Del Rico Triplets #1: Bound By Duties

Kabanata 29

Gifts.

I left a peck of kiss on her forehead before I decided to leave her on our room with Mama Aida.

March 08, 2021.

Narito kami sa isang beach resort for Crowell’s birthday. Well… my birthday, too? I don’t actually know what to feel. Nagpapatangay na lang ako sa agos ng buhay namin. It’s been what? Two months. Two months of healing ourselves.

I cannot say that we're finally healed. Like fully healed. But we're on the process. We made progress during the past two months of our lives. I roamed my eyes around while taking my time to walk.

My husband, Tross, stood up and welcomed me with a one deep kiss when I finally reached his place.  Naghihintay siya sa may pool.

“How's my baby?” He asked after a kiss. He intertwined our hands together.

“I’m good. I feel kind of strange because I don’t usually celebrate my birthday on this day.”

I shrugged. "But I'm fine," I said.

"You'll be. You can have two birthdays," he murmured.

Sumang-ayon ako roon.

We walked towards the cottages; our intertwined hands are swaying as we walk. There they are! Our visitors. Family and friends. Some are preparing for the meal. The boys are taking a dip at the sea. Mga sabik sa dagat.

Family friends lang ang narito. Delicante brothers with their respective women on their side. I’ve meet Zohan’s love interest earlier. She's bubbly and she’s into money. As in so much money. Dire-diretso siya sa paniningil kanina kay Zohan para sa araw at gabi niya raw.

On the other hand, Zath’s girl is different from the one he brought on Hawaii. Babaero!

I watched Crosson and Carden laugh around Giovanni and some of his friends. I don’t actually remember their names. Crowell’s taking care of his wife and Callum. Lance on the other hand is also here with Hiraya and Leo. They are in the cottage with Mama.

Sa loob ng dalawang buwan, masasabi kong naging maayos naman ang takbo ng buhay ko. Naming mag-anak. Si Tross… ako at ang anak namin. Palagi pa rin naman naming dinadalaw si Lucian. Our angel. I always hope that he is happy in heaven. With God. That’s what I’ve been thinking so I could calm myself. There, in heaven, there would no pain or anything that can hurt him. He’s in paradise now.

Hiraya smiled at me the moment she spotted us coming towards them.

“Tulog na si Hope?” tanong niya, pinatutukuyan ang aking anak.

Nakangiti akong tumango at sa kaniya agad ako lumapit. She’s preparing hotdogs and sausages. Si Lance naman ang nag-iihaw noon. Leo is also with him kaya nagpaalam si Tross na doon ang tungo sa gawi ng dalawa.

“Kumusta ka naman? Okay ka na ba? Ngayon lang kami nakauwi from Hawaii kasi… alam mo na…” tumawa siya matapos sabihin iyon, kahit pa halata namang hindi siya ayos.

I nodded my head and smiled at her. I know what she’s been dealing with. Sana ay makayanan niya. Hinawakan ko ang kaniyang kamay.

“You can tell me anything, Hiraya. Nabanggit lang sa akin ni Lance but he said he can't tell me your story. He wants me to hear it from you,” sambit ko.

Bumagsak ang tingin niya sa kamay na may hawak na tong. Nilaro-laro na niya ang sausages doon para lang makaiwas. She pressed her lips.

“Iniisip ko na lang na mas mahirap iyang pinagdaraanan mo, Hollis. Kapag ganoon, pakiramdam ko ay dapat magpasalamat ako na ganito lang ang kinakaharap kong problema.”