True Love Never Dies (Part2 of Paano mag mahal ang Brattenella?)

Pagka lipas ng halos dalawang taon na pumanaw si Marie ay nag tapos si Marou ng Senior High School sa Ateneo de Manila at dinala ni Brix sa California ISA para duon mag aral ng kolehiyo. Nag-aaral si Marou sa Stanford University ng Civil and Environmental Engineering. Ikinuha sya ng apartment ng mga Villareal malapit sa University at dinadalaw sya roon. Madalas din syang dinadalaw rin sya ng mga Delos Reyes roon. Si Macky naman ay naman ay nag aaral sa Ateneo De Manila ng Grade8. At nakatira sila ng ina ni Marie townhouse na binili ni Marie sa Visayas Ave. nung mga panahon na bago sya maaksidente. Simula pumanaw s Marie ay si Brix na ang tumayong magulang Marou at Macky. At hindi nawala sa si Brix sa tabi ng magkapatid. Nag focus si Brix sa trabaho at pagiging ama sa mga anak ni Marie. "Marou!" tawag ng isang babaeng dumating ng makita sya. Nasa Francie restaurant si Marou isang five star resto sa Newyork City. "Hi Tita Mia!" bati ni Marou at agad bumeso. Huli silang mag kita ay nakaratay pa si Marie sa ospital sanhi ng aksidenteng nang yari kay Marie. Bigla nalang hindi nag pakita si Mia sa mga ito. Nang malaman ni Mia nasa California si Marou ay agad nyang pinuntahan si Marou at madalas nya iyong pinupuntahan para hindi makaramdam ng homesick ito. Naging malapit si Mia sa mga anak bi Marie simula naging magkaibigan sila dahil sa mga Villareal kaya hibdi nadin iba ang yuring ni Mia sa mga anak ni Marie. "Sorry, I had a lot of things to do before I leave my office." wika ni Mia kay Marou. "It's okay Tita, no wories." sambit ni Marou. "So how's school?" tanong ni Mia. "Well, doing great so far!" sambit bi Marou. "Cool! It's summer vacation, hindi ka ba muna uuwi sa Philippines?" tanong ni Mia. "No Tita. Mahal ang pamasahe. Dadalaw naman daw si Daddy Brix next week eh, and mag stay daw sya for one week para naman may kasama ako at hindi ako mainip." sambit ni Marou. "Great! You should go out with your friends para hindi ka maboring dito while summer vacation." wika ni Mia. "Yes Tita, anyway tita nagka usap na ba kayo ni Daddy Brix?" tanong ni Marou. Simula kasi nung huli punta ni Mia sa ospital 4years ago ang alam nya ay hindi na nagkausap pang muli si Mia at Brix. "Not yet, don't worry magkakausap din kami." sambit ni Mia. At kumain na sila ng mga inorder nilang mga pagkain. "Anyway, Tita Mia, would you mind if I ask something, I've been thinking this since then." wika ni Marou. "Yes, sure!" sambut ni Mia. "Bakit bigla ka nalang nawala na hindi nag papaalam sa kahit na kanino? Kahit kay Daddy Brix." wika ni Marou. "Remeber the day when Brix told you and Macky that she's still love your Mom? I heared all of the words that Brix told you. It really hurts that the guy that I love really love are still inlove with someone else. Although, nakikita ko naman talaga na mahla pa ni Brix ang Mom mo, pero masakit pala pag narinig ko mismo galing sa kanya na mahal nya padin si Marie. So I decided na wag na magpakita pa muna sa inyong lahat. Nung namatay ang Mommy mo gusto kong pumunta because we've been friends pero ayaw kong dagdagan ang bigat na nararamdaman ni Brix." mga wika ni Mia. "Sorry Tita, kasi si Mommy ang naging reason why your relationship with Daddy Brix ends." wika ni Marou. "Tapos na yon, that was 4years ago. Naka movedon na ako, kaya nga andyan na si Tito Russel mo and thats why we have Brooke. And who am I para pigilan yung totoong nararamdaman ni Brix sa Mommy mo, at mas kailangan sa ni Marie ng mga panahong yon." sambit ni Mia. "Thank you Tita Mia, because after all, you still choosing your friendship with Mom, and your here taking care of me while I am away with my family." wika ni Marou. "Ofcourse, your Mom is such a nice lady and a wonderful friend. Anyway, let's go, ipapasyal pa kita dito sa Newyork." sambit ni Mia. At namasyal pa nga sila sa Newyork City. "We're home!" sigaw ni Mia pag pasok ng bahay nila ng asawang si Russel. White American na isa din Businessman. Agad na lumapit sa kanila si Russel "Hi hon! how's the day?" wika ni Russel habang karga ang anak nilang si Brooke. "Fantastic! A lot of paper work in the office as usual. And we had fun, I think Marou is now falling inlove with this city." sambit ni Mia. "Cool! Is true Marou?" tanong ni Russel kay Marou. "Yes Uncle Russel, this city is really beautiful and lovely." sambit ni Marou. Nag kakilala na sila simula pa nuong unang dalaw ni Mia kay Marou sa California. "Let's continue this conversation on the dining table. Let's eat dinner." ayaw ni Russel sa hapag kainan. "Marou, you can just go here everytime you want. You're Tita Mia will be happy!" wika ni Russel. "Yes Marou, you should go here when you have sparetime." wika rin ni Mia. "Sure Tita. I am going to visit you guys everytime." sambit ni Marou. "You can bring you're girl if you want." wika ni Russel. "I don't have girlfriend yet Uncle Russel, I have to finish my studies first." sambit ni Marou sabay ngiti. "Wow! Great kid!" sambit ni Russel. "He should or else her Mom will kick his ass while his sleeping." sambit ni Mia sabay tawa. At nag tawanan din si Marou at Russel. Kinabukasan ay inihatid ni Mia at Russel si Marou sa airport para umuwi si Marou sa kanyang apartment sa California. "We'll visit you there soon. Okay? Be good." wika ni Mia. "Please Tita. I'll wait for you." sambit ni Marou. "Take care. And you need something or you need us, don't hesitate to call us." wika ni Mia. "Yeah you already have my number, just call me." wika rin ni Russel. "Thanks Tita Mia, Thanks Uncle Russel." sambit ni Marou. sabay yakap sa kanya ng mga ito. Lumipas ang ilang araw ay dumalaw si Brix Marou. "Ay nakuh Marou, miss na miss ka na ng kapatid mo, gustong gusto sumama dito pero may pasok pa sya sa school. Hindi naman na ako pwede next week. I have important meeting." wika ni Brix. "Sabi ko nga sa kanya pag bakasyon nya sumama nalang sya kilala mama Berna or kila mamita." sambit ni "So how's the days going?" tanong ni Brix habang nag aayos ng mga gamit nya na kararating lang. "Good! I went to Newyork last week." sambit ni Marou. "Yeah I saw it on you IG post." sambit naman ni Brix. "And how's Mia?" taning ni Brix. "She's great, she have wonderful family. Her daugther are such a nice kid." sambit ni Marou. "Awesome! That's good to know." sambit ni Brix. "Dad, remember the day that we were talking about Mom that you said no one can replace Mom in your heart?" wika ni Marou kay Brix "Yeah, what about that?" sambit ni Brix. "Tita Mia heared all of it. Kaya pala bigla nalang syang hindi na nag pakita kahit nung libing ni Mommy." sambit ni Marou. "Really?" tanging sambit ni Brix na para bang nahihiya sya kay Mia. "As per her, Mommy needs you at that moment, and she really knows that you still inlove with Mom, and you really love Mom. Pinili nya nalang na hindi na mag pakita para hindi sya maka gulo sa tunay mong nararandaman kay Mommy. And halata sa mga sinasabi nya na they're such a good friends." wika ni Marou. "Yes, they are. Hindi tulad ng friendship ng Mommy mo at nila Tita Laline and Tita Gizelle mo, because they're bestfriends, but they are perfect as friends." sambit ni Brix. "Swerte ni Mommy, kasi sa kabila ng lahat ng pinag daanan nya lahat ng pinag daanan nya andyan kayo lahat para sa kanya. Kahit hanggang ngayong wala na sya." wika ni Marou. Masaya si Brix na nakasama at naasikaso si Marou habang nag stay sya sa California. Dahil bukod sa talagang itinuring na nyang anak ang mga anak ni Marie ay yun din ang way nya para mapatumayan kay Marie at sa mga ito kung gaano nya kamahal si Marie. The day before Brix leave California and go back to Philppines: "I'm on my way to your apartment, are you there?" wika ni Mia ng sagutin ni Marou ang tawag nito. "Yes, but I forgot to infoem you that Daddy Brix are still here." sambit ni Marou. "Is that Mia?" wika ni Brix ng marinig nya si Marou ng pababa ito galing sa itaas at nasa kitchen si Marou na kumukuha ng tubig sa ref. "Ye-s." sambit ni Marou. "Tell her to come over here. I want to thank her personaly for chexking tou here." wika ni Brix. "Ah- Tita Mia, Dad said that-" wika ni Marou. "Yeah, I heared it. Yes, I'll come, because I am already here. Almost there!" sambit ni Mia. "See yah then, take care!" wika ni Marou. -Ding-dong- tunog ng doorbell. Binuksan ni Marou ang pinto at agad kinuha ang mfa dala ni Mia at agad na yumakap dito. "Where's Uncle Russell?" taning ni Marou. "He's not with me, he had a lot of things to do in his office." sambit ni Mia. "I see." sambit bi Marou. "Thanks for coming." wika bi Brix at agad lumapit kay Mia at bumeso pag pasok nito. "You're welcome." sambit ni Mia at ngumiti ng maganda kay Brix. "Thanks for checking my son here. And for doing this for Mae. I really appriciate it." wika ni Brix. "It's nothing, Marie is great friend of my, and besides Marou and Macky is like a sons for me." sambit ni Mia. "You and Mae are very much welcome!" sambit ni Mia habang na lumapit sa kitchen at nag maghahanda ng maluluto. "What are you doing?" tanong ni Brix. "Preapairing for food to cook." sambit ni Mia. "You don't have to do that." sambit ni Brix. "Relax, I am doing this for a year now." sambit ni Mia "Really?" tanong ni Brix. "Yes, Tita Mia is always doing that everytime na pupubta sya dito. She's also fixing my things and stuff." sambit naman ni Marou. "Marou needs healthy foods sometimes, specially filipino foods." wika ni Mia. "Let me help you." wika ni Brix. "Sure!" sambit ni Mia. "Why you're keep starung at me?" tanong ni Mia. "You know what, your husband are so lucky to have you." naka ngiting wika ni Brix kay Mia habang tinutulungan ito mag askiaso ng niluting pagkain. "Really? Well, Marie are much luckier to have you, because, even if he past away you're still inlove with her. Your taking good care od hee children, you do really love them as your own." sambit ni Mia. "Well, they are mine. They are my kids and I am their father. Not by blood but in my mind, my heart and my soul. And I am more than lucky that I have Marie, even if she's nit here anymore, having her in my heart, I feel that I have everything, having Marou and Macky in my life is fulfilling. Binuo nila ako." masayang wika ni Brix na nangingilid ngilid ang luha sa mga mata. "Well, that's love. You'll be more than happy if andito pa si Mae." wika ni Mia. "Yes ofcourse." sambit ni Brix na may lungkot sa mga mata. "Hey, what's going on here?" wika ni Marou ng madatnang malungkot ang mukha ni Brix ng mang galing sya sa kanyang silid sa taas. "Nothing, namimiss ko lang ang Mommy mo." sambit ni Brix. "uh I see. Dad, Mom is just always here. Don't be so sad when you miss her. I know that she very proud of you." sambit ni Marou. Mag hapon na kwentuhan sina Mia, Brix and Marou. "I have to go now. Brooke and Russell are waiting for me." pag papaalam ni Mia. "Sure, thank you again Mia for doing this, checking Marou all the time and taking care of him while we're away." wila ni Brix. "No worries. Say hi to all for me when you got home." sambit ni Mia. "Sure! Take care. And please say hi as well to your baby for me and say thank you to Russell." sambit ni Brix. "I will." sambit ni Mia sabay yakap kay Brix. "Take care kiddo, I'll go back." paalam ni Mia kay Marou sabay yakap nito. "Thanks Tita Mia, take care." sambit ni Marou. "Have a safe flight tomorrow Brix." muli paalam ni Mia kay Brix. Kinabukasan ng maaga ay flight na ni Brix pauwi ng pikipinas. "Just give a call when you need me and when you want me to go here, okay?" wika ni Brix kay Marou. "Yes Dad. Don't worry, tita Mia is just here in this country. Wag mo na ako masyadong isipin Dad. I'm fine here. Kahit si Macky Dad wag mo na masyadong isipin, ako na bahala sa kanya, lagi ko syang tatawagan. Please enjoy your life." sambit ni Marou. "Masaya ako sa buhay ko, nag eenjoy ako sa buhay ko kasama kayo. Anyway, I have to go. Take care, hindi na kita bibilinan about sa mga friends mo, kasi alam ko very responsible ka about that." sambit ni Brix.