Chapter Twenty-seven

Meet

"I'm sorry, too... Everything from the beginning wasn't entirely your fault. I was at fault, too. When we started I already knew it that you didn't love me—"

"Ciri—"

Mariin akong pumikit saglit sa pagpapatigil niya sa akin. "Please, Ezion. Patapusin mo muna ako." pigil ko rin sa kaniya.

I calmly sighed. "Kaya may kasalanan din ako. It was the fault of my younger self who became selfish and thought that love could be something like that..." I admitted. Matagal ko na rin inamin ito sa sarili ko.

"I was stupid, Ciri." Ezion said.

Tumingin ako sa kaniya at nakita kong nagbaba siya ng tingin.

"But it's not too late yet, Ezion. Pwede pa nating ayusin ang mga sarili natin lalo na para kay Chelca. I want us to be good parents to our daughter."

Ezion nodded. Nang mag-angat siya ng tingin sa akin ay may maliit na ngiti na sa labi niya. "I'll do my best for our daughter, Ciri. Thank you for still giving me the chance to be with Chelca."

"Of course, Ezion. Chelca's your daughter, too. And she's more happy if you're here, too."

Isang huling pagtango bago tuluyan nang nagpaalam si Ezion at nakaalis sa bahay namin.

Pinalitan siya ni Declan na dumating naman pagkatapos ng ilang sandaling makaalis si Ezion.

"Hi!" I greeted him with a kiss on his cheek, too.

Declan smiled and he looked happy by my little sweet action. "Hi!" Hinagkan niya rin ako sa noo ko. "Where's Chelca? Sina tita?"

"Nasa kitchen. Babalikan ko pa nga pala si Mommy sa kusina. We're still preparing for dinner, sorry."

"No, it's okay. I came early, too. Come on, I brought something for your family and Chelca."

"Walang para sa 'kin?" biro ko pa. Tiningnan ko ang mga dala niya na mukhang mga pagkain o sweets for our dessert later after dinner.

Tumingin sa akin si Declan. Ngumiti siya. "'Di pa ba ako sapat?"

I rolled my eyes which he chuckled.

"Ewan ko sa 'yo, Declan Zamora."

"So, hindi nga?"

Naglalambing ko naman siyang niyakap sa gilid niya. "You're more than enough for me." And then I kissed his cheek again.

Nanatili pang nakatingin si Declan sa akin. He slightly lowered his head, at bahagya rin naman akong tumingkayad para maabot ang mga labi niya. He gave me a quick kiss on the lips. And then we went to my mom and Chelca in the kitchen.

"Ninong!" Chelca ran to Declan.

Iniwan naman ako ni Declan para salubungin din si Chelca. Pareho nalang kami ni Mommy na napangiti sa kanila.

Nang dumating sina Kuya Caleb at Ate Cianna ay ready na ang dinner. Kumain na kami ng pamilya ko kasama si Declan. My brother and Declan talked over dinner. Sumasali na rin kami nina ate at mommy sa usapan and Chelca sometimes, too. Pwede lang din naman sa bata ang mga topics namin because of course we were with a child on the table. Masayang usapan lang habang nagdidinner.

Nakakatuwa.

Sana ay palagi lang ganito.

Nakatulong pa na nakausap ko na rin nang maayos sa wakas si Ezion.

"He came here?" Declan asked when we were left alone at the balcony after dinner.

Nagsabi sina mommy at Ate Cianna na sila na ang bahala sa paglilinis sa pinagkainan namin. Si Kuya Caleb naman ay nakikipaglaro pa kay Chelca sa living room ng condo.

"Yeah. We talked and I think it finally went well. Maayos ko nang nakausap si Ezion kanina."

Declan nodded. "That's good. And Chelca?"

"Nagkasundo na rin kami ni Ezion na sabay pa rin naming palalakihin si Chelca..."

Declan nodded again and a small smile on his lips. "That's good to hear."

Kinuha ko ang kamay niya para mahawakan. "Thank you for compromising..."

Umiling si Declan at hinawakan na rin ang kamay ko. "As long as it's for you and Chelca."

Declan's actions, words and decisions bring warmth to my heart. Parang palaging may mainit na kamay ang humahawak sa puso ko sa mga pinapakita niya. It always amazes me how he can love me this way.

With Declan I realized that loving can also be this way. Iyong may kinakaharap pa rin na problema —problema sa pamilya niya... Pero bukod doon ay wala na kaming iba pang nasasaktan na tao...wala kaming pinagsisinungalingan. Masasabi kong malaya pa rin namin ni Declan na minamahal ang isa't isa.

The feelings I had with Ezion back then wasn't invalid. Hindi ko na rin pinagsisisihan dahil dumating sa buhay namin si Chelca. And I love my daughter very much. Kung may pagsisisi man ako iyon ay ang maling depinisyon ko ng pagmamahal noon... I thought it was okay to be with someone that I wanted that way...

But it was dangerous.

It was dangerous because it brought harm not only to myself but to the people who are dear to me, too, my family. My loved ones.

Masyado akong nagpadala sa nararamdaman ko noon. And true that feelings might change... Because it did. At least to me.

Dahil bata pa ako noon at ang akala ko ay si Ezion na talaga ang gustong-gusto ko. And then now I'm with Declan and I love him truly.

My feelings changed. And I changed.

Pero iyong mga nangyari sa nakaraan ay hindi na mababago.

But like what I said to Ezion, it's not too late yet. Dahil mga bata pa kami noon and we thought what we were doing was okay. And now that we're grown ups and became an adult who's now more responsible, hindi naman namin mababago ang mga nangyari na sa nakaraan pero tingin ko ang mahalaga naman ay basta ba natuto na kami sa mga nagawang kamalian sa nakaraan at may kagustuhang magbago sa kasalukuyan at hinaharap namin.

At least we learned. And will try hard not to do the same mistakes ever again. Dahil alam mo nang mali iyon.

"I love you, Declan." I told him wholeheartedly.

Namungay din ang mga mata niyang nakatingin sa akin. "I love you very much."

And then we kissed in the quiet balcony of our condo that evening.

Sinadya kong makipagkita sa family ni Declan na kami lang. Nagpapagaling pa rin ang Dad ni Declan pero sa bahay nalang nila at mukhang bumubuti na rin ito. I tried setting up a meeting with Declan's mother and sister and fortunately they agreed to it.

Kaya ngayon papasok ako sa isang restaurant na napili namin na pagkikitaan. I did not wait long dahil halos kasabayan ko lang din na dumating ang mom at mga kapatid ni Declan sa napag-usapan din naming oras ng pagkikita.

"Good afternoon, po." I greeted them politely.

First we had a late lunch. Hindi sila ganoon ka magana kumain but they still eat the food that were served and we ordered. Ito lang kasi ang time na free kami pare-pareho.

"So what's this all about?" Denise asked.

"Obviously it's Kuya Declan, ate." Dyna answered her sister's question.

"Denise, Dyna,"

Tumingin ako sa mommy ni Declan. Mukhang okay lang naman sa Daddy ni Declan. My problem was his mother and two sisters. Hindi lang naman ito para sa akin. It's especially for Declan. Ayaw kong palagi niyang poproblemahin ang conflict namin sa mommy at mga kapatid niya dahil gusto niya akong makasama. I want to help him. And I'm trying to do this by talking to his family.

"I came here to talk to you for Declan." I told them.

"It's all right now. Nag-usap na kami ng asawa ko at wala naman talaga siyang problema sa relasyon ninyo ng anak namin." She sighed. "I also don't want to worry my husband anymore and get him sick again. Pasensya ka na at hindi lang namin agad na natanggap, because you see Declan's our only son and we love him very much."

Tumango ako. Naiintindihan ko naman iyon.

"What are you talking about, Mom?" Ang Ate Denise ni Declan na mabilis na bumaling sa mom nila.

"Give it up, Denise. Hanggang kailan n'yo ba gusto ni Dyna na pahirapan ang kapatid ninyo?"

Parehong natahimik ang dalawang magkapatid sa sinabi ng mommy nila.

"You two are not blind. At kilala ninyo si Declan, Denise. I know that you too can see that your brother is in love..."

Wala nang sinabi sina Dyna at Denise.

"Fine." Dyna looked at me.

"Huwag po kayong mag-alala. If it's about my daughter. Mabait na bata po ang anak ko. And I have work to support her needs and education. At suportado rin po siya ng Dad niya..." I did not intend to mention Ezion...but my point was hindi ko ibibigay kay Declan ang responsibilidad sa anak ko kung iyon ang inaalala ng pamilya niya...

Tumango lang ang mommy ni Declan.

"Declan always mentioned about your daughter. Mukhang napamahal na rin siya sa anak mo." Seryosong sinabi ni Denise habang tinitingnan din ako.

"Declan was there when Chelca was still a baby..."

"Ah, kayo nga ang pinupuntahan niya noon pa sa US." Denise said.

I nodded my head.

"Maayos naman ba kayo ni Ezion?"

Of course they also knew Ezion. Magkaibigan nga sina Declan at Ezion noong mga bata pa lang kami.

Tumango ako. "Opo. Nagkakasundo naman kami sa kay Chelca."

Tumango ang mommy ni Declan. "Well, I guess, that's good... That's fine."

"Pero iyon nalang ba talaga? Para sa bata nalang talaga?" si Dyna.

Bumaling naman ako sa bunsong kapatid ni Declan. "I'm in love with your brother." I said clearly.

Natigilan si Dyna at umayos pa sa kinauupuan niya.

Tumingin din ako sa mommy ni Declan at kay Denise. "Mahal ko po ang anak at kapatid n'yo. Declan accepted me for everything that I am. And he care for my daughter truly. Hindi po siya mahirap mahalin. And I want to give back that love to him. At gusto ko ngang mahigitan pa sana. Because it's what he deserves. For being such a good person."

"I believe that we just all want Declan's happiness. And I hope we can all agree too to give him that."

Tumango na ang Mommy ni Declan pati si Denise. And at last Dyna nodded, too. "Fine... Can we meet your daughter?" Dyna asked.

"Of course!" I got a bit too excited or happy. "Uh, pwede ko pong dalhin at ipakilala na rin sa inyo ang anak ko. She's a good kid."

The three of them nodded.

"Base nga kapag nagkukwento si Kuya Declan tungkol sa bata ay mukhang natutuwa nga rin siya sa anak mo. Well... Ano naman ang sabi ng daughter mo about this? Magpapakasal ba kayo ni kuya? How about your daughter? Okay ba siya sa kuya ko o mas gusto niya pa rin ang Daddy niya?"

"Dyna," Declan's mom tried to stop her daughter.

"Nagtatanong lang po ako, Mom." Dyna reasoned.

Declan's Mom sighed.

"Napamahal na rin po ang anak ko kay Declan. She love her Dad, too. But she loves me, too, and she also wants my happiness." I answered.

"Oh. She seems like a matured kid. How old is she?"

I turned to Denise. "She's six."

"Wow..."

Nakakatuwa na napag-usapan na rin namin si Chelca. At mukhang okay na rin sa pamilya ni Declan ang relasyon namin... I did not quite expect it but I'm happy. Masaya ako sa kinalabasan ng pag-uusap namin. At mabuti nalang na ginawan ko rin ng paraan.

At siguro bago pa man kami nakapag-usap ngayon ay kinausap na rin ni Declan ang family niya plus the help of his dad, too, na gusto nalang maayos ang relasyon ng pamilya niya.

I'm just happy that we can all compromise now for our loved one's happiness, too.

Alam kong pareho lang naman kaming lahat na nagmamahal kay Declan.

At alam ko rin na kaya naming ibigay kay Declan ang kasiyahan din niya.

So the next time that I'll meet Declan's family it would be hopefully all okay and then I can also bring Chelca to meet Declan's family, too.

Nakakatuwa.