Epilogue

Evie tried not to skip as soon as they got down from Abe’s car. He offered to drive for them since the idea was to keep Jachin in the dark until they were inside. Nakatakip ng panyo ang mga mata nito habang katabi ni Evie sa likuran ng sasakyan.

“Bub, sa’n ba kasi talaga tayo pupunta? Bakit ang tahimik?” Jachin asked for the nth time. Hindi ito mapakali sa sasakyan at paulit-ulit na tinatanong sa kanila ni Abe kung ano ba ‘yong surprise nila. Abe told him he’d run the car towards the nearest tree if he didn’t stop talking.

Because it was November 28. Jachin’s birthday.

“Secret nga! Come on, aalalayan kita.” Evie reached for his right hand and gently pulled him towards the restaurant’s double doors. There weren’t a lot of people, but it was still lunchtime so it was busy inside.

“Ah, kakain tayo? Bakit may pa-ganito pa?”

Evie pressed her fingers on his palm out of annoyance. “Just trust me!” She was already sweating so hard as it is without him talking down her ear. She wanted this to be perfect.

When they reached the private space she requested to occupy, Evie guided Jachin to stand in front of his guests, before walking behind him to remove his blindfold.

A chorus of “Surprise!” and “Happy birthday!” erupted from the people in front of him. Among them, his family—Mama J, Papa J, and his sisters—and even their dogs, Sugar and Lulu were present. Rigo and Fatima were also there, although at first they weren’t sure they would make it since Fatima was so close to her due date that she could go into labor any time this week.

Evie also invited a few of his former blockmates, including Amara who even came from her vacation to visit them.

“Hoy, ba’t ka nandito? Akala ko nasa abroad ka na!” Jachin greeted Amara with a hug.

“I’m on vacation!”

Jachin gave her mom a kiss on the head. “Ikaw, ma, ha. Sabi mo pupunta lang kayo ni Papa sa Cubao para mamalengke ng gulay. Tapos tagabitbit ‘tong dalawa.” He pointed at his sisters who giggled because they managed to deceive their kuya.

“E kung sinama kita, malamang malalaman mo surprise ni Evangeline.”

Evie adored the way his mother always called her by her full first name. It was rare to hear it even with her friends, so she appreciates how she seemed to like her name Evangeline.

Lumapit si Evie kay Fatima para yakapin ito. She truly was excited to see her baby! And she couldn’t help but coo at her belly. “Gusto ka na makita ni Tita Evie. Please come out na.”

Fatima mustered a smile despite the obvious strain on her body. Malaki na ang tiyan niya at madalas na siyang hingalin kaya hindi niya kayang tumayo nang matagal. “Sorry, I’m exhausted. Hindi ako pinatulog kagabi kasi galaw nang galaw.”

Evie bent down a little. “Ikaw ha. You always kick your mom’s ribs!”

“Masakit nga. Parang may disco sa loob kaya siya sumasayaw.”

“Do you have a name na?”

Fatima nodded and scooted closer to Evie. Lumapit ito sa kanya para ibulong ang pangalan ng anak niya. She’d been so secretive of it that even Rigo had no idea. Minsan naririnig niya ito na kinukulit si Fatima para malaman kung anong pangalan.

“Oh—” Evie’s eyes sparkled at the name. But Fatima was quick to put a finger on her lips. “Okay, okay. I will keep it a secret.”

“Thank you,” Fatima glanced at Rigo who was talking to Jachin and Abe. “Secret muna para ‘di niya malaman.”

“Does the—?”

Ngumiti si Fatima bago muling tumango. “Yes, it does. So shh muna about her name.”

Evie felt much too giddy now that she knew the name, at napansin ito ni Jachin nang lumapit ito sa kanya. He was grinning from ear to ear, almost as if he couldn’t stop smiling, and as soon she was within reach, he pulled her in for a tight hug. “Bub, thank you.” Masuyo inilapat nito ang kamay sa likod niya at binigyan ng halik ang balat niya. Evie had to close her eyes to stop herself from reacting.

“Did you like it?” she asked, as her gaze travelled to the balloon arch she had ordered and the decorations around the long table. She wanted to make his birthday special this year after what happened last year. Gusto niya na mabawi ngayon ang birthday nito dahil hindi niya maayos na nai-celebrate nung nakaraang taon.

“Sobra. Kahit hindi naman kailangan, bub. Masaya na ako kung kakain lang sa bahay.”

“That won’t do! I want this year to be more than “lang,” okay?” She gave him a kiss on the cheek as an answer to his thanks. In truth, it was also because this is the first birthday that they’re going to celebrate as a couple—officially.

Jachin took a deep breath, pressed his body closer to hers, and leaned in to give her forehead a soft kiss. Matagal ang labi nito sa balat niya, savoring the warmth and happiness. It was a memory that Evie wanted to take and hang on the stars, just like every other moment she had spent with Jachin. She trusts the celestial bodies to keep it safe for her.

“Hindi ako makahinga sa sobrang—sa sobrang dami kong pagmamahal sa ‘yo,” Jachin whispered.

“I love you, bub. Happy birthday!” Evie tightened her arms around Jachin’s waist, making sure he felt all her love, and the many promises of tomorrows they’ll be spending together from now on.

☆

The food that Evie ordered came just in time dahil gutom na silang lahat. Jachin stood in front of his guests to say a couple of things and thank them for being here, before he acknowledged her in the sweetest manner.

“Most of all, salamat sa taong pinakamamahal ko. Isang ngiti lang niya parang matutumba na ako. Isang pout lang, luluhod na ako para sundin lahat ng gusto niya. Isang yakap lang, wala na pagod ko sa trabaho at review sa boards,” Jachin’s eyes glinted with delight. “Pero nagagawa pa rin niyang i-surprise ako.”

The corner of Evie’s mouth quirked up and she mouthed, “Love you” to Jachin, to which he answered with a grin before ending his mini speech.

In the middle of their lunch, while their table was full of laughter and conversations from their family and friends, Jachin’s phone rang. Evie had to tap his leg for him to notice and hear it because he was too busy talking to Rigo and Amara.

Partly because it might interrupt everyone else, but mostly because Evie saw who was calling him, and she knew that he’d be bummed out if he missed it.

“Bub, Mila is calling.”

Jachin glanced at his phone before standing up. “Sagutin ko lang, bub. Babati lang ‘to.”

Evie nodded, her eyes following his figure until he was made it outside the restaurant. It looked like Mila invited him for a video call dahil inilayo ni Jachin sa katawan niya ang phone at kumaway. Obviously, she didn’t hear any of it, but she was sure that it would complete Jachin’s birthday, now that all of his closest friends were able to greet him, especially after what happened last year.

She only knew bits and pieces of their story and what happened between them when Jachin went MIA on them the night of his birthday, but Evie never asked to hear more of it because she knew it was between him and Mila. Kahit pa gusto niyang malaman kung bakit sila naghiwalay, kahit pa gusto niyang malaman kung isa ba siya sa dahilan, she always managed to swallow down the question.

And Jachin offered no story too, perhaps because he didn’t want to reopen wounds, but maybe it’s also because he wanted to bury their past to where it belongs. They were different people now who were making different decisions, and Evie was sure that they both consciously drew the line with bleeding ink from their own hearts.  Because that’s what you do to move on—to completely let go of the idea of them.

Jachin caught her eyes from the other side of the glass window at ngumiti ito. He mouthed something, but she couldn’t understand, so she just gave him an encouraging thumbs up.

But Evie knew, even without Jachin telling her, that he was letting go of his past so that he could give her his future—because that’s what she deserves, even if that past also belonged to him and someone he loved.

When he sat back beside her again, agad nitong kinuha ang kamay niya para ipagsalikop ang mga daliri nila, bago hinalikan ang likod ng palad niya. “I’m back.” He wore a shade of happiness that Evie was glad to see. Alam niyang masaya itong makausap si Mila dahil hindi na ito nakakapunta sa mga importanteng events nilang magkakaibigan.

“What did Mila say?” she asked.

“Bumati tapos nagtatanong kung anong gusto kong regalo,” tumawa si Jachin, and Evie immediately knew that he teased Mila. “Sabi ko, Converse. Chucks. Size 10—”

Evie’s eyes widened. “Bub! Nakakahiya!” Hinampas niya ang braso nitong hindi hawak ang kamay niya.

“Aba, siya na nagtatanong kung anong gusto—”

Evie tried pinching his leg but he was able to evade her fingers. She sometimes wanted to bite him out of shame and annoyance. Lagi kasi itong ganyan, but Evie learned to live with his shenanigans anyway.

☆

Nang umuwi na ang mga bisita, Evie asked Abe to drop them off somewhere because she still had one more surprise for him.

“Thank you, Abe!” She gave him a pat on the arm. Abe only shook his head.

Lumingon si Jachin sa kanya nang makita kung saan pumarada si Abe. “Bub, bakit tayo nasa hotel? ‘Di ba tayo uuwi?”

“Not yet! We still have one more thing to—”

Naputol ang salita niya nang tumigil sa paglalakad si Jachin. Nakatingin ito sa front desk ng hotel habang bitbit ang maliit na bag na inabot niya rito pagbaba nila ng sasakyan. She asked Jenyl to pack a shirt for her brother bago sila pumunta sa restaurant kanina.

Evie’s brows furrowed. “Bub? Why?”

Lumunok ito. “Bub—ano, bakit tayo nasa hotel? Nagbook ka ba ng ano—kwarto?” Evie saw the tips of his ears turned red.

“Huh? Uh, no?”

“Then bakit tayo nandito?” tanong nito habang kinakapa ang back pockets. “Bub, ano—w-wala akong dalang co—”

It was too late before Evie realized what he meant. She just booked a spa and massage for them and nothing else! It just happened to be here.

“No!” She stomped her foot to stop him from saying anything else. She certainly knew what he would say next. “It’s just a spa and massage, bub!”

“Ah, okay.” Jachin laughed nervously and pulled her close. “Sorry na, iba naisip ko. Malay ko ba kasi. Ano bang ginagawa kapag pumupunta sa hotel, ‘di ba nagche-check in?”

“Bub! Please stop talking!” Evie covered his mouth with her hand before she dragged him to the front desk to confirm their appointment.

And when Jachin brought up the situation again, she threw him a glare that even the staff had to chuckle.

It was a mistake that she was sure Jachin would always use against her. She didn’t mind though. . . because she still loves him.

* * *

Jachin and Evie bids you a heartfelt goodbye!

#ATSWHIwp