Two Lives, One Soul

EPILOGUE.

Seraphine's POV:

TWO YEARS LATER.

Here I am again.

A quiet hill beneath a lone tree.

The same tree where countless memories had begun... and ended.

A soft breeze brushed against my face as I walked closer, and there someone was already there, sitting on the old wooden bench.

"You're late."

I couldn't help but laugh.

"Sorry."

I scratched the back of my neck.

"I had to read the twins their bedtime story."

The man sighed dramatically before standing up.

"I've been waiting since forever."

"Oh, stop exaggerating," I answered.

"I waited so long I almost became a ghost."

"You already are," I said.

"Ouch."

He placed a hand over his chest.

"That hurts."

I rolled my eyes.

"You're so dramatic."

Nathan chuckled before taking a good look at me.

He circled around me once, then twice.

"What?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

He suddenly grinned.

"So... I was actually this perfect?"

I stared at him for a second.

"You're unbelievable."

"What?"

He shrugged innocently.

"I just realized I had a really good face whether I was a man or a woman."

I burst into laughter.

"You're crazy."

"I know."

He smiled.

"And look at you."

He tilted his head.

"I wasn't wrong."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

His smile softened.

"You're beautiful."

I looked away, embarrassed.

"Oh, please."

"No."

He shook his head.

"I mean it."

Silence settled between us. Then he spoke again.

"I'm glad."

I looked back at him.

"About what?"

"That you're finally awake."

I looked at him, confused.

"I mean, you already remember everything."

I frowned.

"You know..." I said. "You could've just reminded me sooner."

"But no, you really had to make everything so dramatic," I said before rolling my eyes.

Nathan laughed quietly.

"I wanted to, but..." He said before sighing.

I crossed my arms.

"Really? Drama king."

His smile slowly faded.

"But some roads can't be walked with someone holding your hand. Sometimes, they have to be walked alone."

I blinked.

"What do you mean?"

He looked at the ground.

"Amor... I've been gone for a long time."

The smile disappeared from my face.

"What?" I said before looking away.

"I'm only here because of your memories."

"Every laugh."

"Every promise."

"Every beautiful memory."

"Amor... I've always been a piece of you.

The piece that held on when the rest of you couldn't. While you forgot, I remembered.

I carried every beautiful memory you left behind, waiting for the day you'd be strong enough to hold them again.

That's why I'm here... not to stay, but to remind you of everything you thought you'd lost."

My chest tightened.

"I... I'm sorry."

He looked at me.

"What are you apologizing for?" He asked.

Tears slowly filled my eyes.

"I changed you."

"I changed me."

"I changed... us."

Nathan laughed, not because it was funny... but because it hurt him at some point.

"You did, but I am you."

He pointed at me.

"I was the one who changed everything on my own."

A tear slipped down my cheek.

"I'm sorry..." I said.

He just shook his head.

"But..."

He smiled.

"I made the right choice."

I looked at him a bit confused.

"You hear me, Amor. I never regretted a single thing."

He stepped closer.

"Look at yourself. You became stronger, kinder, braver. You became the best version of me... of you... of us."

His voice trembled.

"And that's why... I can finally leave," He said.

"No."

The word escaped before I could stop it.

"Please. I don't want you to go."

Nathan smiled through eyes that were beginning to glisten.

"Amor..."

"I already left a long time ago."

"I'm not really standing here."

"I'm only the voice that's been living in your head all this time."

"The version of yourself you were too afraid to let rest."

I wiped my tears.

"Are you scared?" I asked.

He nodded.

"Honestly?" He said. "At first, yeah."

"Why?" I asked.

He let out a shaky breath again.

"I'm scared... that one day they'll forget Nathan forever."

"Forget who you used to be."

I shook my head immediately.

"Never."

He smiled.

"I know. That's why I'm not afraid anymore. People don't stay alive because they're remembered every day. They stay alive because they became part of someone's heart, and I'll always be a part of yours."

He gently tapped my head.

"Besides... You don't need me to wake up that little brain of ours anymore. You remember everything now, so it's finally time for me to rest."

A soft laugh escaped between our tears.

"You have a life waiting for you."

"You have Emery."

"You have Collie."

"You have Callie."

"You have your family."

"Your friends."

"And, most importantly..."

"You have yourself."

"The past was never meant to be a prison Amor.

It was a bridge. Acceptance is not forgetting who you used to be.

It's thanking that version of yourself for carrying you this far, then finally allowing them to rest. Because healing begins the moment you stop asking, 'Who was I?

' and start embracing, 'This is who I have become,'" He said, smiling.

The wind began to grow stronger. His figure slowly became transparent.

My heart sank.

"Nathan..."

He looked at me one last time.

"Go. It's time to wake up."

I couldn't stop crying.

"Goodbye, Nathan."

He smiled.

The same smile that had carried me through years of pain.

The same smile that taught me how to survive.

"No."

He whispered.

"This isn't goodbye. It's thank you."

He took one final step backward.

"Thank you, Amor. Take care of them."

"And... Take care of yourself."

His smile never left.

"Goodbye."

The wind embraced him, and for the first time...

I didn't chase after it.

I simply watched...

Until there was nothing left to hold onto except the life waiting for me to wake up.

"Love, wake up. Love."

Napamulat ako nang maramdaman ang marahang pagtapik ni Emery sa pisngi ko.

"Having a bad dream?" Tanong niya.

Agad naman akong umiling bago ngumiti ng malawak.

"A beautiful one," Sabi ko.

Akala ko matutuwa siya hindi pala.

PAK!

Hinampas niya agad ako ng unan.

"Luh, bakit?" Reklamo ko habang hinihimas ang braso ko.

"Who the hell are you dreaming about? Who's that woman?" Seryoso niyang tanong.

Napalunok ako sa talim ng tingin niya.

"Wala! Ikaw lang. You know that I love you so much."

PAK!

Isa na namang hampas ng unan ang sumalubong sa mukha ko.

"Aray naman! Totoo nga!" Reklamo ko.

Napabuntong hininga naman siya.

"Wake up already. We need to prepare for later."

Tumayo na siya at naglakad papunta sa banyo.

Akala ko ligtas na ako pero bago siya tuluyang maglakad...

PAK!

Hinampas niya ulit ako ng unan.

Napangiti na lang ako napaka seloso.

"Grabe naman, boss. Triple hit combo." Sabi ko.

Inirapan niya lang ako.

"Sabay ako, boss!" Sigaw ko habang mabilis na tumayo.

Pero bago pa ako makapasok...

BANG!

Tumama ang pinto diretso sa mukha ko.

"Aray ko naman!"

Rinig ko pa ang mahinang tawa niya sa loob.

"Deserve."

Pagkatapos naming maligo, agad kaming bumaba.

Sinalubong kami ng dalawang batang sobrang cute...

...na parehong mana sa mama nila.

AFTER TWO HOURS.

"Ano ba 'yan? Sino ba kasi nagplano ng visit na 'to? Ang init!" Reklamo ni Jasmine habang pinapaypayan ang sarili.

Sabay kaming napatingin ni Lara tahimik lang siyang itinuro si Emery.

Sakto namang nakatingin si Emery samin at naka taas ang isang kilay kay Jasmine.

Napa peace sign naman si Jasmine.

"Yan loko ka." Natatawang sabi ni Lara kay Jasmine.

"May tent naman kasi," Sabi ko.

"Oo nga. Good idea talaga," Sang-ayon ni Jasmine habang nakaupo na sa ilalim ng tent na kanina pa niya nirereklamo.

Napailing nalang ako at napalinga-linga ako.

"Teka... nasaan si Hana?"

Bigla namang nagtawanan sina Jasmine at Lara.

"Ayun."

"Saan?"

"Nasa Japan."

"Japan?" Tanong ko

Sabay silang tumango.

Lumapit si Jasmine at iniabot ang cellphone niya.

Pagtingin ko...

Instagram post ni Hana.

Napakunot-noo naman ako.

"'Nagseselos ako?'" Tanong ko.

Tumawa si Jasmine.

"Sinabihan kasi ni Ate Margaret na ilugar ang selos." Sabi ni Jasmine.

"Ayan. Nilagay nga sa lugar." Dagdag naman ni Lara habang sumusubo ng hotdog,

Hindi ko napigilang matawa.

"Baliw talaga." Sabi ko habang tumatawa

Napatingin naman ako sa gilid ng marinig ko ang boses ni Collie.

"Sige na, please. One kiss lang sa cheeks."

Rinig kong pagmamakaawa niya kay Linda.

"Ano ba, Collie? Wag ka ngang manggulo diyan. Baka magising si baby. Nagiging kamukha pa naman ni Tita Lara mo pag umiiyak."

Agad namang napasimangot si Lara.

"Hoy! Bakit ako nadamay?"

Tumawa kaming lahat.

Oo nga pala buhay si Linda wag niyo na tanungin kung pano sabihin na lang nating.... Hindi lang pala ako ang tanga sa pamilyang ito.

"But please po... My grades are good. And I don't cause trouble anymore."

Napatingin ako kay Emery naka-cross arms na siya at nakatitig sa akin tapos tumingin siya kay Collie.

Isang tingin pa lang, alam ko na ang ibig sabihin.

Ikaw na umawat sa anak mong kasing landi mo.

"Collie, tama na 'yan. Kawawa na si Linda," Saway ko.

Mas lalo siyang napasimangot

at magrereklamo pa sana, pero

inunahan na siya ng mommy niya.

"Collie. No more buts," Sabi ni Emery.

"But, Mommy! Itatapon n'yo na po ako sa Canada kasama sina Lolo at Lola. This is my last chance!"

Protesta pa rin niya.

Samantalang si Callie naman tahimik na hinahaplos ang puntod ni Ciello habang nakasimangot.

"Collie, we already have a deal," Seryosong sabi ni Emery.

"You'll study there, and once you come back and became somebody on your own, Mama and I will let you marry the person you want."

Biglang lumiwanag ang mukha ni Collie.

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Hindi pa man natatapos ang usapan, pinagtripan na naman siya nina Jasmine at Lara.

Hindi ko na sila pinansin.

Napatingin ako kay Daddy na abalang nakikipag-usap kina Calista at Cassandra.

Sigurado akong tungkol na naman iyon sa golf club na gusto niyang ipatayo.

Napailing na lang ako.

May isa pa pala akong hinahanap kaya napalingon ako sa mga sasakyan at naroon nga siya.

Tahimik na nakatayo nakatanaw sa amin may ngiti sa labi habang may kausap sa telepono. Parang kanina pa niya kami pinagmamasdan.

Napalingon ulit ako kanila Emery

at napangiti.

Pagtingin ko ulit kay tita Tere

napansin kong dahan-dahan siyang naglakad palayo habang hawak ang maliit niyang bag.

"Tita..." Tawag ko.

Lumingon siya at ngumiti kaya agad akong tumakbo palapit sakanya.

"Oh? Anak, bakit?"

"Saan ka po pupunta, Tita?" Tanong ko.

"I need to fix some stuff," Sagot niya.

"Without saying goodbye?" Tanong ko.

Napangiti siya.

"You know I hate sad moments, and I don't want to ruin the mood," Sabi niya.

Napasimangot ako.

"Amor... sinabi ko naman sa'yo, hindi ako puwedeng magtagal dito."

Napabuntong-hininga ako napatawa naman siya.

"Anong meron sa buntong-hiningang 'yan?" Tanong niya.

Tumingin ako sa kanya.

"Are you... really going back to Spain?"

Unti-unting nawala ang ngiti sa labi niya.

"I need to," Mahina niyang sagot. "Besides... I already fulfilled the promise I made to your mom."

Napayuko ako.

"Tita..." Tawag ko.

At muling tumingin sa kanya. Tumingin rin siya sa akin.

"Look at you, look at them."

Napalingon ako sa pamilya namin.

Si Emery na kausap na sina Daddy.

Si Collie na kinukulit pa rin si Linda.

Si Callie na kinakausap ang puntod ni Ciello.

Ang mga kaibigan ko na naghahabulan.

Lahat sila masaya.

"You have a beautiful family now," Sabi niya habang nakangiti.

"But..." Sagot ko agad.

Napatingin siya ulit sa akin.

"You're part of it too tita."

Nanlabo ang paningin ko.

"You didn't just fulfill your promise to Mama."

Lumapit ako sa kanya.

"You became part of our family."

Nangingilid na rin ang luha niya.

"I know Mama loved you... and so do we."

Tahimik siyang napatawa habang pinupunasan ang luha niya.

"I love her, Amor."

Napangiti siya habang nakatanaw sa langit.

"And I will always love her... for the rest of my life."

Saglit na katahimikan ang namagitan sa amin.

"Tita..."

Pinigilan ko ang sariling umiyak.

"How can I become like you?" Tanong ko.

Napatingin siya sa akin at marahang umiling.

"Don't."

Napakunot-noo ako.

"Don't become like me."

Ngumiti siya.

"Be yourself," Sabi niya, sabay turo sa puso ko.

"I'm not perfect, anak. Ang tanging bagay lang na nagawa kong tama..."

Huminga siya nang malalim.

"...ay ang mahalin ang mama mo."

Napangiti siya habang pinagmamasdan kaming lahat.

"And because I loved her... I was given the chance to know you."

Lumapit siya at hinawakan ang magkabila kong pisngi.

"And knowing you... was the best thing that happened to me after she left."

Tuluyan ng pumatak ang luha ko.

"Tita..."

May isa pang tanong na pumasok sa isip ko.

"Are you still mad at Dad?"

Napatawa siya nang mahina.

Lumingon siya kay Daddy na masayang nakikipagkuwentuhan kina Calista at Cassandra.

Tinitigan niya ito nang ilang segundo.

"Look at him."

Nakangiti niyang sabi.

"Look at that smile."

Pumikit siya sandali bago muling magsalita.

"How could I hate the man whose smile was the reason the woman I loved was happy?" Nakangiti niyang sabi, pero kapansin-pansin pa rin ang lungkot sa mga mata niya.

"If that man's presence and smile were the reason your mom smiled before, then how could I ever hate him? I loved your mom deeply, and her happiness always meant more to me than my own."

Napangiti rin ako kahit naiiyak.

"I never got mad at either of them, Amor."

"I was just..."

Huminto siya sandali.

"Hurt..."

"Hurt because at that time... I didn't just lose one person. I lost them both. First, a friend and a brother to me. Then, her, the woman who made me feel butterflies, who made my world stop whenever she was around, the person who taught me how to truly love."

Tahimik kaming napaluha, pero maya-maya, ngumiti siya.

"But look at us now."

Napatingin kami sa buong pamilya namin.

"Happy. Yes, may kulang, may mga taong hindi na natin mayayakap ulit, pero masaya pa rin, at alam kong kung nasaan man ang mama mo ngayon, nakangiti siya."

Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko. Mahigpit ko siyang niyakap.

"Thank you, Tita."

"Thank you for loving Mama."

"Thank you for loving us."

"I love you po."

Mahigpit din niya akong niyakap.

"I love you more... anak."

Ilang segundo kaming nanatiling magkayakap.

Ayaw ko siyang bitawan, pero alam kong kailangan.

Marahan niyang tinapik ang likod ko.

"Oh siya... mauuna na ako. Baka mahuli ako sa flight ko."

Napatawa ako habang pinupunasan ang luha ko.

Tumango ako.

"I'll visit you there, Mama."

Pareho kaming natigilan sa salitang lumalabas sa bibig ko napangiti siya.

"You better do, anak."

Bago siya tuluyang umalis, hinalikan ko siya sa pisngi at niyakap ng isa pang beses.

Humakbang siya palayo, pagkatapos ay lumingon sa aming lahat.

"Goodbye, everyone!" Sigaw niya.

Sabay-sabay kaming kumaway.

"Bye, Tita! 'Yung sapatos ko pagbalik!"

"Have a safe flight, Tita!"

"We love you, Lola!" Sigaw ng kambal.

"Bye Mama!" Sigaw ko.

Ngumiti siya nang malawak, saka tuluyang naglakad palayo. Hindi na siya lumingon muli, pero alam kong hindi iyon paalam.

Hanggang sa muli lang.

Tahimik kong pinunasan ang natitirang luha ko bago huminga nang malalim.

Pagharap ko, nasa harapan ko na si Emery.

Hindi siya nagsalita.

Hindi siya nagtanong.

Tinitigan niya lang ako, tapos marahan niyang pinunasan ang pisngi ko gamit ang hinlalaki niya.

"You cried."

Napanguso ako.

"Konti lang."

Napataas ang isang kilay niya.

"Little?"

Napatawa ako nang mahina.

"Okay... medyo marami."

Ngumiti siya.

"Wanna talk about it?"

Napailing ako.

"Hindi."

"Sure?"

Tumango ako.

"I just needed to let it out kanina."

Tahimik siyang tumango bago ako dahan-dahang hinila papalapit sakanya agad ko namang isinandal ang baba ko sa balikat niya.

Wala kaming sinabi sa isa't isa dahil hindi na kailangan, sa bawat yakap palang niya pakiramdam ko, ligtas ako.

Ilang sandali pa, marahan niya akong inilayo at hinalikan sa noo.

"You're crying over someone leaving... while forgetting someone is right here."

Napangiti ako.

"I know."

Yumakap ulit siya.

"I just don't like goodbyes."

Humigpit ang yakap niya.

"Then don't call it goodbye."

Napalingon ako sa kanya.

"Call it... see you later. Besides, anong ginagawa ng private plane natin?"

Napatawa ako.

"Huwow," Sabi ko.

"I'm your wife, professional mood fixer."

Napailing ako habang natatawa.

"Self-proclaimed yarn."

"Effective naman," Sabi niya.

Hindi ko napigilang matawa nang tuluyan.

"Mission accomplished." Sabi niya.

Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at marahang pinaglaruan ang

singsing sa daliri ko.

Naglakad kami papalapit sa puntod ni Ciello wala na Callie.

"You know..."

"Hm?"

"Every time I see you cry... I still wish I could take all your pain away."

Napangiti ako habang nakatingin sa kanya.

"You already did."

Napakunot-noo siya.

"Huh?"

"I found home."

Dahan-dahang kumurba ang labi ko.

"And home... looks exactly like you."

Namula ang tenga niya.

"Hmm... are you flirting with me?"

"Oo."

"Right in front of our son's grave?"

Napatawa siya.

"Don't worry, di na makakapagreklamo 'yan," Sabi ko.

Nakatanggap naman ako ng hampas mula sa kanya.

"Aray naman. Totoo naman, ah."

Napatingin ako sa puntod ni Ciello.

"Isa pa, matutuwa 'yan siya."

Tahimik kaming napangiti.

"Mommy! Mama!"

Lumingon kami.

Pagtingin namin, kumakaway si Collie habang buhat ang baby.

"Picture na! Bilis!" Sigaw ni Jasmine.

"Hoy, Collie! 'Yang tiyanak ko, baka mahulog mo! Kahit one shot 'yan, mahirap. Cravings maintenance ng cave niya!" Sigaw ni Lara.

"Family picture!" Sigaw ng kambal.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Emery.

"Ready?"

Tanong niya habang iniaabot ang kamay niya.

Ngumiti naman ako.

"Always."

Magkahawak-kamay kaming sumali.

Sa wakas, kompleto na.

Siguro hindi magiging perpekto ang buhay.

May mga taong mawawala.

May mga bagay na hindi na mababalik.

May mga sugat na hindi tuluyang maghihilom.

Pero habang may mga taong handang hawakan ang kamay mo, kahit gaano kahirap ang naging nakaraan, may dahilan pa ring ngumiti. At sa pagkakataong ito mas pinili kong ngumiti dahil sa wakas, pakiramdam ko, kompleto na rin ang puso ko.

I may have lived two different lives, walked two separate paths, carried two different names, and borne two versions of myself through time, through pain, through love, through every choice that shaped me, and every mistake that nearly broke me.

For so long, I believed I had to choose.

Choose which life was real. Which name truly belonged to me. Which version of myself deserved to exist.

I spent two years wondering if one life had stolen the other, if one version of me was nothing more than a mistake.

But in the end, I discovered something far more powerful than the life I was given.

I was never truly divided.

No matter where life placed me, no matter which world I stood in, no matter which body I woke up in or which name people called me, my soul never changed.

It remained constant.

It remained true.

It remained mine.

For the first time, I stopped mourning the person I used to be. I stopped asking whether I was enough.

Every version of me, the broken one, the frightened one, the angry one, the hopeful one, the one who stumbled, and the one who learned, was still me.

None of them deserved to be forgotten.

They deserved understanding.

They deserved forgiveness.

They deserved love.

Because without every piece of who I was, I never would have become the person standing here today.

One heart.

One soul.

One home.

And that home was always them.

Through every lifetime, every mistake, every sacrifice, every goodbye, and every new beginning, I always found my way back.

Back to the same woman.

The one who held my soul without ever asking for it.

Celestine Emery Walls.

You were never just a part of my life.

You were the reason both of my lives finally made sense.

When the world tried to split me into two people, you never asked me to choose.

You simply loved me.

Not for the name I carried.

Not for the life I came from.

But for the soul that had always been there.

Because of your love, I finally learned something I had spent years searching for.

I learned how to love myself.

And from that love, we created something even fate could never take away.

A family.

Callie Eloway Walls and Collie Elery Walls.

Two names.

Our laughter on quiet mornings.

Our comfort on the coldest nights.

Living proof that even in a fractured world, love can still bloom.

And then...

There is the name we speak with both love and ache.

Our beloved son.

Ciello Elthon Walls.

The child we lost.

The silence between heartbeats.

The empty space that time could never fill.

Some grief never leaves. It simply learns to live beside love.

We still miss him.

We always will.

But even loss could not take away what we built together.

It only reminded us how deeply we were capable of loving.

We were never perfect.

We were never untouched by pain.

But we stayed.

We chose each other, again and again, even when choosing meant carrying grief together.

That, to me, is what love truly is.

Two lives, One soul.

And if I were given a thousand more chances... a thousand more lives to lose and begin again...

I would still choose this.

I would still choose you.

I would still choose us.

Every laugh.

Every tear.

Every scar.

Every goodbye.

Every new beginning.

Even every mistake.

Because every joy taught me gratitude.

Every loss taught me how deeply a heart could love.

Every wound taught me compassion. And every version of myself led me here.

So I no longer wish to erase my past. I no longer wish I had lived only one life.

Because both lives made me who I am.

One taught me how to survive.

The other taught me how to truly live.

One showed me who I was.

The other showed me who I could become.

Neither was a mistake. Both were gifts.

Today, I finally accept every part of myself, not because my journey was easy, and not because I was perfect, but because every broken piece of me was always worthy of love.

My name is Seraphine Amor Reyes.

I may have lived two different lives, worn two different names, and carried two different stories...

But I have always possessed only one soul.

A soul that never stopped loving.

A soul that learned acceptance begins not by denying who we once were, but by embracing every part of who we have become.

A soul that always found its way home and that home will always be them.

These are the TWO LIVES I lived and the ONE SOUL I carried. Thank you for being part of this journey. Until next time.