Chapter Twenty-six

Confront

Umuwi kami sa bahay. We were welcomed by my family and our house helpers. Nandoon din ang pamilya ni Aaron. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita sina Tito James at Tita Maia—Daddy's younger sister! I didn't know that they went home with my cousin Anthony. Sa abroad na kasi sila nakatira.

"Tita!" Binigay ko muna si Arabella kay Mommy para mayakap ko si Tita Maia. I was happy to see her and her family! I missed her! "I miss you!"

"Tristeen, I miss you, too."

Nakita kong ngumiti si tita nang kumalas na kami sa yakap. I smiled, too. I was really filled with Joy seeing na kompleto ang pamilya ko ngayon at magkakasama kami.

"No one told me that you went home!" I said.

Tita Maia just smiled. "I think we want to surprise you, too, Teen."

Ngumiti ako at bumaling naman kay Tito James. "Tito," And I hugged him, too. May rason kung bakit pinili nalang nilang manirahan sa ibang bansa ni Tita Maia. Ang mahalaga ay masaya ang pamilya nila.

While Anthony was busy with Lance. Sila kasi ng kapatid ko ang halos magkaedad. They also went to see the baby. Pumunta at lumapit silang dalawa kay mommy to see Arabella. I just smiled at my cousin.

"We prepared food, Teen. Kumain na muna tayo bago pa lumamig ang pagkain." Mommy said.

Tumango naman ako at sumunod na rin. I was well-rested at the hospital so I have enough energy to be with my family for a while. Aaron went to my side. I think he's still worried about me that I just gave birth. Pero sa totoo lang ay okay lang naman ako.

Tita Maia and Tito James also went to see Arabella for the first time. Sa picture pa lang kasi nila ito nakita noong nakaraan na nag-send sa kanila si Mommy.

Kumain kaming lahat kasama rin ang family ni Aaron. Tito Axel and Daddy were both happy for their first grandchild. Halos mag-agawan pa nga ang mga pamilya namin kay Arabella. After having our meal everyone became busy with my daughter. At naguluhan at naingayan yata ang anak ko sa pamilya namin kaya umiyak tuloy.

I chuckled and got Arabella from Dad to lull her in my arms. Tumahimik at tumingin nalang ang pamilya ko sa anak kong natutulog na sa mga bisig ko. I smiled while watching Arabella, too. She's the first baby in our family. Dahil siguro pareho rin kaming panganay na anak ni Aaron. Arabella's the the first grandchild in the family. At unang pamangkin din ng mga tito at tita niya. Kaya napagkakaguluhan.

"Siguro ay hayaan na muna nating makapagpahinga si Tristeen at Arabella sa kwarto. Aaron, hijo, ihatid mo na muna ang mag-ina mo." My grandmother said.

Ngumiti ako kay lola at sumunod na muna para makapaghinga nang maayos si Arabella sa kwarto. Nagpaalam muna ako sa pamilya ko at mga bisita namin.

Aaron brought me and our daughter to our room.

"She's a sleepyhead..." Aaron commented while watching Arabella sleep.

I turned to him and smiled. "Gan'yan siguro talaga ang mga baby..."

"Uuwi ka ba mamaya?" I asked Aaron.

Nagkatinginan kami.

Binalik ko ang tingin ko kay Arabella na pinahiga ko na muna sa kama ko. Mamaya dadalhin ko siya sa baby room. While I sat just right beside my daughter in bed. "Ano...ang plano mo, Aaron?" I asked him. Hindi ko na napigilan.

Am I starting to confront him right now? Mukhang ganoon na nga. I'm already worried of my daughter's future. Siguro dahil mother na ako. Mas lalo kong naramdaman kung gaano ka importante sa akin ang anak ko. At gagawin ko ang lahat para sa kaniya. Gusto kong ibigay sa anak ko ang nararapat.

Wala agad akong narinig na sagot mula kay Aaron. Kaya binalingan ko siya. I watched him and his reaction. He looked like he was taken aback and serious. Halata rin sa mukha niya na pagod pa siya mula sa pagbabantay sa amin ni Arabella sa hospital at kulang pa sa pahinga. And then he sighed.

"Are we talking about...this, right now?"

"Of course. Kailan pa ba natin pag-uusapan ang setup natin? Ngayong nandito na si Arabella I think we should be more responsible parents to her."

Aaron nodded. "Of course."

"So?" I feel like I was being impatient.

Alam kong pagod pa si Aaron at pwede ko naman siyang pagpahingahin na muna. Pero pinipili ko talagang mag-usap kami ngayon. Dahil hindi na ito mawala sa isip ko. I've been thinking about this since I gave birth to Arabella and saw my daughter for the first time. I realized that I wanted a more stable situation for my daughter. And obviously not like this.

Umupo rin si Aaron sa kama sa tabi namin ni Arabella. Nagkatinginan muli kami. "I've been thinking about it, too. Gusto rin kitang kausapin. But I think hinayaan at kinontento nalang muna natin ang mga sarili natin sa kung ano'ng mayroon tayo before Arabella came to our life now." he said.

"Teen, I already asked you to marry me before. At hindi naman nagbago 'yon. And I was just waiting for you... Ayaw mo pa noon at tinanggihan mo ako. Ayaw din kitang pilitin. So I've decided to just wait for your decision. But I hope you know now that I'm just here for you and our daughter..."

Unti-unti akong tumango sa sinabi ni Aaron. I can feel my eyes getting warm with tears that's starting to wet my eyes.

Umiling si Aaron at dinala ako sa loob ng mga braso niya. Niyakap niya ako at yumakap din ako sa kaniya. Habang natutulog sa tabi namin ang anak namin.

"We will try to do the right thing. We will become responsible parents to our daughter..."

I nodded to what Aaron said. Tumango ako sa dibdib niya habang nakapaloob pa rin ako sa yakap niya.

After that nagsabi ako kay Aaron na mag-b-bathroom muna ako para makapagpalit na rin ng damit galing pang hospital. So that I'd feel more comfortable to rest after.

"Alright. I'll take care of Arabella while you do your thing."

Tumango ako kay Aaron. "Thank you."

Pagkatapos kong makapagbihis ay binalikan ko ang mag-ama ko. Natigilan pa ako at naaawang napangiti nalang sa nadatnan kong ayos ni Aaron sa tabi ng anak namin. He was already sleeping beside our daughter in my bed when I got out of the bathroom. Alam kong pagod pa talaga si Aaron galing sa pagbabantay sa amin ni Arabella sa hospital at halos hindi siya natulog doon. Ngayon hindi na siguro niya kinaya so he fell asleep unconsciously beside our sleeping Arabella, too.

Pagkatapos noon ay bumuti na sa pagitan namin ni Aaron. Nanatili muna kami sa bahay ng parents ko at halos doon na rin umuuwi si Aaron para makasama kami ni Arabella. Halos ayaw din kaming pakawalan ni daddy. If he's not at his work at our hospital ay nandito lang siya sa bahay para alagaan kami ni Arabella. Daddy was really happy with his grandchild.

Until the day that Aaron proposed to me again. Arabella just turned a month old at bumabawi pa rin ang katawan ko mula sa pagbubuntis at panganganak. Aaron invited me out to dinner after his work. Dinala niya ako sa isang restaurant that he even made exclusive for us. Kami lang talaga ang tao at mukhang pinasara niya pa talaga ang buong restaurant para lang sa amin. There's a table set up for the two of us that's really beautifully made and arranged. And there's music and the ambience was really nice and romantic. Nakakatuwa naman.

"Ito ang bagong bukas lang na restaurant ni Jiro, right?" tukoy ko sa isang friend ni Aaron.

We were just talking and conversing while having our deliciously prepared meal.

"Yes. Did you like it?"

I smilingly nodded to Aaron. "Of course. I appreciate your effort. Thank you, Aaron."

"It's nothing. But, you're welcome." He smiled handsomely.

Namungay ang mga mata ko habang nakatingin sa kaniya.

Pagkatapos naming kumain ay tumayo si Aaron at umalis sa upuan niya para pumunta sa akin. He offered a hand at niyaya akong sumayaw kami sa marahang music...

I was smiling as we danced. Nakangiti rin si Aaron habang sinasayaw ako. We're not anymore the teenagers Tristeen and Aaron. We matured, and we matured physically. But I still feel like at that moment Aaron was still the boy that I loved. Because my feelings for him was the same as how I felt since I was young.

And then he showed me the ring. It was perfect. And I said yes to him. Nagkasundo na kami ni Aaron na magpapakasal.

"Pero hindi muna sa ngayon. Bumabawi pa lang ang katawan ko sa panganganak. I'll still go to the gym. I will prepare for it. I want to be perfect on my wedding!" I told Aaron.

And he just chuckled. "Fine, then..." He smiled.

And I smiled too while looking at his eyes. Inangat ko rin ang isang kamay ko para tingnan muli ang singsing na nakasuot na doon. It's beautiful.

Yumakap pa akong muli kay Aaron at hinagkan niya ako sa ulo.

And I thought everything was going all right. We have Arabella that made everyone happy. Akala ko ay okay na kami ni Aaron.

But maybe it's really hard to trust again after a mistake that cannot be forgotten easily and promises were once broken.