We're gonna play basketball." aniya nang makalapit sa akin.
"I can't, bru. May project kami sa Arts eh." sagot ko.
"Really? Edi sama na lang ako sa inyo."
"Tara na, bee!" untag ni Maqui na naghihintay na sa may kotse namin.
"Uhm... Sige tara na." sabi ko kay Elmo saka na kami naglakad papunta sa kotse.
"Oh. Magaloner! Why are you here?" tanong ni Maqui nang makasakay kami sa kotse.
"I'm coming with you Frenchfries." sagot naman niya.
"Grabe! Clingy much?!" sabat naman ni Peachy.
"Hahaha. Tindi mo ha? Your school is like a few blocks away from ours tapos ang bilis mong naradar na aalis na si Julie sa school?" ani Maqui.
Nagkamot lang naman ng ulo si Elmo saka tumawa.
"Bestfriend radar eh." sagot niya.
"Bestfriend nga lang ba?"
*****
"Mommy wake up!" rinig kong sabi ng panganay ko.
"Wakey wakey mommy!" sambit naman ng bunso ko. I can feel them tapping on my arms and legs kaya nagmulat na ako ng mata.
"Good morning, mommy!" sabay-sabay na bati nilang tatlo nina Elmo habang pinapatong ni Elmo ang tray ng pagkain sa kama.
"Good morning." bati ko sa kanila.
"Mommy look! Daddy made breakfast!" Elijah said habang nakayakap siya sa akin.
"Wow!" Daddy made this?" tanong ko. Tumango sila ni Jaeda and Elmo sat beside me.
"Happy Anniversary, dear." he greeted. I smiled at him and gave him a chaste kiss on the lips.
"Happy 5th Anniversary, dear." sabi ko.
"Mommy! Eat!" tili ni Jaeda as she tries to get my attention.
"Okay, sweetie. Let's eat." sabi ko sa kanya.
Habang kumakain kami ay biglang bumaba si Elijah sa kama and ran towards one of our drawers. May kinuha siyang bote and went back to our bed.
"Mommy! Let's read this!" sabi niya and gave me the bottle with '5' written on it.
"Okay, okay." sabi ko.
"Wait. Let's remove this first." ani Elmo saka na inalis ang tray saka na siya bumalik sa tabi ko sa kama. "Alright! Let's start reading!" masiglang sabi niya. Tumawa naman sina Elijah and Jaeda at nagpakalong pa sa kanya si Jaeda.
Binuksan ko na ang bote and took out 3 paper rolls.
"Who's gonna read first?" tanong ko.
"Daddy!!!" sigaw ni Jaeda. Tumawa ako and handed one paper to Elmo.
"Alright. My princess requested for me." ani Elmo as he unrolls the paper and clears his throat.
"Oh look, dear. The letter's from Kuya Fort and Ate Steffie!" aniya.
"Really?" sabi ko sabay dungaw sa papel. Inakbayan naman ako ni Elmo at niyakap ko naman si Elijah. "Alright, daddy. Read it." sabi ko and gave him a peck on the cheek.
"Dear Julie & Elmo,
Marriage is about becoming a team. You're going to spend your whole life learning about each other, and every now and then, things blow up. But the beauty of marriage is that if you picked the right person and you both love each other, you'll always figure out a way to get through it. - Nicholas Sparks.
Ever since you were kids, you are always great together. We've always seen you guys do things together, share things with each other and say things in unison as if you rehearsed it. And we know that as you grow up together, you will get to experience things that will test your teamwork as husband and wife. Julie, Elmo, we are very happy that you have reached this 5th year of marriage and as you read this letter made from 5 years ago during your wedding, we'd like to tell you that we love you so much and we are always here for you. Just remember that marriage won't work out the way you want it if you won't treat each other as friends too. Yes. Friendship will always last forever. When you grow old and there is no romance left between you two, the only thing that will make your marriage last forever is friendship. We know how much you love each other and we are very happy to see you look at each other with love. Happy Anniversary! We love you!
Fort & Steffie."
"Mommy why are you crying?" tanong ni Elijah as he wipes the tears from my eyes.
"Nothing. I was just touched by your tito and tita's message." sagot ko and kissed his temple.
"They've always been very proud of us." sabi ni Elmo.
"Yeah. Simula bata tayo ganyan na sila eh." sabi ko. "I love you, dear."
"I love you most, dear." and he gave me a chaste kiss on the lips.
"Mommy! Go to gwandma!" tili ni Jaeda. Natawa kami ni Elmo at saka ako tumango.
"You wanna go visit grandma and grandpa?" tanong ni Elmo.
"Yes!" sabay na sabi nina Elijah at Jaeda.
"Okay. But you have to take a bath first. Kuya Elijah smells like a monkey again!" biro ni Elmo.
"No I don't!" sabi naman ni Elijah and he laughs.
"Come on. Go to yaya and tell her that you'll take a bath. Okay?" sabi ko.
"Okay!" ani Elijah. "Let's go, Jaeda." hinawakan niya sa kamay si Jaeda and they both went out of our room.
"Haaaaay. Alone at last." ani Elmo at niyakap niya pa ko saka kami nahiga ulit. "I have something for you." aniya.
"What?" pagtataka ko.
Tumayo siya mula sa kama and went to our closet at nang makalabas dun ay muli siyang umupo sa kama. Hinila niya ko paupo and stared at me for a long time.
"I uhm... I bought this last week. Nung bago ako umuwi from work." halata sa kanyang nahihiya siya. Natatawa naman ako dahil para siyang teenager na umaakyat ng ligaw.
"Even the flowers?" biro ko.
"Huh?" tinignan niya ang bouquet na hawak niya sa isang kamay saka natawa. "No! I bought this this morning. Hahahaha."
"Akala ko last week din eh. Hahaha."
He cleared his throat again and then opened the pouch at saka niya kinuha ang nasa loob nun. It's a gold necklace with a sapphire gem pendant. Napanganga ako as I looked at the beauty of this necklace. Yes, he showers me with gifts everyday pero up until now ay palagi pa rin akong nassurprise sa mga binibigay niya.
"Ang sabi sa akin nung nasa jewelry shop, sapphire daw is the perfect gift for a 5th year wedding anniversary. It has been used since the Biblical times and ang sabi pa, sapphire is the stone where the Ten Commandments are written... Uhm..." natawa siya sa sarili saka tumingin sa mga mata ko. "The guy from the shop also told me na this symbolizes strong marriage daw. And I am giving this to you because I want you to know that we will be like the sapphire. We are going to stay strong in this marriage no matter what happens. I love you and I will always be your strength. Happy Anniversary, dear." he smiled his shy smile and I gave him a hug.
"You will always be my strength, dear. I love you more." I said. Sinuot niya sa akin ang necklace and we kissed. God I love this man so much.
*****
"Elijah! Don't run too much. Baka hikain ka nanaman." sabi ko kay Elijah. Andito na kami sa bahay nila mama ngayon sa QC. Andito nga din sina Kuya Fort at Ate Steffie kasama ang dalawang anak nilang sina Frankie Summer at Hunter Sanford.
"Hunter, wag mo masyadong pagurin si Elijah!" bawal naman ni Kuya Fort kay Hunter. "What's up, man?" tapik sa akin ni kuya.
"Ayos naman kuya. Ikaw kamusta? Gumagwapo ka lalo ah. Hahahaha." sabi ko.
"Well, ganyan talaga." aniya.
"Oo nga pala kuya, we read your letter nung wedding namin." sabi ko.
"Talaga? Ano nga uli yung sinabi namin dun?" tanong niya.
"It's about marriage and teamwork kuya." tumango siya saka uminom sa beer na hawak niya.
"Well, you and my sister has always been a great team. Kamusta naman ang buhay mag-asawa? Masaya naman ba?" tanong niya.
"Sobra. Alam mo naman si Julie kuya. Mababaw ang kaligayahan niya. Makita lang niyang masaya yung mga bata okay na siya. And I think ganun din ako. Makita ko lang masaya ang asawa ko, sobrang masaya na rin ako." sagot ko.
"Ganyan ka naman simula pa nung mga bata kayo eh."
"Yeah. Julie has been and will always be my happy place."
"Daddy look oh!" sigaw ni Elijah sabay pakita sa akin ng hawak nila ni Hunter na tipaklong.
"Is that a grasshopper?" tanong ni Kuya Fort.
"Yes!" ani Hunter. "Ate look oh!" sabi niya sa kapatid na si Summer na tahimik lang namang nakaupo sa tabi ni Julie sa gazebo.
"Mommy, Hunter's holding a grasshopper!" sabi ni Summer habang tumatawa.
"Hop! Hop!" tili naman ng bunso kong si Jaeda. Tumawa sina mama, papa at mom sa kanilang apat.
"Alam mo, halatang mahal na mahal niyo ni Julie ang isa't isa no? Tignan no. Kamukhang-kamukha mo si Jaeda samantalang kamukha naman niya si Elijah." sabi ni kuya sabay tango sa dalawang bata.
"Ganun pala talaga yun no?" sabi ko.
"Oo naman. Tignan mo kami ng ate niyo. Hunter looks so much like me. Para nga kaming pinagbiyak na buko eh. Tapos si Summer sobrang kamukha ni Steffie. Pati kilos nako. Steffie na Steffie."
"Mahilig din sa libro?" tanong ko saka natawa.
"Sobra. Kunin mo na lahat wag lang yung mga libro niya sa bahay at baka magkagiyera. Hahahahaha." napailing na lang kami ni kuya habang nagtatawanan.
"Guess who's here?!" narinig naming sabi ng isang pamilyar na boses. Paglingon namin ay nakita namin si PeeWee na nakatayo at may dalang mga paperbag.
"Ninaaaaaaaaang!" sigaw ni Elijah sabay takbo kay PeeWee.
"Tita mommyyyyyyy!" tili naman ni Jaeda at nagpumiglas pa kay mom saka tumakbo rin kay PeeWee.
"Hey there you guys!" ani PeeWee sabay yakap sa dalawa. Kinarga niya si Jaeda and Elijah held her other hand saka sila naglakad palapit sa amin dito sa gazebo. "Hi kuya." bati niya sabay halik sa pisngi ko at bumeso rin kay Kuya Fort.
"Hey there, PeeWee!" bati naman ni Julie.
"Ate Julie!!" excited na sabi ni PeeWee as she rushed towards my wife and gave her a tight hug. "I missed you so much ate!" aniya.
"Seems like you missed Julie more than your own brother." biro ni Ate Steffie.
"Hahahaha. Yeah. I love Ate Julie more than Kuya Elmo." sabi naman ni PeeWee habang bumebeso kay Ate Steffie. "Joke!"
Nagtawanan silang lahat at ako naman ay tinignan lang ng masama ang kapatid ko. Kahit kailan talaga to.
"Tita, do you have the princess book I was telling you?" tanong ni Summer sa kanya.
"Of course, baby. I have it here. Syempre di ko naman kakalimutan yan no." sagot naman ni PeeWee as she hands the book to Summer.
"Yehey! Thank you, tita!" ani Summer as she hugs PeeWee.
"You're welcome, Frankie."
"What about me?" tanong ni Hunter saka pa hinatak ang damit ni PeeWee.
"Me too!" ani Elijah.
"I have your cars, boys. Don't worry." natatawang sambit ni PeeWee. Tuwang-tuwa naman ang dalawa sa bago nilang remote controlled cars. "And of course sa baby namin." aniya saka kinuha ang malaking purple stuffed toy.
"Beary!!!" tili ni Jaeda. Tumawa naman kami dahil mas malaki pa sa kanya ang teddy bear.
"Kaya ang lapit ng mga bata sayo eh. You spoil them too much." sabi ko.
"Kuya, minsan lang naman ako umuwi ng Pilipinas no. Buti nga umuwi pa ako this year eh." sabi niya.
"Aba. At nanunumbat pa to. Hahahaha." halakhak ko.
"Teka. Bakit sabi mo buti umuwi ka this year?" pagtataka ni Julie. "Di ka ba dapat uuwi?"
"Oo nga." sabay na sabi nina mom, mama at papa.
PeeWee smiled at saka nagkamot ng leeg. Anmeron? May an-an siya?
"Ohmygod! Is that?!" tili nina Ate Steffie at Julie.
"Dear, look oh!" Julie called saka pa ako pinalapit. Tumabi naman ako sakanya saka niya hinawakan ang kamay ko.
"Where? PeeWee will you stop scratching? May an-an ka ba?" binatukan naman ako ni Julie. "Ouch!"
"Ang slow ni kuya!" sabi ni PeeWee.
"Oo nga. Anong meron?" tanong naman ni Kuya Fort.
"Come on PeeWee. Wag mo na kaming paghintayin." sabi ko.
"Well, since you are brady. Fine..." huminga siya ng malalim at muling nagsalita. "I'm getting married!"
Nagtilian sina Ate Steffie, Julie, mom at mama. Samantalang ako naman ay napanganga at sina Kuya Fort at papa ay tumatawa lang.
"Congrats, Elmo. Ikakasal na ang kapatid mo." ani Kuya Fort habang tinatapik ang likod ko.
"Dear, are you okay?" tanong ni Julie.
"Elmo, what's wrong?" tanong ni mama sa akin.
"Son?" ani mom.
"Daddy wake up!!" sabi naman ni Elijah.
"Elmo!" tawag ni Ate Steffie.
"I think he can't accept na yung baby sister niya is getting married. Hahahahaha." sabi ni papa at nagtawanan na silang lahat.
*****
A/N:
Bitin? Okay lang yan! Hahaha. Special chapter lang naman to eh. Thanks for reading yo! Love y'all!
❤️DERPHERP.