"How was it?"
Tiya Maritta and I shared laughter when we coincidentally asked the same question.
"Who asked first?" She chuckled.
Seeing her on the screen feels like she's still here. I can't believe it's been a week since she left. She became really busy settling business matters while I became busy explaining everything to Hiko.
May isip na si Hiko kaya gusto niya maunawaan ang lahat. Kung ano ang pinagmulan hanggang sa kung paano kami humantong sa ganitong sitwasyon. Pero bata pa rin siya, ang ilang mga bagay ay itinatabi ko pa rin para ipaliwanag kapag mas matanda na siya.
What is important now is he knows I hid him for his good, and that his Dad never wanted to be absent in the past seven years of his life. But I think what's more necessary is us owning to our shortcomings as parents and trying our best to make up for those.
"It went well," I answered first. "Hiko was so happy about Yuri being his Daddy."
Tiya Maritta smiled. "I knew it would happen. Yuri knew what he was doing. He saw a door to Hiko's heart and knocked on it. He did that slowly and gently, so Hiko wasn't scared opening it."
"I'm so happy we didn't rush things, Tiya."
"Pero sigurado ka ba na si Hiko lang ang masaya? Umagang-umaga ay may mga bituin sa 'yong mga mata." Mahina siyang natawa pagkatapos pagtugmain ang mga salita.
"Putting this aside, how's Severina? How is everything going there?"
She chuckled at my desperation to shift the topic. "Ms. Topic-changer, the resto is doing good. Being here alone reminded me of the days I didn't know you yet. Everything is under my control."
I smiled timidly. "You sound like you don't want us there anymore."
"I would always do, Maurice. I miss you and Hiko here."
There's a lot to settle in Italy. Hiko's studies, the business . . . our stuff. We'll be back there but . . . probably not for good.
"Tiya . . ." I trailed off, taking my chance to say it now.
"You don't have to tell me, Maurice," malambing na sambit niya. "I know. I know you already decided since you met Yuri again."
Natigilan ako. She already what I'm going to say?
"You see. You always wanted a complete family as a child. You never missed telling me that, on random days—consistently. On some days, you would say you wished you could give it to Hiko instead, but you didn't know how, you weren't sure if you could. And when you came back there with Yuri and Hiko in one frame, hope arose. You were waiting for it all this time."
I swallowed the lump in my throat. Lahat ng sinasabi niya ay totoo.
"Like what I always tell you, Maurice, no matter what your decision is, you'll always have me on your side."
"Tiya . . ."
"You don't owe me an explanation. It's not wrong to choose yourself. After all, it's not just about you or Yuri, but Hiko. I'm beyond happy that he linked the two of you back together. I'm happy for you, Maurice. Believe me."
I smiled my sweetest, feeling like tears would stream down my cheeks anytime now. I'm so grateful for her. She's my mother figure. She's Mom in a different name.
"Thank you, Tiya. Thank you so much."
Just in time, when I was lost for words to say, someone came. Tumunog ang bell at narinig iyon ni Tiya.
"Are you expecting a visitor?"
It's impossible that Yuri and Hiko are already back. They just went out for a park date. "It might be Dad," I said.
YOU ARE READING
The Heaven's Wildcard | Suarez IV
Romance[SLOW EDIT] For most people, hell is just a concept or a place where the evils fall into after death. But for the registered nurse, Maurice Severina de Morga, it is her reality, her life. Her first cry was on her mother's death, died on a hospital b...
