GAB's
When Donna told me to stop pursuing her and just be a father to our child. My mind went blank. Umalis siya ng walang paalam.
Simon is silently sleeping. Dinala ko na siya sa kwarto. Pinagmasdan ko ang bawat larawan na nakasabit sa dingding. I missed a lot of years with them. I cried upon seeing how I wasn't there...in every picture...in every memory.
Nahirapan kaya si Donna manganak? Sinong nag-alaga sa kanya? Saan niya pinaglihi ang anak namin?
Nagising na lang ako habang mahimbing pa rin natutulog si Donna. Simon probably went out to play or watch. I cooked our breakfast and went back to the bed. She's still sleeping.
Laking gulat ko ng makita ang pagmulat ng kanyang mga mata. Agad kong ipinikit ang mga mata ko. I heard her laugh a little.
God! Morning like this would be the most beautiful morning of my life.
Nang makita kong nakatulugan ni Donna ang pagrereview. Agad kong hinanap at kinuha ang mga ginamit kong reviewers. I silently taped it on their walls. Kumuha ako ng marker pen para sabihin na bubuoin na namin ang pamilya namin. Sana lang ay magets niya.
I had everything planned in my mind. I just wished that it would work. When she said yes, I gave my family a go signal.
Georgina stopped bugging us. Buti naman dahil kung hindi pa siya titigil ay papakulong ko na talaga siya.
"Do you think your parents would like me?" I can sense the nervousness on her voice.
Lumapit ako para yakapin ito sa kanyang likuran. "They're very excited to see you."
As usual, my Mom had a reservation at a classy restaurant. We had a private room with glass walls. Nandoon na sina Mommy. I saw how Ady raised his eyebrow upon checking out my wife. You kid! She's mine.
Excited na lumapit si Mommy sa amin. She looked at Donna and hugged her so tight.
"You look very pretty, hija! No doubt my son's head over heels." Namula ako dahil sa sinabi ni Mommy.
Iginiya ko sila na maupo. Daddy is staring at Simon. I know, Dad, kamukhang-kamukha ko ang anak.
"Say hi to your Grandma, Grandpa, and Tito." I whispered at Simon. He nodded.
Using his small little voice, "Hi...good evening...hope you like me and mom."
Nakita kong natigilan sina Mommy dahil sa sinabi ng anak ko. Of course, it's traumatizing on his part.
Napailing na lang ako nang biglang itaas ni Ady ang isang kamay niya. Simon weirdly looked at him.
"Apir tayo!" Umaction pa siya para ma-gets kung paano iyon.
"So, when's the wedding?" Halos mabulunan si Donna sa tanong na iyon.
"We're going to talk about it pa po...Tita." Mom was about to react when Dad wiped the dirt on Simon's face.
Magkatabi sila sa upuan. Mukhang gustong-gusto ni Dad ang kanyang apo.
"Hija, just call me Mommy. Pasasaan pa at magpapakasal na rin naman kayo." Mom heartily laughed
Hinawakan ko ang kamay ni Donna. She looks really nervous. I smiled at her when she looked at me.
"Relax, baby. They love you." She flushed and drank on her wine.
It was around ten when we got home. Tapos na akong magbihis pantulog. Nasa banyo pa si Donna. Dahil magkatabi lang naman ang condo namin ay dito na lang ako muna sa condo nila.
"What's the plan for Simon's fifth birthday?" I asked him. Simon is busy watching some science educational film.
"I planned it to celebrate in Naga. Doon sa bahay sana. May mga bata kasi roon." She said while combing her hair.
I nodded at her. I'll let her decide on that one. "It's two days from now. When are we going to plan about it?"
Nakita ko ang pagkagulat sa mukha ni Donna. It looked like she forgot about it. Natawa na lang ako.
"Let me handle it." Lumapit ako sa kanya. Ako na ang nagsuklay ng kanyang buhok. My Donna smells so good everyday.
We flew back to Naga the next day. Nasabihan ko na si Mommy para sa plano ko. Ika nila ay susunod na lang daw sila sa mismong araw ng birthday ni Simon.
When we got there, Simon got so excited to see Andy's little siblings. Nagmano rin ako sa mga nakatatanda sa bahay nila. I already told them about my plan for Simon's birthday.
"Donna, can we wear...uh...something...like couple attire?" Kinakabahan kong tanong sa kanya.
She raised her eyebrow and shrugged her shoulders.
"Corny...but...sure." Sus! Pakipot pa 'to!
Maaga akong nagising. Gusto ko kasi na ako mismo ang magluluto ng mga handa ni Simon. We invited our close friends.
Alas tres ng hapon ang simula ng birthday ni Simon. It was around seven in the morning when I started baking. Donna wants to help but I told her to just help Manang designed everything.
Malawak ang lakaran papasok sa kanila. Their house was created very nice.
Naligo na ako at saka nagbihis. Donna seems to be in rush. Sinuot niya rin ang damit na inihanda ko para sa kanya.
It's a dirty white off shoulder fitted dress with slit on the right side. She wore her white block heels.
It's around two thirty pa lang naman. Hawak hawak niya ang kanyang cellphone habang naglalagay ng kaunting make-up.
"I'll be here before three. Si Andy kasi! May emergency daw!" I worriedly looked at her.
"Calm down, okay?" I told her. Saglit itong kumalma bago tumango.
"I'll get going. Just text me if it's about to start na ha." She said then kissed me on my cheek.
Nagpahatid si Donna kay Manong Theo. Saktong pag-alis nila ay tinulungan ko ng mag-ayos sina Manang.
Sa bermuda grass nakalagay ang mga round tables. There were petals of roses around it. Sa may bukana ng bahay nakalagay ang mesang pahaba.
My parents arrived early. Halos maiyak-iyak na si Mommy. Dad carried Simon. Ady tapped my shoulders.
"Is everything ready?" I nodded.
Nang matanggap ko ang mensahe galing kay Andy ay sinenyasan ko na ang lahat na maghanda.
A soft music started playing from the background. Ilang sandali lang ay bumukas na ang gate nila. Nakita ko kung paano manlaki ang mga mata ni Donna.
Andy offered his hand. Nagsimula nang maglakad si Simon dala ang aming mga singsing kasunod ang dalawang kapatid ni Andy.
Andy walked Donna to the aisle. She keeps on wiping her tears.
"I told you...I can hear wedding bells." He playfully told us.
Nandito ang ilan sa mga naging kaklase ni Donna. They were all wiping their tears.
I saw my parents wiped their tears. Si Simon ay pinapakalma ni Ady dahil umiiyak na rin.
"Do you accept Gabriel Lacson to be your wedded husband in sickness and in death?"
She looked at me. She was crying...but I know that those tears were of happiness.
"I do."
"Donna, the first time I saw you...I admit that you really got my eyes. Of course..." I chuckled remembering how she got my attention. "You really are pretty. But...yeah, I am your prof by that time. I just can't stop myself from wanting to be near you. When I got you, I already told myself that I'll lay next to you. Things happened...God knows how thankful I am for letting me be with you again. I love you...with the rest of my life...and promised to cherish you and our child."