CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE: BEGINNING, MIDDLE, AND END

Bianchi

ANG SABI nila kapag kasal na, may mga magbabago at patuloy na mababago pagitan ng dalawang taong nagsumpaan. Sa kaso namin ni Jaziel, totoo na may patuloy na nababago araw-araw. It's like a series of learning ourselves, understanding the differences and working out for a better marriage life. Mahirap pero kinakaya at kakayanin pa dahil iyon naman ang sinumpaan naming pangako.

“I may not be your beginning, but I was in the middle as your crazy housemate and your end here in our home sweet home.” Malawak akong ngumiti kay Jaziel pagkasabi ng mga salita na iyon. I have a hard time of creating a letter for him for this significant day of our lives.

We're in front of our family and friends, renewing our vows with each other. Parte ito ng anniversary celebration namin. Dahil nasa beach kami noong nakaraang linggo kasama si Cash, ngayon lang namin ito nagawa. Hindi magiging posible kung 'di dahil sa mga kaibigan at pamilya namin.

“You're always my beginning, my middle and my end, babe,” sambit ni Jaziel sa akin.

“I'm not done yet!” Tumawa ang lahat pagkasabi ko noon. Tumatawa din habang umiiling si Jaziel. And that significant smile never left his face ever since we met in London. “I want to take this opportunity to thank you for being understanding, forgiving and loving husband to me. I was a hard work, but you made everything easier because of your patience.”

I heard loud cheering from our friends. Lagi nila tinutukso si Jaziel dahil sa pagiging masunurin niya sa akin. Kung ang hierarchy ng mga importanteng tao sa buhay ng asawa ko ang pagbabasehan, nasa pinakataas yata ang puwesto ko na sinundan ni Cash. Kapag kami ang usapan, kahit nasa malayo ay uuwi at uuwi talaga siya. Lalo kapag may sakit o hindi maganda pakiramdam ni Cash.

“Thank you for marrying me. I will never get tired of saying this to you. Thank you for carrying Cash in your womb and be his wonderful mother.” Pulos pasasalamat ang naging tugon sa akin ni Jaziel na siyang dahilan ng masigabong palakpakan ng lahat pagkatapos. That made me smile widely.

After exchanging of vows, we proceed to a simple reception also organized by our friends. Pati pagkain sila na rin ang namomblema at presence lamang ang ambag naming mag-asawa dito talaga.

“Do you need anything else?” tanong sa akin ni Jaziel matapos niya ako tulungan na ikabit ang breastfeeding cloth ko. Sinusumpong na si Cash at kailangan na patulugin bago pa mag-iiyak. Minsan may kusa ito na matulog pero madalas ganito ang eksena naming dalawa. Hindi ako pwedeng mas abala sa iba dahil gagawa ng paraan si Cash para kuhain ang aking atensyon.

“No. Go, and joined them there now. We're okay here,” tugon ko sa kay Jaziel.

“He's demanding as he aged.”

“This moment happened unexpextedly. Only if he knew that something was keeping me busy.” Tumingin ako kay Cash habang dumedede siya sa akin. He extended his hand to reached my face. Nang sumilip si Jaziel, hinawakan din naman ni Cash ang mukha niya kaso pinalayo din pagkatapos. “Don't me mad to Dada, my love. You know, he's my husband first, before I became your mom.”

Tumawa lang anak namin pagkatapos ay pinikit na ang mga mata.

“He has your attitude,”

“And yours too.” Dagdag ko na nagpa-ngiti sa aming dalawa.

MALALIM akong huminga matapos namin maihatid ni Jaziel ang kahuli-hulihang bisita namin pauwi. Ang naiwan na lang sa amin ay maraming hugasin na nasa kusina ngayon. Tulog na rin si Cash kaya makakakilos na ako. Ngayon ko pinagsisihan na pumayag ako sa ganitong gathering imbis na kumain kami lahat sa lahat.

“I'll take care of everything here. We have dishwasher that will help me finish the dishes,” sambit sa akin ni Jaziel na kinagulat ko.

“Are you sure? It's a lot, and I can help you since Cash is sleeping now.”

“Cash will wake up later, ask for milk and attention.”

“We're done washing by that time so please let me help you, hmm?” Tumingala si Jaziel at pagkatapos ay magaan na hinalikan ang kanyang noo. “Our friends is not fair. They covered everything, but not these.”

“It's a good bonding though,” aniya sa akin na nagpalawak sa aking ngiti. Maganda nga na bonding na lagi naman ginagawa pero kakaiba lang ngayon dahil dalawang palanggana ang hugasin namin. “Let's have a catering service for Cash's christening and first birthday.”

“Mama offered to cook as well as Mommy,”

“We'll get the restaurant services so they can both cook there.”

Mas maganda nga iyon para maiwasan ang ganitong tambak na hugasin. Dati hindi ako natutuwa sa ganito, hanggang ngayon din naman 'di pa rin ako natutuwa. Mabuti nga at may dishwasher ngayon pero noon nasa bahay ako, inis na inis dahil tiga-hugas ang role ko sa bahay. Si Kuya ang tiga-luto at kapag siya ang nagluto, mas marami ang hugasin ko. He's vain, but Heart changed him.

“We will do as you say, but you have to tell them yourself,”

Kapag ako ang nagsabi, sumasama loob ni Mama. Ang sabi ni Kuya intindihin ko na lang. Gano'n rin ang pakiusap ng asawa ko sa akin. Mama is old and want to be involve in our live as her childrens. Kahit ako kapag umedad na si Cash na handa na siya mag-asawa gagawin ko rin ang ginagawa ni Mama.

But not now because as much as possible I don't want my son to grow up so fast. Ang saya-saya ng buhay namin ni Jaziel noong dumating si Cash. Bawat milestones ay tinatala namin ni Jaziel at ni-re-record din. Malawak akong ngumiti habang pinagmamasdan ang asawa ko na hinuhugasan na ang mga plato.

“Stop staring, babe,” saway niya sa akin.

“Is it bad to look at you like this? Am I a distruction to you, Architect Gridley?”

“Always. You're always a distraction to me and I didn't mind it at all.”

“You and your words got me.”

“I thought it's my face?”

“That's an add ons.”

MAAGA kami nagising kinabukasan para photoshoot na aming gagawin. It's Cash's fifth month birthday. Kailangan din namin magkaroon ng family picture buwan buwan na ilalagay ko sa malaking photo album na binili. Pero may dilemma kami, iyon ay angbpatawin ang anak ko para makakuha ng magandang larawan. Sa amin lang naman siya titingin ni Jaziel pero ako ang gagawa ng paraan para mapatawa si Cash.

“Okay, little man, don't make it hard for Mommy and for everyone, okay? We need your coorperation today.” Tumingin ako sa team na kasama namin ni Jaziel sa living room ng bahay saka dahan-dahan binaba si Cash sa set up nila sa may gitna. “Look at the camera, my love.”

Sinunod naman ako ni Cash at tumawa siya na pare-pareho namin hindi inasahan. Ang buong akala ko ay iikot kaming mag-ina para lang matapos ang photo shoot niya.

“Good job, little pulp,” narinig ko na puri ni Jaziel sa anak namin. Kinalong niya ito saka inayos ang damit. Inayos ko ang buhok ni Jaziel dahil kaming tatlo na ang susunod na kukuhaan ng picture. “He's in good mood today.”

“Yeah, that's why let's wrap everything before this little pulp get bore,”

Tinawag na ni Jaziel ang lahat para matapos na  lahat ng may kinalaman sa photoshoot.

“Do you know what's came to my mind when I saw in the bleacher cheering for my cousin?”

Tumingin ako kay Jaziel habang inaayusan kami ng glam team na kasama package na kinuha namin. The photographer told us to look at him that's why I didn't answered Jaziel's question immediately. Mga ilang shot bago huminto ang photographer at mag-ingit si Cash. Game over now because my little man is bored already.

Bored and hungry.

“What was it? The one that you're thinking back then?”

Jaziel smiled widely. “I said, I will marry that girl someday, and it happened. Look us at now.”

“I guess, destiny knows how to play its game properly.”

Hindi ko naman inasahan kami ang magkakatuluyan. Ang gusto ko lang gawin noong naisipan ko na huwag umuwi sa Scotland ay mag move on para makalimutan ko si Ryker. We already talked and sort everything out after years of avoiding each other in family gatherings. Hindi kasi maiwasan lalo't asawa ako ni Jaziel. And my husband made everything possible for us to talk privately.

“Thank you for coming to my life, Bia. Thank you for choosing me despite all the lies, betrayals, and differences we encountered along the way. It's hard but our love for each other, that started in a crazy attachment, made it easier up to this day.”

“You're craziest thing that happened to my life. Thank you for not giving up. I love you my beginning, my middle and my end.”

Naagaw nang muling pag-ingit ni Cash ang atensyon namin. Inalo ko siya saka pinainom na ng gatas dahil alam na nagugutom na rin siya.

“I love you, my crazy person,” Jaziel said and kissed me on my lips.

Wakas