As Pure As The Driven Snow

Chapter 37

Tahimik lang na nagmamaneho si Alejo. Nireready na namin ang lilipatan ni Talya, alam kong mahirap rin ito para sa kaniya. Panibagong adjustment ang gagawin niya para makasalamuha ang mga bagong magiging kaklase niya. Ngunit ni isang beses ay hindi ko nakitaan ng pag tanggi mula sa anak namin.

She's excited about this. Excited na rin siya dahil ngayon rin ang unang araw namin na uuwi sa bahay namin.

"Omg! Our house is so big!" She said, happily.

"Yes baby, now come one our home is waiting."

He handed me the keys and carried our daughter. Muli ay huminga ako ng malalim bago binuksan ang pintuan. I wasn't scared, I am excited. Expecting this moment to be the start of our new beginning, sa dami ng nangyari at sa itinagal namin na magkahiwalay. Ito na yata ang oras para kami naman.

Tinignan ko si Alejo na kanina pa pala nakatitig sa akin.

Tinanong ko muna ito bago binuksan ng tuluyan ang pinto.

"Why here?"

"This is where you finally trust yourself to me, Nieves. This is our place."

When we entered the house, all of my works are here. Nakapwesto ang bawat isa ng maayos sa dingding. Mas lumaki rin iyon kumpara nung huli ko itong napuntahan.

I thought I'd never see them again, my art work. Pero inalagaan iyon ni Alejo.

"Omg! Is this your painting mommy?" Magiliw na nagtatakbo si Talya sa kabuuan ng sala.

It's not just a particular living room. Nagmistulang museum iyon dahil sa mga pinta ko. And it correlated the whole living room so well. Hindi masakit sa mata at nakakaganang dagdagan pa.

"Do you like it, My Nieves?"

"What do you mean? I love it!" Patakbong niyakap ko siya.

"I'm glad you love it." He lean towards me and give me a soft kiss on my lips.

"I love you." Biglang lumabas sa bibig ko.

Hindi ko ito nakitaan ng pagkagulat bagkus ay nagyabang pa ito.

"Narinig mo yon anak? sabi sayo may crush sakin mama mo."

Kinurot ko ito. Tumatawa naman niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko at isinandal sa balikat niya.

"Talya?"

"Yes po papa?"

"Can I marry your mom?"

"Omg! Mommy!"

"Alejo!"

"Say yes please!" Ani Talya na ngayon ay hinahaltak ang dulo ng bestida ko.

"Syempre, magpapakasal ako sayo!"

If you can imagine how his eyebrow reshapes into different presence. It just shows his eagerness to express his worthy feelings and his desire to explode his happiness. As also it is his way to conduct his emotions.

Pinangko niya si Talya at niyakap ako ng mahigpit. They are both crying out loud. Our daughter crying as she thought she understands what is happening.

"I love you Nieves." He looked at Talya. "I love you, too."

Mga nag uunahang yumakap kay Talya si kuya at si papa. They all been saying how much they missed us, and how willing they are to cook dinner for us.

Sa hapag, doon na namin ipinagbigay alam ni Alejo ang balak naming magpakasal, they seem a bit surprised but also happiness shows to their faces. Hindi na nila kinewestyon ang balak namin.

Lahat sila ay nagbigay ng mga opinion sa kung saan, kailan, at papaano ba dapat gaganapin ang kasal. I can sense their love towards that. Pero ipinaliwanag rin namin ni Alejo na gusto sana namin na pamilya ko at pamilya ni Alejo lamang ang makakapunta roon. We made sure that It'll be simple, no media.

"Huwag susuway sa bilin ni mommy okay?" Habilin ko sa anak ko bago humalik sa noo niya. Ganoon rin ang ginawa ni Alejo.

"Theo please don't let Talya leave your sight."

"Yes uncle."

"Mag iingat kayo Isla."

She just nodded and assured me. Nagpaalam na ang mga ito kasama si Talya. Laking pasalamat ko dahil kahit na sa tinagal ng pagtatago namin ni Talya ay hindi iyon naging dahilan para magbago ang pagtingin nila sa bata. They still make her feel family.

Yumakap sa likod si Alejo habang naghihiwa ako ng bawang. Napairap ako.

"Hmm.." He sniffs my neck. "I'm just wondering, when will Talya have her younger brother? sister?"

I just chuckled. "Huwag mo akong guluhin dito!" Pagtataray kong kunyari.

Napuno ang halakhak ang buong bahay. Laking pasalamat ko dahil kahit na sa itinagal naming hindi nagkasama ay hindi nagkulang si Alejo sa pagbawi.

I am sitting here at cafe, looking at my macbook. Kanina ko pa tapos i-type ang mensahe ko para sa ina ni Alejo. I know they fought just the other day, pero hindi magandang tignan kung wala siya sa araw ng kasal ng panganay niya. After all, ina rin ako, kung ako ang tatanungin ayokong di ako iimbitahan ni Talya sa mga importanteng bagay sa buhay niya. Kaya sigurado akong ganon rin ang ina ni Alejo sa kaniya.

I finally tap the enter, sakto naman ang pag dating ni Euan.

"I am so happy for you."

Sadness and perhaps..failure.. displays through Euan's face. I knew why he didn't speak any words after I gave him an invitation, after I told him everything that happened. I wasn't very proud of that, I know I am hurting him.

Noon pa man bago ko iluwal si Talya at wala pa man sa buhay ko si Alejo ay siya na ang unang nakasama ko sa lahat. I barely remember his presence but I am aware of his actions. His sweetness and his loyalty to me, I can never forget them. Siya lang ang sumama sa akin sa panahon na walang nakinig at umuwa sa akin. Pero kung ang nais nyang kapalit ng lahat ng iyon ay pagmamahal, hindi pwede.

"Euan-"

He didn't let me finish.

"Congrats.. I am very much happy for you Nieves, I am happy you found your stand."

"Sorry.."

"There's nothing to be sorry about, Nieves." He smiled. "You're just being honest to yourself, and that's fine."

"You don't need to justify your choices to me; you chose them because you wanted to and because you were the one making the choices. I have no right to doubt Nieves. You simply have to keep in mind that I am always here, even in your joy, despair, and on your wedding day. If something were to happen and you suddenly woke up and thought your decisions were wrong, I would still be waiting."

He didn't break our gaze. He just looked at me, he leaned in for a forehead kiss. Hindi ko siya pinigilan kahit pa nung umalis na ito sa harapan ko. Hindi rin niya kinuha sa lamesa ang binigay kong invitation sa kaniya.