Kabanata 23

And how time really flies so fast. Because just shortly after the christening we celebrated next Tiago's first birthday. Which I feel a little emotional because I feel like my son was growing up way too fast.

Soon I'll surely miss the days like this when he was still a baby. Nagiging emosyonal talaga ako kapag naiisip ko na lumalaki na ang anak ko.

Pero tingin ko naman ay ganoon lang din siguro talaga. Since I have become a mother I also started having these worries. Which I think normal at this point. I have really become a mother. I can't help it but smile. Because aside from some worries being a mother was an exciting job and rewarding.

For Tiago's first birthday we first celebrated it just at home with just me and Sancho and our son. And later on that day we had the main celebration which we already invited guests to join us in our celebration.

"Parang kailan lang."

Bumaling ako kay Mama sa tabi ko. Ngumiti ako sa kaniya. "Kaya nga po, 'Ma. Parang kailan lang noong nalaman ko pa lang na buntis ako kay Tiago at pinanganak ko siya. Now my son just turned one!" I said.

Tumingin din sa akin si Mama at ngumiti. "Naalala ko rin ako sa'yo noon. Time flies so fast."

Tumango naman ako at sumang-ayon.

"Kumusta nga pala ang byenan mo?" She asked me.

I sighed slightly looking at my mother. "Ayos lang po kami ni Mama Carolina, Mama." sabi ko.

"Are you sure?" Ayaw pa rin talaga paawat.

Tumango naman ako. "Opo. You should really stop worrying about it, Mama. Maayos na po talaga kami ngayon ng Mama ni Sancho." I said to her.

And I was surely telling the truth. And I already understand Sancho's Mama. Lalo noong naging ina na rin ako. I thought that maybe I'd be like that too in some ways when it came to my son. I'm not saying that it's all right. It's just that I think that I understand her.

"All right." anang Mama at wala na ring sinabi pa pagkatapos.

Sa huli ay kumalma na rin muli si Mama. At pagkatapos ay nilapitan ko na uli si Tiago na kasalukuyang nasa pamilya ni Sancho at sumunod naman sa akin ang Mama. Pagkatapos ay kinuha niya rin sa akin ang apo niya pagkatapos. Ngumiti na lang ako.

After the party ay naglinis na ang staff ng venue at catering while we prepare to leave. Medyo nagpaiwan pa kami ni Sancho because of course we still have to thank them for their efforts and for making my son's first birthday a more memorable one.

"Ang gaganda rin ng mga kuha ng photographer kanina lalo na sa kay Tiago. I checked it and he looks so cute and handsome in those photos." I said, smiling to my husband.

Bumaling naman sa akin si Sancho at ngumiti. Nanatili ang tingin ko sa kanila ng anak ko. Sancho was carrying Tiago in his arms. I never thought before that I could be happy like this.

When I thought that I already knew what I wanted. Pero sa huli ay ito pala talaga ang totoong makakapagpasaya sa akin.

Sometimes our plans can be destroyed. And also sometimes we still have to get hurt in the process of it. But I realize now that God knows us even better than we know ourselves. And he surely really has better plans for us.

It's okay to plan for a future. But no one of us really knows what the future holds. If ever your plans failed, or did not happen, it's okay. I think that it's okay. Kasi baka hindi lang din para sa'yo iyon. O baka pa hindi rin makabuti sa'yo.

In the end His plan was still the best.

Hinagkan ko pareho si Sancho at ang anak namin na nasa bisig niya. And I saw him smiling and our son giggled. Napangiti na lang din ako.

For the next years of our marriage I was nothing but just happy and satisfied with Sancho. There was not a day that I worry so much about us or about anything because he always made me feel reassured enough para naman mapanatag din ako.

Kaya naman in return I do my best too to be of help to Sancho sa negosyo man namin na asukarera o sa bahay namin. I always make sure that everything's okay in our home. Marami ako palaging bilin sa mga house helpers namin pero naiintindihan din naman nila iyon dahil gusto ko lang din na masiguro na maayos lang ang pamilya ko. At syempre ay kasama ko rin ang mga kasambahay sa pag-aalaga ng pamilya namin. Kaya thankful din talaga ako sa kanila.

Kaya naman minsan kapag pasko o may mga okasyon ay binibigyan din namin sila ni Sancho ng mga regalo o bonuses. I opened it up to Sancho and he agreed to me. And he has been a really generous person himself, too. Kaya wala kaming problema sa ganoon.

I just think that I should be grateful and good to our staff since they help us a lot.

"I also like this side of you." ani Sancho habang nagbabalot kaming mag-asawa ng mga pangregalo sa mga kasambahay namin para sa pasko.

Tinulungan na rin niya ako. Nandito kami sa loob ng kwarto naming mag-asawa nagbabalot para secret lang din muna at ma surprise din naman ang mga staff namin. Hindi lang ito para sa mga kasambahay namin kundi para na rin sa mga tauhan na inaasahan namin sa asukarera and even including our security as well. Basta lahat ng mga nakakatulong sa pamilya namin.

Bumaling ako kay Sancho at ngumiti. "Of course we should share our blessings to our people, too." I said.

Sancho nodded in agreement. "Yes. And it's just a small thing." He said.

I nodded. "True. Maliit na bagay lang 'to para maiparamdam din naman natin sa kanila that we value them."

Nagkatinginan kaming mag-asawa at ngumiti na sa isa't isa.

And then also came our marriage anniversary. Ilang taon na rin pala kaming mag-asawa ni Sancho. At ang bilis lang din talaga ng panahon. Parang nagsunudsunod nga lang din ang mga okasyon. Time passed by like a whirlwind. And we just enjoy every moment together.

If you think about it, maikli lang din talaga ang buhay ng tao. You realize that you can do great things instead with your loved ones. Life's too short for mediocre things. So my advice enjoy every moment with the ones you love. Learn to give chances and forgiveness. And also forgive yourself as well. So that you can focus on the good things of life more. And that you can live a life with no regrets. May you live a life you will cherish until the end and love unconditionally including yourself. It's the most important.