In Between

RACHEL

Finally! Home sweet home. After one and a half year we're finally back. Back to our homeland. Kalalapag lang ng eroplano fifteen minutes ago at nakuha na din naman ang mga bagahe namin, ngayon palabas na kami ng terminal. Nagtext na si mommy kanina na nasa labas na daw sila kaya hahanapin na lang namin sila.

Kung anong excited ng mukha at good vibes ko kabaliktaran naman nito ang kay Richard. I can still feel that he is uneasy and he is still hesitant about coming home. Naiintindihan ko naman sya feeling nya kasi tinalikuran sya ng pamilya nya. Maski ako naman nung mga panahon na yun nagtampo ako sa kanila pero iba dulot talaga nun kay Richard.

I hold his hand and gave him reassuring smile.

"I will be here don't worry. Okay?" I said.

He give a small smile.

"Lakihan mo naman love.. Nagiguilty tuloy ako dahil pinilit kitang umuwi kahit hindi ka pa ready." Pagpapacute ko to lighten the mood.

And I did it! He smile widely and then pulled me to kiss my lips.

"Thank you love. Promise ready na ako. Love you." He said.

"Love you too." I said.

Nagpatuloy naman kami sa paglalakad at hindi pa man kami fully nakakalabas ng terminal eh may sumlubong na agad na amin na cute na cute.

"Daaaaaaaddyyyy." Sigaw nung cute na bata na sumalubong sa amin.

Nakita ko naman na lumapad ang ngiti ni Richard lalo na nung kinarga na nya si Miggy. He's really a good father I can really see it in his eyes, I love him more because of that. Parang gusto ko na ulit ng baby, pero hindi pa rin sya dumadating eh so wait lang tayo.

"Big boy, you miss daddy?" He asked.

"Yes.. Yes. Yes." Magiliw na sagot ni Miggy.

"Eh how about tita mommy?" I said na pacute.

"Syempre super miss kita.." Sabi nya smiling sabay taas ng kamay nya as if saying na buhatin ko sya kaya binuhat ko naman sya. He showered me with his sweet kisses all over my face.

"Sarap naman.." I said.

"Anak.." My mom said.

I turned to her and smiled before she come to me and hug me while I'm still carrying Miggy kaya na sandwich yung baby namin.

"I'm really glad you're finally back.." She said and mom turn to Richard. "Ikaw din 'nak."

Ngumiti naman si Richard kay mommy before he hug my mom.

"I miss you mommy.." He said.

Mom smile at him.

After that our moment sa airport dumiretso na kami sa bahay namin. Yes, bahay namin ni Richard. Yung bahay na iniwan namin isang taon at mahigit ng nakakaraan but it was all new, Richard made a big renovation while we're abroad.

"The house really change. A lot." I said as we enter inside.

"Yes, I want to start a new life. A life na masaya lang, yes may problema pero alam kung kayang masolusyonan at mas lalong kaya ko kaya nandito ka sa tabi ko.." Sabi nya kaya napatingin ako sa kanya. "I want to start a new life with you and to our future kids." He said and kiss me.

"But, love for us to have a all new life happily we should settle first the past." I said. "Love, hindi kita minamadali but I really think its about time you talk to them. I mean, hindi tayo makakamove forward fully if may hindi pa din maayos?"

"Love, you wha--"

"--love I'm not forcing you, alam ko naman kung saan ka nanggagaling pero kasi masyado na ding matagal love and I'm afraid if we keep on avoiding this hindi na tayo maka move on. Basta, we'll wait until your ready. Think about it, okay?"

Tumango naman sya at niyakap na lang ako.

"Psst! Uy, kayong magjowa kayo tama na mo nang lampungan kumain mo na tayo." Alex said one of my cousins na nandito to welcome us parang naging family reunion na nga namin 'to eh because my relatives are all here.

Ang pamilya lang talaga ni Richard ang wala, hiniling kasi nyang wag ipaalam sa kanila na babalik na kami nung una pinilit sya nila mommy na ipaalam pero ayaw talaga nya which they understand.

"Sira.." I said giggling. "Sige na susunod na kami."

***

"Kamusta naman ang new york ate?" Camille asked our youngest cousin.

"New York pa din naman sya." Sabi ko na ikinatawa nila lalo pa nung nag make face na sya.

"Ate naman, I mean yung buhay New Yorker." She said again.

Ngumiti naman ako.

"It was good, nung una puro kami gala ni Richard. Yung first three months namin dun ay talagang naging turista lang kami kasi puro pasyal talaga ginawa namin. Siguro its Richard way for me to overcome my sadness because of what happen nga tska nung pagkawala nung baby namin but I think it was more on for him to forget everything since sya talaga yung pinakanaapektuhan sa nangyari.. Alam nyo naman yun diba?" I said.

They all nod and that leave us to silence before Rose my our cousin asked me again.

"So, how was life with that oh so hot guy over there?" Sabi nya sabay turo pa kay Richard na kausap sila daddy at mga uncle ko.

"Super good, sobrang maalaga kasi yan. Super spoiled nga ako sa kanya kahit ano talaga gusto ko or gusto gawin he would gladly do it." I said smiling.

"Yiiiehh! Kilig na kilig sya oh.." She said.

"Syempre naman nuh.. He's the sweetest."

"Eh diba malamig ang New York? Eh, how does he make it hot?" Tanong ni Alex na may nakakalokong ngiti pa sa mukha.

"Uy sira, may bata oh.." Turo ko kay Camille. Jusme, I can't just tell them about sa mga pinaggagawa namin ni Richard doon nuh. I kennot. Its really not good for young adult, tska nakakahiya kahit pa sabihin na normal lang naman since his my husband still.

Isa pa hindi naman pa naman nila alam yung pagpapakasal namin even sila mommy kaya nga excited din ako sa reaction nila.

"Bata eh bente na yan, tska may boyfriend na yan baka nga may experience na yan." She said.

"Uy sira, wala pa ha. Edi nakalbo ako ni mama nun." She said.

Natawa na lang kami.

"Eh ano nga ate Rachel, how does cold days and nights became hot and sexy? Hindi naman kasi ako maniniwala na hindi nyo sinubukan ulit magka baby since kayong dalawa lang dun." Pangungulit pa nya.

Napatakip na lang ako ng mukha dahil naalala ko naman yung mga ginawa namin dati. I mean its really x-rated. Hahaha! I can't help but to blush everything I will remember how we make love in the city that never sleeps dahil literal na hindi kami natulog nung isang araw na sinubukan namin ulit. Specially after our civil wedding, we even made love sa isang public rest room.

"Waaaaaaaiiit!" Nagulat ako nung bigla silang tumili na tatlo kaya napatingin lahat sa amin.

"Why?" I innocently said.

"Why did you have a ring here? And gosh, dalawang singsing to ate Rachel. Don't tell me--"

Ngumiti naman ako bago tumingin kay Richard na nakatigin lang sa akin habang nakangiti din. Tinaas ko ang kamay ko para makita nilang lahat.

"Yes, I'm married and I'm finally

...... Mrs. Gomez"

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