Anatomy of the Heart | Vicerylle

13. John Doe

"Before the day ends," Vice leaned down and kissed her nose as they laid on the bed, "Happy birthday, Karylle ko."

"Thank you, love." sabi ni Karylle na napapikit at hinalikan din si Vice sa ilong nito.

"Are you happy?"

"Thank you for this day. And thank you na din for the many days na alam kong patuloy mo lang akong pasasayahin."

"Kakilig naman yan. Coming from you ha?" sabi ni Vice na niyakap tighter si Karylle.

"There we go... It's a new day na." sabi ni Karylle na napatingin sa orasan.

"Birthday ko naman susunod. Hindi ako nag e-expect ng magandang surprise ha. Wag kang ma-pressure masyado." sabi ni Vice na naka-smirk.

"Oh don't worry, I was just gonna send you away to your family anyway." sabi ni Karylle sabay tawa.

She looked at Vice bigla ng mapansin nyang ngumiti lang ito slightly at napatahimik.

"Soft spot?" tanong ni Karylle kaya naman ngumiti lang ulit si Vice napatango.

"Medyo lang naman."

"I just realised na you haven't really talked about them... I understand kung hindi ka pa ready, I understand naman."

"No, it's okay... Uhm, paano ba?" he said at napaisip sa sasabihin nya.

"Where is your family?"

"Wala eh."

"Anong wala eh?"

"I don't have one." Vice smiled sadly, "I mean I'm sure I do, pero hindi ko sila kilala. Hindi ko sila name-meet pa."

"Vice, I'm sorry."

"Bakit ka nag so-sorry?" he chuckled and kissed her head, "Ang alam ko lang pinaampon nila ako nung sanggol pa lang ako. Hindi na ako nag research pa, kasi inisip ko, kung ayaw nila sa'kin noon pa lang, bakit nila ako gugustuhin ngayon diba?"

"You know that's not always the case."

"I'm enough, Karylle. Masaya naman akong mag-isa."

"Hindi ka na mag-isa. You have me now."

Napangiti si Vice sa sinabi ng girlfriend kaya naman niyakap nya ito ng mas mahigpit.

"I was passed around different foster families until nung nag sixteen ako. Nung sixteen na ako, tumakas na ako. Nag trabaho ako kung saan saan, nung nakaipon ako, dun ako nag aral. Kasi inisip ko noon, siguro kapag naging maganda buhay ko, gugustuhin din nila ako... Yung feeling na baka hanapin din nila ako." he carried on saying whilst nakatingin sa kisame, "Pero wala eh. Wala man lang nag tanong, wala man lang nag hanap."

"Kaya nga wala pa akong bahay eh... Hindi kasi ako sanay na may permanenteng na tinitirahan, so I just go in and out of hotels. And honestly, deep, deep down, kahit na alam kong wala namang pag-asa, umaasa pa rin ako na hahanapin nila ako. Na makakauwi din ako sa isang bahay kung saan nandun yung pamilya ko. Ang desperado ko lang ba?" he laughed bitterly.

"You don't have to wait for them anymore. I'll be your family from now on. This is your house now too, okay?"

Vice looked down on Karylle's face and smiled genuinely, "Gusto mo talaga akong paiyakin noh?"

"Wag ka ng malungkot..." sabi ni Karylle and wiped the small tear that fell from Vice's eyes, "Please?" she pouted cutely.

"Kaya mahal kita eh." Vice said before kissing Karylle's pouty lips.

--

Matapos ang isang linggong leave ni Karylle from work to spend time with her son, it was her first day back to work. Pinayagan naman ni Karylle si Bailey na manatili muna sa Pilipinas since bakasyon naman nito sa school.