SIX

3 years later, "Mommy wakey up, Mommy wakey up!" my whole body was shaking as Tabi started pushing and shaking my arms, trying to wake me up. I continue acting like I was still sleeping and watch what she will do next.

"Mommy!!!" I bite my lower lip when she lay her whole body above me and calls me for so long, "Mommy itch my birthday," she said and keep moving above me like a lazy kid.

"Mommy wakey wakey!!!" Her weight is no joke, she keeps on rolling her back above me, until she moves down and lay beside me, "Mommyyyyy,'' she whispers to my ears and starts wrapping her arms around my waist.

I tried not to laugh because she would feel it in my stomach if I laugh, She hide her face in my tummy and keep moving it while calling me, "Mommmmyyyyyyyyyy...mommy," she really wants me to wake up, she's poking my back with her tiny hands.

Until she moves up and copes my face with both of her hands, this time I act even more because she's staring at me na, "Mommy, itch my birthdayyyyyyyy wakeyyy," she whispers and gives me a peck on my cheeks.

"Chuuu chuuu Mommy," she whispers while continue kissing every part of my face, what she means by Chuu Chuu is kiss kiss, because that's what Rie teaches her.

"Mommy?" This time she stopped when she noticed that my eyes were moving and this time, she tried to open them, to see if I'm awake. She stopped and remain silent, she just stared at me the whole time, so I decided to wake up.

"Wahh," ginulat ko siya kaya agad siyang nanlaki ng mata at napalayo ng konti sa akin, I started laughing at her and she said, "You wakey!" she said with her frowned brows, I smile at her before I kissed her forehead.

"Happy birthday my Tabi" I whispered and hugged her too tight, she hugged me back before she moved away and pointed at the closet. "Yeah, it's your dress, do you like it?" I said, I sat on the bed before I carried her, walked towards the dress, and touched it while she was looking at it.

"You do want to wear it na?" she wanted to touch it and feel its cloth, so I gave it to her, she giggled and looked at me, "Do you want to wear it na?" I ask, she nodded and touched my face with her small palm.

"Ok, let's gooo," I said, "Gooooo!" she cheered and I take her for a bath and change her pajamas with this cute dress I bought yesterday, galing ito sa ukay-ukay dito sa baguio, although Lynus buy a lot of dress for her, I still wanted to give this to her since I work hard for buying this.

I sell a lot of clothes for this dress she would wear for today and luckily; she likes it. Now she's standing in front of the mirror looking at herself while I started dressing up too, and putting some makeup on.

We are celebrating two special moments today. That's why I'm so thankful and blessed right now, I can't express in words how happy I Am right now. Tabitha is already 3 years old today and thanks to God she's always being guided from above.

I just wore a white tent dress that length above my knees, while I made Tabi wear the same white tent kid dress that I bought at a cheap price. I tie her up just like I did to my hair just to pair us up.

"Do you like it, Tabi?" I ask her while I hold her hand and we both look at the mirror, she looks like a small version of me, but lovelier since she got her father's face. She giggled and covered her mouth with her small hand.

She's happy, she looks at me, and we both smile together. "Let's go?" I ask she nodded, and that's why I carry her na, I can't let her walk downstairs because she will get tired of walking since my Tabi has low stamina because of her anemia.

As we went down, I saw Erille's already wearing a white top and pants, she wears a fitted long-sleeve top to hide her tattoos since this event is very special to us.

"Morning Tabi, does Tita Rie look beautiful?" she asked Tabi, Tabi smiled at her while biting her finger and nodded. "We both look beautiful na," Rie said and got Tabi from me, she carries her outside the house.

Dahil nasa kanya na si Tabi kinuha ko na ang mga kailangan kong dalhin, kasabay non ay ang paglabas ni Six sa kwarto niya, he's wearing a white hoodie paired gray pants. He looks fresh and handsome that's why I complimented him.

"You look handsome as ever Six," I said and was about to walk past him but he reached for my hand and made me face him, suddenly his face looked serious. Kunot noo ko siyang tiningnan bago tinanong. "Are you ok?" I ask.

He didn't answer, he just continued staring at me. I just waited for him to speak but he just sighs and urges a smile. "Congratulation," he said.

"Louen nandito na si Lynu---," hindi na tapos ni Rie ang sasabihin ng makita kaming dalawa ni Six dito sa loob, she looks at our hands before she urge a smile then Lynus showed up behind her while carrying Tabi.

Six slowly let go of my hand before he closed his door and walked towards the door, where Lynus and Rie were standing. "Tara, sa akin ka na sumabay," bigla niyang hinila palabas si Rie.

"Kita nalang tayo doon," he said, "But we can just use my car, kasya naman tayo," sambit ni Lynus, kaya tiningnan siya ni Six at sinabi, "No, I prepare riding my bike, feels cool," he said and pull Rie away.

What's with him?

Napatingin ako kay Lynus ng mawala na sa paningin ko sila Rie at Six. "I think your friend wasn't in a good mood," Lynus said as he stepped inside the house and smiled at me. "Mukha nga haha" sagot ko.

"You and Tabi, look so cute," he said and fixed the strand of hair on my face and put it behind my ears. "You look so beautiful, I'm proud of you," he whispers, I smile at him before I hold his hand and say, "Thank you."

"Let's get going," he said before he looked at Tabi and kissed her cheeks. "Tabi will sit beside Dada Lynus?" He asked her, Tabi copped his face, giggled, and nodded. He smiled at her before he reaches for my hand and bring us out to ride in his car.

Erille's Point of View

"Where are we going, Tabi?" tanong ko kay Tabi habang nandito kami sa labas ng bahay, kinuha ko siya kay El para maayos ni El ang mga kailangan niyang dalhin mamaya.

Ngumingiti lang si Tabi sa akin habang pinapatawa ko siya, maya-maya lang ay dumating na si Doctor Lynus. Agad siyang bumababa sa sasakyan. "Dada!!!" sigaw ni Tabi ng makita si Doc Lynus.

Inangat niya ang dalawang kamay na parang gustong abutin si Doc Lynus, kaya mabilis na naglakad si Lynus papunta sa amin at agad kinuha si Tabi sa akin, "How our Tabi?" tanong niya dito bago ito hinalikan sa pisngi.

Pagkatapos non ay hinarap niya ako at tinanong, "Where's Louen?", "Ah nasa loob, wait tawagin ko" sambit ko at mabilis lumapit sa pinto.

"Louen nandito na si Lynu---,-" natigilan ako ng makitang hawak ni Six ang kamay ni Erille habang seryoso itong nakatingin dito, nakaramdam agad ako ng takot sa kadahilanang alam kong gusto na ng umamin ni Six kay El.

Umamin na kaya siya? Sobrang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko, kumikirot din ito sa bawat tibok kaya hindi ako agad nakapagsalita. Pero ng tingnan nila ako pinilit kong itago ang aking nararamdaman.

Naramdaman kong nasa likuran ko na si Lynus kaya napatingin ako sa kanya bago ibinalik ang tingin sa kanilang dalawa, pinanood ko na dahan-dahang binitawan ni Six ang kamay ni Louen bago tiningnan ito ng puno ng emosyon at naglakad papalapit sa amin.

Hindi ko inalis ang aking tingin sa kanya habang papalapit siya at nagulat ako ng hawakan niya ang aking kamay at hinila palabas ng pinto.

"Kita na lang tayo doon," seryoso niyang sambit habang mahigpit ang pagkakahawak sa aking kamay. "But we can just use my car, kasya naman tayo" napatingin kami kay Lynus ng magsalita siya, nakita ko ang pag igting ng panga ni Six bago hinarap si Lynus at sinabi, "No, I prepare riding my bike, feels cool," sagot niya, at napangiwi ako ng humigpit pa lalo ang pagkakahawak niya sa aking kamay bago ako hinila ng tuluyan papunta sa kanyang motor.

"Aray!" singhal ko ng tumigil kami sa karap ng motor niya, hinila ko din ang aking kamay mula sa kanya upang mabitawan niya ako, napatingin ako sa namumula kong kamay bago siya galit na hinarap at ipinakita ang ginawa sa aking kamay.

"Tignan mo ang ginawa mo!!!" sambit ko pero tila hindi niya ako pinapansin at malalim ang iniisip. "Hoy!" sigaw ko at tinulak ang kanyang balikat upang kunin ang kanyang atensyon.

Hinarap niya ako at tiningnan ang aking kamay, "Hindi ko sinasadya," mahina niyang sambit bago sumakay sa kanyang motor at sinuot ang kanyang helmet. "Ano bang problema mo?" tanong ko.

Pero hindi niya ako pinansin at inabot sa aking ang puting helmet. "Umamin kana ba?" tanong ko na nakapagpatigil sa kanya, bumigat din ang paghinga ko ng tinanong iyon.

Bakit ba gustong gusto mong sinasaktan ang sarili mo Erille?

"Hindi pa, mamaya na lang," sambit niya, natigilan ako ng makakita ng lungkot sa kanyang mga mata, alam niyang talo na siya kay Lynus pero gusto niya pa rin subukan, ilang beses nang pinatunayan ni Louen na kapatid ang turing niya kay Six pero tila nagbubulagbulagan si Six.

Nakaramdam ako ng galit kay Six ng makitang nasasaktan na siya pero sige pa rin siya kaya bigla nalang bumugso ang damdamin ko at hindi napigilang magsalita. "Bakit kasi hindi ka na lang sumuko, nakikita mo naman na kay Lynus masaya ang mag-ina, kapatid lang ang turing sayo ni Louen!" singhal ko kaya tiningnan niya ako.

Mas lalo siyang nagpakita ng lungkot sa kanyang mga mata kaya nagpatuloy ako, "Isa pa hindi ka magugustuhan ni Louen kaya gumising ka na!" sambit ko at kinagat ang aking labi upang pigilan ang aking damdamin.

"Bakit ano bang pangit sa akin na hindi niya magugustuhan?" seryoso niyang tanong at hinarap ako ng maayos, natigilan ako sa sandaling panahon bago nakaramdam ng sakit sa aking dibdib. Bakit ba kasi pinipilit mo pa!!! Nandito naman ako!!!

Biglang pumasok sa isip ko ang oras na lagi akong nasa tabi niya pero panay pa rin ang lingon niya kay El. "Pangit ang ugali mo, gusto mo palagi kang nasusunod, pero hindi ka marunong makinig sa sinasabi ng iba, lagi mo lang iniisip ang nararamdaman mo, makasarili ka kasi! Pag Gusto mo, gusto mo hindi mo magawang ipasok sa kokote mo na hindi lahat makukuha mo!!!" sambit ko habang hinahabol ko ang aking paghinga sa hingal.

"Ganon ba ako kasama?, kaya pala haha," natigilan ako ng marinig ang nasasaktan niyang boses at ng tingnan ko siya, agad akong kinain ng konsensya dahil sa mga sinabi ko, sumobra ako at hindi ko napigilan ang aking sarili.

"Sumakay ka na, isuot mo ito baka maunahan pa tayo," seryoso niyang sambit bago umiwas ng tingin, gusto kong sampalin ang aking sarili dahil sa kagagahan ko, napakacareless ko, hindi ko man lang inisip kung masasaktan siya.

Gusto kong magsorry pero hindi ko magawa, sumakay ako sa likod niya at agad niyang pinaandar ang kanyang motor papunta doon, sa buong byahe tila gusto kong maluha sa sobrang inis, hindi na dapat ako nagsalita! Hindi ko dapat inisip ang nararamdaman ko.

Ako ang makasarili sa aming dalawa.

Louen's Point of View

Tabi sat in my lap on our way to the venue, and it just took us 15 minutes to arrive. Lynus carried Tabi and let me bring my things inside. Naabutan namin si Rie at Six sa tapat ng entrance na tila magkalayo.

When I walk in front of them Rie instantly helps me dress up properly and smiles at me, "I'm proud of you," she said and pouted before shedding tears. I smiled at her, wiped her tears, and hugged her so tight.

"I won't be here without you, thank you so much for your sacrifices," I whisper. "Nako, tama na nga ito maiiyak ako lalo tara na sa loob," she said and pull me inside.

***

"Now, let's call on Del Mundo, Paris Mikka Louen our Magna Cum Laude," sobrang lakas ng palakpakan ng tawagin ang pangalan ko, I didn't imagine that all of my hard works will come up like this, I just aim to graduate but didn't expect to graduate like this.

I wish my Mom and Dad could see this, I know I give my word to them but It pains me knowing that I work hard for this because someday I want them to see that I finish my goal as their daughter.

I stand up and walk towards Lynus' seat, smiling at him before he hands me Tabitha, "We're proud of you" he whispers, I smile at him before I walk towards the stage, bringing my Tabi with me and receiving my medal with her.

"Congratulations Miss Del Mundo," our dean said and let Tabi wear my medal, she giggled as our dean pinched her chubby cheeks. I chuckled with her before I face the crowd together with my Tabi.

Loud claps cheered for us, I saw how proud Rie, Six, and Lynus were while they were standing there clapping their hands for me, I can't help to imagine my parents standing there, smiling at me and proud of me.

Tears fall from my eyes as I longed for my parents, but suddenly Tabi start wiping my tears using her little hand, "Mommy wink wink," she uttered and winked with both of her eyes for multiple times which makes me laugh.

We take a lot of pictures and after that, we went home and prepared for Tabi's simple birthday celebration, "I'll just grab the strawberry cake from the bakeshop and be back later" Lynus said while I'm cooking spaghetti here in the kitchen.

"Ok," I said and nodded at him, he smiled before he steps out of the house and leave, I continue cooking and Rie help me but she seems disoriented because she keeps falling things.

"Are you ok Rie?" I asked, but it looked like she didn't hear it, so I moved closer and repeated, "Are you ok Erille?" tanong ko, but she was spacing out too much, so I poke her with my finger making her look at me instantly.

"Ok ka lang?" tanong ko ng tingnan niya na ako, tumango siya ng dahan-dahan bago tumingin sa labas at hinarap ako.

"Gusto kang kausapin ni Six, pwede mo ba siyang puntahan?" mahina niyang sambit, "Tungkol saan?" I asked, but she just gulped and held my hands. "Nasa kwarto niya siya puntahan mo na siya, ako na ang bahala dito," sambit niya, bago ako tinulak palabas ng kusina.

I nodded even though I don't get what's with this kind of atmosphere between the three of us, tumuloy ako sa kwarto ni Six gaya ng sinabi ni Rie at pagbukas ko ng pinto naabutan kong naggiguitara si Six.

"Six, Rie said you wanted to talk to me," I said, he sat properly before he took a deep breath and stood up straight. "What is it? May problema ba sa inyo ni Eri----," I was cut off when he speaks.

"Louen gusto kita, gustong gusto" he said.

I stiff and tilted my head a bit, "Gusto kita simula pa lang Louen," he repeated.

I let out a heavy sigh before I closed my eyes, "You know that I only see you as my brother Six," I whisper but I surely know that he could hear it, I don't want anyone to hear about this.

"Wala bang chance Louen?" malungkot niyang sambit, I don't want to hurt him but also, I don't want to push myself on liking him because rejecting him would hurt him, it's either hurt him or hurt us.

"I'm sorry, Six," I utter before I open my eyes and look him in the eyes.

Tears started falling from his eyes while he started nodding, "I know that this is gonna happen but I keep pushing it, I understand Louen, sinubukan ko lang kasi baka swertehen haha" his voice was cracking as he says those words.

"I'm sorry Six, I know you can find better than me," I said and remembered how Erille stood for him all the time.

"But you are the definition of the word better," he said and smile at me, "No, I'm not maybe you are just distracted by looking at me and didn't have the chance to look at your side Six, someone is loving you with all her heart," I said with a smile on my face.

He looks confused when I said that, that's why I chuckled and say, "Eri-----" hindi ko natapos ang sasabihin ko ng, "Tabitha!!!!" I heard Erille shout so loud.

"Shit!" Six cursed and quickly ran outside, fear stood to burst all over my body. I ran outside and saw my Tabi. "Tabitha!!!"