Special Episode: The Ever Ever After

Yumie smiled as she carefully wipe off dust from her father's Dela Torre Medallion. Dahan-dahan niyang ibinalik iyon sa display case and looked at it intently. Bahagya niya pang hinaplos iyon na tila nagpapaalala sa kaniyang ama.

"Hello Dad. I miss you so much..." she whispered.

She remembered how she returned the medallion 6 years ago sa rightful place nito in their family crest. Like magic, it made her mom remembered everything. It's as if the medallion was the key to cure her mom's amnesia. She was able to come back home. It ended her 12 years of misery. She smiled as she remember the thought.

Nabaling ang tingin niya sa isa pang medallion katabi ng sa Daddy niya. It was her very own. When she took back her life, pinagawan na rin siya ng sarili niyang medallion as a tradition to represent her very own generation as a Dela Torre. She now lived the name as Dela Torre-Callejos. It was ironic that a Callejos name would be written as well in their family crest. Who would have thought that a history of family feud will just end by a mere lowkey friendship. And now, pinagsanib nila ang pwersa ng dalawang angkan na dati'y magkaaway. A 4-year old boy named Quintin Hernan Ismael Dela Torre-Callejos is their solid proof that all feuds in the world can be resolved with simple love and friendship. Yumie is so happy knowing that her son will live a happy life.

Isasara na sana ni Yumie ang display case, nang makarinig siya ng kalampag sa labas ng silid. Dali-dali niyang sinilip sa labas kung ano iyon. Napakunot noo siya when she saw a moving chair na parang itinutulak iyon. She couldn't see the little man that's pushing it but she knows who it was. Nilapitan niya ito.

"Quintin, what are you doing?" pigil ang tawang tanong ni Yumie sa apat na taong anak. Pilit niyong itinutulak ang mabigat na upuan sa kung saan. The chair is made from strong narra wood na mabigat para sa apat na taon. But her son is dragging it as if may balak na namang kapilyuhan itong gawin.

Dahan-dahang sumilip si Quintin sa kaniya mula sa likod ng mataas na sandalan ng upuan. He seemed shy to look at his mom dahil tila nahuli na naman siya nito.

Napatanga si Yumie nang makita ang itsura ng anak. He was covered in dirt. Gulo-gulo ang buhok nito na may mga bahagya pang buhangin. His shirt was a little wet as well as his shorts. He had some mud in his knees and feet. He was holding a some kind of a strap na may mga nakasukbit na pebbles and bottle caps.

"What th---, What happened to you?!" Yumie was amused at the sight of her son.

Quintin was very much like her and his father Zeek. Pinaghalong Dela Torre-Callejos talaga ang dugong dumadaloy dito. He is mischievous, playful and persistent like his Dad. He's carefree, independent and extroverted like his mom. Hindi ito ang unang beses na may ginawang kalokohan ang bata. He was just 4 years old but he has been in lot of troubles.

The little boy mischievously grin and showed her what he was holding. "I made this," anito with full of pride.

"Ano na naman yan?" Napataas ang isang kilay ni Yumie and folded her arms. Akmang papagalitan na naman ang anak.

"This is my medallion," anito. "I'm gonna put it in the family crest. Next to yours," anito na bahagyang yumukyok.

Yumie tried to suppress her laugh. Napailing pa siya sa kapilyuhan ng anak. She showed him the family crest the other day. And to her surprise, excited itong magkaroon ng sariling medallion. He was just 4 years old but it's as if he understood how important it is to represent his own generation as a Dela Torre. And he also take pride on the idea that he lived the name of Della Torre-Callejos. It was like a superpower that he has 2 powerful clans in his back.

"Oh my, Quintin!" Lumapit si Yumie sa anak. Lumuhod siya para pumantay rito. She dust off the sand on his son's hair and wipe the mud on his skin. Kinuha niya sa palad nito ang hawak na ginawang medallion. Sinipat iyon. "This is very nice. But our medallions isn't just made just because you have a Dela Torre blood. You must prove that you really are one."

"How can I prove it?" Inosenteng tanong nito.

"You must protect the family. In your very own generation," paliwanag ni Yumie. "But you don't have to do it now. You're time will come. Besides, kahit wala kang gawin I will make sure you will still have your very own medallion."

"But mom, Daddy already told me I'll own everything as a Callejos. I just want my medallion," Quintin said pouting. Yumukyok pa ito sa balikat niya as if begging her.

Yumie chuckled to her son's persistence. Niyapos niya ito at bahagyang pinanggigilan. Tagpong inabutan ni Zeek nang pumasok ito sa silid.

"I thought I'd find you both here," anito. "What did I missed? And what happened to my son?" tanong nito nang mapansin ang itsura ng anak.

"Ayan! Nagpapaka-Zeekcarias version 2 na naman. He made this. His very own medallion," sagot ni Yumie na tumayo at ipinakita sa asawa ang ginawa ng anak.

Natawa si Zeek sa sinabi ng asawa. He reached for his son atsaka binuhat ito.

"Your clothes are wet. Hindi ba 'to sisipunin?" sita ni Zeek na kay Yumie nakatingin.

"We better get him changed then," simpleng sagot naman ng ina.

"But my medallion!" apila agad ni Quintin nang akma ng hahakbang na palabas si Zeek na kalong siya. Nagkatinginan ang mag-asawa.

"Can't we just...?" ani Zeek in almost whisper. He knows how the tradition works.

"You know what, I'd love to put your very own medallion in our family crest. But instead of adding this one up to the old one, why don't we make our own version of Dela Torre-Callejos family crest?" suhestiyon ni Yumie.

Zeek face light up. He was smiling widely as he looked in his son. Nginitian din siya ng anak. Tumaas baba pa ang kilay nito as if sumasang-ayon sa suhestiyon ng ina.

"We loved that idea! At dahil ikaw ang kauna-unahang Dela Torre-Callejos sa Sejanos, we will have this medallion of yours made even better," turan ni Zeek.

"Really? Can we make it shinier and bigger?" excited na turan ng bata.

"Ofcourse! We will have a special place for it. Bigger than this room. We'll build a museum here in Sejanos. Para lang sa Dela Torre and Callejos clan, starting from your generation, our very first joint blood," Zeek added on the thought. He look at Yumie na para bang hinihingi din ang opinion nito.

"That may be overly done, Mr. Callejos. But if your son wants it, I'm always go for it."

"Actually, kung isa lang medyo matatagalan bago natin malagyan ng laman yung museum," Zeek said smiling naughtily towards her. "Isa pa, 4 years old na si Quintin. He needs playmates."

Nanlaki ang mata ni Yumie. "Zeek, matalino yang anak mo! Naiintindihan niya yan."

Humagikhik naman ang pilyong bata.

"Tatawa-tawa ka diyan," pinindot ni Zeek ang ilong ng kalong-kalong na anak. "You go to Nana Felicia and change your clothes. We will deal with your medallion later," anito na ibinababa na ang anak saka bahagyang hinampas ang puwitan. Quintin ran outside the room.

Humarap si Zeek sa asawa. Inilingkis nito ang braso sa katawan ni Yumie. And gave him a soft kiss on the lips.

"You woke up earlier. Dito ka agad dumiretso? Nanawa na si Mama Mina sayo. Kinukuha mo daw agad ang apo niya. Weekend na nga lang sila nagkikita. She wants us to leave Quintin here for a month," sabi nito sa asawa.

"I know, she asked me this morning," sagot niya. "Palagi naman nating iniiwan si Quintin dito. She only wants her grandson, ako palaging tinataboy," maktol niya.

"Balik ka naman ng balik. I told you we can live here instead kesa sa kabila but you insisted on staying in Callejos Mansion."

"No one stays there. Magtatampo si Daddy Ismael. Ang hirap ng andaming inuuwian."

Zeek gave him a chuckle. "We need a bigger family."

He pulled her closer and hugged her tighter. Sinalubong niya ang tingin sa mata ng asawa. He reached for her lips and kissed her intensely. Yumie responded. Iniyapos din nito ang mga braso sa batok ng asawa at naglambitin roon. The kiss became deeper. It was so intense that they both gave a slight moan.

"Hmmm... my beautiful wife," bulong ni Zeek in between kisses. Napahigpit pa ang pagkakayapos niya sa asawa almost lifting his wife up. "We need to get out of here. Or else, mabubulabog yung mga kaluluwa ng angkan mo rito."

Yumie giggled as Zeek lifted her up and carried her outside the room. Alam niyang dadalhin siya ni Zeek sa dati niyang silid na nasa kabilang hallway...