Beneath The Clandestine Paradise (Chaotic Series #3)

Kabanata 43

Beneath The Clandestine Paradise

Kabanata 43

Ilang oras namin ni Grim tinahan si Teylie. We've been inside her room for hours. Walang nangahas na pumasok kahit naririnig kong may nangyayaring ingay sa labas.

"Are you okay now?" I asked Teylie slowly.

She nodded at me. Hinaplos ko ang kaniyang buhok at hinalikan siya sa noo.

Nakaupo kaming tatlo sa kama, pinapagitnaan namin siyang dalawa ni Grim. Teylie is still in awe. Tuwing titingin siya sa akin ay babaling siya kay Grim. She looks like she's asking him if I am real.

"Did I scare you?" Marahan kong tanong.

She shook her head. Sinuklay ko ang kaniyang mahabang buhok. I wiped her little sweats on her forehead.

I will not force Teylie to forgive me yet. She's still in awe. Everything was still surprising. Uunti-untiin ko muna. Dadahan-dahanin at iisa-isahin ko muna. Nabigla na siya at ayaw kong biglain pa lalo.

"I think Mama Yary is outside..." Teylie looked at his Dad. "Can I come outside? May sasabihin lang po ako sa kanila."

Mama Yary...

Grim nodded and looked at me. Tumayo si Teylie at akala ko hindi niya ako lilingunin. But she turned to me and smiled a bit and shyly.

"May sasabihin lang po ako sa mga Tita at Tito ko po," she said to me. "B-Babalik po ako ulit."

I nodded. Mabilis siyang lumabas. Pero hindi ko kayang magtagal sa inuupuan kaya tumayo na rin ako. I was about to tell Grim to go outside with me but before I could say it, he hugged me by the waist. I stopped.

"Masayang-masaya ako," he said in a rasp monotone. "You're here."

Nakatayo ako at nakatagilid habang nakaupo siya sa kama at mahigpit akong yakap. His voice's rough and calm. I brushed his hair to calm him more.

"Arie..." He whispered. "You are my Arie. You are my baby."

Binitawan niya ang pagkakayakap sa akin at tumayo. And then he hugged me again. Walang katapusang yakap, huh? I want this so badly.

"We have many more to talk about later," I said softly. "But can we go outside first? I miss our daughter already. I want to see her."

He wetted his lip and nodded. Ang kaninang napakabigat na bagay sa dibdib ko ay unti-unti nang humuhupa.

Lumabas kaming dalawa ni Grim nang hawak niya ulit ako sa kamay.

"I have a Mom now, Mama Yary," rinig kong sabi ni Teylie at nakita ko siyang pinagkakalat ang malaking balita sa mga Tito at Tita niya.

And I found my hero's pair of eyes. Dahlia was stunned when she saw me. Hindi ko mabilang kung ilan ang taong naririto pero lahat sila, nakatingin sa akin at biglang natahimik.

"Tita Kris, my Mom is here. 'Di ba sabi mo walang ibang makakapalit sa Mama ko? She's pretty in person. Kamukha ni Mama Yary." Teylie said. "Roine, I have a Mom now. Pareho na tayo."

I heard somebody's crying. Hindi naputol ang tinginan namin ni Dahlia. I ran swiftly towards Dahlia. Pero hindi lakad ang kaniyang ginawa, tinakbo niya na ang layo palapit sa akin.

We hugged each other. It was another episode of breaking down in happiness. Pareho kaming humahagulgol ng iyak at sabay-sabay na nagsasalita kaya hindi kami magkaintindihan.

"Ate Arie!" umiiyak niyang sabi. "I was so sure that it was really you but I don't understand why you don't know us!"

Believe me, this is the happiest heartbreaking moment. Lahat kami ay hindi magkandamayaw. Yary and Rems joined us too. Apat na kaming umiiyak. I hugged them tightly one by one.