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Heeseung smiled as soon as he opened his eyes. He then faced the man beside him as his smile grew wider when he saw how the latter’s eyebrow creased when the sunlight hit his beautiful face.
“Good morning, baby.” Heeseung whispered.
Jaeyun smiled but it soon turned into a wobbly smile until it turned into a sob.
“I….miss you everyday,” he whispered before finally opening his eyes. His tears shined when the sunlight hit his eyes. Heeseung smiled.
“I miss you too, baby. Everyday. Now, get up or you’ll get late!” he shouted and stood up first before looking at the slow poke Jaeyun Sim-Lee.
“Fuck! I’m late!” Jaeyun shouted when he saw the time on his clock on the TV in front of the bed.
“See? Napakabagal talaga kumilos kahit kailan,Jaeyun Sim-Lee.” Heeseung said as he placed his arms on his waist and watched the now panicking Jaeyun.
“Gosh! If he could see me right now, baka napagalitan na ako!” he said.
Heeseung smiled when he heard what the latter said.
“I could see you, babe.” he whispered.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Hindi ka ba kakain ng lunch?” Heeseung asked when he saw how busy Jaeyun is sa computer niya.
“Kuya Yun! Tara lunch?” the ever so bubbly Sunoo asked Jaeyun nang makalapit ito sa cubicle ng mas matanda.
“Mauna na kayo, Sun. Busog pa ako.”
“Nako, Sunoo! Huwag kayo maniwala diyan! Hindi pa nga ‘yan nagb’breakfast.”
“He wouldn’t like it kapag nalaman niyang nagpapalipas ka ng gutom, Kuya.” sabi ng bagong dating na si Jungwon. Jaeyun sighed and smiled at the two guys.
“I’m fine, loves. Busog pa talaga ako.”
“Pero kanina ko pa naririnig tiyan mo.” sabi ng lalaki sa katapat niya na cubicle.
“Riki, imagination mo lang ‘yon.”
“Hindi magugustuhan ng pinsan ko ang ginagawa mo sa sarili mo, Kuya Jaeyun.” Riki said as he smiled sadly.
“Tama, tama!” sigaw naman ni Heeseung.
“Fine. Bilhan niyo nalang ako,” nakangiting sabi in Jaeyun kaya napahiyaw ang tatlong lalaki.
“Yes naman!”
“Finally!”
“Sure, Kuya!”
“Ingat kayo!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Ayan na nga ba sinasabi ko! You forgot your umbrella again.” sermon na naman ni Heeseung habang nasa ilalim sila ng waiting shed ni Jaeyun.
“God! Bakit ba ngayon pa umulan?” halos maiyak na sabi ni Jaeyun habang nakapatong ang dalawang siko sa hita at nakatakip ang mukha.
“Do you hate rain that much?” Heeseung asked when he heard the pain in Jaeyun’s voice.
“I…I can’t enjoy the rain now.” Jaeyun said as he raised his head and stared at the street. “Not when he’s not here.”
“You hate it.” Heeseung confirmed.
“I miss you, babe.” Jaeyun whispered.
“I miss you more, baby ko.”
“Araw-araw kitang namimiss, mahal.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Wow! Magb’bake ka na ulit?” Heeseung asked when he saw Jaeyun in the kitchen.
“I miss baking with you, baby. Kahit madalas ay panggulo ka lang,” Jaeyun chuckled as he stared at the picture na nasa dulo ng countertop. From the bar, Heeseung looked at the frame and smiled.
“I miss baking with you too, love. Kahit puro panghaharot lang ginagawa ko,”
“By the way, baby, 78th monthsary natin today kaya ako magb’bake. In six months, seventh anniversary na natin. I’m also planning to adopt na. Katulad ng plano natin a year ago. Para na din may kalaro si Layla, ‘di ba?”
Heeseung stared as his fingers, “Wow, isang taon na pala.”
“I’m planning to adopt twins. You wanted a girl kasi tapos I wanted a boy, ‘di ba? So why not get both nalang? Your best friend, Jay, will help me sa pagprocess ng papers. You know? Lawyer things. Tapos sasamahan din ako nila Jungwon at Riki tapos si Sunoo. Sabi nila, they’ll make sure na kaugali at kahawig mo yung iaadopt ko para may remembrance talaga ako. Plus, since we are married naman, I’m gonna let them use your last name. I might even give them a new name na base sa name mo. What if Haesu or Hazel for the girl and Seung or Ethan for the boy? What do you think, baby? Give me a sign naman oh,”
Heeseung chuckled as he wiped his cheeks na puno na ng luha kanina.
“It sounds nice, love. I wish I could hug you and tell you how cute you are right now.” and as if on cue ay biglang humangin ng malakas.
Tumulo na din ang luha na kanina pa pinipigilan ni Jaeyun. Nabitawan niya ang hawak na wired whisk at napaupo sa sahig ng kusina. Agad tumakbo si Heeseung papunta sa kaniya at lumuhod sa tabi nito nang makita itong humahagulgol.
“I miss you so much, Hee. Balik ka na sa akin, baby, please?”
“I want to go back din baby kaso hindi pwede eh,” Heeseung whispered as he sat beside the sobbing Jaeyun. “I love you….”
“I love you forever and always, mahal. Ikaw lang.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“D-day, love! Faster!” Heeseung excitedly said as he sat on the passenger seat of his old car nang paandarin ito ni Jaeyun.
“Kinakabahan ako,”
“Don’t be, baby. You’ll be a great dad.”
“I wish you were here, Hee.” Heeseung just smiled when Jaeyun hugged his phone kung saan si Heeseung ang wallpaper.
“I wish I was here with you too, Jaeyun.”
Nang makarating sa Orphanage kung saan maga’adopt si Jaeyun ay nandon na sila Jay.
“Tagal mo, Kuya!” reklamo ni Sunoo.
“Paano ba kasi, nagdrama pa ‘yan. Baka daw hindi magustuhan ng mga bata ang bahay. Sus! Ako nagdesign non so safe ‘yon for kids!” mayabang na sabi ni Heeseung.
“Ready ka na ba?” Jay asked Jaeyun.
“Maybe?”
“Anong maybe? Jusme! Handang-handa na ‘yan!” dagdag ulit ni Heeseung.
“Tara na, Kuya. Kanina ka pa nila hinihintay.” nakangiting sabi ni Jungwon.
“Really?”
“Oo, Kuya! Super cute nga ng suot ng kambal eh!”
Jaeyun smiled and immediately went inside para makita na ang kambal. He hopes that Heeseung was just as excited as him and the kids. Well, excited nga si Heeseung.
“Kids, andito na ang bago niyong papa oh,” agad napangiti si Jaeyun nang makita ang dalawang bata sa office.
Hindi ito ang unang beses na makikita siya ng dalawang bata. Ilang buwan na din siyang nagpapabalik-balik dito matapos niyang hingin ang blessing ng asawa sa kitchen ng kanilang bahay. Nung una ay ayaw pa siyang pansinin ng dalawang bata, marahil ay naninibago pero pagkatapos ng lima pang pagbisita at matapos niyang ikuwento ang dahilan kung bakit siya nandon at kung para kanino siya maga’adopt ay nag-open up naman na ang dalawang bata.
Nagkwento din ang mga ito kung bakit at paano sila napunta sa orphanage na iyon. After that day ay madalas na siyang inaabangan ng mga bata. Araw-araw tinatanong sa mga sister at tagapamahala ng orphanage kung kailan daw darating si Papa Jaeyun nila. A name that they gave him. There’s also this one time that one of the twins called Heeseung ‘daddy’ and pointed somewhere. Jaeyun sobbed in front of the twins when he heard that. He was scared but at the same time relieved kasi baka nga naman nandon lang si Heeseung. Pinapanood sila.
True enough, Heeseung was just there. Beside Jaeyun, all the time.
“Papa!” the little girl called and ran towards him to hug him.
“Hi, Hazel!” Jaeyun greeted. Yes, he gave them a new name. Of course, he asked for their permission first.
“Hi, Papa.” Ethan, one of the twins, said when he walked towards Jaeyun.
“Ethan, my love.” Jaeyun said when he saw the handsome little boy kaya napangiti din si Heeseung.
“They’re cute, my baby.”
“Daddy said we’re cute.” Hazel said out of nowhere na ikinagulat nila, lalong-lalo na ni Jaeyun.
“Yah, don’t scare them like that.
“Ate mo ako,”
“Tinatakot mo si Papa.”
“But, Daddy isn’t scary. For some reason, you actually look like him.” Hazel said as she stared at Heeseung.
This isn’t the first time na nagsabi ito ng ganito pero hindi pa din magawa na hindi magulat ni Heeseung.
“Sure ka bang nakikita mo ako, anak?”
Hazel chuckled because of what she heard. Anak . It feels nice kapag may tumawag sa’yo ng ganon. Kadugo mo man o hindi.
“Yes!”
“Can you see Daddy, anak?” Jaeyun said after a while.
“Yes po.”
“Where is he?” he asked.
Hazel smiled before pointing to the space beside Ethan, “He’s there po. He finds Ethan cute.”
Heeseung smiled because of what he heard. Jay chuckled. Sunoo, Riki and Jungwon sobbed while Jaeyun smiled.
“Can you tell me what he looks like?”
“He’s wearing white po. All white tapos, his hair is black na nakaayos then he’s smiling. He looks so happy even though he’s crying. He looks like an angel, Papa!”
“My angel baby,” Jaeyun whispered.
“Your angel baby,” Heeseung replied.
“Nako, Jaeyun, hijo. Sorry. Hindi namin alam kung ano bang mga nakikita ni Hazel pero hindi naman siya napapahamak at mga kasama niya so hinayaan nalang namin.”
“Okay lang po. I don’t mind.”
Jaeyun said and hugged the twins.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Good bye, Papa. Bye, daddy!” Hazel shouted as she and Ethan ran towards the school bus sa harap ng bahay nila.
“Ingat!” Jaeyun shouted.
“I love you, kids.” Heeseung whispered.
It’s been a few months since Jaeyun adopted the twins. He also celebrated their 7th wedding anniversary with the kids.
“Hee? Are you here?” he whispered.
“Always here, mahal.”
Jaeyun smiled as he sat on the couch. He then hugged his legs and sobbed.
“It’s your second soon, mahal. I’ll bring the kids to Tarlac so they could meet your family too. Tapos sabay na kami babalik dito nila Mama at Papa so we could visit you.”
“I would love that, Yun.”
“I love you, baby.”
“I love you too.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Have you heard the news?” Riki asked them as soon as naibaba na nila ang kanilang mga pagkain sa isang lamesa sa cafeteria ng kanilang office.
“Alin na naman?” Jungwon asked.
“We have a new officemate!”
“Ha?”
“Eh ‘di ba nga si Kuya Hee ang dating Team Leader kaso things happened so napalitan ni Kuya Jaeyun so nagkulang tayo sa team,”
“So, may bagong hire?” Sunoo asked.
“Yep! Maganda daw ang records at kasing galing ni Kuya Hee.”
“Mas magaling pa din asawa ko, sure ako.” agad kinilig si Heeseung dahil sa narinig.
“Ikaw naman, baby! Pinapakilig mo ako!”
“Kailan daw dadating?”
“Mamaya.” Riki said.
When they reached their floor after lunch ay nagkakagulo na silang lahat doon.
“Where’s Jaeyun?”
“Here, Sir!” Jaeyun immediately said.
“Come here. Ipapakilala ko bagong dagdag sa team niyo,”
Paglapit ng apat na binata sa kanilang boss ay agad nilang nakita ang isang matangkad na lalaki.
“This is Park Sunghoon.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ever since Sunghoon joined Jaeyun’s team ay mas madalas na sumama si Heeseung sa mga bata. Tinry niya naman ng isang linggo na pakisamahan ito pero hindi niya kaya makita na ito kayang akbayan at magdikit-dikit sa asawa niya pero siya ay hindi.
“You’re here again,” Hazel said as soon as she saw her dad na nakahiga sa kama nito. Mula sa mga papel sa kaniyang study table ay napaangat ang tingin ni Ethan kay Hazel na nakatayo at nakapamaywang sa harap ng kaniyang kama.
“Sorry,” Heeseung said and chuckled.
“Dad’s here?” Ethan asked.
“Hmm. Iniiwasan niya si Papa.” Hazel answered.
“Why?”
“He’s jealous of Tito Sunghoon. Narinig kong rant niya nung isang gabi sa kusina.” agad nanlaki ang mata ni Ethan at Heeseung sa narinig.
“Huy, hindi ah!”
“Bakit? Eh ‘di ba Tito Sunghoon likes Tito Sunoo?”
“He doesn’t know that,”
Agad nanlaki ang mata ni Heeseung sa narinig at lumapit sa dalawang bata na magkatabi na ngayon na nakaupo sa kama ni Ethan.
“Akala ko ang Papa niyo ang gusto niya.”
“No. Bakit ka ipagpapalit ni Papa?”
“I assume na he’s shocked.” Ethan said and chuckled kaya napangiwi si Heeseung.
“Oo na. Ako na si maling akala,”
“Daddy, lumalapit lang si Tito Sunghoon kay Papa kasi nagpapatulong siya.” Ethan explained kahit pa na hindi niya nakikita o naririnig ang daddy niya.
“Nagbreak si Tito Hoon and Tito Sun noong college pa sila. A year before they met you and Papa and the other Tito’s kaya hindi niyo alam na they were exes. Fast forward to the present, Tito Hoon still loves Tito Sun.”
Heeseung chuckled upon hearing the story.
“Sorry, mga anak. I didn’t know.”
“Understandable.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“It’s d-day, Hee. Are you ready?” mula sa grass na kanilang tinatapakan ay napaangat ang tingin ni Heeseung sa katabing swing kung nasaan ang isa pang lalaki na may napakalaking pakpak. An angel.
“I will never be ready, Soob.”
“You have to be, Heeseung. Two years is enough, plus, your memory of them will be gone as soon as you gain your own wings.”
Heeseung sighed as he stared at the sky. The sun is finally rising from its deep sleep. It’s beautiful, just like his memories with Jaeyun and their two kids.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sa buong weekend na spinend ng pamilyang Sim-Lee sa Tarlac ay agad gumaan ang pakiramdam ng pamilya ni Heeseung sa mga bata. Pagdating ng hapon ay sumama na din ang mga ito pabalik sa Maynila para bisitahin si Heeseung.
“Hay! Napakagwapo talaga ng anak ko,” sabi ng mama ni Heeseung as she stared at the picture na katabi ng grave nito.
“Ako pa! Mana ata kay Papa ‘to,” masiglang sabi ni Heeseung kahit pa na kanina pa ito umiiyak.
“Miss na miss ka na ng Mama mo, anak. Walang araw na hindi umiyak ‘tong pangit na ‘to dahil sa’yo.” sabi ng papa ni Heeseung.
“Sama ng ugali mong matanda ka!”
After a few kamustahans ay agad na din naman umalis ang pamilya ni Heeseung at bibisitahin daw ang dati nitong condo kung saan na nakatira si Riki at Jungwon ngayon.
“Hi, baby.” Jaeyun said as he sat in front of the grave.
“Hi, Daddy.” bati ng dalawang bata. Heeseung sobbed because of the sight of his family.
“It’s been two years since that accident, baby. Ever since, inayawan ko na ang ulan. But Hazel and Ethan love the rain, like you.”
Jaeyun sobbed as the twins hugged him.
“I miss you, Heeseung. Walang kahit anong gamot o paglipas ng araw, linggo, buwan o taon ang makakapagtanggal nito. The day you left, parang nadurog na din ang kalahati ng puso ko, ng pagkatao ko. Parang dumilim ang mundo ko. Pero etong mga bata, etong mga anak natin. Unti-unti nila akong kinukumpleto, mahal.”
Heeseung smiled when he heard what Jaeyun said.
“I’m slowly becoming happy again because of the kids, Hee. I am slowly healing.”
“Heeseung, it’s time.” agad napaangat ang tingin ni Heeseung nang marinig ang boses na iyon.
“Saglit nalang, Soobin. Please.”
“Saan ka pupunta, Daddy?” agad napatingin si Heeseung kay Hazel nang marinig ang boses nito.
Heeseung smiled before kneeling in front of her.
“May pupuntahan lang ang daddy, anak. He’ll be with Tito Soobin lang.” he said kaya kunot-noong tumingin si Hazel sa lalaki na nakatayo sa tabi ni Heeseung.
“But, he’s an angel, right?”
“Hazel, anak?” Jaeyun called.
“Daddy will be an angel soon, Hazel.”
“You’ll leave us na?” she said as fear embraced her whole body and tears fell.
“No, no. Daddy will never leave you.”
“But you said you’ll be an angel na.”
“Daddy will always be here beside you, Ethan and Papa Jaeyun. He’ll never leave the three of you. I will never leave the three of you. I’ll always be here.” he said and pointed to Hazel's heart.
“Daddy…”
“Can you please do me a favor, anak? Can you please hug Papa and Ethan for me tapos close your eyes tapos count one to twenty.”
“San ka punta?” ulit ni Hazel.
“Diyan lang sa malapit.”
Hazel nodded before running towards Jaeyun and Ethan. She hugged them and asked them to close their eyes, just like what her Daddy wanted.
“Let’s go, Hee.” Soobin said again so Heeseung bit his lips to stop himself from sobbing. He stood up and turned around para sumunod kay Soobin when he heard the voice he’ll miss the most.
“Heeseung, baby ko? I love you,” Jaeyun said in between his sobs, eyes still closed.
Heeseung closed his eyes and turned around again and ran towards his family. He hugged them and kissed Jaeyun’s forehead.
“And I love you more, baby ko. Always and forever.”