This is the end. Thank you for reading until here. Till my next stories! Completed another story! Yay! Thank you very much for appreciating my works. I read your comments and messages in my stories although I may not be able to reply to all of it. But I am grateful. You make me smile and happy! God Bless everyone for the kind words.

Epilogue

Gift

Declan

I was friends with Caleb since we were kids. He has a younger sister which I can get to see whenever I go to their house or when we're at school. Pero minsan lang sa school dahil hindi naman malapit ang mga buildings ng grade levels namin or Caleb doesn't always visit his sister. Pinupuntahan niya lang ang kapatid niya kapag uwian na madalas wherein pauwi na rin ako dahil nand'yan na ang sundo at hindi na rin ako nakakasama kay Caleb na sunduin din sa room nito ang kapatid niya. What for, anyway? Hindi naman kailangan gawin 'yon. Baka pati si Caleb magtaka kung bakit makikisundo rin ako sa kapatid niya?

I sighed seeing her walking away from me. Naasar ko na naman kasi siya. I didn't really mean to... I just wanted her to notice me, too... But maybe my ways wasn't right at all.

But I was always there for her... I mean I never forget her birthdays —I always have gifts prepared for her. Pero parang pati iyon hindi niya napapansin. Mahirap basahin si Cirilla. Kahit bata pa siya medyo tahimik siya at hindi masyadong nagkukwento kahit sa pinsan kong si Lorie na best friend niya. I always wondered what's on her mind...

It was a shock to me when it was revealed to us that Ciri had a kind of a secret relationship with the asshole Ezion...

Walang may alam. Kahit ang mga kapatid niya. At nang nalaman ay medyo nahuli na ang lahat...

"Damn you, you asshole!" Sinugod ko si Ezion sa bahay nila. Their maids thought that I was only visiting him. Matagal na rin kaming magkakaibigan ni Ezion, ako at Caleb.

Wala pa yata sa bahay nila ang parents niya. And we were just inside his room. Ang akala din niya ay may kailangan lang ako kaya nagpunta rito. But I really need to punch him! I was so mad at him. He's a traitor. He knew that I liked Cirilla. Alam din ni Caleb and I respect na ayaw pa niya paligawan ang kapatid niya dahil bata pa naman talaga si Ciri. But this damn fucking asshole Ezion! He betrayed me and Caleb. He's not a friend to us both at all. Dahil kung kaibigan talaga namin siya he wouldn't do this.

Hindi siya gumanti ng suntok sa akin at tiningnan lang ako.

"Do you even love her?" I gritted my teeth.

Hindi ko naman pipilitin si Ciri if she doesn't really like me back. Kung si Ezion talaga ang gusto niya I'll let her be. Hindi ko naman siya pag-aari. Although it would hurt me... But I think it's all right... I just want to see Ciri smiling and happy...

Pero ang gagong si Ezion kung ano-ano na pala ang ginawa kay Ciri! He took advantage of her!

Hindi din siya sumagot sa tanong ko. I balled my hands into fists tightly. Gustong-gusto ko pang manuntok muli sa kaniya. "You only used her to distract yourself from Gretchen? Bakit si Ciri, Ezion! She's young and she doesn't know what she's doing. Ikaw ang nakatatanda! But instead you took advantage of her!"

"And now their family's leaving the country. Hindi ka man lang mananagot sa ginawa mo kay Ciri!"

Pero parang wala lang sa sarili si Ezion. He was just looking at me. Until he finally spoke before I could land a punch on his face again. "Gretchen needs me now, Declan."

"At si Ciri hindi?!"

He shook his head. "She has her family... One day I'll talk to her. But right now I can't let Gretchen harm herself and our child..."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. What a real asshole you are Ezion Go! I gritted my teeth and my jaw clenched. "You have a choice, Ezion. And you chose Gretchen. One day you'll regret this."

After that I tuned my back at him and our once friendship with Caleb. Wala na rin naman si Caleb kaya buwag na talaga ang pagkakaibigan naming tatlo...

"You're not anymore preparing gifts for your crush?" puna ni mommy.

My mom knew that I already have someone I like. She's seen through my efforts. Hindi ko lang sigurado kung alam ba niya na ang younger sister ng kaibigan kong si Caleb ang gusto ko. It's the Christmas days... Kapag ganito nag-iisip at naghahanda na rin ako ng ano'ng ireregalo ko kay Ciri...

But Ciri receives many gifts during occasions, too. Be it from her friends, family, and boys who were trying to court her kahit ayaw pa ni Caleb. Kaya siguro hindi na rin niya napapansin ang mga bigay ko... And we're not really that close to each other...so I'm less important to her... Kahit ang mga bigay ko sa kaniya hindi na rin importante kaya siguro hindi na niya napupuna.

Until I was able to reunite with my old friend, Declan, after a year or so after they moved abroad. Dahil na rin sa pinsan ko because Caleb and Lorie somehow still kept their communication. Nalaman ko rin that their dad just died... And Ciri gave birth while still mourning for the death of her dad and was depressed...

My jaw clenched. And Ezion was just in the Philippines taking care of his own family now. Tsk. He just abandoned Ciri and their daughter...

Awang-awa ako nang makita ko ang sitwasyon ni Ciri. Ang payat niya at kakapanganak niya pa lang. At naawa rin ako sa baby niya... Chelca was so small and a fragile baby when I first met her. Parang gusto ko agad bumalik ng Pilipinas para lang bugbugin ang gagong si Ezion.

He doesn't deserve neither Ciri nor their child.

Later on I became Ciri's friend with my frequent visits. This time we finally got closer. Ganito pala ang pakiramdam kapag naging magkaibigan na kami ni Ciri. I became just her friend because that's just what she needed at that time.

I'm also happy when I get to visit her growing baby. Chelca was becoming healthier when compared to my last visits. At lalo pa akong natutuwa sa baby dahil lumalaki talaga siyang kamukha ni Ciri. She's like a mini version of Cirilla. And I learned to care truly for the child. I learned to love Chelca the way I care for her mom.

"Declan, I don't know what I'll do if something bad is to happen to Chelca. Baka ikamatay ko..." Ciri cried. She was panicking. We just rushed Chelca to the hospital.

Kakabalik ko lang para bisitahin muli sila. Nagtataka na nga sina mommy at madalas na ang mga paglabas ko ng bansa. I just tell them that it's for my work as an Engineer. Totoo rin naman na may mga projects din ako abroad. May construction and real estate company si dad. Nagtatrabaho rin naman ako sa kaniya but I also work alone on projects. Gusto ko rin kasing maging independent. And someday I want to build my own company, too. Na galing lang sa pagsusumikap ko.

I want to be ready when the time comes... Kapag magpapamilya na ako... Kaya ngayon pa lang pinaghahandaan ko na...

I comforted Ciri while we were waiting outside as the doctors checked on Chelca. Kakarating ko lang at nadatnan kong inaapoy ng lagnat si Chelca and Ciri didn't know what to do. Wala rin siyang kasama sa bahay nila dahil nagtatrabaho ang mommy niya at sina Caleb at Cianna.

I'm just glad that I came on time. Hindi ko rin alam ang gagawin ko kung napano si Chelca at Ciri.

"Everything's gonna be fine, Ciri... The doctors know what to do. Chelca will be okay..." I tried to reassure her when I was also so worried of Chelca.

When the doctor faced us he said that Chelca's better now. Mabuti na lang at nasugod naman namin agad ang bata sa hospital.

I stayed with Ciri and Chelca at the hospital when the child was admitted. I made sure na pati si Ciri ay hindi ko napapabayaan habang nasa hospital kami at napapakain ko rin siya sa oras. Nakwento kasi sa akin dati ni Caleb na hindi daw maayos minsan ang pagkain ni Ciri... Nakakalimutan niya or she was too busy caring for Chelca, too...

And it breaks my heart. That's why I really want to be here as much as I can to look after her, too.

Nang makalabas na sa hospital si Chelca ay naging okay na rin si Ciri. I bought all the supplies Chelca needed like her medicines and vitamins, diaper and milk, before I went home dahil kailangan na ako ni dad sa trabaho.

Palagi lang nasa isip ko si Chelca at Ciri kahit nakauwi na ako. At lalo pa akong nagsumikap. Until I was able to start my own company. Kinuha ko si Caleb dahil alam kong balak na rin naman niyang bumalik sa Pilipinas dahil mukhang may napag-usapan na yata sila ni Lorie. And I wished that Ciri would be home, too... I promise I'll protect her and Chelca from Ezion.

Looking back at all of it now, parang hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala... I did not expect that Ciri would love me back, too... After everything I'm just so grateful. I told myself before that I'll be fine if I can't be with Ciri. If she will love another guy. At totoo naman iyon. Dahil hindi sumagi sa isip ko na pilitin siyang magustuhan din ako. Siguro umasa rin ako pero hanggang doon lang iyon. I wouldn't really expect for her to return any of my feelings or kindness to her. Ginawa ko naman iyon sa sarili kong kagustuhan. At masaya na rin ako na nakatulong ako sa kanila ni Chelca. Dahil napamahal na rin sa akin ang bata.

"You will ask mommy to marry you, ninong?"

I put my index finger to my lips. She cutely brought her hands to cover her mouth. "Now we have a secret..." I smiled to her.

Ngumiti rin si Chelca at tumango-tango. I asked her if it's okay for her if her mom and I start a family of course that includes her. "It's okay, Ninong. I want Mommy happy. And I know that Ninong Declan can make mommy happy." She smiled gently.

She's a little matured for her age. At ang nagustuhan ko pa ay pareho lang sila ni Ciri na mahal ang isa't isa. Kung nag-aalala si Ciri kay Chelca ay ganoon din ang pag-aalala nito sa kaniya. That's why I'll continue to protect these two girls until my last breath.

And so I proposed to Ciri after asking for her hand first to Chelca. Dahil alam kong mahalaga ang opinion ni Chelca para kay Ciri kaya importante rin sa akin ang iniisip ni Chelca.

And now how fast the time flies it's been already a year since we got married. Since I got married to the only woman I ever loved.

I may have had relationships in the past...but those were only a distraction... But I knew that it wasn't good too so I ended it early. I think hindi na uli ako nagkaroon ng girlfriend in my 20s. Iyong huli kasi ay teenager pa ako. I focused myself with work and realized that I just couldn't really love another girl other than Ciri...

"What are you really trying to do?" I sighed. Hindi naman ako napapagod. I'll never get tired of Cirilla, my wife. She's just being something lately...

Hindi ko alam kung buntis na ba siya sa anak namin at naglilihi na... But she's wanting me to do something that I just couldn't do to her. Noong una she only mentioned na subukan ko rin daw magalit sa kaniya. Kasi parang hindi daw ako nagagalit sa kaniya. At ano naman ang ikagagalit ko?

And now gusto na niyang maging medyo bayolente na rin daw ako sa kaniya... How can I? Wala namang rason para maging ganoon. Is it her fetish...? I sighed. Wala akong ibang maisip kung bakit nagkakaganito ang asawa ko kundi dahil siguro buntis na ngang talaga siya...so she's being this weird. They said that women gets weird with their cravings and all when they're pregnant.

Cirilla pouted. "Kasi naman... Gusto ko lang malaman kung kaya mo pa rin bang magalit sa akin kahit mahal mo ako. Kasi isang taon na tayong mag-asawa, Declan. But you've always been just gentle to me."

I held her close. "That's because you're my wife and I plan to be gentle and sweet to you for the rest of our lives... But, well, yes. Doesn't mean that I wouldn't be mad...if you did something that could harm you...or hurt our family?" I sighed. "Right now you've been nothing too but a very good wife to me. So there's no reason for me to get angry, more so violent..." I know that she can see how problematic my face became at the last words I said.

But my naughty wife only chuckled. "I love you, Declan." She sweetly hugged my waist as she kept out eye contact.

I smiled. "I love you so much."

"And thank you for loving me this much." she said.

We ended both smiling to each other.

And then Chelca came home from school. Madalas pa rin siyang hinahatid dito pauwi nina Ezion at Julius. And we just let her be with her dad and brother. Wala namang problema iyon.

"Hi, Mom, Ninong." She kissed both Ciri's cheek and mine.

And then niyaya na rin kami ni Ciri sa dining room para makapag-dinner na ng hinanda niya ring mga pagkain para sa amin. Parang may special occasion nga dahil mukhang napadami yata ang niluto niya ngayon kahit kaming tatlo lang naman ni Chelca at ang mga kasambahay namin ang kakain mamaya.

"Ano'ng meron?" Napuna rin iyon ni Chelca.

But her mom only smiled to us. "I just want to congratulate your ninong, Chelca."

"Ninong?" Bumaling din sa akin si Chelca. "What is it?" Napangiti na rin siya habang naghihintay.

I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know with your Mom... Is she going to surprise me or what...?" I just smiled. Kung ano man ang mayroon tatanggapin ko lang at pasasalamatan dahil galing sa asawa ko.

Chelca chuckled. "What is it, Mommy? I'm getting curious already!"

And then Ciri who was seated beside me revealed a small box and pushed it to my front. "Hmm, a gift?"

But my wife only gave me a beautiful smile.

Napangiti na lang din ako at binuksan iyon para makita ang nilalamang regalo...

"Oh my!" was Chelca's quick reaction.

My eyes widened a fraction. Maybe I'm really right why she was acting a bit weird lately... Tama ako. And that's because... I looked at the PT that says 'Pregnant!'. I smiled quietly and contentedly. Kahit lumakas na rin ang tibok sa dibdib ko dahil sa magandang balitang ito. She's really pregnant. My wife, my love, is finally pregnant with our child.

Tumayo ako at napatayo na rin si Ciri para salubungin ang yakap ko. I embraced her to my chest. I was so happy that I ended speechless. I heard both my girls, Chelca and Ciri chuckled to my very first reaction after knowing that we're having a baby!

"You're gonna be a dad." Ciri said to me gently.

"Congrats, Ninong! I'm gonna be an ate na rin pala! I'm so happy, Mommy!"

"I'm very much happy, too." I whispered to Ciri while she's still in my arms as I hug her. "Thank you so much. I love you very, very much."

Masaya na ako sa kay Ciri pa lang at Chelca. They are my own family. At ngayon na nalaman kong magkakaroon na rin kami ni Ciri ng sarili naming anak ay mas lalo lang akong naging masaya.

"I love you, Declan." Ciri whispered to me too and then she kissed my cheek.

And then Chelca joined our hug. I can't wish for any more after given this life that I have now with them.