After We Happened

VII. Mommy Loves

Kabanata 7

Mommy Loves.

Nang nagutom na si Drae ay nagpadala na sila ng pagkain sa cottage. Tuwang-tuwa naman sa pagkain si Drae at ang daddy niya.

While everyone around us was just looking at us weirdly, maybe, they're still thinking... how the hell did that happen?

It's like they're all waiting for me to tell them something, just like Kuya Daffin earlier.

"I'm already finished, mommy!" Drae said while smiling sweetly at me. I smiled back at her. She really looks a lot like me. Mabuti na lang talaga.

"Go wash your hands, baby."

"Where, mommy?" she asked. Ramdam ko namang ang lahat ng atensyon ay nasa amin na lamang.

"There, Drae. Go with your dad—" I stopped, dahil nakatingin nanaman silang lahat sa akin.

"Daddy! Come on! Lets go!" biglaang sabi Drae sabay hila kay Stance palabas ng cottage.

Nang makaalis sila ay mas dumoble pa ang katahimikan sa loob ng cottage hanggang sa binasag ito ni Chan.

"Si Stance ang tatay?" he asked, a bit shocked and confused.

I smiled timidly. "You've heard what she called Stance, so... I guess that's it."

"Kayo pala?" Tori asked.

"Isn't it obvious guys? Daffney Stance Architectural Firm!" kontra ni Rienne.

Nag-react naman ang lahat. Like they were all saying hala, oo nga no.

Iimik pa sana siya kaso dumating na ang mag-ama. "We're done, 'my!" ani Drae sabay wisik ng tubig sa mukha ng daddy nya na buhat-buhat siya.

"Daddy's so naughty!" she giggled.

"Daddy! Why are you naughty?" pagalit ko pa kay Stance na lagi namang ikinatutuwa ni Drae.

"Tsk! Now mommy's angry!" ani Stance kay Drae. He acted like he was sad, pero tinawanan lang naman siya ng anak ko.

"No! She isn't mad at you. Mommy loves you," gulat ko naman ng bumaling sa akin si Drae. "Right, mommy?"

Natigilan ako. I swallowed hard before smiling sweetly at my baby. "Of course! I love your daddy!" I said.

As always, gulat nanaman silang lahat sa nadinig mula sa akin. Napa-ngisi naman si Stance sa sinabi ko.

"Mommy, I'm sleepy!" Drae said.

"Let's go!" yaya ko kaagad sa kanilang dalawa. Dinala ko naman sila sa kwarto namin nina Tori. Kasya naman siguro silang dalawa sa kama ko.

Pagkahigang-pagkahiga ko kay Drae ay nakatulog na kaagad siya. Then, I saw Stance shaking his head at me.

"I miss you, Honey..." sabi niya sabay yakap sa akin.

"I miss you too, Honey."

"Tara tutulog," yaya pa niya sakin.

"Ikaw nalang muna!" sabi ko sabay tulak sa kaniya papalayo sa akin.

"Hmp! Susumbong kita kay Drae!" pag-aalburoto pa niya na parang bata. Napatawa naman ako sa ginawa niya.

"Sorry na nga, daddy!" sabi ko sabay yakap ulit sa kaniya. Tumawa lang siya at bahagya kaming natigilan ng bumukas ang pintuan.

Kaagad kong kinalas ang yakap ko sa kaniya at hinarap kung sino 'yon.

Sina Kuya Daffin at Vellix pala. "Kinuha na namin kayo ng kwarto," sabi ni Kuya sabay lapit at bigay ng susi.

"Uh...Thanks, Kuya."

"Sige na, kayong mag-asawa, continue your loving loving!" Vellix teased before they finally left us.

"Continue na daw!" ani Stance.

"Tse! Ewan ko sa 'yo! Bahala ka na nga d'yan!" ani ko. Tumayo na ako at iniwan ko siya sa kwarto na tatawa-tawa samantalang ako feeling ko mukha na akong kamatis sa pula. Tss!

Bumalik naman ako sa cottage and as expected, inasar kaagad ako ni Vellix. "Oh bakit hindi na kayo nagla-loving ng asawa mo?" he asked.

"Vellix!" sita ko.

Gosh, asawa?

"Baka masundan nyo pa si Drae ha!" bahagya akong natigilan sa sinabi ni Terrence. What the hell? Wrong move!

"Sweet talaga 'yang dalawang 'yan. Masanay na kayo!" ani Shin.

"I still can't believe it," sabi ni Rienne with matching iling pa.

"Well you need to," I answered back.

"How old is she?" Darlin asked out of nowhere. Bahagya akong natigilan sa pagka-usap niya sa akin, maging ang mga nandito sa cottage.

"She's three."

He nodded at me, but it doesn't seem like he was convinced with my answer.

"She really looks like you, Daff... but even cuter," singit ni Leon.

"I know," I smiled back at him.

Silence occupied us for a moment until he broke it. "Bagay kayo."

I was suddenly shocked on what he jusr said. It wasn't like he's telling an opinion, it was like he's stating a fact.

Ang attention nilang lahat ay nasa amin nanamang dalawa.

I only answered him with a smile, because that was all I could offer.

"Right from the very start, you two were the perfect match. Since your first year in college, kayo na talaga ang bagay."

What the hell? All of a sudden, why is he reminiscing the past?

"Bagay na bagay..."

Hindi ko siya sinagot. I felt my chest tightening. Kaagad akong lumabas ng cottage at nagpunta sa seaside.

It's already sunset.

I really love staring at the sky.

It makes me feel at peace somehow.

"Daffney."

I looked back only to see her. "Ate Dexan," I called out. Hindi ko alam kung paano siya kakausapin, dahil maging siya ay galit sa akin.

"Why didn't you tell us?" tanong niya habang papalapit sa akin.

I frowned. Hindi ko na napigilan ang mga luha ko. "I'm really sorry, Ate..." I said as I hugged her. I really missed her. Miss na miss ko na ang pamilya namin. Ang pamilya ko.

She hugged me back. Naiyak na din siya ngayon. "No... I should be the one sorry, Daff. It was our fault. Hindi ka namin inintindi... at ang nararamdaman mo noong mga panahong 'yon."

"Ate, it was my fault..." Hinarap ko na siya. "Biglaan akong umalis. Ni wala man lang akong pasabi. I'm sorry."

"It's just that we didn't expect what you did. We didn't expect what happened that day. It's unbelievable, Daff. Hindi namin inaasahan iyon. Handa ka na nung araw na 'yun e. Then, that thing happened. Until now, hindi pa din ako makapaniwala sa mga nangyari noon."

I sighed. Humarap ako sa dagat at sa papalubog na araw. I closed my eyes and felt the wind brushing softly against my skin. "Don't worry, Ate. Hindi lang naman ikaw... kasi ako, hanggang ngayon, hindi pa din ako makapaniwalang wala na kami."