Every Moment with You

EPILOGUE

"Hey son, I'd like you to meet my wife. This is Ana. Remember I told you all about her?" Nasa harapan kami ng puntod ng anak ko. Kahit hindi ko tunay na anak si Liam ay mahal na mahal ko ang batang ito.

Hi Liam, your dad told me a lot about you," ang nakangiting turan ng asawa ko. "I would've loved to meet you. But I'm still glad you came into my husband's life." Naluluha ito habang kausap ang puntod ng anak ko. Niyakap ko ang asawa ko para pagaanin ang nararamdaman nito.

"Hush now baby, I know that he is happy now wherever he is. And I know that he will watch over us." At hinagkan ko ang ulo nito.

"You know Liam has a message for both of you," lumapit sa 'min si Alyssa at binigay ang iPad na hawak nito. "I didn't know that he recorded that. I just saw it a couple of days ago when I was looking at his pictures."

"Hi Dad, Hi Mommy Ana! I know you really don't know me. My name is Liam, I am not really Eniel's son. He just pretended to be my dad to save my mom. But he has been the best dad in the world. He loved me so much and he has given me everything that a son could ask for. I prayed really hard that God will make him my real dad but it never really happened. But I am happy because he is still around and he still treats me as his own. I wished I could grow older so I can meet my brothers and sisters, but I guess God has a different plan for me. Before I go, I just have one last wish from you Mommy Ana. Please take care of my dad. I love him so much and I hope you make him the happiest man on earth because that's one thing I wouldn't be able to do for him anymore. I love you so much and please tell my dad that I love him so much."

Dun naputol ang video ng na ini-record ng anak ko. Hindi ko namalayan na umiiyak na pala ako habang pinapanood ko ang video ni Liam. At kita ko rin na umiiyak din si Ana habang nanunuod ng video ni Liam.

"You keep that, I already copied all of his pictures in my laptop. I suppose you wanted to have a copy of those pictures as well," nakangiting sabi ni Alyssa.

"Thank you."

"And Ana," humarap ito sa asawa ko. "I'm so sorry if I caused you so much pain in the past. Please forgive me. It wasn't my intention to hurt you in any way. I know that Eniel loves you so much."

"I forgive you. Please forgive yourself as well," at nagyakapan ang dalawa.

"We better go," at bumalik na kaming dalawa sa naghihintay na sasakyan. Masaya ako na kahit sa ganitong paraan ay napakilala ko ang mahal kong asawa sa anak ko. At ngayon ay may mga litrato pa akong titingnan na magpapaalala sa 'kin sa panganay kong anak.

"You know, he does have a little resemblance to you. Mukha nga talaga kayong mag-ama," nakangiting sabi ni Ana habang tinitingnan ang mga larawan namin ni Liam. "I wonder if our babies would look like you too?"

"Babies, meaning plural. I'd like the sound of that."

"Eniel pareho tayong lumaki na solong anak, at pareho nating alam na hindi masaya yun. Kaya hindi ako makakapayag na lumaki ang anak natin na mag-isa." At marahan kong hinaplos ang maumbok na tiyan ni Ana.

"Narinig mo yun baby? Sabi ni Mommy ay bibigyan ka daw namin ng maraming-maraming kapatid," at hinagkan ko ang tiyan ng asawa ko.

"Hindi naman masyadong marami. Tatlo siguro o apat. Huwag naman buong football team," pagmamaktol ng asawa ko na nagpatawa sa 'kin. Napakasaya ko sa piling ng asawa ko. Noon ay kontento na ako na nakatingin lang sa malayo. Subalit ngayon ay sabay na naming haharapin ang bukas na puno ng pag-asa dahil alam namin na kahit anong dumating na pagsubok, ay sabay namin itong haharapin at mananalig na malalampasan namin ito dahil mahal na mahal namin ang isa't isa.