A Six-Word Story II

Prologue

Prologue: "I dreamt of you and woke up heartbroken because the only time we'll ever be together is in my memories and dreams."

I'm busy cooking when I hear a cry upstairs. Shoot. Kade is awake. I must go to him now before he wakes up his dad, as well. Pero nasa kalagitnaan pa lang ako ng hagdan ay tumigil na ang pag-iyak niya. I open the door to his room and find the most beautiful kodak moment for me. It's Kade in his father's arms. 

My husband is smiling and looking at our son like he's the most precious thing in the world. And Kade is. He's our life. Our world. Kade is turning two in few months time. He's a spitting image of his dad. But he got his blue eyes and hair from me. I walk towards them and wrap my arms around them. 

"Good morning," I mutter.

My husband looks at me with so much love. "Good morning, babe."

Then he lowers his head to give me a kiss on the lips. Then I reach for my son and kiss his chubby, rosy cheek. 

"Good morning, love. You woke up your daddy again."

"Dy! Dy!"

Napangiti kami ng may tunog. Pinugpog ni Jeck ng halik ang anak namin. He loves it when Kade calls him dy. Well, that's the first word he learned. Kade loves his dad so much. 

"Kiss daddy," Jeck says.

He doesn't have to say it twice because Kade kisses him many times. What can I say? Our bundle of joy is a daddy's boy. No matter how busy Jeck is, he always makes time for us. Especially, for Kade. Kahit late na siya matulog dahil sa dami ng paperwork niya ay maaga pa rin siyang gigising lalo na kapag narining na niyang umiiyak ang baby namin. 

"Let's have breakfast," I say.

After having breakfast, we decide to attend the mass. While I'm taking a shower, Jeck bathes our son. Yep, he does that whenever he has time. Pagkatapos kong makapag-ayos ay binuksan ko ang connecting door sa kwarto ni Kade. Bihis na siya at nilalaro na lang ng asawa ko. When he notices me, he smiles.

"Done?" he asks.

"Yep."

"Are you sure?" he asks with a chuckle.

I pout my lips. Well, I can't blame him. He knows it takes me forever when I get dressed. I hug him from behind and bury my face in his neck.Darn. He smells good even if he hasn't taken a shower yet.

"Yes, I'm done. It's your turn, babe. Go na. Baka ma-late pa tayo." He turns to face me then kisses me deeply. "Babe, my lipstick," I protest lightly.

"I told you not to wear lipstick anymore. You don't need it." Then he crushes his lips against mine again. 

Ako na ang pumutol sa halikan namin bago pa lumalim. Natatawang pinaalis ko na siya para makapag-shower. I pick up Kade to take him downstairs. We play while waiting for Jeck. Di naman nagtagal ay bumaba na siya at umalis na kami para makapag-simba. 

Nakita pa namin ang iba naming mga kaibigan sa simbahan. Sina Missy, Zeck, Shin, Tamara, Vash, Vince, Chela, and their kids. 

"Hello, Kade!" Missy gives him a peck on the cheek. "Had you been older than our princess, I would've loved to have you as a son-in-law."

Zeck's forehead creases. "Missy, our princess is too young for that kind of thing."

Missy pouts. Kami naman ay natawa na lang. Sabay-sabay na kaming pumasok sa loob. Pero di pa nangangalahati ang misa ay nagta-tantrums na si Kade. 

"Give him to me. I'll take him outside," Jeck says.

Ipinasa ko sa kanya si Kade. Pero halos patapos na ang misa ay di pa rin sila bumabalik. I decide to follow them outside. But I can't find them. Where are they?

"Jeck? Kade?"

They're nowhere to be found.  Dread is starting to consume me. Where are they? Nakailang ikot na ako sa labas ng simbahan ay di ko pa rin sila makita. I try calling Jeck but his phone is out of reach. My eyes are starting to water. 

"Jeck! Kade! Where are you? It's not funny anymore, Jeck!"

Naisipan kong humingi ng tulong sa mga kaibigan namin. Pero pag-balik ko sa loob ng simabahan ay di ko rin sila makita. The church is empty! How can this be? What is happening? I run outside. But the place is also empty. I run and run but still I can't find my family. I only stop when my knees start to give in. 

Napasigaw ako ng biglang kumulog at umulan ng malakas. Humalo na ang mga luha ko sa tubig ulan. I'm also drenched but I don't give a damn anymore. All I care about is to find my husband and baby. The thought of not seeing them again is killing me. I gotta find them. I can't give up now.

"Xie-Xie!"

"Xie-xie, wake up! Xie-xie!"

I gasp as I open my eyes. Macky is looking at me worriedly. I sit up dazedly. Dinig ko ang lakas ng ulan sa labas. 

"Macky?"

He sighs and sits on the edge of my bed. "Is it about him again?" he asks.

"Yeah." I nod. 

I touch my face when I realize that it's wet with tears. I sigh for the nth time and bite my lower lip. Why do I keep on having that dream? I brush my fingers through my hair.

"Are you okay?"

I shake my head as tears begin to fall. "No, I'm not," I sob. 

"Was it the same dream you've had about him?"

I shake my head. "No, It wasn't. This one felt so real. So real that I want it to be true."

"Care to tell me about it?"

"I dreamt about him and our son, Kade," I say with a bitter chuckle. Sinapo ko ang noo. "I wish you could see him, Macky. Kaden was a very beautiful baby. He looks a lot like Jeck, but he's got my eyes and hair."

"I can almost imagine him."

I nod with a sad smile. "He just looked so perfect. I wish I could see him. I wish he were real, Macky. I freakin' want him to be real! I held him in my arms. He felt so good in my arms." 

I can't hold it in anymore so I let it out. I cry like a little kid. Macky pulls me in his arms as he tries to comfort me. 

"You can have your Kade anytime you want, Xie-xie."

I shake my head. "But not with Jeck..."

He sighs. "Ano ka ba naman, te? Hanggang kailan mo paparusahan yung sarili mo?"

"I keep thinking that maybe had I stayed, we probably could've had our 'Kade' now. Had I been much stronger, and less selfish."

"Damn it. Stop, Xie-xie. You chose to be selfless in the end. You let him go to heal what needs to be healed. Tama na. It's been two years, Dixie. It's high time that you get over him."

"I f*ckin' want to get over him and just get on with my life. But you know what I've realized? You don't get over it. You just get used to it, Macky."

He sighs. "Then don't you think it's time for you to come back?"

I bite my lower lip. "I'm scared. What if it's already too late?"

"Paano natin malalaman ang sagot kung hindi ka babalik?"

Natahimik ako. May babalikan pa ba ako? What if it's already too late to claim him back? But Jeck is worth the risk, isn't he? I can't keep on having a beautiful nightmare about our could've and should've beens. 

Macky is right: it's time to come back.