"WHAT'S this?"

Thad handed him a pile of few sketches of a couple dressed in old clothing. He can tell na hindi sa Pilipinas nangyari ang mga eksenang nakaguhit sa mga papel. And the clothes remind him of the clothing in western countries - well at least, it resembles in a lot of ways. Isa-isa niya 'yong tinignan and he stopped at this one familiar portrait photo of a woman smiling.

Napatitig siya roon.

It was Mari.

The woman in the sketch looks a lot like her but with long curly hair.

"James sketched those," sagot nito. James? Au's brother? He can draw? "Tor asked him to drew what he saw in his mind through his dreams for it to be more vivid." Naiangat niya ang mukha kay Thad. "Tor can see the past now but not the whole thing... just those memories that you were able to retain in this lifetime."

"H-How?"

"I figured that he touched your arm or hand. I'm not sure. He refused to give me the whole details. Alam mo naman ang 'sang 'yon."

Ibinalik niya ang tingin sa drawing. "She's beautiful." And smiled. He will have this framed.

"She is... and the other one looks just like you." Kinuha nito ang isang sketch mula sa mga papel niyang hawak. "That's Judas." Namilog ang mga mata niya. "Except for the scar."

Natawa siya. "I have an invisible scar."

Thad patted his shoulders. "I know."

"I will be fine... hopefully..." He grimaced. "The coming days look awful." And sighed.

It was Thad's turn to laugh. "You will live. Para saan pa't nandito kaming mga kaibigan mo para sa'yo? We didn't go all through those hardships for nothing."

"I like this." Sabay silang napalingon kay Simon na may hawak-hawak nang isang bowl ng popcorn. Ngumisi ito. "Alam n'yo sa sobrang MIA n'yo rito sa bahay ay malapit ko na isiping bahay ko talaga 'to." Tumawa ito nang malakas. "Care to join me?"

"Ano na namang gagawin mo?" Thad asked, eyeing Simon suspiciously.

"Chi recommended a movie. I don't know if you two are familiar with it. Alvin and the Chipmunks?"

Inihit siya ng ubo. "Excuse me."

Simon looked at him innocently. "May problema ba?"

"Wala naman," sagot niya, trying his best to suppress his laugh. "Mukhang maganda nga 'yan."

"Sabi nga raw niya. I've heard about it before pero 'di ko yata napanood –" Inagaw ni Thad ang hawak nitong bowl of popcorn. "Amawa gyud ani niya ba! Hoy!" Hindi ito pinansin ni Thad at nagtuloy-tuloy ito sa direksyon ng movie room.

"I'm bored," ni Thad. "Let's watch."

Sinundan ito ni Simon. "Gawa ka nang sa'yo! Akin 'yan!"

Napailing at natawa na lamang siya. "Isunod natin ang 3 Idiots!" He catches up with them. "I need a good laugh now."

"Tatawa ka nga, paiiyakin ka naman din," reklamo ni Simon. "Thaddeus Bernardo ang popcorn ko."

"Popcorn o sa labas ka matutulog?"

"Gago!"

"Same to you."

"Group hug!" Niyakap niya bigla ang dalawa. Natawa siya nang tignan siya ng mga ito na para bang tinubuan siya ng tatlong sungay. "What?!"

Simon cupped his face. "Jude, anak, ikaw ba 'yan? Ako ito, ang iyong ina – tang inn– aaah!" mura nito nang batukan ni Thad.

Tawang-tawa silang tatlo.

Inakbayan silang dalawa ni Simon. "I miss this."

"At kailan naman kayo gagawa ng sarili n'yong mga bahay?" pag-iiba ni Thad.

Simon chuckled, "Depende sa stock ng semento."

"We will see," nakangiti niyang sagot.

"DID you see something in Tita Celia's?" tanong niya kay Tor.

Inilapag nito ang tasa ng kape sa mesa. "A few." Kahapon ay dumalaw si Tita Celia sa Faro. Nagawa niyang mapakiusapan ang ginang na kung maari ay mahawakan ni Tor ang kamay nito kahit ilang segundo.

He didn't further explain why and Tita Cel understands. Na i-kwento niya ang tungkol sa past life nila and she was torn between believing him or not. In the end, she said, totoo man o hindi, she no longer wanted to know.

Hahayaan na raw nitong manatili ang mga 'yon sa nakaraan.

But he was too curious about what happened to Celia after she killed Marisol.

"And?"

"It was not Celia who killed Marisol."

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya. "Who?"

"It was her daughter."

"Faith?"

"I'm not sure, maybe? Hindi ko masyadong nakita ang mukha. Celia is blocking that memory even in this lifetime. She was probably protecting the truth. I didn't even see it coming. I was even shocked myself. I thought she didn't have any children in the past. I didn't saw one in Mari's fragment memories. I'm assuming that she took the blame but realized na kung makukulong siya ay walang mag-aalaga sa anak niya and you were there – at the exact moment."

Hindi siya makapaniwala.

He found himself speechless.

Although walang assurance na si Faith nga 'yon, but what are the chances?

"And why did her daughter kill Marisol?"

"She was a spy. Isa sa mga kalaban ng ama ni Marisol ang nag-utos. The daughter did it for money. They were in desperate need of money."

"Do you think our past has something to do with our fate at present?"

"It's a possibility but one that I cannot assure. Masyadong mahiwaga ang buhay ng tao and you know, I didn't believe in any of these paranormal or reincarnation things before, but now, I will not deny the fact that it's inevitable. For now, let's not dwell too much about it. Madaming pang pwedeng mangyari sa hinaharap."

Tor smiled.

"What about the little boy? Niño?"

Tor sighed and scratched the tip of his eyebrow. "I have no idea. That boy is a walking mystery in my head."

Natawa siya. "Have you tried looking at other's past?"

"I tried with Iesus."

"And?"

"I didn't see anything."

Umawang ang bibig niya. "Oh! What about Balti?"

"Nothing."

Kumunot ang noo niya. "How come?"

"I don't know, siguro dahil walang nag-ti-trigger sa kanila na maalala ang nakaraang buhay nila and I guess, I'm still trying to figure out how far can this gift of mine can dig someone's mind."

"Innate?"

"Just the other one, 'yong nag-overlap sa mukha ng tao ang past faces nila. This, the one that I'm talking about – seeing past memories – it's new. Even Au couldn't explain it. If she can see a glimpse of the future. I can see a glimpse of the past now."

"Cool!"

"Horrifying at times," Tor chuckled. "Anyway, I'm curious. Do you also have a gift that you're not sharing with us?"

Naningkit ang mga mata niya at muling natawa.

"I'm not sure. I guess I'm normal?"

"You can never tell."

THE past few months are equivalent to eternity to him.

He missed Mari so much. He did his best to gave her the privacy and time she needed. He may have all the means to reach out to her but he didn't. Gusto niya, God knows, how much he wanted to call her – video call her – but he chose not to.

Tumambay siya sa bahay ni Balti.

Okay, he lied.

Balti was his only bridge. Chi and Au, loyal talaga ang dalawang 'yon kay Mari. Well, he couldn't blame them. Buti na lang at napagpapasensiyahan pa siya ni Balti.

"Sa tingin mo na mi-miss din ako ni Mari?"

"Hindi."

Napabalikwas siya ng bangon sa sofa sa sinabi ni Balti. "Paano mo na sabi?"

"Wala lang, gusto ko lang sabihin." Tumawa ito pagkatapos.

"I miss her," he groaned at muling ibinagsak ang katawan sa sofa. Tinignan niya ang mukha nilang dalawa ni Mari sa screen ng cell phone niya. "It's been three months since she left pero feeling ko tatlong taon na ng lumipas."

Hindi siya pinapansin ni Balti dahil busy ito pag-che-check ng mga activity papers ng mga estudyante nito. Kung kausapin siya nito ay para lang siyang multo.

"After 12 months sasabihin mo rin sa'kin na 12 years na ang lumipas." Natawa siya. Hinayaan na lamang niya ang sarili na tignan ang mga stolen photos ni Mari sa cell phone niya. He really missed Mari and their twins kahit 'di pa man lumalabas ang mga bata. "She's due next month. Didn't she inform you?"

He sighed. "No, but I know. I've been counting the dates."

"Ano bang plano mo ngayon?"

"I have so many ongoing plans." He smiled. "One step at a time."

"I can see that," ni Vier.

Umangat ang mukha ni Balti. "Oy Vier, nandiyan ka pala? Akala ko nag-evaporate ka na riyan?" Tawang-tawa sila ni Balti.

Vier chuckled, "I'm just listening." Inilapag nito ang tasa ng kape nito at ipinagpatuloy ang kung ano mang binabasa nito.

Hindi niya alam kung paano nito nagagawang magbasa habang nakikinig.

Maliban kay Balti ay si Vier ang lagi niyang nakakausap. Alam din nito na binibigyan siya ni Balti ng mga updates patungkol kay Mari. Vier trusts him kaya 'di na rin sila nito pinakialaman.

He spends most of the time for himself, for his music, and for his friends.

In between those moments, ni minsan ay hindi nawala sa isip niya si Mari at ang kambal. His excitement to see them soon in flesh was overpouring. Ginawa niya 'yong lakas at rason para gumising araw-araw at gawin ang mga dapat niyang gawin. 

Kaya habang naghihintay siya sa pag-uwi ng kanyang mag-ina ay binubuo niya naman ang sarili niya.

"Simon mentioned that you're writing songs again?" basag ni Balti.

Umangat naman ang mukha ni Vier sa kanya. "Really? Queen City is back?" segunda nito na may ngiti.

"Probably next year," he chuckled, "not now, may tinatapos pa ako but I'm closely working with Samson and Pablo now. Our producer wanted to release it at the end of this year but I don't think I can, but I'm thrilled to share it with you soon."

"I'm sure your fans as well," ni Vier. "Actually, I am also a fan of Queen City. I sometimes recommend your songs to my patients. It's really calming and soothing."

"Really?" mangha niyang tanong.

Natawa si Balti. "Not just Vier, all of us here. Mapili ako sa kanta but your songs are always on my playlist at hindi mo alam kung ilang buwan akong nagpigil para sabihin sa'yong mag-comeback na kayo!"

Tawang-tawa siya.

"You should, I demand," dagdag pa nito.

"Soon."

Oh, wait! 

He almost forgot.

Samson sent him an email. Ibinalik niya ang atensyon cell phone at binuksan ang email niya. He didn't saw Samson's latest email in his mailbox. Baka nasa spam box. Pagtingin niya roon ay natigilan siya. It was because of the name next to Samson's email.

He felt his heart drop when he saw Mari's email address in the spam box.

Biglang nanuyo ang lalamunan niya. He noticed the sudden trembling of his hands. Hindi lang kamay niya ang nanlalamig ng mga oras na 'yon. Pati yata buong kaluluwa niya.

It was Mari!

Mari sent him an email and it was still dated last month!

Last month?!

"Tang ina!"

Napabalikwas siya ng bangon.

"Hoy, Savio!" sita ni Balti. "I don't encourage profanity in my house," anito na nakangisi naman.

Natawa at napa-iling na lamang si Vier. His eyes were still glued on the screen. "What is it, Jude?" he asked.

"Mari sent me an email."

"Wow!" react ni Balti.

"Did she tell you?" tanong niya rito.

Umiling si Balti. "Nope! Pero feeling ko kay Thad or Simon 'yan galing. Nakahalata na yata si Mari na lagi kitang binubugaw sa kanya." Tumawa ito. "Anyway, what did she write?"

Hindi niya napigilan ang mapangiti. "She send me photos of our twins. Tignan n'yo." Ramdam niya ang pag-iinit ng sulok ng kanyang mga mata but he was too damn happy. Lumapit sila Balti at Vier sa kanya. It was in 3D ultrasound photo. "Sa tingin n'yo sino kamukha ng mga bata?"

"Oh! You're having a boy and a girl," ni Vier. "Congratulations, Jude!" He tapped his shoulders.

"Wait, what?" Hindi nag-sink-in sa kanya agad ang sinabi ni Vier.

"Jude, baby A is a girl, baby B is a boy. Look, Mari mentioned it in her email," dagdag ni Balti. "Putek, Jude, may tatlong bata na sa Faro soon! Dalawa sa'yo. Isa kay Auring at Tomas. Dapat na yata ako mag-hand-out ng mga fliers sa inyo. Dagdag estudyante sa St. Nathaniels."

Hindi na niya pinansin ang mga sinabi pa ni Balti.

Muli siyang napatitig sa mga pictures.

Mari and I are having a girl and a boy!

Napaluha siya.

He couldn't help it. Gusto na niyang liparin ang Canada kung papayagan lang siya ni Mari but he knew she didn't want that, kaya maghihintay siya.

Maghihintay siya kahit ilang taon pa 'yan.

Nang umalis ang dalawa sa likod niya ay saka lamang niya binasa ang buong message ni Mari sa kanya.

Hi Jude!

I know it's been a while. Sana hindi ka nagtatampo sa'kin. I've heard so much about you from Simon. And I'm happy to know that you're back on track. I also want to tell you that I'm doing fine here and I'm excited to see the twins soon. I have so many things to tell you but it can wait.

Here! I'm sharing with you the photos of the twins. Aren't they lovely? I think they look so much like you. :) Guess what? We're having a boy and a girl! <3 And I know the twins are excited to see you soon. Pinapakinggan ko lagi ang kantang ginawa mo para sa kambal. Balti sent it to me. I love it! I really do... so much.

And I do have one favor to ask. If okay lang? I want you to name our little girl. I would love to have Lilac as her second name. Don't worry, akong bahala sa baby boy natin. :D

I'll wait for your reply.

Wishing you all the best in life.

–Marison