"Merry Christmas!" malakas na sigaw ni Trinity nang makapasok siya sa restaurant na nirentahan nilang magkakaibigan para ganapin ang early Christmas party nila. She raised the wine she brought then on the other hand, she's holding a huge bag full of gifts for the kids.
Nang makita kagad ng mga bata ang dala niyang mga regalo ay nagtakbuhan ang mga ito sakanya.
"Tita Trinity, saan jan gift ko? Dapat maganda ha tulad ko?" sabi ni Bree sakanya, ang anak ni Kata at Lance.
She laughed and ruffled the little girl's hair. She looked at the kids and took away all the gifts. "Mamaya na ang gift giving, pakainin niyo muna si Tita Trinity."
Inabot niya kina Travis and Aquish ang mga regalo at ang mga ito na ang nagtago ng mga iyon. Dumiretso siya sa may lamesa at naupo sa tabi ni Cassidy.
"Kumain ka na diyan. Na-late ka nanaman," sabi sakanya ng kaibigan.
Natawa siya at sumandok na sa pagkaing nasa harap niya. "Eh marami kasing pinatulong si Mommy sa'kin para sa gift-giving nila mamaya sa orphanage."
Naagaw ang mga atensyon nila nang magsigawan ang mga bata. Naghahabulan ang mga ito at taya si Newton, ang pangalawang anak nina Arki at Generose. Hindi niya alam na napatagal na pala ang tingin niya sa mga bata at hindi niya napansin ang pag-lapag ni Brooke ng isang platito ng cake sa harap niya.
"Pumayag ka na kasi makipag-date sa pinsan ni Aquish."
She rolled her eyes at her friend's suggestion. Ilang buwan na rin siya kinukulit ng mga ito na makipag-date na sa ibang lalaki na lagi lang naman niya dinadaan sa tawa dahil ayaw din naman niya makipag-date. Masaya siya sa buhay niya ngayon, hindi naman niya kailanganang-kailangan na may lalaki sa buhay niya.
"Tigilan niyo nga ako."
Sumandal naman si Kata sa edge ng lamesa at sumali sa usapan nila. "Kung ayaw mo mag-asawa, magpabuntis ka nalang hangga't 'di pa expired iyang mga egg cells at matres mo."
She laughed and threw a small piece of bread at Kata's direction. "Ang baliw mo talaga."
Kata laughed and shrugged her shoulders. Si Gift naman ay bigla nalang din sumingit at nagpatahimik sa kanilang lahat.
"You're just waiting for Henderson to come back, aren't you?"
Iba talaga si Gift, she really has that power to shut everyone up with her words. Jinny laughed, a forced laugh just to lighten up the mood again. "Huwag ka na umepal, Gift. Panira ka eh."
Gift just flipped her hair and walked towards the guys who are all playing with the kids. She sighed and gave an assuring smile to the girls.
Past eight na ng gabi natapos ang party nila pero ayaw pa niya umuwi kaya naman ay nagpunta muna siya sa isang mall at nag-ikot at namili ng ilang damit at sapatos na nagustuhan niya. Since Christmas season na, late nagsasara ang mga malls kaya pasado alas onse na ng gabi siya nakauwi sa bahay nila.
Pagpasok niya ay tahimik na ang buong bahay, marahil ay tulog na ang parents niya. Nilapag niya muna sa living room ang mga pinamili niya at dumiretso sa kusina para kumuha ng tubig. Pagbukas niya ng ilaw ay napasigaw siya nang makita ang lalaking hindi niya inaasahang babalik pa.
"Philip.. wha- what are you doing here?" she exhaled as she really can't believe who's in front of her.
Philip stood up from the dining chair and that's when she noticed the foods prepared on their dining table and a candle at the center. She walked slowly while looking at what's going on. Bakit nandito si Philip? Kasama kaya nito si Dino? Paano si Harriet? Maraming tanong sa utak niya pero isang tanong lang ang naitanong niya.
"Bumalik ka?"
Philip sadly smiled. His eyes a little glassy. His face is the same as the last time she saw him, his built became a little more buff, his hair is shorter than his usual haircut, and his scent.. is still the same. Parang walang isang taong lumipas na hindi sila nagkita.
"Am I too late?"
She bit her lower lip and took a step forward, ganoon din ang ginawa nito.
"Depends. Have you fixed what you have to fix?"
"Yes. I got the custody of Dino. I found out that Harriet's family is broke and she thought that using Dino could solve her problem."
Napasinghap siya sa narinig. She felt angry and hurt for Dino knowing that his mother only acknowledged him for money. Sa isang taon na pinili niyang hayaan muna si Philip ayusin ang pamilya nito, pinigilan niya ang sarili na makibalita sa parents niya o sa parents ni Philip sa kung anuman ang nangyayari so she's hearing all of it for the first time.
"Ang kapal ng mukha niya. How did you fell in love with that bitch?"
"I never did."
Philip stared at her and later took a step forward. "We were young and stupid and things happened. But I will never regret Dino coming into my life."
"Where is he?" she asked.
A small smile painted his face. "Nakatulog kakahintay eh. Nasa kwarto ng parents mo. He misses you, you know."
She smiled and tears started to brim her eyes. "I miss him too," she whispered.
Philip took a step forward again, this time only a few inches apart from her. He tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear and gently caressed her cheek with the back of his palm.
"I miss you too. So bad."
She smiled and she closed her eyes savoring his words. Ang sarap pakinggan mula sa taong mahal mo na parehas kayo ng nararamdaman. Masakit ang pinagdaanan pero saya naman kasi ang kapalit na pangmatagalan.
"I'm sorry I had to left and sort everything on my own. Ayokong idamay ka dahil problema koi yon. Ayokong masaktan ka habang inaayos ko ang lahat. Mahirap ang hindi ka tawagan o kausapin pero kinaya ko kasi gusto ko kapag bumalik ako sa'yo gusto ko iyong maialay ko ang buong ako, wala man kasiguraduhan na tatanggapin mo ako ulit."
She gasped when Philip suddenly kneeled in both knees in front of her. She can't believe he's kneeling like an obedient slave.
"Kaya ito ako, Trinity. Philip Henderson, a single father of a wonderful boy, a man that is willing to give his whole self to you, a man who came back to give you the love that will stay now."
She sobbed silently as she watched this beautiful man vow himself to her. How could she ask for more? Siguro ang iba sasabihin na mas mabuting mag-move on nalang siya sa ibang lalaki na kaya siyang i-prioritize, na lagi siya ang una, iyong hindi siya lolokohin o 'yung hindi nalang siya laging kasama sa choices. Pero wala eh, hindi naman madali na turuan ang puso na magmahal ng iba kaagad at palitan ang nilalaman nito.
Philip may have left her pero binalikan siya nito and the feeling felt more beautiful that she had ever imagined. Her love for him became bigger than she had ever hoped.
Alam din naman niya kasi na iniwan siya ni Philip hindi dahil sa hindi siya nito mahal, kundi dahil para sa ikabubuti ng hinaharap nila. He left with a purpose. He left her for them to grow and to transform into what they actually needed to be – and that is to be better persons.
Lumuhod siya at pinantayan si Philip. She cupped his face and threw herself to him for a hug. She cried just right in between of his neck and shoulder. She hugged him tight and let him feel that she's here, she's not going anywhere and she loves him too.
"Just don't leave me again. Kung aalis ka, sasama mo na ako." She sobbed.
She felt him kissed her on her head. "I love you, Trinity."
Pinikit niya ang mga mata at ninamnam ang bawat salitang lumabas sa bibig ni Philip.
"I love you too, Philip."
They say that all of the love you have given to the wrong people will always find its way back to you. Truly, it does. She loved Steven but it burned her until the scars became her weapons to strengthen herself from being hurt again and yet love found its way back to her heart by giving her Philip and Dino.
She felt alive and whole again. She began smiling and enjoying the things life could offer.
Philip may not be perfect, but neither is she.
Philip may not always have her as his number one priority, but that's okay because she understands that he's also a great father to Dino.
Philip's life may be complicated but whose life isn't?
She let herself love Philip in her own way. Because even if he left, she trusts that he will always come back. Whether his love is different or feels the same, it always comes back because love never leaves for good.
She's happy, they're happy. This is the love she had wanted. It changed, yes, but it was different and it was everything she had never searched for, and yet it was everything she had ever needed.