Chapter Twenty-nine

Congrats

"Are you okay, Chelca?" I checked on my daughter after we went home that night. I wanted to make sure that this was really all right to her, too.

Chelca nodded her head. "Yes, Mommy."

I sighed with a small smile on my lips. I sat beside her. Nasa room na niya kami and she was already in bed drinking her glass of milk that I made for her. "Mommy's getting married." As if I reminded her.

She nodded. "Yes, Mommy."

"And to Ninong Declan."

"Yes, Ninong." She smiled widely. "I helped Ninong on his marriage proposal to you!"

I smiled. "Yes, sweetheart. Thank you."

"Do you like Ninong Declan for Mommy?"

"Yes. He's nice and kind. And he loves Mommy very much."

"He told you that?"

"Yes."

Niyakap ko ang anak ko pagkatapos. Bilang siya ang pinakamahalaga sa akin ay mahalaga rin sa akin ang iniisip niya sa mga desisyon ko. Dahil kasali siya sa lahat ng magiging desisyon ko sa buhay na ito. And that since we became mother and daughter.

"I love you, Chelca." I kissed the top of her head.

"I love you, Mommy." She replied to me sweetly.

I smiled contentedly.

And not long after Declan's proposal to me we started planning for our wedding with the help of some people he hired. And I was just happy as we prepared for the wedding.

At maayos na rin ang relasyon ko sa pamilya ni Declan. Tanggap na nila ako at ang anak ko. At araw-araw mas lalo pang pinaparamdam sa akin ni Declan ang pagmamahal niya sa akin. And so I try to equal the love that he's showing me, too.

Nagpapatuloy kami ni Declan sa pagtatrabaho sa lumalaki na rin niyang construction company. At tumutulong din siya sa real estate business ng Daddy niya. Busy kami sa trabaho lalo na siya pero naglalaan pa rin talaga ng oras at panahon para sa paghahanda sa kasal naming dalawa.

Pinagbuksan ko ng pinto ng condo namin si Chelca na hinatid ng daddy niya pauwi. I just came home from work, too. Busy kasi kanina sa site. Kaya nagpasabi ako na baka ma late ako sa pagsundo kay Chelca. Mukhang na kaya naman siyang sunduin ni Ezion kahit may trabaho rin ito. He's now working under another construction and real estate company as Engineer. The company was already big so he's earning enough. Hinahayaan ko nalang din siya na magbigay para sa mga pangangailangan ni Chelca. His priority became his daughter and son, Julius. At least he can still be a good father to his kids.

I smiled as I welcomed them.

"Pasok ka muna, Ezion." I politely opened our door wider for him.

Ngumiti rin siya sa akin. "No, no need. But thank you. Hinatid ko lang talaga si Chelca. At sorry kung medyo na late siya ng uwi, we just ate out."

Umiling ako kay Ezion. "No, it's all right."

"Daddy treat us to an ice cream parlor, Mommy!" Chelca said.

I smiled to my daughter. "That's nice." I tapped my daughter's head. Before I turned back to Ezion. "Thanks, Ezion."

He shook his head. "It's nothing. Magkasama lang kaming tatlo ni Julius kanina na kumain sa labas."

I smiled. Mukhang nagkakasundo na rin si Chelca at Julius. And I think that's good. Kahit naman hindi totoong anak ni Ezion si Julius ay siya pa rin ang nagpalaki sa bata at siya ang kinikilalang ama ng bata. And Chelca also seemed happy to have like an older brother.

"Well, I'll get going now..."

Tumango ako. "Okay. Take care while driving."

Ilang sandali pang nagtagal ang tingin sa akin ni Ezion. For a while I think I saw an emotion in his eyes. But then he quickly replaced it with a gentle genuine smile, too. "Thank you." he said.

"And... Congrats on your engagement to Declan." he added with a smile on his face.

Napangiti rin akong muli. "Thank you. Ingat ka pauwi."

And Ezion nodded and started turning his back.

I closed our unit's door, and helped Chelca na itabi na muna ang bag at ilang gamit niya galing school. Agad din siyang pumunta sa kusina kung nasaan si Mommy para magmano.

Napangiti nalang ako para sa lahat ng magaang nangyayari sa buhay namin.

"It's good that Ezion's been doing good at his work. Maganda iyon para sa mga bata na gusto niyang suportahan." Ate Cianna said when I mentioned about Ezion to her and Mommy. The three of us just finished having dinner at naglilinis nalang ng mesa at kusina. Ate and I were helping mommy. Nakapag-dinner na kasi kanina sa labas si Chelca kasama and daddy niya at si Julius. And Kuya Caleb won't be home and he's with his girlfriend, Lorie.

Masaya rin ako para sa kapatid ko at best friend. Their relationship was all okay and I can see that they're both happy with each other. Kung sa bagay ay noon pa mang mga bata pa kami ay may nararamdaman na pala sina kuya at Lorie sa isa't isa. And now their time to love each other much freely finally came. Nag-out of town trip nga sila ngayon ni kuya at birthday rin ni kuya. We've celebrated here in our home kami nina Mommy at Ate Cianna pero nagplano na rin talaga sila ni Lorie na magpapahinga muna somewhere place nice for the both of them. At base sa na view kong Instagram story ni Lorie ay mukhang sa isang beach resort sila nagpunta ni kuya at mag-stay doon ng 2 to 3 days. Nakapagpaalam na rin si kuya kay Declan sa trabaho at tapos na rin naman ang last project niya. Pagbalik nalang sisimulan ang bago. And kuya and Lorie deserves this days vacation.

Si Ate Cianna kaya, kailan magpapakilala ng boyfriend...?

Tumango ako sa sinabi ni ate about Ezion.

"At least he can still be a good father to Chelca and Julius..." ate added.

Exactly my thoughts about Ezion, too. Muli lang akong tumango.

"Ate...wala ka pa rin bang ipapakilala sa amin na boyfriend?" I asked all of a sudden. I was really curious too as to my older sister's love life. Ang sabi kasi ni Kuya Caleb ay may nanliligaw daw na doctor kay Ate Cianna sa hospital lang din saan siya nag residency ngayon.

Nagkatinginan kami ni ate. I smiled to her. She sighed. "Well, actually, I'm thinking..."

"Thinking of what?" I was obviously excited to what my sister would share. Sa aming tatlo ay si Ate Cianna ang pinakatahimik at medyo seryoso rin. I'm not sure if it's because she's our eldest but that's just the way how she usually acts. That's her usual self.

"Hmm. Iniisip kong sumagot na ng manliligaw at pumasok na rin sa isang relasyon. Para hindi n'yo na rin ako kinukulit ni Caleb." She sighed and almost roll her eyes. But she was smiling.

I chuckled. "Really? Kailan mo ipapakilala sa amin nina Mommy?"

She sighed again. "One of these days..."

"Oh my! You really like him? Does he make you happy?" Sunudsunod pa ang mga tanong ko sa kapatid.

And then a smile formed on Ate Cianna's lips probably thinking about this guy doctor. Lumapad din naman ang ngiti ko while watching my sister's happy expression.

"Ipakilala mo na agad siya sa amin! At invite mo na rin sa wedding ko!"

Ate Cianna just smilingly nodded her head.

Nakakatuwa na sa kabila ng mga nangyari sa pamilya namin ay narito pa rin kami ngayon at masaya naman ang pamilya namin kasama si Mommy, at kahit wala na si Daddy...

Dad, wherever you are right now... I know you are happy for us. You are happy for your family.

I smiled to myself.

Family is really important. Kahit ano ang mangyari basta magkakasama kayo at may karamay sa lahat ng pagdadaanan ninyong pamilya ay kakayanin n'yo ito at malalampasan.

And I'll try my best too to make sure na magkakaroon din kami ni Declan ng pamilya na gaya sa pamilya ko. My family may not be perfect. But the love and care that we have and share in our family members I can consider a blessing.

I'm excited to have my own family with Declan, Chelca, and my future children with Declan together soon.