COMMON MIRACLE: Hector and Sophia's Story

PART 5

It was still raining outside…

That’s the first thought that across to Sophia’s mind when she opened her eyes. Medyo masakit ang mata niya dahil sa kakaiyak kagabi pero kakatwang tila wala lang sa kaniya iyon. Hindi kagaya ng dati na naghahalo ang pananakit ng mata, ulo at puso niya, at nagpapawala ng gana niyang bumangon. Well, this morning is different. Bumangon siya at nagtungo sa may bintana. Binuksan niya iyon at sinamyo ang malamig na hanging may mumunting ambong kasama.

Hindi niya gusto ang ulan pero hindi rin naman siya galit sa ulan. Hindi niya lang maiwasang hindi malungkot kapag umuulan.

Dahil kapag umuulan, may hindi magandang nangyayari.

Umuulan noon nang dalahin nila ang papa niya sa hospital, umuulan rin nang ilibing nila ito at umuulan rin nang ilibing ang mama niya. Rain reminded her nothing but a familiar sorrow feeling.

Though, today seemed different.

“Morning!”

She glanced down at Hector who’s walking towards her house. He had brown paper bags at his arms and he’s smiling at her. It’s a warm tender smile and it’s hard not to smile back, so she smiled back at him, making his smile grew wider.

Her heart squished. ‘Oh God. What is it this time?’

“Get down after you sort your self,” he shouted, still walking, nearing to the front door.

‘Gosh, we’re just in one house, he didn’t have to shout.’

“Okay!” she shouted back. She didn’t have to shout, yet she did. It’s hard to resist.

Pagkaraang masenyasan ito’y mabilis siyang tumakbo sa banyo at ginawa ang daily routine niya. Nagpalit ng pambahay at bumaba. Gaya kahapon, pagpasok pa lang niya ng kusina ay amoy niya na ang mabangong amoy nang piniprito nitong bacon.

“Coffee?” he asked.

“Ako na,” nakangiting aniya bago kumuha ng tasa sa cupboard at nagsimulang magbanaw ng sariling kape. “How about you?” she asked while stirring her coffee.

“Already warmed up,” even without looking, Sophia knew he’s smiling.

She sat at one of the stool and watched him put the bacon at the plate. May sunny-side up egg na itong naprito, toast, at fried rice. Hindi siya heavy breakfast person but it seemed that Hector was.

“May pupuntahan ka mamaya?”

Lumipat ang mga mata niya kay Hector. “Kanina ko lang nabasa ang e-mail sa’kin, may interview ako mamaya after lunch,” aniya. Bumaba ang tingin niya sa kape. Ito ang unang interview na gagawin niya at kinakabahan siya.

“Relax, kaya mo iyan,” pampalakas-loob ni Hector sa kaniya.

“S-salamat, Hector,” mahinang aniya habang nakatingin pa rin sa kape. Pagkatapos niyang umiyak nang umiyak kagabi ay inihatid siya nito sa kwarto niya. Sandali siyang iniwan nito para makapagpalit siya at pati na rin ito. Ilang minuto pa’y bumalik ito at sinamahan siya hanggang sa makatulog siya.

“No, I should be the one to thank you.”

Napa-angat ang tingin niya rito dahil sa pagseryoso nang tinig nito.

“Thank you for letting me in, Sophia. Nang nalaman ko ang nangyari kay Mam Sanya, ikaw ang una kong naisip. Nana told me na ayaw mo siyang mag-stay rito at ayaw mo ring tumanggap ng tulong mula sa kaniya and it’s really bothering me.”

It’s bothering him? Well, it’s no doubt. Hector’s a nice friend and unfortunately, he’s too nice, too, to act like a big brother to her. It’s unfortunate cause two years ago, after they accidentally kissed, her feelings for him ruined what they had.

“All along kapag tumatawag ako kina mama ay iisa ang balita nila sa’kin. You’re acting all fine even you’re not. And, I’m glad you opened up last night. Thank you for letting me had those.”

She swallowed as she tried to push the hard lump that pushing through her throat.

“Then, thank you for trying," she replied warmly.

She knew, by this time, at this moment, things would go different at her.

And she knew this when he smiled at her while his eyes grew tender and warm at her.

*****

Days became weeks, then it became months, then it became years.

Four years to be exact had swiftly passed and Sophia still couldn’t believe how her life turned upside down.

Sophia sat down on a wooden beach at the middle of the park. She touched her bulging belly and caressed it while a sweet smile was playing at her lips. She looked up and watched as Hector lifted Henessa at his shoulder. Henessa kept on laughing, her small body swaying while Hector run smoothly and carefully.

Tinitigan niya si Henessa. Henessa was the four-year-old daughter of Hector with a half-Filipina and half-American model from US. Maraming nakuhang features si Henessa kay Hector kesa sa ina nito. Nakuha nito ang itim na itim na mata at buhok ni Hector, ganoon rin ang hugis ng mukha, matangos na ilong at magagandang labi.

Napakagat-labi siya nang pumasok sa isip ang magagandang labi ni Hector. Those lips were the softest, fullest, and sweetest lips she had ever encountered.

“Mommy!” matinis na sigaw ni Henessa na kasalukuyan nang tumatakbo patungo sa kaniya.

Walang inaksayang oras na tumayo siya at naglakad para salubungin si Henessa.

“Mommy,” Henessa said gleefully as she wrapped her small arms at her thigh.

“You tired, baby?” Sophia asked while touching Henessa’s back to see if it’s already soaking in sweat.

“Yep, mommy.”

“How about you, baby?” tanong ni Hector nang makalapit sa kanila habang nakatitig sa kaniya.

Tumuwid siya nang tayo at binuhat naman ni Hector si Henessa.

“Naka-upo lang ako roon, paano ako mapapagod,” biro niya rito.

May malapad na ngiting inakbayan siya nito at walang sabi-sabing hinalikan sa labi. Hindi lang basta simpleng halik ang iginawad nito sa kaniya dahil halos mapugto ang hininga niya sa ginawa nito.

Oh my gosh. PDA!

“Mommy and daddy! You're kissing!” Henessa squealed, and abruptly Sophia torn her lips from Hector.

Sinamaan niya ito nang tingin pero ngumisi lang ito sa kaniya. Sinulyapan niya si Henessa. “Sorry, baby.”

Humagikhik lang si Henessa at iniyakap ang maiksing braso sa leeg ni Hector.

“Love you all,” Hector murmured and gave Henessa a quick kiss at her cheeks then turned to Sophia to kiss her too, at her lips.

“Makakasuhan na tayo ng PDA niyan,” natatawang wika niya kay Hector.

“Why? Is it wrong to kiss my wife because I love her?”

Mahinang kinurot niya ito sa tagiliran at isiniksik ang sarili sa pagkakaakbay nito. Naglakad sila pabalik sa bench kung saan siya nakaupo kanina. Naupo sila roong tatlo. Naka-akbay si Hector sa kaniya habang nakahilig ang ulo niya sa dibdib nito habang si Henessa ay nakatuon sa hita ni Hector at abala na sa pagtitingin ng mga pictures nila kanina. Bata pa lang ito pero biba na at fashionista pa. Mukhang isa iyon sa namana nito sa modelong ina.

“Pagod ka na, Sophie?” pagkaraan ay tanong ni Hector sa kaniya, at lumipat ang kabilang kamay nito mula sa ulo ni Henessa papunta sa bumibilog na niyang tiyan. Limang buwan na siyang buntis at kahit palagi silang nagpapa-checkup ay gusto ni Hector na surprise ang gender nito kapag lumabas.

“Nope,” umiiling na aniya.

“How about our baby?” tanong nito at marahang hinaplos-haplos ang tiyan niya.

“Well, I think she’s sleeping.”

“She?”

Napangiti siya at nagkibit-balikat.

“Whatever,” she heard him muttered. “That’s my child, and as long as you’re the one who's carrying my baby, it's fine with me. Afterall, we’re going to make a lot of babies.”

"Babies?"

"Yep. Masipag ata ako," pagmamayabang nito.

Kinurot niya muli ito sa tagiliran at natatawang tumingala. “Puro ka kalokohan,” aniya rito.

“I want to have a lot of babies para may kasama si Henessa, pati na rin si baby,” he stopped talking and leaned down to kiss her belly, “pati na rin ang future babies natin.”

“Hoy, ipapaalala ko lang sa’yo ha, hindi ikaw ang manganganak,” aniya rito kahit na ang totoo’y sa loob niya’y gusto niya ng maraming anak.

‘Life is short; happiness is not for a lifetime, though she had learned that acceptance and contentment are the keys to have a happy life. Accepting the fact that life is not really a pure smooth glass, and it could be tainted and cracky. But that’s life, and as long as Hector is in her side, she’ll be contented’

Tumunghay ito at tinitigan siya sa mga mata. “I want to see you happy. I want to see them happy. And if life becomes rocky, I want them to have each other back.”

Isiniksik niya ang mukha sa leeg nito at pinagdiit ang mga labi. Naramdaman niya ang marahang haplos nito sa buhok niya. She’s going to cry but she had to stop. Hector and her made an agreement that if she’s about to cry. She had to do it while her body was pressing on him.

That’s bizzare, yet it’s so sweet.

After all, she couldn’t blame him. She almost lost it when she thought he’s gonna leave her.

Since that night, Hector stay at her side. Simula ng gabing iyon ay sinigurado nitong hindi na siya iiwan nito. Dumaan ang ilang buwan at palagi silang magkasama. Nakatira pa rin sila sa bahay niya kahit na may mga taong napapakunot-noo t’wing nakakasalubong sila.

They’re not married and yet they’re living at the same house. Pero kagaya nang ipinangako ni Hector, they deal with them just like before. To think na wala naman silang ginagawang kahit ano.

Months passed, naipatayo nina Hector at ng mga kaibigan nitong enginner ang firm na binabalak nila. Naging successful iyon hanggang inalok siya nitong magtrabaho doon bilang assistant nila, na tinanggap naman niya. Walang dalawang salita na nag-resign siya sa pinagtatrabahuhan noon na maliit na kompaniya bilang clerk, at lumipat sa firm nina Hector.

Few more months at nanligaw ito sa kaniya. Which is nakakatawa dahil palagi naman silang magkasama sa bahay at t’wina ay napaka-sweet nito sa kaniya.

Ilang linggo pa lang ito opisyal na nanliligaw sa kaniya ay naisip na niyang sagutin ito. Ano pa bang ikinakatakot niya? Matagal na nitong napatunayan ang pagiging tapat nito sa kaniya. Ngunit ng gabing sasagutin na niya ito kung saan maaga siyang umuwi para paghandaan ang gabing iyon. Isang matangkad, sexy, maganda at sopistikadang babae ang dumating sa bahay niya at hinahanap nito si Hector.

Habang hinihintay ang pagdating ni Hector ay nalaman niya mula rito na may anak silang dalawa ni Hector.

Marianne and Hector had been a couple for almost a year in the US. Ngunit nag-break sila dahil masiyadong abala ang babae sa pagiging modelo. Halos isang taong nagtago ang babae para itago ang pagbubuntis nito. She tried to look for Hector at the US pero nabigo ito. Nang malaman nitong nasa Pilipinas na ito, mabilis na lumipad ito patungo sa bansa nila para puntahan si Hector.

Hindi niya kayang maniwala noong una. But, Marianne still had their photos together. She also swore na si Hector talaga ang ama ng anak niya. Though their relationship didn't work out, they'd been honest to each other. Hindi niya sinabi dito kung ano siya sa buhay ni Hector. Thinking that she's Hector relatives, it's easy for Marianne to open up at her.

Ngunit nang matapos itong magkwento, halos nanginginig ang katawan niya sa lahat nang narinig. Buong akala niya’y nasanay na siya sa sakit. Buong akala niya’y kahit alam niyang hindi magtatagal sa tabi niya si Hector ay maihahanda niya ang sarili sa pag-alis nito, pero mali pala siya.

Hindi niya kinaya ang nalaman at umalis siya ng sariling bahay, at iniwan si Marianne na mag-isa. Pumunta siya sa isang dating kaklase at nakiusap na doon muna.

Ngunit hindi rin natapos ang gabi’y natagpuan siya ni Hector.

Hector brought her back home. He tried to explain, but she already shut down herself. Nagbingi-bingihan siya sa bawat salita nito. Nagkunwari siyang wala sa kaniya ang bawat pang-aamo at yakap nito. Pilit niyang pinatigas ang puso.

But, Hector was Hector.

Just like that night of thunderstorms and lightnings, he held her. No matter how she fought, cried, and shouted, he just kept on holding her. He didn’t stop talking to her between her fight, and he kept on explaining no matter how riled she was.

He didn’t stop and he didn’t leave her. Tinanggap lang nito lahat nang sakit na ibigay niya.

And between everything, he explained. Totoong nagkarelasyon sina Hector at Marianne pero hindi nito akalaing mabubuntis nito ang babae. Maingat sila lalo pa't mahal ni Marianne ang pagmomodelo. Hindi naging madali para sa kaniya na tanggapin ang lahat sa kabila nang wala namang kasalanan si Hector. Those times, nagmamahalan sila ni Marianne at wala pa siya. Hindi niya pwedeng sisihin ito.

Halos sumuko na siya ng nga panahong iyon. Kahit nasa iisang bahay pa rin sila ni Hector, naging abala ito at madalas wala sa bahay. Kahit sa trabaho ay hindi sila nagkakausap.

Buong akala niya ay lalayo na ito nang dalahin nito ang bata sa bahay niya kasama si Marianne. Henessa was still three months old that time. She looked innocent and oblivious at what's happening around her. She's too young to understand the pain that she's causing in her.

Gusto niyang magalit ngunit walang kasalanan ang bata. Pinatuloy niya ang mga ito sa bahay niya at tinanggap sa kabila ng sakit. Ngunit, ang hindi niya lubos akalain ay ang iwan ni Marianne ang bata kay Hector. Mas mahal nito ang pagmomodelo kesa sa sariling anak o marahil hindi pa ito handa sa responsibilidad. Lalo pa't marami na naman itong nakalatag na project.

Umalis ito ng Pilipinas ngunit nangakong dadalawin ang anak. Hindi na nila mahal ang isa’t isa at siya na ang mahal ni Hector. Gayunman, nakapagitan sa kanila ang anak nito.

Paulit-ulit itong nagsumamo sa kaniya, nanligaw at umasang tanggapin siya. At sa kabila ng sama nang loob niya rito, aminado siyang oras naman para siya ang gumanti sa lahat nang ginawa nito para sa kaniya.

He loved her and she still loves her despite the truth. Sinagot niya ito and the rest was history.

All she knew was the path that she took led them on where they are now.

“I love you, Hector,” she whispered against his neck.

His body tensed and after a few beats he relaxes. “Love you too, Sophie. Thank you for letting me in.”

“No. Thank you for not giving up on me.” She heard him sighed and felt his lips moved on her head.

Not a moment later they left the park and went home. Doon pa rin sila nakatira sa bahay niya na ngayon ay bahay na nila. Hindi nailit ang bahay dahil pinilit ni Hector na magbayad sa pagtira nito. Ayaw man niya, dahil ito rin ang gumagastos sa pagkain nila ay naging mapilit ito. Kahit pa nga halos ang binabayaran lang niya ay tubig at kuryente nila na hindi naman kalakihan. Knowing how firm he was, she could do nothing.

Sa bahay na rin iyon tumira si Henessa at ilang buwan pa lang silang magkasintahan ay niyaya na siyang magpakasal ni Hector.

Two and a half years ago, ikinasal sila. Ilang taon sila naghintay magka-baby pero hindi sila pinalad. Ngunit worth it naman ang paghihintay nila. Heto at magkakaanak na sila at napa-renovate pa nila ang bahay. Mas nakapag-ipon din sila. Papasok na school si Henessa at magkaka-baby na sila at baka madagdagan pa kaya kailangan talaga nilang mag-ipon.

“Henessa’s already sleeping in her room. Napagod ata,” ani Hector nang makapasok sa kwarto nila.

Mula sa pagkakaupo sa kama ay nilingon niya ito at mabilis na nag-init ang pisngi niya nang bigla na lang itong maghubad ng damit pang-itaas. After four years with him under their house, hindi pa rin siya nasasanay sa epekto nito sa kaniya. He’s still lean and muscular, and he also knew the effects he could do to her.

Tumayo siya at lumapit ito sa kaniya dala ang towel at isang t-shirt. “Baby, wipe my sweat, please,” malambing nitong ani at kinindatan pa siya.

Inirapan niya ito at kinuha ang towel.

‘Wipe my sweat, gosh!’

Kinuha niya ang towel at pinunasan ang likod nito. Nang mapunasan ang likod nito’y humarap naman ito sa kaniya.

“Baby, dito pa,” nakangising turo nito sa dibdib pababa sa abs.

“Abot mo na iyan,” irap niya dito sabay bigay ng towel.

Tinalikuran niya ito at naglakad patungo sa may bintana.

Minsan talaga ay puro kalokohan ang nasa isip ng asawa niya. He’s nice, sweet and gentleman noong magkasintahan pa lang sila. Pero simula ng maging mag-asawa sila, panibagong Hector ang nakilala niya. That one was also nice and sweet, but naughty.

“Baby naman.” Napapitlag siya nang pumulupot ang isang braso nito patungo sa tiyan niya at ang isa pa’y sa may taas ng dibdib niya kasabay nang pagbulong sa may punong-tenga niya. “Tapos ka nang maglihi pero mainit pa rin ulo mo sa’kin,” bulong pa rin nito habang bumababa ang labi patungo sa may batok niya.

Hindi niya mapigilan ang kiliting hatid nang ginagawa nito pero, siyempre, kahit mag-asawa sila'y nagpapakipot pa rin siya.

“Hector ha, limang buwan na akong buntis, magtigil ka,” kunwa’y angal niya.

Narinig niyang tumawa ito at mula sa likuran ay mahigpit siyang niyakap nito. Sa hinuha niya’y hindi pa ito nakakabihis dahil lumipad pa kung saan ang towel at t-shirt na hawak nito kanina para mayakap siya ng maayos.

"Ang bango naman ng asawa ko," bulong nito sa may punong-tenga niya.

"Hayan ka na naman, ha."

Humalakhak lang ito sa may batok niya at niyakap siya nang mahigpit. Ilang sandali siyang yakap nito bago iginaya siya papunta sa veranda.

Napakurap siya nang mapagmasdan ang langit.

"Mabuti na lang pala at umuwi na tayo kaagad," wala sa loob na aniya.

Maliwanag ang sikat ng araw pero nakakapagtakang umuulan. Malalaki ang patak ng ulan pero halos hindi maaninaw dahil matingkad rin ang manila-nilaw na sikat ng araw. Napaawang ang labi niya habang pinagmamasdan ang langit, ang nakakasilaw na sikat ng araw at ang pagbagsak ng ulan. Lumilikha iyon ng tila mga kulay ng bahaghari.

“Common Miracle,” he heard him whispered at her ear as he rested his chin on her shoulder, and his arms snaked around her, his hand resting at her belly.

Gusto niyang lingunin ito pero dahil tila gusto nito ang posisyon na iyon ay pinili niyang huwag nang gumalaw.

“Ano iyon?” tanong niya.

“Commom miracle, baby, that’s one is an example.”

She found his hand and held it as she asks, “Raining while the sun is shining?”

“Uhuh,” tugon nito at ginagap ang kamay niya. “Sunset, sunrise, raining, snowing, spring’s coming and others, those are commom miracles," may ngiting anito. "People were so used to see those things and events, enticed on how beautiful those are, not knowing who’s behind those magnificent events and beauty.” He paused and gave her a quick kiss at her temple. “They’re common but exquisite, common and still miraculous."

"You can say that."

His arms tightened around her and went on. "Isn’t it a miracle how the sun said goodbye with its magnificent sunset, and say a shining hello in the morning?”

Hindi na niya napigilan ang mapangiti sa sinabi ng asawa. It’s one of the sides she loved about him. He’s sweet but he’s also a deep person. Marahil isa iyon sa dahilan kung bakit lahat ng drama niya’y kaya nitong unawain.

Bahagya siyang kumalas rito, tumingala at iniyakap ang braso sa bewang nito. “Having you is a miracle,” she said softly at him.

His eyes grow tender as he looked at her. “Having you too is a miracle, I’d met a lot of girls in States, seen a lot of women, but didn’t imagined I’ll end up with a beautiful woman that after we accidentally kissed had totally ignored me.”

“So, it means?” she pouted.

“That we’re totally destined to each other,” he grinned and dipped down to kiss her on her lips. He lifted her head and cupped her jaw, playing his thumb just below her lips. “People met because that’s God’s plan. Maybe, it’s also part of his plan that we’d see each other again and build a family.” He paused, and touched her lower lips with his thumb. “Thank you for accepting Henessa and me.”

Sandali niya itong tinitigan at walang salitang isiniksik ang mukha sa leeg nito.

Her life wasn’t perfect. She’s not perfect. All along that Hector was with her, she thought his almost perfect, but then he’s not.

Well, sino nga bang perpekto, hindi nagkakamali at nagkukulang? Isa lang ang alam niyang perpekto pero hindi siya tao lang.

Para kay Sophia, Siya lang naman ang dahilan kung bakit bumalik sa buhay niya si Hector, at ginamit Niya si Hector bilang paalala na hindi Niya ginawa ang isang tao para mag-isa lang. God always sent someone to be with you. It maybe in the image of a lover, a friend, a stranger, or maybe a dog. Why not? Dog and stick are perfect combination for a strolling blind.

Cliché to say, but really, ‘No man is an Island’. And it’s a common, yeah, maybe it’s a common, still, it is a miracle how people met and learned to love each other.

“I love you, Hector,” Sophia murmured at his husband’s neck.

“I love you too, Sophia,” Hector murmured back.

By: ShimmersErisJane

THE END