MY HEART REMEMBERS

Prologue

Fast forward to the future...

"BAKIT kailangang tayo ang magbantay sa mga bubwit na 'to?" ani Dani na tila maiiyak. Nakahiga ito sa malapad na couch sa living area, may hawak na wine glass sa kanang kamay at nakataas ang mga paa sa coffee table. Sinulyapan nito ang pitong taong gulang na kambal na naglalaro ng Lego habang ang malaking flat screen TV ay nakabukas sa Cartoon Network at nasa pinaka-mataas na volume. 

Si Kaki ay natawa nang makita ang pagod at bagot na mukha ng kaibigan. "Aren't you happy na nakasama ulit natin itong mga inaanak natin? We haven't seen them since Christmas last year."

Dinala ni Dani ang hawak na kopita sa bibig at sumimsim ng red wine. Ilang sandali pa'y muling nagsalita, "Of course I'm happy. Pero nagpunta ako rito to mend my broken heart, not to babysit them kids."

"Alam kong wala ka lang sa mood ngayon dahil kaka-break niyo lang ng manloloko mong syota kaya nasasabi mo 'yan. But come on, maybe the kids will change your mood." ani Kaki bago sulyapan ang oras sa relos. "It's past eight, ang sabi ng yaya ng mga bata'y ganitong oras na umuuwi ang mag-asawa simula noong buksan nila ang bagong tayong pre-school."

Bumuntong hininga si Dani at muling sumimsim ng alak. Sinulyapan nito ang kambal na sina Vivienne at Lucio na patuloy sa paglalaro. They were wearing their pajamas at sobrang cute. She released a soft smile. 

"Akalain mong magkakatuluyan nga ang dalawa?"

Si Kaki na nasa kambal din ang pansin ay napangiti. "Well, somehow, I felt that they're really meant for each other. Kahit gaano pa ka-tigas noon si Luna."

Natawa si Dani, "Yeah. She was always pushing him away."

Ang isa sa mga kambal, si Vivianne, ay lumapit kay Dani at tumingala. "Why are you drinking wine, Aunt Dani?"

Ibinaba ni Dani ang kopita ng alak sa side table at ma-dramang bumuntong hininga, "Because I'm sad and heartbroken, sweatpea..."

"What's heartbroken?"

"It's when someone made you sad and lonely. I wish I could tell you more but you're not old enough to understand, Little Luna..." hinapit ni Dani ang bata at malambing na niyakap. 

"Why are you calling me Little Luna?"

"Well, because you look exactly like your Mom when you frown like that. And you are little."

Nilingon ng batang babae ang kakambal nitong si Lucio na abala pa rin sa pag-lalaro. "Does Lucio look like Mom, too? You don't call him that."

"Well, he doesn't look like your mom but he's a carbon copy of your Dad."

"Carbon copy? What's that?" Ang munting kilay nito'y nagsasalubong habang nakatingin sa kakambal. 

"Well," kinarga ito ni Dani. "It's when something or someone looks identical." 

"Oh," ani Vivienne. Ang munting labi nito'y pumorma na tila letrang O. Ilang sandali pa'y muli itong tumingala. 

"Mom seemed off this morning."

"What do you mean?" si Kaki na biglang na-curious.

"She was sick and she didn't want to eat anything. She was throwing up and she didn't want to tell Dad."

Nagkatinginan ang dalawa.

"Mom said she will go see a doctor. I hope she's okay."

Si Dani ay niyuko ang bata at nginitian, "Oh, I bet she's fine."

"Your Mom is probably just carrying your baby sister or baby brother in her tummy," nakangiting sambit ni Kaki na nagpalingon din kay Lucio. 

"For real, Aunt Kaki?" anang batang lalaki na kinakitaan nila ng excitement sa mukha. 

They both smiled as they looked at the little boy's handsome face.

"How incredible. This young man has gotten everything from his father..." bulong ni Dani kay Kaki na tumango bilang pagsang-ayon.

"Oh, I want a baby brother!" anang batang lalaki na tumayo at lumapit na rin sa kanila. Nagpakarga ito kay Kaki.

"But why did Mom want to hide it from Dad?" ani Vivienne na muling kinunutan ng noo.

Kinunutan ng noo si Kaki, "Why, indeed?" Sinulyapan nito si Dani. "Sa tingin mo ba'y ayaw nang magkaanak pa ni—"

Dani rolled her eyes upwardly, "I don't think so. Mah boy is head-over-heels in love with Luna ever since they first met. Remember that day when we went to my parents' farm? He said he'd marry Luna and have a dozen babies with her."

Malakas na tumawa si Kaki nang maalala ang araw na iyon. 

Sina Vivienne at Lucio ay nakatingala lang sa dalawa at nagtatanong ang mga mata. 

Niyuko ni Dani ang mga bata, "You two shouldn't worry about your Mom and Dad. They are fine. Your mom is probably just hiding things from your Dad to surprise him. Come, sit here and I'll tell you a story while we wait for them."

"What story?" ani Vivienne. 

"I'll tell you a story about how your Mom and Dad met, and how everything started."

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Proceed to the next chapter >>>