This will be the last chapter. And I'll post the epilogue on sunday. Thank you to all who support ODPS and I'm sorry to those who are disappointed. Again, thank you ng marami!❤❤️❤️
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Chapter 46: Home

Chanyeol

Cold wind blew in through the open window and I only watched the curtain dancing with bleary eyes. Silhouettes of the trees kissing the wall and thunder dominating the empty room. A bleak evening with darkness filling me up, making me feel listless and worn-out. After everything my family gone through, I am too jaded for anything but a long silence, to lay down the bed, staring at nothingness.

I heard some light footsteps coming from the hallway so I decided to get up and espied this familiar figure in the corner my eyes as soon as the door swung open. It was Jesper going to his room. I took a step and I found him in the corner playing with his old toys and the other figure approached him; Baekhyun. He held Jesper's hand before he looked at me. I tried to get near them, but the bottom of the curtain behind them starts to set on fire. The same dancing flame Nabi started as I tried to revive Baekhyun. Jesper's room turned into granpa's resthouse, being eaten by the fire.

At the lake, I saw Baekhyun, and I ran after him. I held his cold body as my hands starts to shake again, "Baekhyun, wake up! Come back! Don't leave me here, don't go. Baby please, don't go. Don't cross the line, stay with me. Stay," I cried out, stroking his pale cheeks and I buried him into my chest before his body turned to dust, mixing with the air.

Baekhyun's gone...

"Chanyeol wake up!" The loud bang on my desk woke me up. Nana slumped her hands on her waist, "Sleeping on your duty? Ha? Should I request the other boards to kick you out of your throne?" she said snarkily before she laugh, "Just kidding. Here's the files you requested and I already get you the flowers you needed. One more thing, I'm not your secretary so this will be the last time, I'm doing you a favor." she said.

"Yes. I know, I know." I waved my hand to put an end to our conversation, "Thanks by the way. I owe you a lot." I told her in a low tone, staring at the files stacked untouched.

"You're going to visit them again?"

"Yes," I answered shortly. I grabbed my coat and stood up, "Flowers are on the lobby..?" I asked and Nana bobbed her head, "Then, I better get going. See you tomorrow, Nana. Get a husband and have kids. You are not getting any younger." I joked and she raised an eyebrow. She had a few dates, but no one seems to pass her great wall of qualifications and such. "before something closes." I said.

"What? Gross! Don't make me forget that you are still my boss, Mr. Park!" Nana hurled in embarrassment. "I'm going. Have a safe trip." she added.

"You'll find him one day." I said.

Natahimik si Nana at napayuko. She stared at me bewildered. "How did you know that he is the one? Your wife, Baekhyun." she asked.

I glanced at my hand for a few second, a smile tugging at the corner of my lips. "I just.. just know it the first time my hand perfectly twined with his. That moment when you, get a hold of something and suddenly, you don't wanna let go. That.. you want to make it yours? Just all yours." I answered before I went out. I picked up the flowers at the lobby and went to my car. I stared at the flowers at my side. Every week, I often buy flowers for two persons.

Nagiiwan kasi ako lagi sa cemetery everytime we visit. A bouquet of roses with different colors because, these two person painted my life as colorful as these roses. Life is not easy but still, it was beautiful because they came into my life and filled it with so much love.

I parked the car in front of this popular cake shop. I scanned the shelf and a heart shaped one caught my attention. That cake reminds me a lot of Baekhyun so I decided to buy it. I pulled my wallet and paid for it then I heard someone called my name. Si Kyungsoo with a cute little girl, who seems fascinated with all of the sweets in the shop. Kyungsoo and I are in good terms. We decided to forget about the past. He forgave me.

Living in the past won't get you nowhere but in this dark hollow, unable to move forward. Past is just there to make up the future. You can't go back and change the wrong choices you've made because that is just how life is. You're writing your story with your own choices. Your choices creates the path.

"Kamusta na?" Kyungsoo asked.

"I'm good." I answered before I kneeled to greet his daughter, "Hi, Kyungin. I'm your Tito Chanyeol." bati ko at natawa, "Mukha atang mas kamukha mo na si eomma mo. Kiss mo si Tito at ibibili kita ng cake."

Imbes na i-kiss, sinuntok nya ako.

Natawa lang ng malakas si Kyungsoo. She's really a lot like Do Kyungsoo. Probably his girl version. "Don't ask for a kiss and she'll give you one with her fist. That's how she kiss someone." Kyungsoo added and tapped Kyungin's head who's only biting her thumb, looking at me as if she didn't do anything. She's so cute.

"Dudu! Dudu!" bigkas ni Kyungin at tinuro ang box na hawak ko. Bigla ko tuloy naalala si Asher. "Dudu! Dudu!" ulit nya tsaka hinila hinila ang pants ni Kyungsoo. She's only a year and a few months, hindi pa sya nakakapagsalita ng maayos. I want twins too who are a lot like Baekhyun. Ang cute kasi nila.

"Hala ka, dapat nanghingi ka muna sa kanya bago mo sya sinuntok sa mukha." sabi ni Kyungsoo, "Kiss mo na sya at bibigyan ka nya ng cake. Kiss mo sya sa cheeks. Bahala ka, hindi ka makakakain dahil hindi din kita bibilhan. Nagpalamig lang tayo dito kaya tayo pumasok." dugtong nya at natawa ako. Kyungsoo talaga.

"Nagbake ka nalang sana." I said.

"Nakakatamad," Kyungsoo replied.

Kyungin hesitated for awhile pero hindi nagtagal ay inginuso nya ang labi nya at dinampian ako sa pisngi bago nya kinuha yung box na hawak ko. And her heart shaped lips formed into a smile. Tinakpan naman agad ni Kyungsoo ang mukha ni Kyungin na gamit ang palad nya. "Itago mo yang patay gutom mong ngiti anak. Hindi ka pinadede ni Luhan para lumaking ganyan." I laughed out loud and ruffled Kyungin's raven hair. She jumped and jumped exultingly. Kyungsoo's children are really cheerful kids just like Jesper.

"Where's Asher?" I asked.

"Nasa bahay. Actually, bibili talaga kami ng cake dito kasi gusto nyang kumain pero dahil binigyan mo na kami eh, uuwi na kami." Natatawang sabi nya pa at napatitig sa akin bago sumeryoso ang mukha nya, "Will you visit the cemetery today?" Tumango ako at tinap nya ng mahina ang braso ko, "Everything will be alright, Chan. I'm pretty sure he don't want to see you sad. Cheer up for he's looking at you at somewhere." he retorted.

"I know," I told him.

"Miss mo na ba sya?"

I bowed my head, "Sobra."

Bumili muna ako ulit ng cake at sabay na kaming lumabas ng shop. "You can pay Asher a visit anytime, Chanyeol. After all, you've been a father to him too. Sige ah, una na kami." Kyungsoo forced Kyungin to waved her hands at me before he started the engine. Asher reminds me a lot of Jesper. Namimiss ko lang lalo sya. Few months ago, we suffered hell. Fate was too hard on us.

Sometimes I wonder, why people have to go through such trouble just to have that wonderful taste of true happiness. If that person deserves it, why not just let them have it? Taste it? But what is true happiness anyways? Happiness that could fulfill you. People seek for more and more, more than what they have but never once feel completed until they learn to define what is true happiness for them. What is it for me?

My answer is only a name.

Bumusina ako at binuksan ni Nanny Titey ang gate. Pinasok ko ang kotse sa garahe pagkatapos ay kinuha ang cake at flowers tsaka inilapag ito sa dining bago ako dumiretso sa kusina.

Step by step, I'm anticipating to see this familiar figure with his big rounded belly standing in front of the sink and washing the dishes. I took a step with a smile pasted on my face and wrapped my hands around his middle, feeling the bump with my affectionate hands. After a long tiring day, I always look for him. His touch is my comfort and his presence is my remedy, just only him.

What is true happiness? Baekhyun himself is the definition of what true happiness is for me. With him, I just couldn't ask for more. The puzzle is now complete, Baekhyun is my other pair, one who filled the missing piece.

"Mrs. Park, I'm home."

Baekhyun's small laugh filled my ear like a sweet melody, "Welcome then, kanina pa kita inaantay." he almost whispered, giving me a buss on the cheeks. Baekhyun is now six months pregnant and we're having twins. But before he undergo an ultrasound, he told me Jesper told him in his dreams that it's a twins. I believe, Jesper is still looking at us, waiting for his brothers.

"I had the same dream again, hon. Back to that day when I almost lose you. Almost. Everytime I go home, I feel scared not to see you around." sabi ko. That day, I almost gave up. Nangangawit na ako pero hindi pa rin ako tumigil. I was already trembling in so much fear. Fear of losing him again completely but Baekhyun came back.

He heard me.

Kasabay ng pagdilat ng mga mata ni Baekhyun ay ang paglamon ng apoy sa resthouse ni Lolo. Nabi started a wildfire and died with it. We couldn't even identify Namhyun's body from Nabi. Sunog na sunog silang pareho. Nabi died with so much anger in his heart. If only he learned how to let go and forgive, he only wasted his life.

"But I'm still here, alive." I buried my face in the crook of his neck, sniffing his scent. "I won't go nowhere." he added, stroking my hair. "That time, I saw Jesper and he told me to come back. I insisted, I told him I want to come with him but," kumawala sya sa yakap ko at humarap sa akin, "I heard your voice. You said; don't go, stay."

"Glad you heard me." I said.

He smiled and I cupped his right cheek with my free hand, "Um, are we really going to celebrate our anniversary in the cemetery?" he asked suddenly.

I jounced my head, "With Jesper, Mrs. Park. Binilhan ko na sya ng bulaklak and this is for you," I pulled one fake rose at my back pocket. He frowned as he stared at it. "I will only stop loving you, until this rose withered." I said.

"Pero hindi to malalanta?" he said.

"That's exactly my point because, I won't stop loving you, Mrs. Park." I told him, giving him a peck on the lips and I kissed his belly too. "Halika na. Kanina pa tayo inaantay ni Jesper at ni Eomma. Tara na" sabi ko na syang tinanguan nya lang. Ipinasok ko sa kotse ang niluto nyang ulam para kay Jesper at inalalayan ko na syang makapasok sa loob ng kotse.

"Nung last anniversary natin, Chan. Saan ka nga pala nun? Nagluto ako nun at inantay kita but I only waited for nothing." Baekhyun asked. Medyo muntik na akong mabilaukan dahil dun. Paano ko sasagutin ang tanong nya?! Paano ko sasabihing I spent the night having sex with Kyungsoo? Dinaan ko nalang sa tawa't tinap ang kamay nya.

"Nagliwaliw. Wag na natin ungkatin yun, hon. Kalimutan na natin yun at ibaon nalang natin sa limot. Okay?" sabi ko at hindi na sya nagtanong pa. Nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag. I know, nagkamali ako nun. That's why I'm doing my best to make it up to him. All those years na nasayang dahil sa katangahan ko. I won't definitely waste this second chance he gave me. Ever.

"Ganun ba? Anong plano mo this christmas?" tanong na naman nya.

I took a glance at him with this naughty smile, "Make love with you under the mistletoe." I replied. Baekhyun raised a sardonic eyebrow and twisted my ear like a kid getting punished. "Nagbibiro lang ako," binitawan nya ang tenga ko at pinagcross ang braso nya, "Master talaga. Gusto sana kitang i-angkas sa scooter at libutin ang city. Gusto ko sana ngayon kaso may bola ka."

"Kasalanan mo to." aniya.

"Kasi tinanggap mo ang sperm ko."

Nagsalubong ang kilay ni Baekhyun at inirapan ako, "Pwes. Last na to! Hindi ka na rin pala pwedeng pumasok sa kweba ni Maria. Bahala ka na dyang magsolo. Goodluck, Mr. Park." Agad kong nahinto ng kotse sa sinabi nya. I stared at him, "Hindi ako nagbibiro."

"Weh?" I teased.

"Minsan nalang, bilisan mo na nga! Kulit kulit mo, hinahigh blood ako!" Baekhyun bellowed and I laughed out loud. Nang makarating kami sa grave ni Jesper at ni Eomma ay inilapag ko agad dun ang bulaklak na binili ko at alay na niluto ni Baekhyun. We're both quiet, retracing the saddest part in our lives. The moment where we lost our son. Baekhyun leaned his head on my shoulder, silently crying.

"Son, we missed you." Pinunasan ko ang luha ni Baekhyun, "Ito naman oh. Magcecelebrate tayo 'di ba? Walang iyakan to. Jesper assured us that he is already happy to where he is now. Son, ilang buwan nalang. Darating na si Chanhyun, you waited so long for this day. And the doctor said, it's a boy and a girl. Just like what you said, I hope your sister is a lot like your mom." pagmomonologue ko at hinawakan ang kamay ni Baekhyun na humihikbi na naman. Umiiyak sya lagi tuwing dadalawin namin ang puntod.

"Kasing ganda ko." ngawa naman ni Baekhyun na syang tinawanan ko. He quickly hit my stomach. "Gagong tawa na yan parang di ka sumasangayon ah?" Natawa ako ulit and I pushed his head closer into my chest and I kissed his head. "Hindi ako naligo." he said.

"Hindi mo nalang sana sinabi."

Cold wind flew us and I felt Jesper's presence. Hindi ko sya nakikita pero nararamdaman ko sya. "In our next life, make sure to find me, Channie. Find me and marry me again." sabi nya habang nakatingin ng diretso sa mga mata ko. I stared back, praising his eyes in my head. Who wouldn't fall for his bewitching eyes? It's luring me.

"Want to suffer the same hell?"

Baekhyun wrapped his arms around me, "I'm willing to suffer the same hell again as long as I'll end up with you in the end. If you meet me and I am not free, make me fall." he added.

"I'll definitely will because I know you and I exist, to fall for each other, Byun Baekhyun. You are born to be a Mrs. Park. I love you." I murmured above his ear and kissed his cheeks.

"I love you too, giant."

We suffered too much but as what the old folks always say, there is sunshine after the rain. And I'm finally home with the one I love. Nothing could break two person who are bound to be together, I guess, the saying is right. We proved it.