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CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

WITH BOTH lives strived being apart, different paths has been made but they will still meet in the end of their paths---to continue their journey.

During Denryl's unusual pregnancy, ka-agapay niya si Preston. During his cravings, si Preston ang gumagawa ng lahat upang mapunan ang mga gusto ng buntis na si Denryl. During Denryl's labor, Preston was by his side giving his support during his giving of birth to a miracle. During the baby's cries, Preston was there to hear and tame it. During the child's first steps and word, Preston was there to witness it. Preston was there to be called 'Dada' by the child. He was there to give the full support and attention to a child that wasn't his own blood and flesh.

May batang-grasa ring inampon si Denryl. Mas matanda pa ito sa biological niyang anak ng ilang taon, so he treats the kid as his eldest child. Naging nakatatandang anak ang ampon na bata na minsan mas clingy pa kay Denryl kaysa sa bunsong anak.

He is a father of two children now.

Everytime his son asks about his other parent, Denryl would carefully explain to his child about their situation. He said, his daddy Laurentius loves them so much that he had to let them go for their own safety. That giving up on them made them sleep tight at night, away from the dangers of his father and hurtful environment. Hindi gaanong ma-proseso ng anak ang mga binanggit niya dahil sa edad nito, but he always reminds them that their father Laurentius loves and cares about them kahit wala ito sa tabi nila.

"Dada Preston is enough." Denryl remembered what his son said that day. Parang kumirot ang dibdib niya sa narinig, but still puts on a smile on his face para sa anak.

Years and years, nagkaka-edad ang mga anak niya. His child started to resent his other father. In the age of fourteen, his child swore to never leave him and will never be like his other father. It broke Denryl's heart again. He doesn't want his child to resent Laurentius.

When his child turned fifteen, Preston had his untimely death on a plane. His airplane flight had a terrible accident, that all of the passenger's died inside it.

The family of Preston mourned for him. It left them devasted, even his two sons. Lalong naging malamig at ma-ilap sa mga tao ang anak niya dahil sa nangyari sa Dada Preston nito.

If it wasn't for Preston, baka iba ang landas niya at ng anak. Baka hindi niya nakita at mapalaki ang nakatatandang anak ngayon. Baka sa isang maliit na kubo sila nakatira. For that, he was very grateful for what the man did for them. If he was given the time and would've known he will have an untimely death, sana binigyan niya ng pag-asa sa pag-ibig ang lalaki. Masyado siyang tutok sa mga anak na wala na sa isipan niyang magkarelasyon. Sapat na sa kaniya ang pagmamahal ng mga anak. It's like, Preston was his the one that got away. [Listening to the song by Katy Perry while proofreading and adding the last sentence to this chapter. UwU.]

Now that his youngest child is turning into a college student, lilipat at babalik sila sa San Dimartino city. Doon niya ipa-aral ang dalawa dahil mas maganda ang mga pasilidad doon. Ang nakatatanda niyang anak ay tumigil sa pag-aaral matapos mag-senior high dahil sa gusto nitong magkapera sa mga raket-raket sa tabi-tabi upang makatulong daw. Hinayaan na lang niya dahil ito ang gusto ng anak. Now, they can both start their freshmen year at a fine and prestigious campus in San Dimartino.

"DEMETRIUS LUKHAS ALCANZARE!"

"Paktay ka kay Baba. Ano na naman ang ginawa mo, hoy?"

"Hindi ako katulad mo na palaging nasasangkot sa gulo, suntokin kita riyan, eh."

It was the boys bantering with themselves again. Nagtutuksohan ang isa't-isa kapag magkasama ang dalawa sa iisang silid katulad ng ibang mga kapatid. They have the same vibes, but with different personalities.

"Po?!" pa-sigaw na sagot ng boses sa kung saang sulok ng mumunting bahay nila. He moved out after three years na tumutuloy siya sa mansyon ng mga Martizano.

"Bakit saan-saan mo na lang tinatapon itong mga boxers mo? Mag-e-eighteen ka na tapos burara ka pa rin? Parang may tamod pa ito, oh, jusko," sermon doon ni Denryl na disappointed sa anak.

Nakarinig siya ng tawa at asaran ng dalawa niyang mga binatang anak. Naglalaro kasi ang mga ito ng video games sa flat screen TV nila.

Agad na pumasok ang nakababatang anak niya sa silid kung nasaan siya. Naglilinis kasi si Denryl sa sariling silid ng mga anak the day before they'll move out to the city. Habang naglilinis, marami siyang nakikitang mga kalat sa silid nito. May mga labahan at underwears sa sahig na kaniyang pinulot. Napapa-iling na lang siya.

"Ako na po maglalaba n'yan, Ba." His son snatched his boxers from his hands.

He pointedly stares at his son. "Bukas na tayo aalis pa-lungsod. Make sure matutuyo iyan bago tayo umalis, ah?"

"Opo, Ba," his son said with a nonchalant voice and leans in to kiss on his cheek, before leaving and continuing their video game. His sons are still sweet towards him kahit mga binata na ang mga ito.

"Ang bansot mo talaga kahit kailan."

"Wow. Nagsalita ang naliligo lang tatlong beses lang sa isang linggo."

"Tanginagmoka!"

"Language, boys!" suway niya roon.

"Sorry, Ba!" sabay nilang sambit galing sa sala ng bahay. Wala siyang nagawa kung hindi ang umiling at ipinagpatuloy ang paglilinis sa silid ng anak.

Denryl seems contented in life.

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MATAPOS IPA-MAHALA ang bahay nila sa mag-uukopa, tinawagan niya si Priscilla upang mama-alam na sa kanila. May ina-anak siyang babae at nag-promise na babalikan sila. Favorite pa naman siya ng anak nito.

Matapos malagay lahat ng mga personal na gamit sa loob ng van, nagsimula na ang biyahe nila papuntang lungsod. Denryl already called his best-friend, Kelly, na papunta na sila sa subdivision kung saan nasaan ang bahay ng matalik na kaibigan. May biniling bahay si Denryl doon na titirhan nila hanggang sa ga-graduate ang dalawa niyang anak. Malapit lang naman sa unibersidad na kung saan napilian na mag-aral ng dalawa niyang anak ang bagong bahay nila.

His eldest chose an IT course, while his youngest chose a culinary course. Iyan ang mga gusto na kurso ng mga anak, kaya support lang siya sa dalawa. Pangako pa ng nakatatanda niyang anak na pagkatapos g-um-raduate, dadalhin niya sila sa abroad at doon tumira permanently. Hirit naman ng isa na ang kurso niya ang mas magpapa-abroad sa kanilang tatlo. Iisang bagay lang naman ang gusto nilang makamit; ang bigyan ng peaceful at ma-aliwas na buhay si Denryl. Gusto nilang mag-early retirement ito at sila na bahala sa mga gagastosin at expenses ng bahay nila. They know the struggle of Denryl since he was a kid. Alam nilang naging ampon ito at ina-alipusta ng dating pamilyang kumupkop sa kaniya, but he still graduated and broke free from them. They admired him for that.

His older son's name given by his deceased parents is Edizon. Simula noon, ginawa niyang Alcanzare ang apilyedo nito. With the help of Preston, na-legal ang apilyedo nito as Alcanzare and on his custody. Of course, he asked the child's consent if he's willing to change his surname first. The kid's happy having Denryl's surname.

"Eddie, Luke, matulog muna kayo dahil mahaba-haba ang biyahe natin," utos ni Denryl sa mga anak habang nilingon ito sa likuran. Nasa passenger seat kasi siya sa harap kasama ang h-in-ire niyang driver.

"Mamaya na, Ba," nakangiting saad ni Edizon sa kaniya. Inangat pa nito ang phone na naghuhulogang mag-si-cellphone lang buong biyahe.

Naka-upo lang sa tabi si Demetrius habang tinitignan ang mga tanawin sa labas ng bintana ng van. May headphones sa tainga nito habang nakikinig sa TWICE playlist. He's never been to San Dimartino city, kaya medyo excited ang binata. He also learned that sa syudad ng San Dimartino nakatira ang isa pa nitong ama. He doesn't know what to feel about that.

Denryl sighed. "Kung ikaw magkasakit sa kaka-cellphone mo, bahala ka na. Sinasabi ko sa iyo."

Nakapakamot sa batok ang nakatatanda sa narinig. "Eh, wala namang side effects katulad ng lagnat or sipon ang pagsi-cellphone, Ba, eh."

"So doktor ka ba para alam mo iyan?"

"Sabi ko nga hindi ako doktor. Information Technology student nga ako soon."

". . . ake me feel speciarrr~"

Ilang oras din ang biyahe nila, bago makarating sa subdivision na tutuloyan. Denryl got out matapos pasalamatan ang driver with the boys trailing behind him. Nakangiti naman si Denryl nang makitang malaki-laki at sakto sa tatlong lalaki ang bagong bahay nila.

"Kami na bahala sa mga gamit natin, Ba. Pumasok ka na," Edizon volunteered at tinapik ang dibdib ni Demetrius upang sumunod sa kaniya.

Dahil sa sinabi ng nakatatandang anak, he walks toward the porch to unlock their new house and goes inside. Bumungad sa kaniya ang sala at sa unahan ay kitchen ng bahay.

"Puwede na . . ."

🏝️🏝️🏝️

"WELCOME BACK, BESHIE!" patiling bungad ni Kelly sa kaniya, and the next thing he knows, nakayakap na ng mahigpit ang kaibigan sa kaniya

"T-thank you," nahihirapan niyang saad sa higpit ng yakap ni Kelly.

Agad naman itong kumalas at nirat-ratan siya ng mga tanong at chismis. Nakangiting nakikinig naman si Denryl sa pinagsasabi nito.

"Ba," biglang tawag ng isa sa anak niya sa kaniya sa gitna nang pag-uusap nila ni Kelly sa sala. "Anong gusto mong lutoin ko sa hapunan natin?"

"OMG!" Tumayo si Kelly at nilapitan si Demetrius. Hindi inasahan ng binata na bigla itong niyakap ng mahigpit ng godmother. "Sobrang binata na talaga nitong ina-anak ko. Noong kailan ko lang na bisita roon sa inyo sa probinsiya, kuskosin at bugnotin ka pa. Are you ready to take on college na with your brother Edizon?"

Denryl watch them and he can see a slight discomfort on his son's face. Tumingin ito sa kaniya panandalian na parang nanghihingi ng tulong, kaya natatawa siya sa estado ng anak.

"Uh, eh . . . opo," ani Demetrius sa Tita nito with an awkward laugh.

"Beshie, bitiwan mo muna ang ina-anak mo dahil magluluto pa iyan ng hapunan natin. Dito na kayo kumain ni William at ng ina-anak ko para matikman n'yo ang luto ng anak ko. Future Head Chef ko iyan, eh," lahad doon ni Denryl sa kanila na sobrang proud. Nahihiya si Demetrius kapag pinagmamayabang ito ng ama---opposite kay Edizon na over confident.

Agad naman napabitaw si Kelly sa ina-anak at nginitian ito.

"Naku. Let's eat out tonight," suhesyon ni Kelly sa kaniya. "May alam akong restaurant na masasarap ang mga putahe. Ma-fi-feel mo ulit ang buhay syudad sa younger years mo. I'll book a reservation now, game?"

Denryl just sighed and nodded.

Maramdaman muli ang nakakabatang sarili dito sa syudad, huh? That's something . . .

🏝️🏝️🏝️

ONE GLANCE at Demetrius, napapa-iling si Denryl sa kasuotan ng anak. He's wearing dull and black clothings with his black headphone hanging on his neck. Para itong hindi pupunta sa isang joyous family dinner.

"Demetrius Lukhas Alcanzare, paki-usap, magbihis ka ng formal attire," Denryl groaned out. "Asan iyong binili kong polo shirts sa'yo? Wear them instead, please?"

Bugnotin na tumitig ang anak niya sa kaniya. Pinandilatan naman niya ito ng mata, kaya walang sabing umalis ito roon at nagbihis sa sariling kuwarto. Agad napunta ang mata niya sa nakatatanda niyang anak, at pinasadahan ang buong suot nito. He seems formal enough, kaya tinangoan niya ito. Ang laki naman ng ngiti nito sa kaniya at inikotan lang niya ng mata ang anak.

Not long after, lumabas na si Demetrius na naka-formal attire na aprobado ni Denryl. Hindi nagtagal, dumating si Kelly kasama ang asawa at babae'ng anak nito. Now that kompleto na sila, they drove straight toward the said platter.

The said platter's ambiance is amazing. May sa loob at sa garden na reception kung saan kayo mag-table. The garden set-up is wonderful since there are hanging lights and lightbulbs with the trees above their heads. There's a soft jazz music playing in the background.

Their round table is good for seven, and they are only six occupying the chairs. Pinaggigitnaan ni Denryl at Kelly ang bakanteng upoan sa gitna nila habang nasa right side ang dalawang anak na lalaki.

"May hinihintay lang akong pana-uhin na inimbita ko para sumali sa dinner natin," nakangiting anunsyo ni Kelly sa lamesa nila. Nginitian lang ito ni Denryl. "Pero kung hungry na kayo, you can order na already."

Denryl shakes his head. "It's fine. Hihintayin na lang natin siya."

"I want Halo-halo, Mommy," biglang sambit sa anak na babae ni Kelly sa kaniya.

"Andrea, later na, okay?" ang asawa ni Kelly na si William.

Their table didn't died down. They all conversed into deep conversations. Denryl and Kelly catched up with how their lives are going. Kelly is very interested to Demetrius and Edizon with how they find their teenage years, and how they felt about their incoming freshmen years in college. Edizon enthusiastically answers his papa's best friend, while Demetrius just gave a few sentences to her. Napapangiti si Denryl habang nakikinig sa dalawang anak.

He's proud that he raised the two of them all throughout the years. He sometimes doubt his parenting to them, but whenever they show and give back love and care to him, he can feel like he's a good parent. Minsan, nahuhuli siyang umi-iyak sa gitna ng gabi, ngunit nandoon si Demetrius or/and Edizon sa tabi niya as moral support. Every time Demetrius heard Denryl cry, his resentment and disdainful to his other father grows.

Denryl wants nothing but a better future for the both of them. He's there to support them every milestone of their lives. Hindi niya gustong maramdaman ng mga anak ang nag-iisa sa bawat hakbang ng buhay nila. Unless they will push him, he can back down. He cannot force himself sa kanila, dahil mga may sarili na itong konsensya at pag-iisip. If any of them wants to move out and decided to live independently, he will let them. Any time now, they will leave him and he's just braising for it.

He can see the bright future of his two boys. Man or woman, he knows they'll treat them right. Sana talaga kahit magkaroon ito ng mga sariling pamilya, they won't forget him completely. If that happens, he doesn't know what's his purpose on life anymore. He's too old to be with someone. Or even get on with someone and carry another person inside him---although menopausal starts at fifty or sixty. He's in his middle forties, and he doesn't think anyone would find him appeasing or attractive---not that he's looking forward to settle with someone.

Denryl sighs in contented and proud dad.

"Oh! My guest has finally arrived," Kelly exclaims and watch afar to her guest.

Sa wakas, makakakain na rin ako, one of his son thought.

Denryl followed Kelly's line of sight, and a man in tailored suit is striding his way towards their table. The man had a beard that looks like it was just groomed for this occasion, and an expression of tight lips and a glinting eyes. You can see deep in his eyes the longing, the contained excitement, the anticipation, the fleeting various emotions, and the desire burning within.

It was Laurentius.

xALPHA_SYRICx | SYRICH