Melting Me Softly (Sanford Series #5) [COMPLETED]

EPILOGUE

NAKANGITING pinagmasdan ni Sabrina ang munting anghel na tumatakbo kasama ang iba pang kagaya nito. She looked so adorable, so alive and free. Kagaya ng nararamdaman niya ngayon. Simula nang mahanap niya ang pagpapatawad ay pakiramdam niya'y may natanggal na mabigat na bagay sa kanyang dibdib. Parang ang gaan-gaan lang ng buhay at hindi na mahirap ngumiti at tumawa. Pakiramdam niya ay may bagay na muling naibalik sa kanya.

Nang may mga brasong umakbay sa kanya ay lalong lumapad ang kanyang ngiti at bumilis ang tibok ng kanyang puso. Isang tao lang naman ang kayang gumawa niyon.

Nang dampian nito ng halik ang gilid ng kanyang ulo ay awtomatikong naipikit niya ang mga mata at napabuntung-hininga. She feels the love and security she felt back then. Pakiramdam niya ay may nagmamahal na ulit sa kanya at napakagaan sa pakiramdam ang malamang may taong nagbibigay sa kanya ng importansiya at pagmamahal.

"I love you," bulong nito sa kanyang tainga. Siniko lang niya ito bilang sagot. She may not say it often but she do love him. With all her heart. Mula noong hanggang ngayon ay si Apollo lang ang naging laman ng kanyang puso. Sandali mang natabunan ng galit at pighati ang pagmamahal na iyon ay hindi naman nawala.

Nanahimik si Apollo sa kanyang tabi ngunit nanatiling naakbay sa kanyang balikat. She looked at his arm on her shoulder and sighed again. She still couldn't believe that they were back together after nine years of parting.

"Come here, baby." Umuklo si Sabrina nang makita itong patakbo sa kanya. Inumang niya ang mga bisig dito at agad naman itong pumaloob doon. Binuhat niya ito at hinaplos haplos ang ulo. "You're getting heavier na, Snow."

"Let me," ani Apollo at kinuha si Snow mula sa bisig ni Sabrina. Mabigat-bigat na nga ito.

Nasa isang dog park sila ng mga oras na iyon at ipinapasyal si Snow upang makasalamuha ang ibang mga kagaya nitong aso. They always does that during their free time.

Nang makaramdam ng gutom ay nagyaya si Sabrina na umuwi na. Mas gusto niyang kumain sa bahay ni Apollo kaysa sa labas, mas gusto rin nito ang luto niya kaya nagkakasundo sila sa bagay na iyon. They had been living together for almost seven months and during those months, she felt like she was the happiest woman alive. Apollo had been extra in giving her attention and pampering her, it felt like he was making up for the years that they had lost.

Everything was almost perfect if it's not for her father who was in jail for embezzlement and for the bad things he had done to the company. She never felt like she had a father all her life, but she was still Bernardo's flesh and blood. Nalulungkot siya para rito at natutuwa rin dahil sa wakas ay mapagbabayaran na nito ang mga kasalanan. One way or another, one should pay for the bad things he committed. Palaging may kabayaran ang lahat ng bagay.

She was also sad for her little brother. Dahil sa nangyari sa ama ay napunta si Collin sa mga tiya at tiyo nila. She knew it was hard for him too. Sabrina was visiting him from time to time, though they aren't that close with each other he was still her brother.

"What do you think of having a little sister or brother for Snow? Nasa bahay nila Mommy ang dalawa pa niyang kapatid. We could take them in para naman may kalaro si Snow."

Napatigil sa paglalakad palabas ng park si Sabrina at tinitigan si Apollo na may ngiting nakapaskil sa mga labi. Hinding-hindi niya talaga pagsisisihan ang pagbibigay ng pagkakataon dito, ng pangalawang pagkakataon para sa kanila, para sa kanyang sarili. This man deserves the good things that the world can offer just like her.

"What?"

Isang buntung-hininga ang pinakawalan ni Sabrina bago nagsalita. "How about giving her a little sister or brother of our own?"

Nangunot ang noo ni Apollo na hindi agad nakuha ang gusto nitong tukuyin. "What do you mean?

"We're not getting any younger and I think it is time to get serious with our lives. Like building a family for a start?"

Malapad na napangiti si Apollo na sa wakas ay naintindihan ang gustong iparating ni Sabrina. "I want a little princess."

"I like it too," nakangiting sabi ni Sabrina sa itinugon nito. She always wanted to have a family ever since her mother died and Apollo could give that to her. And she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. Noon pa man ay iyon na ang gusto niya at ngayon ay matutupad na iyon. Hindi mahalaga kung pitong buwan lang mula nang magkabalikan silang muli. Mahigit siyam na taon nilang inalagaan ang pagmamahal para sa isa't isa at sapat na iyon, sobra pa nga. They deserved this after everything that happened.

Hinawakan ni Apollo ang isang kamay ni Sabrina at pinisil habang nakatingin dito ng puno nang pagmamahal ang mga mata. Gumanti ng pisil si Sabrina at isang kuntentong ngiti ang nakapaskil na sa mga labi.

Apollo was glad that he did not give up on her and he melted the defenses she had built. With patience, conviction, and love, and little by little, he managed to get her back in his arms. He was sure that the universe was happy for them, their little angel in heaven was happy that they were happy.

Magkahawak na lumabas sila sa dog park patungo sa bagong simula.

WAKAS