Chapter 24

Our engagement brought so much good news to our families. Even though Ellie’s family was abroad right now, we managed to tell them about us. Ang balak nga sana namin ay pag-uwi na lang nila pero hindi na namin matiis na hindi ibalita sa kanila ’yung tungkol doon.

[When is the wedding?] Tita Jennifer and Tito Leandro asked through our video call. Ellie’s siblings were at their parent’s back, waving and congratulating us.

“Mom, we just got engaged last week. It will take us a couple of months to prepare for the wedding,” Ellie explained.

[Oh, my apologies. We’re just so excited here. Right, everyone?] Nilingon pa ni Tita ang mga kasama niya at malakas na sigaw na sumang-ayon ang mga ito. [We can fly back to the Philippines right away.] Dagdag pa nito at nagtawanan na lamang kaming lahat.

[Kidding! Uuwi rin kami r’yan soon and we will help you in organizing your big day. Mag-iingat kayo r’yan. Ellie, always look at Jana. Huwag kayong mag-aaway, malalagot ka sa akin.] I burst out laughing because of what Tita warned.

“Mom, ako ’yung anak mo, ’di ba?” nangongonsensyang saad ni Ellie dito.

[I know, pero kayong dalawa na ang anak ko ngayon. Mas matanda ka rin kay Jana kaya dapat alagaaan mo siya. Treat her not as your woman, but also as your little sister na rin.]

I bit my lip to stop my laughter. “Don’t worry, Tita. I’ll make sure na aalagaan po ako ni Kuya.”

After that call, Ellie suddenly tickled me, nonstop. Napahiga na lang tuloy ako sa kama. Naalala ko kasi ’yung sinabi ko sa kanya noon, nung time na nag-aaral pa lang kami kung saan nalaman kong third year college siya kumpara sa akin na first year pa lang noon kaya dapat Kuya ang itawag ko sa kanya.

Inaasar ko siya noon kaya hindi ko mapigilang matawa matapos sabihin ni Tita Jennifer iyong kanina, ’yung tungkol sa pagiging Kuya niya. Patuloy si Ellie sa pagkiliti sa akin pero sa huli ay niyakap ako nito.

Right now, I couldn’t be happier. Ang sarap lang sa pakiramdam na masaya sila para sa amin.

My mother already knew about our engagement. Siya ’yung unang taong pinagsabihan namin ng tungkol doon. The next morning that night, we went to our house to inform her about us. My mother congratulated us, and I can see in her eyes that she was so happy about the news she heard.

For years that Ellie and I are together, our parents already met each other, not just once but for how many times already. Close na nga ang mga ito sa totoo lang. Si Jennica din at si Aira Faye, babaeng kapatid ni Ellie ay hindi namin inaasahang magiging magbest friend sila. Our families just perfectly clicked on each other.

“Congratulations, Jana!” sinalubong ako ni Rhian ng yakap bago pa ako makapasok sa unit niya. I was planning to tell her the news when I’m right in front of her, but that plan failed because even before we could see each other, I already informed her about it through a message.

“I’m so happy to the both of you. Walang halong biro ’yan,” aniya sa akin. “Ang tagal niyo na pala, ’no? Imagine, six years? I was so glad. You really are meant for each other.”

“We are,” I agreed, plastering a smile on my face. “It was our choice too that’s why we’re still getting stronger.” I took one bite from the cookies she prepared.

“Kapag nagka-anak kayo, ninang ako, ha?” she reckoned in advance and I threw her the throw pillow I got. Ikakasal pa lang kaya kami. Sa halip na sabihing maging maid of honor, pagiging ninang talaga kaagad ang naisip niya.

“Magjowa ka kaya muna para may ka-partner ka sa kasal namin ni Ellie,” I let out.

“I can walk alone in the aisle. I don’t need a partner,” anya at natawa na lang ako.

“You’re not planning to be a nun, aren’t you?”

“Of course not!” she promptly shot back.

“What now? 25 na kayo tayo. We’re not getting any younger, darling.” I then sipped on my juice.

Rhian sophistically crossed her legs and took a piece of cookie on a flat plate. “I’m not rushing, darling,” she copied my endearment to her, sounding like a brat. “Besides, my focus now is on how to pull off the wedding. Tita Margaret is pressuring the hell out of me and that frustrates me.”

I just shook my head. Until now, that’s what upsets her. Kung nagtagal kami ni Ellie ng anim na taon, ang engagement naman nilang dalawa ni Harold ay magpipitong taon na pero hindi pa rin sila nakakawala.

“Magboyfriend ka na kasi. Malay mo kapag may boyfriend ka na, titigilan ka na nila,” I suggested and laughed in the end because that was a stupid idea. Si Harold nga, may girlfriend na pero wala pa ring nangyayari. What difference will it make if she has a boyfriend? But who knows if that will help her, right?

“As if that was easy, and you know, I can’t just pull someone out there and introduce him as my boyfriend,” she frustratingly replied.

“Don’t worry, someone will suddenly come to your life and he will help you get out from that trap,” I winked at her. Malay mo magkatotoo, hindi ba?

Enough with our conversation, I went back to Ellie’s unit, and there, I saw him busy with his work. Half-day lang ako sa trabaho ngayon at dumiretso lang ako sa unit ni Rhian kanina para sabihin sa kanya ang tungkol sa amin ni Ellie. Kapag nalaman niya ’yon sa iba, baka magtatampo lang ’yon sa akin.

A couple of weeks passed and Ellie’s family were now back here in the Philippines. Kaagad kaming pumunta sa bahay nila at niyakap kami ng mga ito nang sobrang higpit. Dapat nga ay susunduin namin sila pero may biglaang ginawa si Ellie kaya nagcommute na lang ang mga ito pauwi.

One night, we scheduled a family dinner. Kasama ang pamilya ni Ellie at maging ang pamilya ko. When we were at the restaurant, it felt like we’re just relatives because the closeness cannot be hidden among us. Pakiramdam ko nga ay parang nagfamily reunion lang kami.

At that dinner, Ellie and I weren’t that shocked when they opened the topic about our wedding.

“We haven’t really talk about the wedding to be honest,” I told them.

“We’re still busy with our works, but we will talk about it when we have free time,” Ellie supported my statement.

“Ano ba naman kayo. Baka madedelay pa ang mga apo namin dahil sa inyo.” Our table was enveloped by our laughter because of what Tito Leandro spoke out.

“Kung apo lang naman ang pag-uusapan, hindi na problema ’yan. Jana and I will work with that when we get back home.” Agad ko itong hinampas sa braso dahil sa sinabi niya.

“Tumigil ka nga!”

“What? We’ll certainly end up having a child, baby. We can advance that if our parents are now asking for their grandchildren.”

Namumula ang pisnging nagtago ako sa braso niya. Yeah, I mentioned that our families were close, but that does not mean shyness won’t develop in me especially if we’re talking about this kind of topic already. Worst, they just laughed at me, siding and agreeing to Ellie.

Naging masaya naman ang daloy ng pag-uusap namin habang kumakain kaming lahat. Our parents turned serious this time and we were advised by them about the possibilities we will face once when we get married.

They didn’t pressure us though. They just told us that they are going to support us with whatever decisions we will make. Tungkol naman sa kasal, handa raw nila kaming tulungan.

We gladly accepted that, but we’ll make sure that all the expenses will come from our own pocket. Kaya habang nag-iisip pa lang kami sa kung anong gusto naming mangyari sa kasal, pag-iipunan na lang muna namin iyon. Ayaw rin naman namin ng basta-basta na lang. It’s once in a lifetime event in our lives unless we’ll plan to remarry again, so we wanted something remarkable and something that is best for us.

Having their blessings at our wedding is something we couldn’t ask for more.

Nauna ng umalis ang parents at mga kapatid ni Ellie. Naiwan pa kami sa restaurant kung saan kami nagpareserve at kasama pa namin sila Mama hanggang ngayon.

Kinuha nito ang magkabilaang kamay namin ni Ellie saka niya kaming tinignan dalawa. “Masaya ako na makitang masaya kayong dalawa.” My mother’s eyes turned expressive as if tears wanted to come out.

Then she faced Ellie. “I’m glad that my daughter found someone like you. Please, always makes her happy, Ellie,” she hoped. “Basta, kung anuman ang gagawin niyo, nandito lang lagi ako para sa inyo.”

“Ma,” agap ko sa kanya. Kasi si Mama, kulang na lang na paiyakin niya ako sa mga sinasabi niya.

“What? I’m just happy to the both of you.”

“But don’t make us cry here.” She just giggled at what I reacted.

Ang kamay nitong nakahawak sa kamay ni Ellie ay napunta na sa akin. My mother held my hand so tight. “I know the wedding will happen soon since you two haven’t talked about it yet. Pero anong gusto mo, anak?” she inquired.

“Sa kasal ko, Ma?” She nodded. Just as how I imagined what the wedding will be like, a tear unexpectedly escaped from my eyes. “Gusto ko po sana na sa kasal ko, Ma, ihatid po ako ni Papa papunta kay Ellie sa altar. Okay lang po ba ’yon, Ma?”

Tears also evaded my mother’s eyes. Hinagod-hagod ni Ellie ang likuran ko upang patahanin ako. Jennica and Jaden were now in teary eyes as well. Ramdam kong hindi lang ako ang nakakamiss kay Papa.

“Sure. I’ll help you and I’ll make that happen.” Nilapitan ako ni Mama at hindi ko na napigilan ang kanina pang luhang pinipigilan ko.

I already accepted my parent’s fate years ago, but wanting to have my father at my wedding was not a selfish thought, right? Pero kung sakali mang hindi ako maihahatid ni Papa sa altar, buong-puso ko pa ring tatanggapin iyon. I’ll just make sure to notify him about my wedding. After all, I am his daughter and he, at least, has the right to know.

When my mother said she’ll help us, I didn’t know that will happen after months of our wedding preparation.

Bago ako pumasok sa lugar kung saan ko kikitain si Papa, ramdam ko ’yung malakas na kabog ng dibdib ko. Ever since I left the house, almost three years ago, I never had the chance to talk to him anymore. The world may be small since we were just in one place but still, I haven’t seen him too, although I’m hearing things about him.

Pagkapasok namin sa loob ay hawak lamang ni Ellie ang kamay ko, binibigyan ako ng lakas. He knew what I’ve been through when my parents separated because it was him who became my living diary and my comforter, and I appreciate how he makes me feel that he’ll always at my back no matter what happens.

Arriving at their table, I already saw my mother in front of my father while my siblings were talking happily to him. At once glance, other people may tell that they were an image of a happy family, but that was... before.

I greeted them and awkwardly sat on the chair beside my mom, just in front of my father. The menu came and I can feel the silent atmosphere that enwrapped us all while eating. Minutes passed, it was me who bravely broke that silence.

“P-pa...” I almost stuttered because I’m in doubt if I will still call him that way. “Maraming salamat po sa malugod niyong pagtanggap sa imbitasyon namin ngayon. We invited you over to let you know that Ellie and I are now planning our wedding. And... I am here to ask if you could spare even just one day for me. Gusto ko po kasi na kayo pa rin ’yung maghahatid sa akin sa altar.”

I was so thankful that I managed to tell those words without my voice cracking though it’s telling me that it’s just a matter of seconds that I will cry if I continue talking.

“Susubukan ko, anak,” he answered before he smiled at me.

Nginitian ko na lang din ito. Hindi man niya nasabi nang diretso pero ang marinig na susubukan niya ay totoong nagpagaan sa nararamdaman ko.

The dinner didn’t last for an hour. Nang sa tingin ko’y nasabi ko na ang lahat kay Papa ay saka namin naisipang umalis na. I asked my mother to just go with us, but she told us to go first. Hindi naman na kami nagreklamo pa. Bagkus ay magalang kaming nagpaalam sa kanila.

And for the first time after years of not seeing and talking to him, I once felt the feeling of being embraced by my father. “Salamat, Pa.”

“Mag-iingat kayo pauwi, anak.” I nodded at him before we decided to go.

We were already near the sliding door when I heard my Mom speak. “I don’t have any grudge towards you anymore. I already accepted everything, but I am here for my daughter... our daughter.” That was what made me stop.

“Nagpapaka-ama ka sa bayang ’to, pero sana sa pagkakataong ’to, magpakaama ka rin sa anak mo. That was just a one wish from her. Please, Alberto, umaasa akong mapagbibigyan mo ’yung bata. Pero kung hindi, irerespeto namin ang desisyon mo. Wala mang kasiguraduhan ang naging sagot mo kanina pero umaasa pa rin akong sana ay susubukan mo. Kahit para sa bata lang. Para kay Jana.”

I couldn’t bear hearing my mother plead with my father so I proceeded in walking and when I came out from that restaurant, I couldn’t suppress the tears anymore. Ellie lent me his chest and just like those days when he comforted me, here he is again, doing that thing to ease my feelings.

“Ssh, it’s alright, baby,” Ellie solaced, combing my hair from the back.

Hindi ako umiiyak dahil nasasaktan ako. Umiiyak ako dahil sobrang suwerte ko lang sa Mama ko. In my desire to have my father walk with me to the altar, I never imagined she could do this just to fulfill my dream wedding, knowing na siya ’yung pinaka-nasasaktan noon noong ipinagpalit kami ni Papa kay Tita Anastasia.

I may not have a complete family anymore, but God, my mother is really the best.