We Said Never (City Series #3)

Chapter 35

Nakangiti ako habang tinitignan ang mga batang nagsisi-takbuhan sa Children's Park. Matingkad ang araw, pero malamig naman ang hangin kaya sobrang ganda ng timing ng birthday ni Mage.

Mage hosts a party for orphaned kids on her birthday. Every single year. She always spends her birthdays like this. Ever since college. And not a single birthday of Mage has gone by without her doing something selfless.

"What flavor do you want?" tanong ni Ezra sa batang babae habang buhat buhat siya gamit ang kanang kamay niyang puno ng mga tattoos.

The little girl pointed towards something I couldn't see. Kinuha agad 'yon ni Ezra at binuksan para makain nung bata.

Although it made me happy how naturally great he was with kids, I couldn't help but feel an ache in my chest. Alam kong dumaan na rin 'yon sa isip niya. Having kids.. having to care for someone other than ourselves..

After Papa retired, I assumed he would want to stay in Baguio. Seeing as we built him a house and all. It turns out, wala naman 'yon sa plano niya. Masaya siyang may permanenteng bahay na kami, pero ang gusto niya ay mag-retire sa ibang bansa. He said that he would travel some countries, and judging by his last update, mukhang may nakilala siyang babaeng halos ka-edad niya rin sa isang tour.

"Hey." He smiled. "Ang lalim naman ata ng iniisip ng misis ko."

Ngumiti ako sa kaniya pabalik. "Cute kid."

He nodded. "She's getting adopted."

"Aw, that's nice," saad ko bago ko pinatong ang ulo ko sa balikat niya. "Pupunta daw ba sina Claude?"

"Yeah, I think that's their car."

Tumingin ako sa direksyon ng tinitignan ni Ezra, at nakita ko agad si Claude na bitbit ang anak nila. Little Claire's almost three years old now!

Nilapitan kaagad namin ang mga inaanak namin pagkarating nilang lahat. Luca played with the bigger kids, while Claire stayed with her dad. Tuwang tuwa pa kami nang makita namin si Vale at Natalia na dala dala si Primo. Nandito pala sila sa Baguio!

Time really does fly. Parang kailan lang, tinatago tago pa nila ang relasyon nila.

"So cute." I giggled while two girls started braiding my hair.

Napangiti ako habang nakikipag-takbuhan si Ezra kay Claire, Luca, at isa pang batang lalaki. Mukhang napagod na si Ezra sa kaka-takbo, kaya naman umupo na siya pero tuluyan pa rin siyang kinulit ng tatlong bata.

Tuluyan ko siyang pinagmasdan. Tumawa si Ezra habang yung isang bata na kasama ni Claire at Luca ay sumakay sa likod niya.

"Babi! Tulong!" Ezra chuckled while panting, almost out of breath.

"Kaya mo na 'yan!"

"Hey, stranger," a voice suddenly said.

Inangat ko ang tingin ko at nakita kaagad si Vale na nakatayo. He handed me a pack of zesto and sat down beside me after smiling at the two little girls hard at work behind me.

"Uy!" I smiled. "Kamusta naman ang buhay ng papa ni Primo?"

"Walang tulog."

Humagalpak ako at tinapik ang braso niya. "Paano pa kaya si Natalia?"

Ngumiti si Vale habang nakatingin na rin kina Claire na kinukulit pa rin si Ezra.

"He'd make a great dad, you know."

I nodded and sighed. "I know."

"Naisipan niyo na bang mag-adopt?"

"Hmm, it hasn't really crossed my mind yet." I cleared my throat. "But I'd be willing to. It would be nice to take care of someone other than each other."