Chapter Twenty-five
*Two souls bonded,
two hearts connected,
a man and a wife created.*
“KUMUSTA ka na, anak?” masuyong tanong ni Agatha kay Sasa.
Totoong nasorpresa siya sa pagbisita ni Sasa. Hindi nito kasama si Niel, tanging mga trusted police agents lang. It turned out na ginawa palang safe house ni Celina ang bahay nina Niel sa Kab-Laaw para hindi matugis ang babae ng sindikatong tinalikuran nito. That explained Niel and Celina’s love affair…
But anyway, Agatha was far from interested. Bumabaliktad pa rin ang sikmura niya at umiinit ang dugo niya tuwing naiisip ang babae.
“Ayos lang, Inay! Madami na halaman natin. Pati kalamansi.” Iginala ni Sasa ang tingin sa buong bahay. Kanina pa nito iyon ginagawa. Her little innocent eyes were sparkling. “Ang laki-laki talaga ng bahay mo po. Masaya ka po dito?”
“Oo,” totoo niyang sagot. “Lagi kong kasama sina Kuya Rain, Ate Riana, Adam, at Rade—”
“At saka si Tito Reeve,” hagikgik ni Sasa.
Eksaktong lumabas si Reeve mula sa kusina dala ang mga pagkain ng mga bata.
“I’m so happy you visited us, Sasa,” Riana said, smiling. Ito ang tumakbo sa pintuan at sumalubong ng yakap nang makita si Sasa. “Hanggang kailan ka dito?”
Hinaplos niya ang buhok ni Sasa. Humaba iyon at napansin niyang mas nagkalaman pa ang bata. Natutuwa ang puso ni Agatha. Halatang naaalagaan ito nang mabuti. “Hanggang kailan ka daw dito?”
“Bukas uwi na kami ni Itay,” sagot ni Sasa. Kinuha nito ang kutsara at kumain na ng cake. “Bisita lang ako dito kasi sabi ni Tito Reeve puwede ko puntahan ikaw, Inay.”
Napatingin siya kay Reeve na abala sa pagpapakain kina Adam at Rade. Lihim siyang napangiti at ibinalik ang tingin kay Sasa.
“Oh, you’re going to go home na pala tomorrow.” Riana pouted. “Bakit mabilis?”
“Hatid lang namin si Ate Ganda dito, eh,” sabi ni Sasa, nakatingin kay Riana. “Bawal kami matagal. Sorry, Ate Riana. Kita na lang tayo uli susunod.”
“Mag-aaral ka na ba, Sasa?” tanong ni Reeve.
“Next year daw po. Papasok na `ko school. Si Ate Ganda naging teacher ko sa kubo kapag wala si Itay.”
Huminga nang malalim si Agatha. “Hindi ka ba… sinasaktan ni A-Ate Ganda mo?”
Umiling ito. “Bait siya, Inay. Parang ikaw. Kaso lagi silang away ni Itay, eh. Pero bait pa rin siya.” Ngumunguya ito ng cake. “Mmm! Sarap!”
Mukhang nakuha ni Celina ang loob ni Sasa. Pero madali lang namang makagaanan ng loob ang bata kapag nakasama nang matagal. But then again, Sasa became attached with Celina at… kung seryoso ang relasyon nito kay Niel, stepmother na ito ni Sasa, kung tutuusin.
At kailangan na namang iwan si Sasa ng puwede na sana nitong maging ina…
Kumirot ang puso ni Agatha. “A-ayos lang bang… hindi mo muna makakasama si Ate Ganda mo?”
Naramdaman niyang tumingin sa kanya si Reeve.
“Ayos lang, Inay. Kasi lagi naman sabi si Ate Ganda, aalis din siya kapag kailangan daw. Hinatid namin siya ni Itay dito Maynila. Lungkot ako kaunti, Inay. Pero ayos lang talaga po. Kasi kahit hindi ko na siya kita lagi, bibigyan niya `ko kapatid.”
Napaubo si Reeve.
Napabuga naman ng hangin si Agatha.
At least, Sasa was ready. And for a five-year-old kid, she could easily adjust to situations as long as things were properly explained to her. This pure little girl could go places someday.
Kinausap ito ni Riana tungkol sa mga laruan. Then the two girls started giggling.
Bumalik na ang ngiti sa mga labi ni Agatha. Sandaling oras lang na naroon si Sasa kaya pinili niyang maging masaya ngayong kasama uli nila ito.
Napatingin siya kay Rainiel. Kanina pa kasi ito tahimik. “Baby, do you want to say something to Sasa?”
Umiling ito. Nakatingin ito sa kinakaing sandwich.
“Kuya Rain plays soccer,” sabi ni Riana, ipinagmamalaki ang nakatatandang kapatid.
“Ano soccer?” inosenteng tanong ni Sasa.
“Ahm, you will sipa the ball. Then there’s a goal. Takbo ang magkalaban na team. They just make sipa.”
Bumaling si Sasa kay Rainiel. “Wow. Laro tayo n’on, Kuya Rain!”
Napatingin dito si Rainiel. Nakasimangot.
“Hey, champ, why don’t you teach the girls how to kick and dribble a soccer ball?” Reeve suggested.
Kumunot ang noo ni Rainiel, parang nag-isip. “Okay, fine.”
“Yehey!” Pumalakpak si Riana. “Sasa, tuturuan tayo ni Kuya kung paano mag-play.”
Pumalakpak din si Sasa. The girls giggled again and continued eating. Pagkatapos kumain ng mga ito ay nagpahinga lang saglit at lumabas na sa garden.
Binantayan ni Agatha ang mga ito habang natutulog sa mga bisig niya si Rade. Rainiel looked fine with Sasa now.
“Kick it!” utos nito kay Sasa.
“Kick?”
“Sipa daw,” Riana translated.
“Ahh…” Sinipa naman ni Sasa ang bola. Mayamaya ay tumatakbo na ito at si Riana habang sipa-sipa ang bola. Sometimes they hit the ball, but most of the time they missed.
When dinner came, Reeve cooked for everyone. They all ate together until Sasa needed to leave.
“Pasensiya na kung hindi pa kita mabisita uli sa inyo,” sabi ni Agatha bago magpaalam. Nakaluhod siya sa harap ng bata para magpantay sila.
Ngumiti si Sasa. “Hindi naman ako alis do’n, Inay. Puwede ka bisita `pag puwede ka na punta.” Niyakap siya nito sa leeg. “Mahal kita, Inay.”
Agatha’s eyes turned misty. Napalunok siya at niyakap ito nang mahigpit. If she could just keep her as her own… “Sasa, g-gusto mo bang… hindi na umalis si Ate Ganda sa inyo?”
“Ahm… gusto ko, Inay. Kaso, sabi kasi ni Ate Ganda hindi talaga puwede kasi may mali daw siya ginawa. Gawin niya daw muna tama. Kapag tama na, babalik siya. `Tapos, hindi na siya aalis uli.”
Nagkatinginan sila ni Reeve. Maybe they both thought that Celina did good in explaining that part to a child.
“Sabi din, Itay, maiintindihan ko daw paglaki ko. Basta ngayon, kaming dalawa muna uli.” Ngumiti ito. “Bisita na lang daw kami kay Ate Ganda kapag may pera uli si Itay.”
Reeve patted Sasa’s hair. Lumuhod din ito sa harap ng bata. “You’re a bright little girl, aren’t you? Magpapakabait ka palagi.”
Tumango ito at yumakap din kay Reeve. “Salamat po, Tito Reeve. Sabi po Itay, lagi kang mabait sa `min. Kaya ayos lang ikaw kasama ni Inay. Mas dami ka daw love sa kanya.”
Reeve chuckled and hugged Sasa. Then Riana gave her a doll and hugged her too.
“Bye, Kuya Rain!”
“Bye,” he said in a monotone voice. At least, he was not rude with her anymore.
Niyakap uli niya ang anak-anakan bago ito tuluyang umalis. Kumakaway pa ito nang nasa loob na ng sasakyan ng mga police agents.
Mula nang araw na iyon ay hindi na natigil si Agatha sa pag-iisip tungkol sa kung ano nga ba ang dapat niyang gawin kay Celina. But it was clear that she wanted her behind bars. Dahil hindi lang naman sa kanya may kasalanan ang babae. Pati sa batas. And Celina was willing to pay for it.
“She pleaded guilty,” pagbabalita ni Reeve. Hindi gusto ni Agatha na pumunta sa mga hearing kaya laging si Reeve lang ang pumupunta.
“She pleaded guilty to robbing the whole bus and causing the driver to have a heart attack which led to the bus falling off the cliff. The families of the victims also pressed charges. Naglitawan na rin ang mga dati niyang nabiktima. Kaya bukod sa attempted murder sa `yo ay may robbery at kung ano-ano pa siyang kasong kinakaharap.”
“Kahit isuko ko pala ang kaso ko sa kanya, may iba pa ring kaso siyang hinaharap.”
Tumango ito. “The police and NBI put her inside a safe place for now. Knowing that she’s pregnant and also a star witness. Pagkatapos niyang manganak at mahuli ang sindikato, saka siya ililipat sa women’s correctional.”
Agatha did not know what to say. Iniba na niya ang usapan at agad namang naintindihan ni Reeve.
Siguro hindi pa lang bukas ang puso niya. Hindi pa handa para ibigay ang kapatawaran na hinihingi ni Celina.
Pero napakabigat pala sa loob niyon. Hindi siya ang may kasalanan pero ang pagpili niyang huwag munang magpatawad ay nagdulot ng kahungkagan sa puso at isip niya.
A month before Christmas, Agatha found herself in front of her parents’s house. Ipinasyal muna ni Reeve ang mga bata para sa “Daddy Time” ng mga ito.
“Anak, umakyat ka muna sa study ng daddy mo. Kanina ka pa niya hinihintay,” sabi ng mommy niya habang nagluluto ito ng lunch. “Nandoon din si Johann at ang mga pinsan ninyo.”
That explained the cars parked in their driveway.
Napangiti si Agatha at excited na umakyat sa study ng ama. Hindi na siya kumatok at basta na lang pumasok. Nadatnan niya ang kapatid at mga pinsan na parang nagdidiskusyon.
Her father was sitting on his swivel chair, listening. Parang inip na inip na. Pero nang makita siya ay agad na kumislap ang mga mata nito at napatayo. “Finally, my princess is here!”
Napahinto ang mga lalaki sa pagsasalita at sinalubong siya ng yakap at halik sa pisngi.
Agatha felt nostalgic. Bago pa siya makalapit sa daddy niya ay ang tagal muna niyang natapos batiin ang mga pinsan niya. Mula pagkabata ay ganoon na ang sistema. And then her brother joined them.
“Ano’ng pinag-uusapan ninyo?” she asked, curious. Tumabi na siya sa daddy niya. “Parang pinapasakit n’yo ang ulo ni Daddy.”
“Pinag-uusapan namin kung sino ang puwedeng pumalit na CEO sa hotels ngayong iniwan ni Reeve ang posisyon niya,” sagot ni Kuya Reynald.
“Dapat si Johann,” turo ni Kuya Charlie sa kapatid niya. “Siya ang direct na Anderson at ang magpapatuloy ng bloodline.”
“Utang-na-loob, kaya ako nag-teacher dahil doon nakalaan ang powers ko. Hindi ako pang-CEO. I can’t. I just can’t! Si Kuya Bari na lang. May PhD `yan sa business!” protesta ni Kuya Johann.
“As much as I wanted to…” Umiling si Kuya Bari. “I’m currently studying Film. I also have two children now. Hindi ko matututukan ang pamamalakad sa hotels.”
“Si Dylan! Vice president naman siya dati ng hotels.”
“I’m busy with my gym business. Dumarami na ang branch n’on.”
“Ikaw na lang kaya, Reynald?”
“Maawa naman kayo sa `kin. Kababalik ko pa lang sa med school. Mahahati na naman ang puso ko sa dalawa. Si Kuya Gideon na lang.”
“I’m governing a whole province already.”
“River?”
“I’m busy with my new autoshop business. Maybe Kuya Ramses can do it. Lawyers can be CEOs.”
“Oh, please. My application as a court judge is ongoing. I must stay focused. Charlie, you take charge.”
“Tutok ako sa restaurants ko. I can’t take another responsibility. Johann!”
“O, bumalik na naman sa `kin?! You can’t do this to me! You can’t. You just can’t!”
Nagpatuloy ang mga ito sa pagdidiskusyon.
Napatingin si Agatha sa daddy niya. “Puwede namang bumalik si Reeve sa hotel kapag mas malaki na ang mga bata. Iyon daw ang napag-usapan n’yo, Dad.”
“Yeah, I know.” Ngumisi ang daddy niya. “Don’t mind your brother and cousins. Nagkukulitan lang ang mga `yan.”
Tumikhim siya. “Ako na lang,” she bluffed.
Natigil ang mga ito sa pag-uusap at napatingin sa kanya. Then they laughed.
Lumabi siya. “Why are you all laughing at me?”
“Oh, Agatha, you have a different dream. Just focus on your auditions,” Kuya Ramses said.
“Dahil may amnesia ka, ipapaalala na lang namin sa `yo na hindi ka tumitigil sa kasasabi noon na ayaw mo talagang manahin ang mga hotel,” sabi ni Kuya Charlie.
“Kaya nagkumahog si Dylan na palitan ka.”
Kuya Dylan smirked. “My pleasure.”
“I did that?”
Sabay-sabay na nagtanguan ang mga pinsan niya.
“Oh, hija. Before Johann came to be a brother to you, you have your cousins at your feet.”
Nagtawanan ang mga ito. “Uncle Philip, you make it sound like we are Agatha’s dogs.”
“Aren’t we?” nakangiwing sabi ni Kuya Charlie.
They laughed again. Parang isang biro na may bahid ng katotohanan pero tanggap ng mga ito.
“A-ano ba akong klase ng pinsan noon? Am I always k-kind, sweet, and f-fragile? That’s why you’re always there for me?”
Lalong lumakas ang tawa ng mga pinsan niya.
Nilapitan siya ng kapatid niya at inakbayan. “Mahal kong kapatid, kung ganoon ka, hindi mo basta mapapaluhod ang mga ito sa `yo noon.”
“Agatha, you were always strong-willed and manipulative since you were… like what? Three years old?
“Remember when we were all in Iddu one time? The day before your daughter’s birthday? Breakfast n’on at nasungitan mo si Reeve?”
“Y-yes… Bago nga daw iyon at hindi siya sanay na ganoon ako. Nagulat din kayo noon.”
“Hindi kami nagulat dahil unang beses mo iyong ginawa. We were surprised because you did it again after so many years.”
“Again?” nakakunot-noo niyang tanong.
“No’ng mas bata ka pa. Maybe five or six? Ganoon mo kami batiin kapag hindi kami nakikipaglaro sa `yo,” nakatawang kuwento ni Kuya Reynald.
“Kuya, Kuya, let’s play,” Kuya Charlie imitated a childlike and girly voice.
“Agatha, may pasok kasi ako sa school. Mamaya na lang pag-uwi ko,” pakikisakay ni Kuya Reynald.
Lumabi si Kuya Charlie, and still playing a little girl, said, “Okay…”
“Later na lang, all right?”
Pasimpleng umirap si Kuya Charlie. “Later your face. Hmp!”
Her cousins burst into laughter.
Natawa na rin si Agatha. “But according to your stories, I’m always a sweet and nice girl.”
“Oh, you are. You are when you need something from us.” At nagtawanan na naman ang mga ito.
“Ibig sabihin, h-hindi na bago ang mga ipinapakita kong ugali ngayon?”
“Nagulat lang ang mga taong hindi ka naman nakasama sa paglaki katulad ng asawa mo,” paliwanag ni Kuya Ramses.
“Magmula sa umpisa, malakas na ang personalidad mo, Agatha,” dagdag ni Kuya Gideon. “You always know what you want. And you know ways how to get it.”
“What’s admirable about you is you get the things you want in a good way. And if there’s no good way, you wait until there is one.”
Tumikhim ang kapatid niya. “Ano pa po ang masasabi ninyo tungkol kay Agatha noon at ngayon?” tanong nito na parang host sa isang show.
“Wala namang bago.” Nagkibit-balikat si Kuya Ramses.
“We’re not surprised at all,” Kuya River seconded.
“She’s kind, sweet, and all. But she’s a fox. A cheeky one,” Kuya Dylan added.
“She tantrums in a nice way, you just don’t notice it,” Kuya Gideon said. “One time, I didn’t want to get her some candy before dinner, then she told me all the reasons why I should give it to her. She’s not whining but you know she’s pushing you to give in.”
“She rebels… gently and sweetly. Next thing you know, you’re under her paws,” Kuya Bari calmly said. “Before Agatha turned eighteen, I forbid her to drink any alcoholic drink. She did it anyway in front of me. Hindi ko naman daw siguro siya pababayaan.”
“What did you do?”
“I watched her drink. Binantayan ko na lang.”
“Agatha always wins!” Tumawa si Kuya Charlie. “She’s sneaky, too. Remember how she investigates on her own? You know she never lies about it because you won’t even figure out she did it.”
“Kapag nabuko mo naman, ngingitian ka lang. And she’d give you all the good reasons why she had to do it.”
Agatha found herself laughing. Hindi siya makapaniwala…
“It takes a very strong, brave, and determined person to always believe in the positive side of life amidst the hardships and cruelty of it. Hindi siguro iyon napansin ng ibang tao. They just always see how kindhearted and sweet she is. But she’s beyond that.”
“What made her nice and sweet was her positive outlook in everything around her. She was a brat but not spoiled.”
Agatha stopped laughing and just grinned.
“Ngayon, kung lumalabas ang ‘negative’ sides niya, hindi naman nakakagulat. We all have our dark sides. That makes us human.”
“And for us who loved her the moment she was born, nothing will ever change the way we look at her.”
Napakurap si Agatha. Her father held her hand and squeezed it. So they knew about her struggles with herself… Pero mga pinsan niya ang kaharap. Hindi puwedeng hindi updated ang mga ito.
“All people can see is her good side. Maybe that’s why they love her. But for us…”
All of her cousins, even her brother looked at her—always with that fondness in their eyes. Kahit kailan ay hindi iyon nawala mula nang magkaisip siya.
“We saw your flaws first and we love you just the same, Agatha.”
Napasinghap siya. “I lost myself,” she honestly told them.
Umiling ang kapatid niya. “Hindi naman siguro. Nakalimutan mo lang na may mga taong magmamahal pa rin sa `yo sa kabila ng mga kahinaan mo.”
“Through the years of being a Christian, we feel pressured living up to the standards. Mahirap nga namang sumunod sa Diyos kung lahat ng mata ay nakatingin sa `yo. Dalawa lang iyan: hinahangaan ka o hinihintay kang magkamali,” Kuya Ramses said.
Napayuko si Agatha. The guilt was beating in her system.
“Kaya hindi ka naging tapat sa sarili mo. Itinago mo ang mga negatibong emosyon. Reeve met you at your best. And you know you’re about to unleash the bad side but you held it. Because deep inside us, we’re always afraid to let someone that we love know about our ugly parts. We didn’t let our faith hold it for us. We kept doing it all by ourselves,” Kuya Reynald said sadly.
“Kaya tayo napupuno. At kapag sumabog, nagiging makalat na. Pati ang katinuan natin, hindi na natin alam kung saan na banda.”
Her father squeezed her hand. “It’s normal for us to feel those emotions, anak. Anger, sadness, disappointment, fear, pain... they are all natural. Hindi ka buhay kung hindi ka nakakaramdam ng mga iyon. It’s always our way of responding to this emotions that matters.
“Kung paano mo ito mailalabas sa tamang paraan ang humahasa sa character natin. Hindi ang pilit na pagtatago nito. Because the more you keep these negativities inside, you become irritable and it would be harder for you to understand things. You can’t radiate brightness if it’s dark inside you.”
Nanghihina ang mga tuhod, napaupo si Agatha sa tabi ng kanyang ama. Nangilid ang luha sa mga mata niya. She looked at the people around her.
“You have always known who you are, Agatha,” Kuya Bari told her. “Some days we feel we are lost. Like we don’t really know ourselves at all. Pero ang pagkilala natin sa sarili ay may kaugnayan sa pananampalataya natin. We lost ourselves because we lost the grip to the One who gave us the identity and purpose of living.”
“Y-yes… I just… I’m sorry, I just don’t know how to get back anymore, how to trust God again. How to see that everything happens for a reason that only God knows after I experienced one of the cruelties and unfairness of this world.” Napatingala siya at napapikit. “Madali lang kasing maniwalang may Diyos kung puro magaganda ang nakikita mo sa paligid mo. Pero kapag mismo ikaw na ang nakaranas ng kalupitan… I almost got killed. I saw the other side of life that you all protected me from and it was horrible. Isn’t God present at that side of life?”
Her father pulled her for a tight embrace. Then her brother followed.
There was a long silence. Alam niyang nandoon pa rin ang mga pinsan. Kompleto pa rin sa kuwarto.
“Isn’t it in the darkest times of life that trusting the Lord makes all sense?” Kuya River broke the silence. “It won’t be called ‘faith’ if we don’t believe hard enough that God is fighting for those who are in the most unfair side of the world.”
“River is right, Agatha,” Kuya Gideon agreed. “The Lord doesn’t only reward those who did good. He’s not just a giver for those who prayed. Not just a healer for the broken. But he’s also a fighter for those who were violated.”
“We look past the fact that above all justices, He’s supreme,” sabi naman ni Kuya Dylan. “Sa kagustuhan nating mangyari ang mga naiisip nating dapat sa lahat, makuha ang tingin natin ay nararapat na hustisya, naka kalimutan natin na kumikilos na ang Diyos para sa lahat.”
“Agatha,” tawag ni Kuya Johann. Humarap siya sa kapatid at nginitian siya nito. “Ibang kumilos si Lord. Hindi madalas na nangyayari ang mga inaasahan nating dapat na mangyari pero hindi ibig sabihin ay hindi Niya naibigay ang hustisya para sa nararapat.” He patted her right shoulder. “Ang hirap ma-gets, hindi ba? Ganito na lang. Kahit sa tingin natin ay hindi kumikilos ang Diyos para maiahon tayo mula sa kinalulugmukan natin, ang katotohanan ay lagi siyang kumikilos, nakikipaglaban gamit ang isa niyang kamay habang ang isa pa ay nakahawak sa ating lahat. Sa atin na mga naniniwalang naipanalo na Niya tayo.”
Agatha closed her eyes as tears fell from her eyes. Napahawak siya sa tapat ng dibdib. Ang sikip-sikip niyon pero may kakaibang init na hatid. Parang may pumiga sa puso niya… piga na may kasamang pagsuyo.
Her cousins said more encouraging words on how she would get her faith back.
At parang sa isang kulungan na madilim at malamig, may nakitang maliit na liwanag si Agatha habang pinapakinggan ang mga lalaking naging malaking bahagi ng kanyang buong pagkatao.
This was her family even before Reeve and her children came.
She glanced at her father and then at her brother.
Silang lahat na nandoon ay mga Anderson. What kept the love revolving around this family was the faith that bonded them together.
“Kapag naiisip mo ang mga problema mo, isipin mo na lang din na minsan, bata pa lang ako ay hindi na ako nakaramdam ng sense of belongingness,” sabi ni Johann.
“I was an orphan. And now, my wife has cancer,” dagdag ng Kuya Dylan niya.
“I used to love the wrong way,” Kuya Reynald said.
“I fed my grandfather lies before he died,” si Kuya Charlie.
“Suicidal tendencies.” Nagtaas ng kamay ang Kuya Ramses niya.
Nagtaas din ng kamay si Kuya River. “Felt worthless.”
“Rejected in marriage and I got heavily fooled,” Kuya Gideon said.
Napabuga ng hangin si Kuya Bari. “Grew up with a controlling father, had sibling issues, failed first marriage, lost a child, lost a mother, started an accident, almost died in a heart attack thrice… What did I miss?”
Nagtawanan ang mga lalaki. Napalabi naman si Agatha.
“Why would I think about those bad moments in your life?”
“Para maalala mong lahat tayo ay may iba’t ibang pinagdadaanan. Lahat tayo ay naghirap, nasaktan… nagpalamon din sa dilim.”
“And you all got through it…” nabulong niya nang ma-realize ang gustong iparating ng mga pinsan.
Nag-thumbs-up ang kapatid niya. “At kung nalagpasan namin, ikaw pa ba ang hindi?”
“Some of us got through because we held tight or have found Jesus along the way. Hindi rin naging madali. Mahaba-habang paglalakbay din pero…”
“Pero nakarating.”
Having this kind of belief and relationship with Christ… it would always be very rocky, unsteady, the waves would keep on crashing, and the storms would get angrier. But the faith was how to keep still and trust the Lord that all of those would calm down. Love and peace, God always promised.
Pagkauwi ni Agatha nang bandang hapon ay wala pa ang asawa at mga anak niya. Naisip niyang matulog dahil sa tingin niya ay napagod siya sa pakikipag-usap sa mga pinsan.
Until she heard the raindrops falling. Bumangon siya sa kama at dumungaw sa bintana. Mas dumalas ang pagbagsak ng mumunting patak.
Bumaba siya at lumabas ng bahay. Walang payong na tumakbo siya palabas ng gate.
As raindrops started to pour upon her, she smiled and opened her arms wide. Para siyang bata na noon lang nakapaglaro sa ulanan.
Hindi niya matandaan kung nakapaglaro na ba siya sa ulanan pero kung unang beses man niya iyon o hindi, malaya ang kanyang pakiramdam.
The rain got stronger, each drop heavier. She just stood still, her clothes all wet… never really minding the cold breeze that touched her skin.
“Agatha?”
Napamulat siya ng mga mata at nakita ang sasakyan ni Reeve. Nakababa na ito. May hawak itong puting payong.
She felt like smiling so she smiled at him. “Where are the kids?”
Lumapit si Reeve sa kanya, nakakunot ang noo habang ang itim nitong mga mata ay nakatingin sa kanya nang puno ng pagtataka. “We stopped by your parents’ house. I thought you were still there. Sabi nina Daddy at Mommy, nakauwi ka na. I left the kids because Mommy said she would cook dinner. I called you but you didn’t answer. Kaya naisip kong sunduin ka na lang.” Pinayungan siya nito. “Bakit ka naman naliligo sa ulan?” tanong pa nito. “We’re in the city, Agatha. This could be acid rain.”
She ignored his scolding. “Do you know what calms our dark personalities and bad attitudes?” she asked randomly.
“What?”
“The light that we have in our heart. The love we keep is the Christ in us. He ceases all wickedness and selfishness. The self-intelligence as well as the ignorance.”
Nakatingin lang si Reeve sa kanya. Wala na ang pagtataka. Maybe he understood already.
Nayakap ni Agatha ang sarili. “I still don’t know when I can forgive Celina or Niel. I’m not certain if I can ever remember all my memories of you. I… I’m starting my faith from the very bottom again. I hit the lowest of low, Reeve.” Sinalubong niya ang mga mata nito. She remembered who she was. “I’m still Agatha.” But, “The flawed one. The best side of me won’t get to show any day now.”
Umangat ang kamay nito at masuyong pinalis ang tubig-ulan sa noo at pisngi niya. “So what?”
Napalunok siya. “Y-you’ll still stay? With me?”
“All you’ve got from me, mostly, is my worst part. The broken and the inconsistent. But you stayed and loved me.” Ibinaba na nito ang isang kamay at tinitigan na lang siya nang buong intensidad. “You vowed in front of the Lord. I did too. Now and forever, I’m staying. Not just because I love you but because God trusted you to be my wife. I promised not only to be faithful to you but to Him as well. I will love and take good care of you until our last breath. Because when the day comes that I need you to return to Him, you were well-loved.
“Iyon pala ang ibig sabihin ng pagpapakasal. I’m sorry I got to realize it nine years after our marriage. We already experienced the better, and if now is the worst, I’m still your man. I am God’s anointed man for you, sweetheart. The one that will lead you back if ever yo got lost. The man that will stand up with you after the hard fall.”
“Reeve…”
“It takes time to forgive so don’t pressure yourself. Heal.”
Hinawakan niya ang payong at kinuha iyon mula sa asawa. Then she threw it away.
Napapikit si Reeve sa pagbuhos ng ulan dito. Hindi niya ito hinihiwalayan ng tingin.
He opened his eyes. He was now wet with rain.
“It doesn’t matter if you’ll never remember me again. If the heart doesn’t really remember back, then let’s just make new ones. Hindi man natin mahigitan ang dati, ang mahalaga ay mas natututo tayo ngayon.” Hinapit siya nito sa baywang. “Maybe you won’t love me as intensely as you did before, but we already share a special connection through our children. And I think it’s better than romance.”
Itinaas ni Agatha ang kamay at hinaplos ang mukha ni Reeve. Mas lumakas pa ang buhos ng ulan, pati ang pag-ihip ng hangin.
“What if it will take years? Ten? Twenty?”
“So be it!”
Halos sumisigaw na sila para magkarinigan.
“Can we go inside now?” he asked.
“You told me to play in the rain.” Nakagat niya ang labi nang magbadyang tumulo ang luha.
“Figuratively! Sometimes, we don’t need to wait for hope. Hope is within us, most especially during the storms of life. It makes us resilient. You told me that!”
She laughed. She was about to cry earlier but now she was laughing.
Biglang humina ang buhos ng ulan. Hanggang sa ang malalakas na buhos ay naging mga patak na lang uli.
It was almost six in the evening. The sun should have come down while it was raining. Yet surprisingly, a little sun ray shone directly on Reeve.
The droplets of rain on his face glistened. He raised his hand to cover his eyes from the brightness. Pero kung titingnan nang mabuti ang liwanag na tumatama roon, mapapansing may iba’t ibang kulay iyon…
She gasped and followed where the ray was coming from. Then she saw it.
A rainbow!
Bumalik ang tingin niya kay Reeve. Nakatingala na rin ito sa bahaghari. He was smiling. Bumaling ito sa kanya mayamaya at parang nagulat nang mahuli siyang nakatingin dito.
Yet he smiled once again.
Agatha’s heart skipped a beat. Muli niyang nakita ang dati ay hindi niya nakikita kay Reeve.
A light… his own light.
“Reeve.”
“Yes?”
“After I learn to overcome all of these… after fixing myself…”
Napaharap ito sa kanya. He gasped. “Agatha…”
She smiled very dearly at her… man. She cupped his face in her hands and wiped away the droplets of rain from his handsome face.
“Can I love you?”