Midnights with Pierce Psyche Esquivel

Chapter 31

I'm glad that Luca behaved well during our trip. It was a sixteen hour flight and was very exhausting kahit na natulog lang naman ang ginawa naming tatlo.

And when we finally landed, Luca's excitement was off the roof as he looked at our surroundings. Ang malamig na panahon sa America ay nawala na parang bula pagkalabas namin.

I removed my jacket and so is Luca's. Karga siya ngayon ni Ejay kaya ako na ang humawak ng mga damit namin.

"Where are they now?" I murmured to myself as I looked at the sea of people waiting. Tumingin ako sa orasan at nakitang mag aalas tres pa lang ng hapon.

Si Brianna at Mang Rene ang susundo sa amin. Wala si Mama at hindi na ako nagtanong kung bakit, my expectations were just so low and I don't want exhaust myself anymore.

"Ate!"

I saw a familiar face almost running toward us and when I realized who it was, halos tumakbo na rin ako para makasalubong siya.

"Brianna!" We hugged each other tightly and a sigh of relief escaped me.

"How are you?" Bumitaw kami sa isa't-isa at kaagad ko siyang tiningnan mula ulo hanggang paa.

My tears started swelling up when I reliazed how fast time goes by. Kailan lang nung umalis ako at maliit pa siya, and now, she is already a teenager, dalagang-dalaga na. And I lost the opportunity to witness it personally.

I touched her cheeks and looked at her emotionally. She smiled at me and her eyes were fuelled with tears just like mine.

"I’m fine, Ate…but where is Luca?!” She excitedly asked and looked at my back.

Napailing na lang ako. Tumingin ako sa likod at nakitang palapit na silang dalawa sa amin. Brianna pressed my palm tightly when they both finally reached us.

She looked at Luca who’s now suddenly looking so shy as he looked at Brianna too. Nagkakausap naman sila si video call pero iba pa rin kapag personal na, katulad na lamang ngayon. I knew that Luca is excited to meet his relatives, dahil kaming tatlo lang naman nina Ejay at Sir Rudolf ang lagi niyang kasama.

“Tita Ganda…” Nahihiyang saad nito sabay iwas ng tingin kay Brianna.

I chuckled at his remarks and Brianna started wiping away her tears with a radiant smile on her face.

“Can I carry you?” Brianna reached out her hands to Luca which he immediately complied with.

Brianna carried him in her arms and kissed his cheeks repeatedly and hugged him tightly after.

My heart sank in contentment as I looked at both of them. It feels so good to see them this way, finally meeting personally, after years of waiting.

“Mang Rene!” Naputol ang tingin ko sa kanilang dalawa ng makita ko si Mang Rene na palapit na rin sa amin.

I walked towards his direction and gave him a hug as well. He chuckled at what I did and when I looked at him again, he had clearly gotten older.

“Kamusta na po kayo?” Magiliw kong tanong.

He smiled at me. “Maayos, Ma’am…at masaya ako na nandito na kayo ulit.”

Malaki rin ang utang na loob ko sa kanya sa nagdaang taon dahil sa pagbabantay niya kay Brianna. He acted as a parent on my behalf and our late father. Dahil sa presensya niya ay mas naging magaan sa akin ang pag alis at pag iwan kay Brianna.

“Hey, let’s go! Gutom na si Luca!” Brianna exclaimed.

Tuluyan kaming umalis at bumiyahe. We were in the van when we started talking about our stay in the country. Luca choosed to sit beside Brianna and I while Ejay was on the back.