Beautiful Goodbye

Chapter 48

ISANG maaraw na Linggo ang sumalubong sa kanila. Nagising si Huffle dahil sa liwanag na tumama sa mga mata niya.

Babangon na sana siya nang pigilan ni Theo. He pulled her tighter in an embrace, ayaw pakawalan.

"Theo, maliwanag na..."

"I know" tugon nito, "Kanina pa ako gising"

Napatingala siya rito, "It means, kanina pa gising ang anak mo. Let's go, baka nagugutom na iyon"

"Nandiyan naman si Manang" Theo hired a house helper for them. She's a widow without a child, kaedad ng Mommy niya.

She's strong and effecient. Maliban doon, mabait din at maaruga. Tamang tama para sa kanila lalo na't sinusubukan nila ni Theo muli na magkaanak.

This also why Theo hired her, dahil advice ng doctor na iwas pagod at stress siya. They've been praying, bahala na si Lord.

"We hired her to assist us, Theo not to replace us" she chuckled, "Iba pa rin na kasama niya tayo magbreakfast"

"Bakit hindi ka nagabogado?" anito, "Yung totoo? Sino sa inyo ni Kuya Slyther ang attorney?"

Siniko niya ito nang kaunti, "Silly. Let's go, husband!"

Tama naman siya dahil pagkababa nila sa dining ay nandoon na ang anak. Sinalubong sila nito ng yakap.

They're in the middle of eating breakfast when Manang received a parcel for them.

There's a fragile sign in it. What could it be?

"Let me see" Si Theo ang nagbukas at nakita ang bote na may laman na papel sa loob. "What is this?"

"There's a note" She pointed it out, "Look.."

Binuklat iyon ni Theo at napatingin sa kanya, "This was been sent to me by a stranger. Hoping that I was the Theo they were expecting. I wasn't"

"Sino iyan?"

He shrugged his shoulders, "The message inside the bottle was not for me, I hope it was. But, I do hope that it is you"

Binigay na sa kanya ni Theo ang sulat na iyon at nabasa pa ang dulo ng sulat.

In case that it wasn't you. Please, look for another Theo and give this to him. He deserves to keep what's inside.

Nang tignan niya muli ang asawa ay binabasa na nito ang sulat mula sa bote.

Her eyes widen with disbelief!

Theo,

Today, I join my life to yours, not merely as your wife, but as your friend, your lover, and your confidant.

You are the shoulder that I lean on, the rock on which I rest, the companion of my life. Let me be yours, too as we walk our path from this day forward.

In your eyes, I have found my home
In your heart, I have found my love
In your soul, I have found my mate
and in your love, I found myself

You know me better than anyone else in this world, even me and somehow still you manage to love me.

You are my best friend and one true love. There is still a part of me today that cannot believe that I'm the one who gets to marry you.

That's was her written vow! That was what she written when she said goodbye to him.

"Hindi ko akalain na may mga taong maeffort na ganito" sambit ni Theo, "Imagine, this is just a wedding vow. Malamang narinig na ito nung Theo"

"No..." aniya, "He didn't hear that"

Napakunot ang noo nito, "What do you mean?"

Napatingin siya sa mata nito at kinuha ang sulat, "I-I wrote this for you" nanginginig ang tinig niya, "When you were gone, seven years ago"

Hindi yata makapaniwala ang lalaki. Binalik niya ang tingin sa papel.

"I was so down. Ayoko ng kausap dahil wala namang makakaunawa sa akin so I went to this beach" she continued, "and there I wrote this. Theo, this was supposedly my wedding vows for you..."

"Huffle..." hinawakan nito ang kamay niya, "Oh, baby.."

"Akalain mo naman, nabasa mo rin" She chuckled but tears just flowed from her eyes, "You were the Theo they've been looking for and this belongs to you..."

Tumayo si Theo sa inuupuan at agad siyang niyakap. "I love you, Huffle..."

"I love you, too" and they kissed.

"Ma, Pa.. that's so gross" Hindi pa sila maghihiwalay kung walang violent reaction ni Eliz. Nakokornihan yata sa kanila.

Tumawa si Theo, "That's not gross, that's love"

"Really?"

"Anak, finish your food. Huwag ka muna maengganyo sa kiss, tama ka - it's gross" aniya.

"If it's gross then why are you doing it?"

Nagkatinginan silang magasawa. Damn! Ang hirap nang may matalinong anak.

"You'll find out soon, anak" Kindat ni Theo rito, "Alright?"

That same day, Theo bought a picture frame and framed the letter. Nilapag ni Theo ito sa ibabaw ng cabinet kung saan malapit sa wedding photo nilang dalawa na nasa dingding.