The Universe Conspired

EPILOGUE

Atlas's POV

The assembly stood up as the wedding march began to play. Her face may be veiled but I don't take my eyes off her as she slowly stepped closer to me.

Halos lahat ng taga-La Estrella ay dumalo upang masaksihan ang pag-iisang dibdib namin ni Rae.

Memories of my poverty-stricken childhood briefly flashed in my mind.

If anyone told my father that his only son would grow up to be a lawyer someday, he would have barked in laughter. I'd have scoffed at the idea myself.

Who would have thought that a humble jeepney driver's son would amount to anything?

Pero lahat ng pagsubok ay kinaya namin ni Papa. Hindi naging madali ang lahat lalo na at dalawa na lamang kami sa buhay. Ngunit sa wakas ay nakapagtapos din ako sa pag-aaral. Unti-unti ay nangyari ang mga plano ko.

Everything culminates to this moment— the day that I offer myself at Rae's feet.

She should know, every struggle was undertaken and every hardship was surpassed with me thinking of her at the finish line. Because of her, I started to hope for a future I've never really considered and I began to dream like never before.

She may think the universe had always conspired against her but I don't believe in destiny. I do, however, believe in working for what I want and thus, being master of my fate.

She may not dare to hope for the things she most desires but I am not hopeful. I am confident and I am sure of her, and the life we will spend together.

Surely, my Rae must know, every step I have taken was to bring myself to stand beside her now.

The loud sound coming from our alarm clock woke me from that good dream. It doesn't matter, though. My reality is better than that dream.

I glanced at the side of the bed next to me and realized Rae had gone out already. Raechelle must have woken early and my wife didn't want to disturb my sleep.

I took a quick shower and then got changed before going outside to greet my girls. Namataan ko agad ang bunsong anak na nagtatangkang maglakad patungo sa kanyang ina.

Bago pa siya tuluyang makalapit kay Rae ay marahan ko nang dinampot si Raechelle.

"Good morning," bati ko sa anak bago ito pinatakan ng halik sa noo.

"Papa!" Raechelle cooed just as her elder sister came in the gate with her grandfather.

"Ang aga n'yong lumabas ah," puna ko nang makalapit sina Papa at Althea.

"Bumili kami ng pandesal sa bayan, Papa," paliwanag ng panganay ko.

Napatingin ako sa aking ama at bitbit niya nga ang isang supot na puno ng mainit pang tinapay mula sa suki namin sa banwa ng Aguadulce.

"Talaga? Kung gano'n pumasok na tayo para makapag-agahan."

Hawak-kamay, ay nauna nang pumasok ang panganay ko kasama ang lolo niya.

"Come here," I called out to my wife as I tucked our younger daughter in my other arm to place one around Rae.

"Hiyang ka ba talaga sa simpleng buhay rito?" tanong niya, may pagaalinlangan pa rin kahit higit sa apat na taon na mula nang sinundan ko siya sa Aguadulce.

"The practice here may be small, but I'm doing the job I love. Life may be simple here but we have all we need and want, and I'm confident our family will never lack. More than anything, we're together. What more can I ask for?" I whispered gently.

The moment I found Rae and our child, I realized I would never be able to bring myself to leave her again. I may have everything I worked for in La Estrella, but all I have ever needed was Rae and where Rae may be.

Pero kinumbinsi niya akong bumalik sa La Estrella para ayusin lahat ng mga dapat asikasuhin. Pinaiwan ko si Papa kasama ni Rae bago ko napilit ang sariling umalis.

May halo ng kalungkutan nang ipagbili ko ang lupa't bahay lalo na at isa 'yon sa mga una kong ipinundar. May panghihinayang din nang naibenta ang sagingan. Ngunit mabuting mga tao ang mga nakabali ng mga iyon kaya panatag akong hindi apektado ang kabuhayan ng mga empleyado ko.

Hindi madali ang iwan ang lugar kung saan ako lumaki lalo na ang mga tao na pamilya na rin ang turing ko. Pero paulit-ulit kong bibitawan lahat kung ang kapalit ay makasama si Rae at ang pamilya namin. Walang tao o sekreto ang makakapaghiwalay pa sa'min dahil tulad nga ng nakasulat sa pinakaimportanteng aklat sa lahat, ang katotohanan ang magpapalaya sa'tin.

The letter that Attorney Trespeces gave Rae had revelations that were a complete shock to us. Don Leandro Aragon had been secretly funding the investor in the banana plantation. He also indirectly pulled strings so that my first loans were granted. The paper trail wouldn't lead back to him, in case someone thought to investigate because he had prepared everything for me a long time ago, even before he became mayor.

Ayoko man tanggapin ang kahit anong bigay niya ay huli na rin ang lahat. Gusto kong isipin na may kaunting parte ng pagkatao niya na nakaramdam ng pagsisi sa lahat ng pagkakamali niya, ngunit hindi ko na iyon masisigurado dahil hindi na nagtagpo ang landas namin bilang mag-ama.

Don Leandro Aragon died from a heart attack shortly after he was sentenced. I may have regrets that we never spoke about our relationship but I am not entirely inconsolable. There's a reason why he never made our connection known, and I will respect that and let everything be buried with him.

No matter what the truth is, I will also never change my opinion that my father is and will always be Andres Salvador.

Don Leandro Aragon could have left Bernadette a very wealthy widow. However, because he was entangled in graft and corruption cases, the lion share of his properties and assets were seized by the government. Still, my old friend is comfortably taken care of if she invests what she inherited from her husband wisely.

We will never be friends again; Bernadette and I. I was enraged when I found out what she had to do with Rae's disappearance but I have forgiven her. There's no point in holding grudges. Not when I am happier than I have ever been in my life.

"Attorney, nasa labas na po ang mga pinadala ni Ma'am Rae na kliyente," abiso sa'kin ng sekretarya ko, si Mrs. Caro.

I take pro bono cases; my way of giving back to people who are very like me and my wife when we were younger. Hindi na ako yayaman pa siguro sa Aguadulce pero kontento na kami.

My wife likes to tease me that I can't hide my brilliance from the world forever, but I am patient and I don't mind serving those who really need help but are penniless.

"Sige, papasukin n'yo na po sila," sagot ko kay Mrs. Caro.

Later on, I know I will go home to a humble abode. My father will be inside, gently playing with his beloved granddaughters. Rae would be outside, tending to her flowers and waiting for me.

I am not so naive as to suppose life will always be sweet or calm for us— there will be troubles. But we will be together as a family. We may not have had a complete family in the past, but our present more than makes up for it.

The sky wouldn't be dark yet when I go home at dusk, but some of the stars would already be visible. The universe may have conspired against us for countless of times, but I believe in the blessings that comes from the One who crafted it.

I would go home tonight and find my Rae in the garden, ready to walk in to my arms as the roses' and dama de noche's fragrance hung over us like a benediction.

The End