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~Park Chanyeol~

After 7 years...

Dahan-dahan kong tinanggal yung mga tuyo nang bulaklak sa puntod. Noong isang linggo pa ito. Noong bumisita kami nina Chan Hyun.

It's been seven years.

Seven years but the pain is still as fresh like it was just yesterday. 

"I love you." I murmured as I placed a bouquet of white roses on the side. "And we miss you so much." 

Bigla akong nakarinig ng mga yapak sa likod ko. Lumingon ako at nakita si Chan Hyun na papalapit. May hawak siyang isang malaking teddy bear na kulay puti at may pulang laso sa leeg.

Chan Hyun is already in Grade 6. Sa GVA din siya nag-aaral. Lumuhod siya sa tabi ko at nilapag ang regalo niya sa tabi ng puntod.

Wala siyang sinabi. Tumingin lang siya sa puntod. Pero nararamdaman ko kung gaano siya nalulungkot ngayon.

Noon at hanggang ngayon.

I patted his head and gave him a sad smile.

He was too young then. Too young to understand the decision I made. 

Too young to understand the pain.

And yet he's here.

Tumayo ako at nilabas ang susi sa kotse. "We need to go, Chan." I said. "Hinihintay na tayo ni Min." 

Chan Hyun sighed and stood up. "Min nags me all the time, Dad. What would I do to make her stop?" 

I shrugged and laughed. "Give her a toy? Or attention?" 

Chan bit his lip and nodded. "Maybe that would work?" he answered thoughtfully. 

The house was silent when we entered. And there is Baek Min, sitting on the carpet playing with her dolls. 

"Hello, princess." I called and her head turned to my direction in an instant. She smiled huge and ran towards me.

Binuhat ko siya agad at hinalikan sa pisngi. "New toys?" I asked and gestured towards the dolls.

Tumango siya at tumingin sa katapid niya. "Mamita gave it to me this morning!" she bragged. "Meron ba sayo, oppa?" then she smirked. A total copy of Baekhyun.

Yes. Baekhyun. 

Chan scoffed. "Matanda na ako para diyan, Min. I don't play toys anymore." then he crossed his arms and smirked.

I rolled my eyes and patted his shoulder. "Enough of the bragging." sabi ko. "Magpalit ka na at nang makameryenda na tayo." 

Chan Hyun smiled and waved at us. But first sending his sister a grin. My daughter just rolled her eyes. Totally Baekhyun.

Suddenly, may naamoy akong chocolate cake. Then a huge smile crawled on my face. 

"Anak, maglaro ka muna." I said at binaba si Min. "Punta lang akong kitchen." 

"Okay, Daddy." she said at tumakbo pabalik sa carpet.

Naglakad ako papunta sa kusina at mas lalong lumakas ang amoy. 

It was sweet and totally... Baekhyun. 

I smiled at the sight of a man mixing sweets on the counter, his back towards me. I walked slowly and wrapped my arms around him then rested my head on his shoulder. 

"Babe." I whispered and kissed his neck. 

"Ay elf ka!" Baekhyun gasped. "Chanyeol! Grabe! Ginulat mo naman ako!" sabi niya habang natatawa.

I laughed and tightened my hug around him. "Galing kami kay Hyun-ae." I blurted out and his body tensed. Hanggang ngayon, pareho parin kami na nasasaktan. Pero alam kong mas masakit para kay Baek. Alam kong kung siya ang papipiliin, mas pinili niyang mabuhay ang anak namin. 

"She said she missed us." I whispered.

Tumigil si Baekhyun sa ginagawa niya at hinarap ako. There's sadness in his eyes. "I miss her, too." he whispered at niyakap ako bigla habang umiiyak. "So much." 

I caressed his back. "I know, babe. I know." 

I chose Baekhyun that night. Pero hindi madali para sa akin yun. Sobrang sakit ang mamili sa dalawang taong mahal na mahal ko pareho.

But do I really have a choice that night? 

I can't lose my husband. And I can't give my children a broken family. 

But the greatest thing that we've got is Baek Min.

Yes. After two years, Baekhyun got pregnant again with a baby girl. And we did everything. I mean, EVERY THING. Just to make his nine months as safe as possible.

Hindi madaling mawalan ng anak. Lalo pa't choice ko yun. 

"I'm sorry." I whispered.

Biglang tumigil sa pag-iyak si Baekhyun at kumalas sa yakap ko. Tinignan niya ako sa mata at hinawakan ang magkabila kong pisngi. "No." he said firmly. "Huwag kang mag-sorry, Chanyeol. Please." he said at hinalikan ang noo ko.  "Wala kang kasalanan." he said. "Wala, okay?" 

"Sinaktan kita, Baek." bulong ko at umiwas ng tingin. "I made the choice." 

"Babe, no." Baekhyun sobbed at niyakap ako ulit. "You did nothing wrong. I love you, okay? Wala kang ginawang mali." 

I stared into his beautiful eyes and nodded.

How could he make all the sadness in my heart just evaporate. Ng ganun ganun lang? Just the sound of his voice can calm all my nerves. 

Oh. HowI  love this person. 

"I love you, too." I said and pulled his face to me. I kissed him the way I always do. Sweet and passionate.

I poured all my love for him in every kiss. Because I know... that it would never be lessened. No matter what.

Baekhyun pulled my head closer, deepening the kiss. Then I pulled his waist, zeroing the space between our bodies. He tastes of sugar and chocolate. Totally addictive.

He brushed my hair with his fingers as he sucked my lower lip. Our tongues battled for dominance, ravishing and tasting each other. 

"So... sweet." I muttered between kisses. And I felt his smile against my lips. 

"Papa! Gutom na po ako! What do we have for meryenda?!" 

Baekhyun pushed me away so suddenly kaya muntik na akong matumba. Sakto namang pumasok si Chan Hyun sa kusina.

I wiped my lips with my hands and smirked at Baek. Namumula siyang napatingin kay Chan. "Uh..." he started at napatingin sakin. I winked. 

"W-we have chocolate cake, anak." he answered at nilabas yung cake na kanina ko pa naaamoy. "Want some?" 

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Chan Hyun at sumigaw ng, "Chocolate cake?! Papa, you're really great!"

Maya-maya pa, patakbong pumasok sa kusina si Baek Min at nanlalaki ang mga matang tumingin-tingin sa paligid. "Asan?!" sigaw niya. "Where's the cake?!" 

Natawa kami pareho ni Baekhyun. "Here, sweetheart." tawag ni Baekhyun sa anak namin at binigyan ng plate na may lamang isang slice ng cake. 

"Thank you, Papa!" she squealed at umupo sa isang upuan sa dining table.

Habang kumakain sina Chan at Min, lumapit ako kay Baekhyun at niyakap siya mula sa likod. I kissed his hair and inhaled his scent. 

"What if..." I started and caressed his waist.

He shivered under my touch. "What if what, Yeollie?" 

I smirked and kissed his neck seductively. 

"What if we make another Min or Chan Hyun tonight? How's that sound?" 

Then Baekhyun slapped my arm and laughed.

I hugged him tighter. "I love you to the moon and back." I whispered against his ear.

Lumingon siya sakin at hinalikan ako ng mabilis sa labi. 

"I love you forever." he answered.

Then I pulled him for another hug.

Now this is how everyday ends...

In each other's arms.

Always. 

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T H E   E N D