Baby Madness

Epilogue

It's been three days since we returned yet everything that happened that day still felt surreal. I was so dumbfounded that time that I couldn't speak for a couple of minutes.

"Right in front of their families," Katrina muttered while hugging Clark.

"Such bravery," Shang added as he covered Czanelle's eyes.

"What happened? What happened?" tanong ni Czanelle.

Nanghihina pa rin ang tuhod ko at nakaalalay si Jazer sa akin habang nakaharap kami sa kanila. Dad cleared his throat while Kuya Larry kept pursing his lips to hide his triumphant grin but failed in the end.

"Sir," Jazer called while looking at Dad. Tumango lang sa kanya si Dad at lalo lang akong nanghina.

They were all looking at us and I wondered how Jazer could look unaffected despite what he just did, while I was just seconds from passing out.

"Okay ka lang ba, anak?" tanong ni Nanay Meling at napunta ang atensyon nilang lahat sa akin.

I drew a shaky breath. "May I collapse now?"

The atmosphere turned light and Kuya Larry started laughing. My surprise event got ruined but it was worth it. Now that they're here, everything was worth it.

***

"Saka na kita hahalikan sa labi kapag kaya na kitang buhayin at panindigan."

His words repeatedly echoed inside my head as I blankly stared at my room's ceiling. Was that why he did that? Or he just acted on impulse?

"Damn it!" I cursed as I rolled on my bed but I halted when I heard a knock on my door.

"Chloe?"

Napabangon naman ako nang marinig ko ang boses ni Dad. Agad akong tumayo at pinagbuksan siya ng pinto.

"Dad."

"Why do you look tensed?" tanong niya kaya naubo ako.

"I-I'm not!"

His lips subtly curved upward. "I've already talked to him," he said.

"W-what? What did you say to him?"

"What do you think?"

"Dad!"

"Bumaba ka na. Kakain na."

I could not really understand what's going through his head. Hindi ko alam kung nang-aasar ba siya o seryoso, but teasing wasn't his nature. Did he seriously talk to him?

Bumaba naman ako at tahimik lang akong kumain ng lunch pero na-realize ko rin na ito ang unang beses na kakain kami nang sabay-sabay. Dad was assisting Mom in drinking while Czanelle carefully watched Clark as he ate his meal. Napangiti na lang ako habang pinapanood ko sila. I didn't know a simple thing like eating with your family would be this delightful.

After that ay umalis ako para kitain ang mga may kasalanan ng lahat.

"I swear, I didn't tell him!" bungad ni Queenie nang dumating ako sa café.

"Me, too," dagdag ni Katrina. "I didn't know how he learned about it."

"Actually . . ."

Sabay-sabay kaming napatingin kay Iñigo at napaatras siya mula sa aming tatlo.

"You told him?!" sigaw ni Queenie.

"I didn't, but . . ."

"But what?" I asked, glaring at him.