Vacation With My Cousin

Epilogue : 'Til we meet again

Napangiti ako nang makita ang masaya at totoong ngiti sa mukha ni Lucho na lumalakad papalapit sa akin.

Dearest Lucho, I can still remember that day when we used to have conflicts pero hindi mo nalamang pinapansin dahil ayaw mong mag-away tayo.

We studied at the same school that's why you became my chaperon, my human-shield, my shoulder to cry on at higit sa lahat ang ang cousin-bestfriend ko.

Tayo na laging magkasama simula pa nung nakita kitang nakatanaw sa akin na naliligo sa pool. I was so shock that time to see such a handsome kid like you, akala ko kapitbahay lang tayo nun but you became my cousin which made me appalled kasi crush na kita noon at masama magkacrush sa pinsan.

Ikaw na ang paborito kong kuya na pinsan but things changed when I reached junior high– Garcia & Baez's decided to have a reunion that time in the beach then you just came over to me at bigla mo nalamang akong inakbayan at hinalikan sa pisng, after that I started fantasizing about you and imagining things with you that's beyond cousins.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero akala ko simpleng paghanga lang. Sino ba naman ang hindi hahanga sayo? You have a smile that every girl would want to see. You are intelligent, incredibly incredible, you have a sense of humor and you are very mambobola! Ganyan ka! Malandi ka kasi, pero mahal kita. Mahal kita hindi bilang pinsan kundi minahal kita kagaya ng pagmamahal ni daddy kay mommy, ni tito kay tita, ni kuya Charm kay ate Casey at higit sa lahat minahal kita kagaya ng pagmamahal ni Chanty kay Lucho. Weird right? They said when you're in love you're weird.

Naalala ko pa nung nagpunta tayo ng Malaysia– which is dad's graduation gift for me— we happily went to the twin tower. Doon kita unang tinawag na 'Lucho' only Lucho kasi ewan uncomfortable na for me to call you kuya Luch, akala ko pa magagalit ka sa akin but I am over-to-the-universe happy dahil hindi. Hindi ko maexplain! May halong kilig, saya at excitement.

Then everything went smooth as it was. I went to college and you're still there for me.

Then that one vacation happened, akala ko di kana dadating nun! Para akong kulang, parang gusto kong may mabuo sa akin na hindi ko naman malaman-laman kung anong makapagbubuo. Then surprisingly came! You came! I felt complete– then I realized, you're my missing piece.

Maiiyak ako sa saya sa tuwing maalala ang unang halik natin. Hindi ko alam kung anong pipiliin ko ang tama ba o mali, but I chose the latter. Mali ang lahat but we made it beyond perfect. We had this forbidden relationship, a relationship everyone calls incest.

Simula nun we shared our tears and laughter when we're together. We were together going to paradise and cloud nine. Lahat ginawa mo na just to make me happy. That was the happiest, craziest and beyond amazing Christmas vacation that I've ever celebrated in my entire life.

Naging tayo hanggang sa nakaranas tayo ng iba't ibang kalamidad, trahedya at masamang pangyayari.

Until the revelation day came— nalaman kong I am adopted, then I realized the deep meaning of "Ako ang bahala" and "Kukunin ko ang akin" because I'm really yours. Ever since. I am exclusively for the Lucho Miguel Garcia.

I smiled nang lumapit ka sa akin. Ang saya saya mo at nakikita ko iyon sa mga mata mo. I wiped my tears as you knelt down and put the bouquet of my favorite purple tulips on the headstone of my grave.

"Hi baby!" You bit your lip and shook your head trying to stop your tears from falling.

"It's been two years," you brushed your silky hair and laughed. "As promised, I will find someone else to love, and guess what," you smiled and lumingon sa likod mo. Napangiti ako nang makita siya— she's beautiful, she's nice and she will take care of my baby Lucho.

"She's.. She's Faith." hinawakan mo ang kamay nito at saka hinagkan. Nakaramdam agad ako ng saya dahil finally, may nagpapasaya na ulit sayo.

"Hi Chanty, it's nice to meet you," Faith sweetly smiled at me, at my tombstone. Malawak na lamang akong napangiti. She's perfect for Lucho.

Lumapit ka sa tenga nito at may binulong, ngumiti naman si Faith atsaka naglakad na papalayo.

"I miss you," Lucho cried as soon as Faith left, doon na din nagsituluan ang mga luha ko. Marahan ko itong pinahid. "I know you're happy to see me now. Ilang buwan nga ba akong nagalit sayo? Lima? Anim? Pito? Pasensya na baby, madaya ka kasi eh!" napatawa na lamang si Lucho at marahang pinunasan ang luha niya.

"But I know you're happy now, kung saan ka man naroroon ngayon, siguro ang saya niyo nang dalawa ng angel natin ano?" umiling iling pa ito atsaka pinahid ang mga luha.

Napatikom akong napatingin kay Lucho and gently wiped my tears away. "Thank you for everything baby, for being with me, for loving and for taking care of me. Alam kong tayo pa din hanggang sa huli– kung hindi man dito sa lupa, alam kong diyan, sa langit– tayo talaga ang para sa isa't-isa."

Humingang malalim si Lucho and gently wipe his tears away. "Alam mong mahal na mahal kita Chandria Tyna Castillo Garcia kahit ang tigas ng ulo mo. Forever nga diba? I love you baby and to our angel, take care of mommy muna for me, okay? I love you both." he heaved a sad sigh.

"Till we meet again, Chanty," marahan nitong pinunasan ang luha niya atsaka unti unting tumalikod.

I sobbed. Hinawakan ko na ang maliit na kamay ng baby namin ni Lucho habang parehong kaming nakangiti atsaka sabay na kaming tumalikod and walk to the light.

I closed my eyes and heave a sigh, looked back to where he is and smiled.

"Till we meet again, Lucho"

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             END