Of Choosing You

2 - Yes and No

Chapter 2 - Yes and No

After arranging my stuff and trying to settle in, I'm finally able to grasp the idea that I'm home. Here. In my room. In the Philippines. I look around me and try to let it sink in. Finally.

Medyo nagmomoment pa ako nang marinig ko ang katok sa pinto ko kaya agad akong tumayo para buksan ito. "Ate, andyan na sila Tatay," ani Shira bilang pambungad sa'kin.

"Okay. Puntahan ko lang si Keira."

Kinuha ko ang phone ko at agad pinuntahan si Keira sa guest room only to find her lying face down, snoring. Great. Ako 'tong may mahabang biyahe pero siya ang bagsak agad.

So, bumaba na lang ako at nakita sina Tatay na nakaupo sa sofa at ang pinsan kong si Kristen na naglalakad paikot-ikot sa sala. Seeing her makes me very excited kasi I miss her so much. She's already 3 years old, turning 4 in June. Palagi siyang sumasama noon sa'kin and I'll be very happy kung matatandaan niya pa ako.

"Kristen!" I exclaim as I walk toward her, arms out, wanting her to come to me.

Fail. Nilingon niya lang ako na may poker face. Well, I guess she just doesn't remember me, after all. Bigla lang pumunta kay Tatay nang makalapit pa ako nang bahagya sa kanya.

"Ate 'yan, K. Hindi mo na matandaan?" tanong ni Tatay sa kanya.

Kristen's only staring at me at saka umiling.

"Aww. I'm Ate Ronn, baby. Ako nagpapatulog sa'yo noon." Umupo ako sa tabi ni Tatay at sinubukang lumapit sa kanya.

Sinubukan ko ring paamuhin siya habang nagkukumustahan kami ni Tatay at ni Tita. Their second baby, Kade Kristian, is already sleeping in their room na raw dahil napagod ata sa pasyal. He's one year old already. Si Kristen lang ang naabutan ko no'n and I wonder how Kade looks like. I'll see him later before I go to bed!

Sa gitna ng ilang oras na kwentuhan ay nagpaalam na si Shira na matutulog na siya. She kisses me on the cheek and immediately heads upstairs. Somehow, I found a way to make Kristen like me in the middle of our conversation, too, because she's already sitting on my lap, sleeping, with her head on my shoulder. Do'n na namin pinutol ang kwentuhan nila Tatay.

I offer to carry Kristen all the way up to their room para hindi na siya magising pa. I lay her down the bed at tinapik-tapik pa siya nang bahagya dahil parang magigising pa ata. Her long lashes flutter as she's about to wake up if I don't tap her leg a little. She's really cute and even though maraming nagbago sa kanya, such as 'yung features ng face niya, she's still as gorgeous as she was 2 years ago. She's still my first baby and I'll look out for her as long as I can. I kiss her on the forehead before turning away to see Kade in his crib. Very cute! He has long lashes din like Kristen and super puffy cheeks. He looks so much like his sister who looks like Tatay! Pero habang lumalaki, nagiging kamukha ni Kristen si Tita. It's weird pero ang cutie talaga.

Kristen looked like a boy when she was still a year old and Kade here looks exactly like her during those days. I feel myself grinning so wide as I stare at him and dream about taking care of him sa mga susunod na araw.

Naputol ang pagmumuni-muni ko nang marinig kong bumukas ang pinto. I turn around to see Tatay and Tita enter the room. I immediately plant a kiss on Kade's forehead before saying goodnight to Tatay and Tita palabas ng kwarto nila.

"Good night din, Ronn. Pahinga ka na at mahaba ang binyahe mo kanina," ani Tita Daisy bago isarado ang pinto nila.

Bumaba ako to check the house and I find mom locking the door. She sees me when she turns around.

"O, Ronn. Ano pang ginagawa mo rito?" tanong ni Mama habang naglalakad na paakyat ng hagdan.

"I was going to check po 'yung bahay and to get some water, too."