Gabie's POV
By the time night fell, Mama decided to cook dinner, hoping to lighten the mood. Our conversation still felt heavy, so we moved to the kitchen where she could stay involved while preparing food.
"It's good you finally decided to show up," Mama said warmly as we ate.
"I'm sorry it took me this long to find the courage," I admitted. "Actually, it's a big deal that August grandparents talked to me. It helped me understand things better. I'm sorry I just left back then. But I'm okay now, Ma. I've accepted everything, and I don't blame you or anyone anymore. I understand."
Tears welled up in her eyes. "I'm sorry for all the mistakes I made," she said, voice trembling.
"Mom, please don't cry anymore. That's in the past," I soothed her. "It's been a long time coming. Now we have to be happy because I have good news!"
"Huh? What? You're getting married?" Jhay blurted, teasing.
I squeezed August's hand beside me as he quietly ate, enjoying Mama's caldereta. He immediately tightened his grip on mine.
"Oh no, my G! Don't tell Besh!" Jhay started, but I cut him off, laughing.
"Stop! Don't guess, just let me say it," I said, raising a finger as he tried to interrupt again. Luckily, he covered his mouth with both hands.
"Mom," I looked into her eyes. She smiled back, waiting patiently.
"You're going to be a grandmother," I said, my voice bright. "We just came from the doctor — I'm six weeks pregnant."
She didn't say anything at first, then suddenly stood up and pulled me into a tight hug.
"Can I also hug my best beshie! Congratulations, Beshie! I already have a niece! I'm gnna be a godmother now, right?" Jhay joked, and we all laughed.
"Mom, I'm sorry I got her pregnant before we got married," I heard August say quietly, scratching his brow.
"What matters most is seeing my daughter happy with you," Mama said softly as she approached August, pulling him into a hug. "Thank you for loving Gabie and taking care of her."
Our laughter and warmth were interrupted by a gentle knock on the door. We all looked toward it at the same time…
"Aunt! Sorry we're a little late. We just came from Antipolo," someone said, carrying plastic bags in both hands. A man followed behind her.
"Wait… Miggy? She's with Miggy?" I heard someone gasp. I looked up and saw both of them stop as they walked toward us.
"Gabie?" Gab said softly, but loud enough for all of us to hear.
"Hi," I greeted quietly, feeling a little shy. I avoided looking at the man standing beside her.
She quickly set down the plastic bags — I didn't know what they had inside — and stepped closer to me.
"How are you? When did you get home?" she asked again.
"It's okay. We just arrived," I said, shifting the conversation. "August is my fiancé."
They both shook hands with August.
"Alexadria," Gabie introduced the man, "but we just call him Alex."
"Huh? What?" I was confused.
"August Marquez," August introduced himself.
"Long story, but we can talk about that later," Alex said. Everyone quietly listened to our conversation.
"By the way, introduce your fiancé to your brother," Alex whispered to me. I was surprised by the request.
Someone cleared their throat nearby. I already knew who it was without even looking.
"Miguel Sansebastian — Gabie's brother — and Major Marquez, right?" I was shocked to realize the man was standing next to me. I hadn't noticed him approach.
"Nice to meet you again, Mr. Sansebastian," August said politely, shaking Miggy's hand.
Because of what happened, Jhay volunteered to pick up the food. Alex and Miggy didn't eat — they said they weren't hungry. I noticed Miggy looked a little heavier compared to the last time I saw him over a year ago.
"Alright, besh, you two talk. I'll be right here if you need me," Jhay said, nudging me toward the small living room of our house.
"Go now, besh. You two still have a lot to talk about. I'll be right next to you after I finish here. You need to catch up with your cousin and your brother.
When Jhay gently pushed me, I almost gave up because I was about to ask more questions, but he said it'd be better if they talked to us themselves. So, I just followed them into the small living room of our house.
Nothing had changed inside—everything was still as it was, from the chairs to the tables. I stepped aside to sit next to August, who immediately took my hand and folded it gently.
"So, since Gabie is here, I'd like to speak first, if that's okay?" August looked at Miggy, waiting for his answer.
"Yeah, no problem," Miggy replied briefly.
"First of all, I want to sincerely apologize for not informing you right away about her whereabouts. I know it's my duty to keep you all updated, but I promised her I wouldn't tell anyone where she was. That night, I found her in the backseat of my car when I arrived home from the hospital," August calmly explained. Everyone listened quietly. I didn't see any anger on Miggy's face. I knew he wasn't narrow-minded and would understand why August had to keep me hidden.
"Congratulations!" Alex said after August mentioned we were engaged and that I was six weeks pregnant.
Miggy looked at Alex seriously before he spoke. "What matters now is that she's finally back. I'm happy to see my sister happy, and I'm grateful you've been taking care of her since you found her," he said passionately. He went on to tell August a lot more. Then, my questions were answered when he shared the story of him, August, and Alex—how Alex became my cousin's name.
I was surprised to learn that Alex and I were both pregnant, but Alex was a few weeks ahead. Unlike me, he was always dizzy and vomiting.
We talked for a long time and ate the cake they brought. When ten o'clock came, we said our goodbyes because August had a busy day ahead.
"Drop the formality—just call me August," he told Miggy as they shook hands again.
"Mom, I'll be back tomorrow, okay? August will just drop me here before he goes to work," I told Mama.
"August, can I talk to my sister for a sec?" Miggy asked.
"Yeah, sure! Sweetheart, go ahead. I'll talk to Mama too," he said, letting go of my hand and kissing me on the cheek.
Jhay and Alex were talking about what they bought. Mama moved a little away with August, who was now seriously listening to her.
The two of us stood opposite the gate.
"What are you going to say?" I broke the silence.
"Mom already knows about you and has wanted to see you for a long time. Now that you're back, I hope you two can meet and talk. Your mom and I are doing great too. Last Christmas, they were at home with Jhay, and we had noche buena. That was also the night I proposed to Alex," Miggy said.
"All right, I've been here since tomorrow, and we'll be here a few days so I can be with Mama. When did you and Alex get married?" I asked, feeling relieved talking to him. Everything felt normal now. The intense beating in my chest when I saw him was gone. It was really good that whatever tension was between us had faded. It was easy now to face and talk.
"We're still in prep and the date we chose is on 30th of May, her original birthdate. You?" he asked.
"Nothing yet. We've only been engaged for a week, and I just found out today that I'm pregnant," I laughed.
I shyly added, "I'm sorry, I didn't want to call you brother yet, but I'll try."
"That's okay. When you're ready," he replied with a smile. "All right, thank you. I'm happy for you, for you and August."
"Me too. I'm happy for you and Alex," I said, hugging him.
"Be careful, we're going home too," Miggy said.
"You too. Be careful," I replied.
"Babe? Let's go! It's getting late," he called to Alex, who was still inside talking to Jhay.
I went to Mama and August.
"Tomorrow you can continue that. I'm already drowsy," I complained to them, noticing how serious their conversation had become. Since I didn't know what it was about, I didn't ask more questions.
"Alright, be careful in driving, okay?" Mama asked.
"Opo." (Yes, Mom) August replied.
"See? It's up to you to behave," I joked.
"Mom, you know what? She's always like this to me. She's bullying me because of my speaking," August complained like a child.
"Let it go, you're pregnant!" Mama laughed softly, scratching her eyebrow.
The four of us walked out the gate together and got into our cars. We parked a little ahead because their car was in front. I felt happy and light as we headed home. I never expected tonight to go like this.
They were right—there's a reason thing happens in each of our lives. We may not understand them right away, but in time, we come to see the purpose. That's why we must learn to endure every trial. Don't give up—stay strong, keep fighting, and never forget to pray. Only God knows what He has planned for us.
***
The following week, it was agreed that we'd meet my brother Miggy's mother—Mommy Barbs—as well as Uncle Manuel and Aunt Beth at their home in Antipolo. Mama was with us in the car. We picked up Miggy before convoying to their house.
When we arrived at the grand, mansion-like home, Miggy stepped ahead and called out, "Mom! We're here!"
Footsteps echoed from inside, and a graceful woman appeared at the doorway. Though clearly older, her beauty still shone through.
"Oh! Hello! Please, come in," she greeted warmly.
Miggy and Alex approached her first, exchanging kisses on the cheek and a long embrace. Then he introduced August and me. Mama had already met her, but she still looked a little uneasy—shy, perhaps.
"Thank you so much for letting me meet you," I said softly. "I've heard your name for so long. I'm sorry it's only now that we're meeting… after everything that's happened."
Before I could say more, she gently raised a hand.
"No, hija. You have nothing to apologize for. None of this is your fault. I'm not angry—not at you, not even at your mother, Teresa. In fact, she's been here before. We've spoken deeply. Are you ashamed of me, hmm?" she asked with a gentle smile. "You may call me Mommy, if that's okay with you. I think your daddy would be happy, wherever he is now, knowing we're all getting along. What happened in the past is over. Life's too short to stay sad."
She led us into one of the two living rooms so we could talk more privately. I was thankful for the chance—for all of us to finally sit down and clear the air.
"Thank you for accepting Mama and me," I said. "I know that couldn't have been easy."
"You're right—it wasn't," she replied honestly. "But I learned to accept everything when I was rushed to the hospital for severe intoxication. After that, I spent a year in rehab to fix my drinking problem. That's where I had time to reflect… to really understand everything. I'm grateful to my therapist—he guided me patiently through every breakdown. Life isn't always happiness. Trials come in pairs: grief and growth. It's up to us how we deal with them."
We talked for a while, sharing stories and memories, until we were invited out into the garden. A long table was filled with food. Everyone was there—Papa's brother, his wife, and other family members. Aunt Barbie hugged me tightly as we walked toward them.
She stood up to give a small speech.
"Everyone, thank you for coming today," she began. "Even though I lost my husband Gabriel, I gained something beautiful in return—something that added to our family. Teresa, thank you for being here. Thank you for raising Gabie with values and dignity. Thank you for becoming part of our growing family."
She turned to me with misty eyes. "Gabie, hija, thank you for being here tonight with your fiancé, Major Marquez. And to everyone else, thank you for staying with us—through the darkest times and into this light. Cheers to more blessings and happiness for all of us."
We raised our glasses—juice for Alex and me, since we were both in a special condition—while the others drank red wine. The laughter was soft, warm, and real.
Mommy Barbs chuckled as she leaned toward me. "I still feel odd when you call me 'Aunt'. You know, I've told you before—you can call me 'Mommy' if you'd like."
I laughed lightly with her. Despite her invitation, part of me was still adjusting. But it felt good.
Everything felt light lately—not just for me, but for Mama and everyone who gathered with us that day. This was the healing we all needed—a replacement for the pain we once carried.
We had forgiven. Each other. Ourselves. And now, we were moving forward.
Then Uncle Manuel raised his voice playfully. "Since we're all here, I have to ask—who's getting married first?"
August and I exchanged amused glances.
"What?" he whispered.
"That's exactly what I was going to ask you," I replied with a grin.
"We haven't really talked about the date yet," he murmured.
"It's okay," I said. "We've been busy. We'll have plenty of time to talk about it soon."
"Yeah, you're right," he nodded. "By the way, grandpa and grandma want to meet your family soon. They called earlier while you were in the bathroom."
"Why the urgency?" I asked.
He smiled and leaned in closer. "Because you're pregnant, sweetie," he whispered, kissing my cheek.
My face flushed instantly when I realized everyone was now watching us.
"No one's answering my question," uncle joked, raising an eyebrow. "But I see you two whispering to your partners… So, what's the story? I'm excited to be a godfather—maybe for both couples!"
Everyone laughed.
Then mommy Barbs clapped her hands together. "Why don't we just do a double wedding?"
She turned to Mama. "What do you think, Teresa?"
Mama smiled. "I have no objections. They're the ones getting married—whatever makes them happy."
"I think it would be adorable," Aunt Beth chimed in. "It's so rare to have a double wedding. I say go for it!"
Uncle called out, "Alejandro Miguel and Alexandria Marie… Gabriella Therese and August… What do you say?"
August turned to me. "Sweetie? What do you think? A double wedding sounds kind of special."
"I'm fine with it," I said honestly. "But I don't know about bro and Alex."
August laughed softly, then sneezed before adding, "It is unique. But let's wait to see if Miguel and Alex agree."
Just then, Miggy stood up, looking toward us with a knowing smile...
"Well, we feel the same way about the double wedding," Miggy said cheerfully. "You two just beat us to it. So, double wedding it is!"
August chimed in, a bit shyly. "I also have something to say... My grandparents want to meet you as soon as possible. They want to help with the wedding plans—since, well, Gabie's already pregnant."
Mama smiled warmly. "No problem, my dear. That's fine by me. But our house is really small... we might not all fit."
"That's not a problem at all," mommy Barbs said, reaching for Mama's hand with a gentle smile. "This house is more than big enough. Besides, we're one family now, Teresa. Don't be shy."
Mama returned the smile, holding mommy Barbs' hand. "Thank you, Barbara."
"Well then, everything's set!" Uncle Manuel said in a booming voice, like a proud emcee. Everyone quickly nodded in agreement.
"Thank you," August said. "I'll let grandpa and grandma know right away."
Mama chuckled. "Looks like my two daughters are praying at the same time."
Laughter rippled around the table.
"I suggest we do the wedding in 3 weeks," Alex said, grinning. "That way, we still have time to prep before Gabie and I both start looking like whales."
We all laughed at that, even Aunt Beth who nearly choked on her wine.
"No problem. If August agrees— in three weeks it is!" uncle said, raising his glass. Everyone nodded again.
"Oh, my goodness! This is so exciting!" Aunt Barbs exclaimed. "Can I invite the media on your wedding day?"
"What the heck, Mom?!" Miggy groaned.
"That's why I asked, didn't I?" she replied playfully. "I just want the world to know how proud I am of all of you—not just you, son, but also Gabie, Alex, and August! It's just... so surreal!" She wiggled her eyebrows mischievously at us.
"Mom, our lives aren't a movie. Especially not our wedding," Miggy said, clearly trying to stay calm but sounding mildly exasperated.
"Okay, okay. Fine. No media," she relented with a laugh. "But I am inviting some of my old friends from the industry. Don't worry, Teresa, I know what you're thinking. But let me be honest with you—there's nothing to be ashamed of. Look at these wonderful kids! We're so blessed to have them, aren't we?"
The conversation carried on, full of laughter, teasing, and shared stories. For the first time in a long while, I didn't feel any trace of sadness. It was pure joy, shared among people who chose to come together, forgive, and move forward.
None of us even noticed how late it had gotten. No one wanted to leave. That night, we stayed—because being together felt like home.