Elijah’s POV (a gleams)“Isn’t it too dangerous there, Rose?”.“Medyo, but gladly Elijah sent men for our team safety. Too much explosive mine hidden underground and one of the residents got into accident earlier”.“Died?”. Tanong ulit ni Lino.We were having our video meeting as well as checking Rose status who is in Israel for our foundation helping children who are affected cause of the war.“Yeah! at madaming nadamay, karamihan kabataan. Mabuti nalang may mga doctor nang nauna dito–Biglang nanlaki ang mga mata nito habang nakatakip ang kamay sa nakangangang bibig. Napailing ako. Yuhan and Namu chuckle.“Wha-what is it?”. Tarantang tanong ni Lino.“Guys! Speaking of doctor–You won’t believe who I saw today”. Rose is so excited. Parang kanina lang nalulungkot ito sa nangyari.“Alam naming yung crush mo noong high school! Arabo yun, iyong transferee”. Tawang saad ni Yuhan.“The hell!”.We laugh with her remarks.“It’s Dr. Verde dumb ass! Siya…siya yung tumulong kanina sa mga nasuga
Levy’s POV1 month later“Tito Levy!”. Bahagya akong yumuko para salubungin ng yakap si Farah.“Hi! Dear! Happy birthday!”. Masaya kung bati dito at hinalikan ito sa pisnge.“I’m so happy that you came”. Nakangiting sabi nito.“God! Levy! 72 hours of duty really?? Buhay kapa??”. Medyo hysterical na sigaw ni Chimuel. Napalingon ang mga taong nasa living room nina Jano, umirap ako ng mag tama ang mga mata namin ni Yuhan. Tumawa ako sa salubong nito sa akin, tiningnan niya ako ng masama. Kumaway ako kay Farah na nagmamadaling lumabas. Nasa pool area ang party nito.“Alive and fresh!” Pabiro kung sagot pero inirapan lang ako nito.“Ikaw lang ba ang doctor ng hospital ha?”. Masungit paring sabi nito habang nakapamaywang. “Abah!“Oo nga naman Levy”. Sigunda naman ni Jano na kakalabas lang mula sa kusina.Umiling lang ako sa mga ito at sumunod kay Jano para bumalik sa kusina.“Normal lang yan pag doctor ka”.“Bakit pag doctor kaba hindi ka na magkakasakit? Tao ka rin baka nakakalimutan mo!”
“That was intense”. Bulong ni Happy ng nasa sasakyan na kami pauwi. I don’t know how we get out on that topic. All I know it was totally awkward. Hanggang sa pag-uwi ay patingin-tingin ang lola nito sa akin. Hindi ko alam kung bakit. Baka pagbabawalan nanaman niya akong lumapit sa apo niya. Well…ginagawa ko ang lahat para makaiwas.Itatanong ba niya kung bakit ako bumalik? O kung bakit pa ako bumalik?Hindi na ako sumagot. Pinikit ko ang aking mga mata. I feel so tired. Tired of everything. Simula ng bumalik ako ay inabala ko ang sarili sa trabaho. I am getting and switching schedules with the doctors on duty. Ayaw kung mag-isa sa bahay, masyadong tahimik, nakakabingi. Busy din si Chimuel maging si Happy na ilang buwan nang naka stay dito sa Pilipinas. He has morning shows and field interviews kaya naman madalas din namin siyang kasama. Pinipilit ko ngang sa bahay na tumira but his comapany got him penthouse near their studio, pero minsan kina Chimuel din kami namamalagi.Dahan-daha
The Talk “May I dance with the most beautiful man in the crowd?” “No way!”. Bulalas ni Jano ng naka irap sa amin. Sabay kaming tumawa ni Sandro. I reached for his hands and grab me towards the dance floor. Ngayong weekend na ang kasal nito kaya naman lumuwas itong Manila para sa birthday party ng kanyang kapatid, which is Gonzales business partner. Kaya nandito kami ngayong lahat. He slowly cares my waist and lead my arms into his shoulder. “Beauty and the Beast, really?”. I giggle. He let out a soft laugh. “Yeah! I’m the beast..No..the Best and you are the beauty”. Mabulong nitong saad. Bahagya ko siyang tinampal sa braso. He’s hands is on my waist and I clung my hands on his neck. Our cheeks touching each other. His lips in my ears. “Don’t move”. Bulong nito. “Huh?”. Takang tanong ko. Iaangat ko na sana ang mukha ko ngunit hinawakan nito ang likod ko. “Your ex is looking at us. Sigurado kabang naka move on na yan? Mukhang aabanagan atah ako sa kanto niyan mamaya”. Tumawa
Home Nagising ako dahil sa malakas na tunog ng cellphone. Bahagya kung minulat ang mga mata ko, mataas na ang sikat ng araw. Naramdaman ko ang paghigpit ng yakap ni Elijah. “I think it’s your phone”. mahina kung tapik dito. “Answer it”. sagot naman nito habang lalong sumisik sa leeg ko. Mabilis ko namang inabot ito. Yuhan is calling. “Yuhan?”. Sagot ko dito. “Levy? You're with Eli?”. “Um- I heard him chuckle. “Yes, of course, you are. Please tell him we have online conference at 9am and it is 8 in the morning, he need to read some papers before that. Gisingin mo na siya at pumunta ka na din dito sa hotel o kami nalang ang pupunta dyan sa bahay niyo.” “I’ll tell him. Tell them I’m okay. We’re okay now”. “That’s good. Inaasahan ko naman talaga yan Lev. Chimuel and I... were happy”. “Thank you”. saad ko bago pinatay ang tawag. Ngunit bago ko pa man mailapag ang cellphone ay tumunog ulit ito. It’s a video call this time. Elijah groans. Lalong sumiksik lang. Home is calling… W
The MeetingMalakas ang kabog ng dibdib ko habang paakyat kami ni Elijah. I am clinging to him.“Don’t worry to much, baby. He’ll understand”. Masuyo nitong bulong. He senses my remorse.I take a deep breath when we reached.Dinig ko ang mabilis na takbo nito mula sa taas.“Papa!”.Agad akong kumalas mula sa pagkakahawak ni Elijah at sinalubong ito. Feels so unreal. I can't believe I am experiencing happiness this much.He embarced me tightly, like I would be gone once he loses his embrace. Ilang minuto din ang dumaan at walang nag salita sa amin. I heard him snift. My eyes watered too. Maya-maya ay kumalas ito ng bahagya para tingalain ako. His doe eyes fild with amusement.“Wow! Papa you look like an angel." Namamanghang saad nito. I just chuckle. Hindi ko alam kung anong pwedeng isagot dito. We both look up to Elijah."Daddy why do you keep papa from me?”. tila nagtatampong saad naman nito.“Woahhh! I thought you know that papa is working abroad.”. Elijah said in his amusement. Bei
Elijah Months had passed and we leave a happy and content life, but traits still out there. Ayaw ko nang makipag sapalaran. We talked about sending Andrew to school para naman masanay na ang bata sa labas, Levy still undecided. I know. He too is afraid. For the past month I’ve seen different Levy with our son and I didn’t regret my decision adopting Mina’s son. He never will be her. Andrew is meant to be ours. Me and my Levy. Siguro nga lahat ng nangyari ay naayun din sa pagkakataon. Worth it lahat. We’ve been through a lot. Mga panahong sa tingin ko ay di na ako makakabangon pang muli. Not without Levy in my side. Never thought that I would feel a strong pull of love with someone but with Levy it seems perfect at all. Him living me is like a hollow. Just living without life in it. Like an endless cycle. It my sound a cliche but Levy is like an air to me. He owns me. My body and soul…he owns my everything. There are some nights that I would stare at him not believing that I fina
Elijah… The beginning “Eli, please can you come with me?”. Zendy said while changing her dress for a brand launch. Hindi ko alam kung bakit popular ang brand na ito na kahit si Yuhan ay tenext ako kagabi para dito. I sigh. “Alright”. Sagot ko dito at tumayo na din para mag bihis. Ang gusto ko sana mag relax lang dahil sa mahabang meeting na dinalohan ko kanina. Kung hindi lang kay Yuhan si din ako pupunta. Even Namu is coming, ito daw ang gusto ng asawang pasalubong. Napailing ulit ako. Local brand naman ito. Nasa Pilipinas ang main branch. Pwede naman silang bumisita sa store pero mapilit si Yuhan. Ito lang din ang ipinunta nito dito. I pulled Zendy for a kiss that she immediately responded. “Should we stay?”. Mahina kung bulong habang bumababa ang mga labi ko sa kanyang leeg. “We can buy it from online”. Pag kukumbinse ko. Zendy giggles. “El, no… I want to meet the owner of this brand because my grandmother want something from his store.” “Alright…but you better brace yourse