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Epilogue

Promise

Aaron

"Hi!"

I turned to the girl who just sat beside me. We rushed Tita Eris to the hospital. She's about to give birth to my sister. And I'm just sitting here waiting. "Hi..." I looked at her. She looked younger than me, and pretty.

She smiled more prettily at me. "What are you doing here?"

"My Dad's wife is giving birth to my sister." I said.

"Oh." Tumango-tango siya. At medyo kumunot din ang noo niya sa sagot ko.

Siguro ay naguluhan din siya sa tawag ko sa nanay ng magiging kapatid ko at asawa ng daddy ko. It can be hard to explain it sometimes...

She's really pretty in her dress and her long dark hair on a cute ponytail. Mukhang ayos na ayos siya, while I'm just in my usual shorts and T-shirt that usually I use at home. Nagmadali nga lang din kaming maisugod na agad si Tita Eris dito sa hospital dahil manganganak na.

"How about you?" I asked her, too.

She smiled. "I'm waiting for my Mommy and Daddy. They're doctors here. And my family owns this hospital." she said, smiling proudly.

My eyes widened a fraction. Then isn't this dangerous for her to just wander around here, and alone? "Are you waiting for your parents all alone?" I asked her.

She shook her head. "Nope!" She said, popping the 'p'. "I'm with my tata, pero 'di niya alam na umalis ako sa tabi niya." She grinned naughtily.

"What?"

But then we already heard someone calling for probably her. "Tristeen!"

"Oh! That's my tata!" Her eyes grew wide. "I think I have to go now."

I nodded. "Okay..."

Nagkatinginan pa kami bago dumating na nga ang auntie niya. "Tristeen! Saan saan ka na naman pumupunta. Didn't I tell you not to go anywhere?"

"Is Mommy and Daddy done already?"

"Yes. Tara na, hinahanap ka na ni kuya."

"Okay." Humawak na siya sa kamay ng tita niya na nakalahad sa kaniya.

"Wait, tata." And then she turned to look back at me. She smiled. "What's your name?" she asked. Her smile brightened her face.

Sandali pa akong nakatingin lang sa kaniya bago sumagot. "Aaron."

Nakita kong ngumiti rin sa akin ang tita ng batang babae.

"I'm Tristeen."

I nodded. Narinig ko na nga rin kanina na iyon ang tinawag sa kaniya na pangalan ng auntie niya.

One more smile, and then she turned her back and left with her aunt.

That was our first meeting in their hospital.

It can be just a coincidence, pero sa isang school lang din pala kami nag-aaral. When we met again, agad din namin nakilala ang isa't isa kaya palagi na rin kaming nagkikita at nagkakausap ni Tristeen sa school. We were schoolmates since grade school. Hanggang sa nag-high school ay magkaibigan na kami ni Tristeen. Until she became my girlfriend...

Tristeen gave me a sense of belongingness... With her, I feel like I belong to her and she belong with me.

Since I was I child I never felt like I belonged...anywhere... Hindi ako tanggap kahit ng pamilya ni mama dahil hindi nila nagustuhan ang ginawa ni mama noon... At kahit pa tanggap din naman ako ng family ni dad, kahit ni Tita Eris din kalaunan... I didn't want to feel that way but sometimes, looking at my dad with his family still makes me feel like an outsider...

I don't want to be ungrateful. Of course I am grateful for dad and his family for accepting me. At siguro normal lang din naman makaramdam ng ganoon...lalo noong bata pa ako... There were times when I wanted to be with my mother instead. But she went away and started anew...

Sometimes I just don't feel like I can be somewhere I really belong to... But with Tristeen, I know that I can always be with her. And she can l be with me, too. We can be together. Without me feeling like I still don't belong anymore. It's like she gave me a home...

"Do you like me, Aaron?" She asked me this again and she looked like she's dead serious now.

While I was little shocked. Para bang hindi pa ako sanay sa pagiging straightforward din niya. She can be domineering sometimes... Being friends with her for a long time too already made me realize that she can be aggressive, too. Parang hindi siya natatakot na sabihin at gawin ang gusto niya. Siguro dahil nasasabi niya ang lahat sa parents niya... Tristeen have what I don't... A complete family who understands her and loves her unconditionally. That's why she's confident ever since.

"What...?"

We've been friends since we were both younger. At simula rin noon ay palagi na kaming nagkakasama kahit sa labas na ng eskwela. Since our families became good friends too over the years. Nagkakaintindihan sina daddy at Tito Tristan. At naging magkaibigan at sobrang nagkakasundo rin sina Tita Eris at Tita Camille.

Tristeen heaved a sigh in front of me. We were still at school even if it's almost dark outside. Akala ko nga ay umuwi na siya sa bahay nila at sinundo na ng driver nila. Habang nagpaiwan pa ako sa school dahil may gagawin pa para sa student government. Nang pinasok na lang ako dito ni Tristeen at nalaman kong hindi pa pala siya umuwi. May kasama akong mga miyembro rin ng student government na lumabas lang sandali para bumili ng maiinom namin habang nagtatrabaho. Kaya kaming dalawa lang ni Tristeen ngayon ang nandito sa room.

I grew up an achiever. Dahil pakiramdam ko kailangan kong patunayan ang sarili ko... So that at least people would see me other than just my father's bastard.

"What do you mean, Teen...?" I still asked, kahit parang alam ko na naman din ang ibig niyang sabihin...

These days I noticed more how she can get or how she acts whenever she's jealous... Pareho lang ang mood niya sa tuwing may nakikita at napapansin niyang napapalapit sa akin na ibang babae... Ngayon may kasama ako sa student government ng school namin sa high school. Kakaupo ko lang din as president kaya nakikisama at kinikilala pa lang namin ang mga members. So lately I have been spending a little more time with our members, too.

"You already know what I mean, Aaron!" She said it impatiently.

My lips parted. And I chuckled a little. Lalo lang namang kumunot ang noo niya sa akin na nakita niya akong tumawa bahagya. I shook my head. "I'm sorry. I'll just get my work here done and then we can go home together, all right?"

Sumimangot pa rin siya. While I can't stop myself from smiling at her being adorable even at times like this when she looked like she's obviously not in the mood.

"You can sit here." Kinuha ko siya ng mauupuan at pinuwesto pa iyon sa tabi ko. "You will wait for me, right?"

She nodded. Medyo may kunot pa rin sa noo niya. Her bangs doesn't anymore cover her entire forehead like before, dahil humaba na rin ito. Maputi si Tristeen at kahit wala pa siyang nilagay na lipstick sa labi niya, it's already red like cherry. And her long slender legs showing because her skirt uniform was a little shorter than the others. Naglalagay din siya ng konting makeup sa mukha. She doesn't really need it but she wants to and I think it's all right. As long as she's comfortable with it.

"How about your driver?" I asked.

Umiling naman siya. "Maghihintay sa akin si kuya, or I can also send him a message na kayo na lang ng driver ninyo ang maghahatid sa akin pauwi."

I just nodded. Kilala na ako nina Tito Tristan kaya hindi na rin sila gaanong mahigpit kapag alam nilang ako lang naman ang kasama ni Tristeen...

Tristeen and I were like best friends ever since.

"Pres..." Medyo natigilan pa ang mga kasama ko sa council nang pagbalik nila ay may kasama na ako doon.

I turned to my members and smiled. "Can she stay here until we finish? Magsasabay kasi kami pauwi mamaya." I told them. And they just nodded and agreed.

Tristeen waited until we finished. Sana ay huwag na niyang pagselosan ang kasama ko sa student government o kahit sino pa man. Dahil wala naman talaga siyang dapat na ipagselos.

"About my answer for your question earlier... I think I have already told you couple of times that I like you, Teen." Nag-usap kami habang papunta na sa naghihintay naming sasakyan. Tapos na kami sa gawain sa school at uuwi na.

She stopped from her steps and turned to look at me. "Then, tayo na." She said it seriously.

My lips parted. And then I can't help it but to chuckle at her silliness sometimes... I looked at her. "Ngayon pa lang ba magiging tayo? Akala ko tayo na noong nakaraan, ah." I said and tried to remind her, too.

Palagi talaga kaming magkasama ni Tristeen at halos hindi na mapaghiwalay. She's been so supportive of me ever since. Galing sa mga sinasalihan ko sa school, to my basketball games where she's always my number one cheerleader. And she's the literal cheerleader in our school, too. Palagi na nga rin kaming binibiro ng iba pa naming mga kaibigan. Para na ring kami, matagal na.

But maybe I should do something about it, too. Para gawin lang din na mas malinaw ang tungkol sa aming dalawa. To be honest, nahihiya lang din ako kay Tristeen kaya nauunahan ako ng panghihina ng loob madalas. Marami rin kasi ang nagkakagusto sa kaniya at sumusubok din na manligaw. Well, she's pretty and all kaya hindi na nakapagtataka iyon. And I think I'm just glad that she's a little too aggressive. I'm glad that I'm the one she likes. Siya lang din naman ang gusto ko.

"Yes. And I'm just reminding you now again that I'm the one you like." She said it strictly.

I chuckled more this time. I can't help it anymore.

Pagkatapos ay hinawakan ko na ang kamay niya. Napatingin siya sa magkahawak na naming mga kamay ngayon. We've already held hands before, too. "Yes, Teen, it's you that I like and only you. So please stop thinking of other things..." Stop being jealous, baby...

She nodded.

Tumigil muli ako sa paglalakad namin to pat her head. And then I kissed her on her forehead. Naramdaman ko na bahagya pa siyang natigilan. "I actually love you, Teen." I said it. "And I wanted to show you that I am really in love with you. Pero palagi mo na lang ang nauunahan..." Parang gusto niya rin kasi palaging mabilis lang ang lahat... Well, ganoon lang din talaga siya. Pero hindi rin naman siya mapilit... She just naturally have some attitude like everyone else.

"You mean, gusto mo pa akong ligawan? Hindi pa ba panliligaw ang ginagawa mo all this time? Giving me gifts... And supporting me in everything. Listening to all my whims and whatnots."

I just chuckled again. "Yeah..."

Nagkatinginan kami.

This time, she finally smiled after her bad mood earlier. "I love you." She said.

I just feel like I wanted to hug her and so I did. Niyakap ko siya at hinagkan siya sa buhok niya. Sandali pa akong pumikit para damhin siya sa loob ng yakap ko.

Nasa gitna pa kami ng school field. Bago bumaba muli ang kamay ko sa kamay niya at hinawakan ko siya para makaalis na rin kami ng school.

We didn't have to tell Tito Tristan and our family about our relationship anymore... I think they have already expected it from us.

"Just take care of Tristeen, Aaron. You take care of each other, no matter what. Mga bata pa kayo, but I know that you're mature enough."

I nodded at Tito Tristan. "I promise to take care of Tristeen, tito."

Tito Tristan sighed. And then he just pat my shoulder. I got taller than when I was younger and he used to pat my head too when I was a boy. Tito Tristan was strict at first, but after knowing me better he's become like a dad to me too already...

Mabait si Tito Tristan. Mabait ang pamilya nila. I realized that maybe someone will grow up good when coming from a good family, too... I grew up in the care of my dad and his family. Despite we might not be the usual family... I wanted to prove that I grew up a good person and responsible because my dad and his family raised me well, despite.

Kaya nang mangyari iyong noon sa amin ni Tristeen... I was too broken-hearted and forgot about my promises...

Hindi madali iyon. At sobrang masakit. Tristeen's my best friend, my home, my only one. Pakiramdam ko nawala na rin ang lahat lahat sa akin nang masira kami... I expected that I could trust her always and that she'd understand. But maybe I expected too much from her, too...

Later on I realized that she isn't perfect. That the girl I loved wasn't the definition of perfection. Despite people seeing her as the perfect heir to the Dela Cuestas with their expectations towards her. She's smart and confident. She's also an achiever. And that's because she wanted to give back her family's —especially her parents' hardwork for her. Tristeen's actually an appreciative and a good daughter. Pareho lang kaming gustong maging mabuting anak sa parents namin, but we have our limitations, too. We just aren't perfect beings.

"I wonder if this happened to me because I'm paying for what you have done to Tita Eris and Dad's marriage before..." I snapped at my mom. I never questioned her before. I just choose to understand everything with our situation instead. Pero sa nangyari sa akin ay hindi ko mapigilang makapagsalita nang ganito kay mama... And I knew that it's not right...

Nanlalaki ang mga mata ni mama habang nakatingin sa akin pagkatapos ng sinabi ko. "Aaron..."

I stayed with her after leaving the Philippines after what happened to me and Tristeen. I can't stay there any longer... Baka lalo lang kaming magkasakitan...

I sighed. "I'm sorry, Mama... I didn't mean it..."

But she shook her head. "No, anak. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Aaron. Siguro nga tama ka. Ganti ito para dapat sa akin sa ginawa kong kasalanan noon sa Daddy mo at kay Eris... Pero parang ikaw pa ang binalikan..." She said this with unshed tears in her eyes.

I shook my head too and went to hug her. No matter what she's done...she's still my mother. "I'm sorry, 'Ma. For bringing up such things that's already been in the past."

She hugged me too as she now cried. Alam kong nagmatigas man noon si mama ay pinagsisisihan na niya ang nagawa noon kay dad at Tita Eris... She once became too selfish... And she regrets it until now. Namuo na rin ang luha sa mga mata ko, that turned bloodshot as I hugged my mother.

"I, Aaron Jaxon Ledesma, take you, Lea Tristeen Dela Cuesta, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, I promise to love and cherish you in all the days of my life..."

Today, I vowed to hold her in my arms... Whatever happens—in our good times and the bad. I now promise to make my love for her greater than anything that could come to us again...

I realized that people make mistakes...and that they can regret it and promise to not make the same mistake ever again. Because people learn. And we learn from it. From our very own wrongs and mistakes.

Tristeen already regretted what she had done in the past. And I have my own regrets, too. At ayaw ko nang dagdagan pa. I even thought that maybe she was just guilty for what he had done to me... But I realized that it's not it. She loved me. And she's still in love with me. Dahil kung hindi, paano niya nagagawang patawarin ako sa mga pagkukulang ko rin... Parang ang dali lang sa kaniyang mapatawad ako. I realized that she's given me several chances already... So how can I not forgive her when it even seemed so easy for her to forgive my shortcomings, to forgive me. And that's also what made me realized that she really love me. Because I realized too that loving is something like that... When you love someone you can easily forgive them because your love was greater than the any mistake that the person you love can make...

And what's there not to forgive when you can see the willingness of the person you love to change, and knowing that they have already regretted what they did. And now sincerely asking for a chance. Kaya bakit mo ipagdadamot iyon?

I remember what Tita Eris and I talked about when we were given the chance to talk about it not so long ago...

"I really thank you, Aaron, for being a good son to your Dad and brother to your siblings." she said.

Umuwi kasi ako sa bahay para tumulong din sa pag-ayos ng konting hindi lang pagkakaintindihan nina Sophie at Jarvis... At ito lang din ang dahilan kung bakit ako narinig ni Tristeen na kausap pa si Sophia. I was just trying to help her and my brother. Because I knew that Jarvis really love Sophia. And she loves my brother, too.

Maybe Sophia did loved me. But she's in love with my brother. And that's two different things somehow...

Tumango lang naman ako. "It's my responsibility to be good to your family, tita. Because you've been good to me, too..." I gulped a little.

May bakas ng lungkot na tumingin sa akin si Tita Eris. "Aaron, ayaw ko sana na palagi mong iisipin na parang responsibilidad mo ang lahat... You are your father's child and you deserve as much as what your siblings receive..." malumanay niyang sinabi.

I nodded at what Tita Eris said. And then I smiled to her. "Thank you, tita. I am truly grateful to you and Dad...kahit pa..." hindi ko matuloy.

While Tita Eris nodded like she understood. Like she's telling me now that it's all right...

"Paano mo po napatawad si dad..." I stopped there. I can't believe I'm asking her. She may be okay now but I didn't want to touch it anymore for her own good. I didn't want to hurt her, like what my mother did... Tita Eris is a good person. She accepted me into her family despite everything... Even when I remember that there was still hurt in her eyes sometimes when she looked at me before...

"Dahil nagsisi naman ang Daddy mo, Aaron." I was amazed that she still answered it. At nagpatuloy pa siya. "And it's hard not to forgive the person you truly love..."

We went silent for awhile.

She sighed. "People make mistakes, Aaron. We all have our own share of shortcomings. Because we aren't perfect. But that doesn't mean we do not anymore deserve love and forgiveness...for being flawed..."

She loved dad unconditionally. Not blindly but just unconditionally.

And maybe like how God can still forgive all our sins no matter what it is... And as long as we repent for our sins...

"I, Lea Tristeen Dela Cuesta, take you, Aaron Jaxon Ledesma, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, I promise to love and cherish you..." Tristeen was smiling as she looked at me with tenderness in her gentle eyes for me while saying her vows, too.

Tama na iyong mga nangyari sa nakaraan. Who am I not to forgive, really? I want to just love her now. To love her unconditionally. The kind of love that accepts and forgive.

I smiled after saying our promises to each other on our wedding day. And then we sealed our vows with our first kiss as husband and wife now.