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Renjun had it all planned: celebrate Renee’s birthday at Enchanted Kingdom and spend the whole day with his family—with a hidden agenda. Of course, he missed being a teenager enjoying all those fun rides, especially the extreme ones. Kaya naman gabi palang, hinanda na niya ang lahat para sa pamilya—extra clothes and other necessities plus medicines, just in case. Ah, no, not just in case.
He knows . He knows someone will thank him for preparing this.
Once Renjun had all this prepared, mas naexcite pa siya sa mga bata on the next day dahil halos tumalon na siyang sumakay sa sasakyan. However, the ride to EK wasn’t peaceful and the person he expected to need the medicine wasn’t Mark afterall.
“Kuya, buksan mo yung bintana!” Sigaw ni Renjun mula sa passenger seat habang aligagang hinahanap ang medicine bag na hinanda niya.
“MJ here ka sa bag—no! Not there! Oh god.” Minju exclaimed from the back of the car habang inaalalayan ang nakababatang kapatid. Ngayon lang sumama ang pakiramdam ni MJ sa loob ng sasakyan, probably because his dad rushed their breakfast (stream Golden Hour).
“Should we go to the hospital na?” Tanong ni Mark sa driver’s seat, casually checking his kids through the rear view mirror. “Love, can you check kung may malapit—“
“I’m okay na.” They heard MJ’s tiny voice, still hoarse from all the vomiting he did. “I made suka na po, I’m okay na.”
“Ano ba kasing nakain mo, nak?” Renjun spent all morning in the grocery, trying to do a last minute shopping for their trip that’s why Mark had to prepare breakfast—he tried his best but then only realized he married Renjun for a reason. Napatingin si Renjun sa direksyon ni Mark na siya namang iniiwasan ang tingin niya. Doon palang, alam na ni Renjun.
Then another series of barfing sounds were heard. “Akala ko ba you’re done na?” Ani ni Jisung habang tinatakpan pareho ang ilong nila ni Renee.
“Ew, yuck.” Renee squealed, earning a glare from MJ and laughter from the others.
“Are you sure you’re okay na, bud?” Mark asked with a worried look.
“I’m okay, dad. Just drive gently, please.” Sagot naman ni MJ. Ah, so it’s not the egg, Mark thought.
They stopped for a while to let MJ breathe. With the passenger door open, Renjun held his son who immediately fell asleep in his arms while the two elder children cleaned up the mess at the back. “Mana sayo.” Ani ni Renjun kay Mark na nakatayo lang sa harap niya.
Mark gave him a confused look then pointed towards himself. “Me? Why me?”
“You. Yes, you. Sino ba sa’tin ang madaling masuka at mahilo?” Renjun answered him with sarcasm. “Inalog mo ba naman yung likod ng sasakyan doon sa expressway, malamang bumaligtad na sikmura nito.”
“I didn’t notice the—okay, fine. My bad. In my defense, hindi naman ako masusuka unless nasa roller coaster ako.”
“Tingin mo hindi na-roller coaster yung anak mo sa likod kanina?”
Natawa nalang si Mark sa sinabi ni Renjun. “Okay, okay. I’ll be mindful na.” Mark put his hand on top of MJ’s head. “Sorry, bud.” Then placed a soft kiss on his child’s forehead.
“Ako wala?” Renjun said with a pout, their heads were just a few inches away he could literally kiss Mark’s cheek. Nilingon naman siya ni Mark para halikan din nang panandalian.
“Wow. Sana all hindi naglilinis ng suka ng anak nila.” Rinig ang boses ni Jisung mula sa likod.
“Baka gusto mong maudlot kasal mo, hijo?” Sagot naman ni Renjun.
“Sabi ko nga maglilinis nalang hanggang ikasal.”
Finally, their trip to EK after MJ’s incident went smoothly. They can finally enjoy the rest of the day. Pagkapasok palang ng entrance ay hinatak agad ni MJ ang kanyang dad. Panay naman ang turo ni bunso habang karga siya ng kanyang papa. Samantalang panay ang picture ni Minju, courtesy of her kuya na sinusulit na rin ang bonding nilang pamilya dahil sa susunod na mga buwan ay hihiwalay na rin si Jisung sa kanila.
Before they proceeded to the rides, bumili muna ng balloon si Mark para sa dalawang bata at tinali ito sa wrist nila, para raw madali silang mahanap just in case mawala sila na siya namang tinawanan lang ni Renjun.
“Dad punta tayo doon!” Sigaw ni MJ.
“Pa, let’s go there first!” Aya ni Minju.
“Papa hungry” Renee mumbled.
“Dad, ikot muna tayo” Jisung said.
“Bakit nga ba apat naging anak ko?” Isip ni Renjun.
Nasa kalagitnaan pa sila ng EK nagdiskurso. “Okay, guys, calm down.” Ani ni Mark. “Hayaan muna natin si kuya MJ na magdecide, okay? It’s his day.” Everyone went immediately silent, waiting for MJ to speak up.
“I want to try that swingy boat!” MJ exclaimed as he pointed at the nearby Anchors Away. Natahimik lang sila Minju at Jisung at nagsuggest na humiwalay nalang sila dahil iba raw ang trip nila. Their parents agreed to just meet them again at lunch. So now, the parents are left with their two youngest.
“Baby, hindi ka pa pwede dyan eh.” Renjun explained to MJ.
“That one! Yung big long swing!” MJ pointed at the Flying Fiesta. Nagkatinginan naman si Mark at Renjun.
“Buddy, are you sure? You might feel sick na naman.” Mark said.
“I’ll be fine! Tara na, dad!”
“Ah, not me. Si papa nalang.” Mabilis na umatras si Mark at tumingin kay Renjun na tinawanan lamang siya.
Renjun skipped his way, together with MJ, towards the entrance habang naghihintay lang sa di kalayuan si Mark na karga si Renee at hawak ang video cam. Yes, may phone sila but they like to look back at these memories in a traditional way—mostly idea ni Renjun. Once the ride was ready to go, Renjun waved at the camera along with MJ, earning a gleeful smile from Mark who was busy recording.
Pansin ni Mark na nag-eenjoy din si Renjun. Noong pagkabanggit palang sa kanya ng asawa niya na sa EK sila magce-celebrate, Mark noticed how Renjun’s eyes sparkled as they planned their trip. Mark knows how Renjun loves adventure; particularly hiking and extreme rides. Pumayag si Mark dahil first time nila MJ at Renee sa EK pero hindi lang dahil gusto niyang mag-enjoy ang mga bata; but to also grab this opportunity to relieve one significant memory from their past.
When the ride was over, MJ kept chanting ‘again, again’ but Renjun bribed him into trying other rides—other rides being bump cars, yung umiikot na hot air balloon, bump cars pero sa tubig, yung ferris wheel na itlog at marami pang iba. Halos naikot na yata nila ang buong EK sa loob ng ilang oras. After several rides, MJ suggested that they should eat lunch na kahit g na g pa rin si Renjun na mag-aya sa ibang rides. Nanonood lang si Mark dahil karga niya si Renee but his heart couldn’t be more happy seeing how Renjun is definitely having a good time. Parang may sense of fulfillment kay Mark knowing that his husband is also healing his inner child.
Nang bumalik sila Minju, agad na nagdabog ang dalaga sa table nila. “Oh bakit?” Tanong ni Renjun. “Ba’t parang umiyak ka, ate?”
“Si kuya kasi!” Minju threw a fit. “Sabi wala raw manggugulat doon sa horror house tapos iniwan pa ako sa loob!”
Pinigilan ni Jisung ang tawa niya. “Sabi mo rin isang ikot lang yung roller coaster eh!”
“Che! Liar ka!” Minju teased Jisung na siya namang sinamahan pa ni MJ ng “Kuya Jwi, liar liar! Pants on fire!”
Their lunch consisted of constant bickering between Jisung and Minju, Renjun trying to bribe MJ to try more rides and Mark just filming everything. They ended up with the decision na maglibot nalang muna. Minju walked near her dad, still avoiding her kuya Jisung and giving him a death stare from time to time. Just like when they were kids, Minju would go running to her dad while Jisung to his papa.
“Pa, kayo ni dad di ba kayo magtatry ng rides?” Biglang tanong ni Jisung. “Kami na bahala sa mga bagets.”
“Not a chance, kuya.” Mabilis na sagot ni Renjun. “Akala mo ba nakalimutan ko na yung nangyari kay Renee noong iniwan ko siya sa inyo ni Chenle?”
Of course, how can they forget that? There was this one time when their parents needed to go somewhere and the eldest ones were left with their younger siblings. Minju and Ning took care of MJ dahil si MJ lang ang pwede nilang maisama sa mall while Jisung and Chenle with Renee.
Hindi naman nahirapan ang dalawa sa pag-aalaga sa bata, contrary to their expectations na baka hilingin nalang nilang hindi magkaroon ng pamilya. Renee is a behaved and bright kid for a 1 year old, everything went well pero nang maburyo ang dalawa sa bahay at sinundan ang dalawang dalaga sa mall, pagdating sa parking lot, that was when they realized…
“We’re fucked. We’re definitely fucked.” Chenle cursed several times as he tried to unlock the car doors. Aksidente niyang naiwan ang susi sa loob ng sasakyan dahil nadala siya sa pagtatalo nila ni Jisung kung saan sila kakain.
“Relax, okay? Tatawag ak-“
“Yung kapatid mo nalock sa loob ng sasakyan! Paano ako magrerelax?!”
“Okay, kaya nga tatawag ng tulo–ibaba mo yang signage!”
“Renee! Tabi! I’m gonna break the car!”
“Regalo sa’tin ‘yan!”
“Yung bata, Jisung!”
Saktong biglang nag-unlock ang pinto at agad na kinuha ni Chenle si Renee na nakangiti pa’t hawak ang susi ng sasakyan. See? Bright kid.
Anyways, Minju reassured na siya na ang bahala kay Renee na kinagat naman agad ni Renjun at dali-daling hinatak si Mark papunta sa Space Shuttle.
Biglang narecall ni Mark ang lahat ng mysteries sa pagro-rosaryo.
“Are you sure dad’s gonna be fine?” Tanong ni Minju kay Jisung habang pinagmamasdan ang magulang nila sa di kalayuan.
“Wala siyang choice. Pinakasalan niya yan.”
Nang malapit na ang turn nila, Renjun was cut off from his excitement nang mapalingon siya kay Mark. Nakatulala nalang kasi si Mark sa kalangitan at tila nananalangin pa. “Love, you don’t have to go. I’m fine here.”
“Huh? What? Why?” Biglang naalimpungatan si Mark sa 5th mystery niya. “No, it’s okay, love. Malapit na tayo oh.”
“Mark.” Renjun intently looked at his husband. “If you’re not fine with this, I understa—“ He didn’t finish his sentence when Mark suddenly pecked his lips.
“There. I’m all better. Let’s go!”
He wasn’t and he will never be, because all throughout the ride ay nakakapit lang siya kay Renjun at tila hihimatayin na siya sa bawat ikot ng Space Shuttle.
“Dad looks dead up there. Are you sure he’s—hoy Kuya!”
“What? Memories ‘to.” Ani ni Jisung habang vinivideohan ang magulang nila.
Mark could feel his stomach turn and a single move would make him barf, but the moment he turned to glance at Renjun, it felt like nothing else mattered. Just this one, his beloved beside him having the time of his life, with their hands intertwined. Mark, though he feels like dying, remembered his cliché vows out of nowhere.
“I remember confessing to you on a roller coaster ride. I remember saying a metaphor about life being a roller coaster. Through our ups and downs, I’ll be here. When I said that, I meant it for a lifetime, Jun.”
The ride felt like a lifetime dahil kanina pa sila binabalibag sa ere at kanina pa hiyaw ng hiyaw si Renjun at kanina pa nakatingin si Mark kay Renjun. “You okay?” Renjun yelled. Hindi sumagot si Mark. Instead, he smiled. He smiled as if he didn't feel sick to the bones. He smiled as he clasped their hands tighter. He smiled and finally answered, “Always.”
When the ride halted, that’s when reality hit Mark. He needs a bag which Renjun immediately pulls out from his pocket.
“Since when did you…?”
“Asawa mo ako for a reason. Spill it out, love.”
It took an hour bago tuluyang makapag-function ulit si Mark. This is his first time riding an extreme ride in years… decades na nga yata. The last time was when he was still pursuing Renjun in college. “I’m okay na, love, no need for hospitals, please.”
“Namumutla ka pa! Hay, nako! Sabi kasing wag nang pilitin eh.” Pilit na inaalalayan ni Renjun si Mark in spite of people eyeing them everywhere. “Umupo ka nga ulit!” Saktong may bench sa tabi kaya walang nagawa ang nanghihinang tuhod ni Mark at agad na sumalampak sa bench na para bang daig pa niya ang lasing.
“Ayan, pa, bakit mo kasi inaya si dad?” Gatong ni Minju.
“Ay, anong ako? Pinapalayas ko na nga siya sa pila kanina.” Dipensa naman ni Renjun. “Tigas kasi ng ulo sabi ng–oh, sige, sige, subukan mo. Amoy suka ka pa, Mark.” Nilayo ni Renjun ang mukha ni Mark na akmang aambahan pa siya ng halik.
“Ako na magdrive, dad, ha? Mukhang di mo na kaya.” Ani ni Jisung.
“Relax lang kayo, I’ll be fine.” Mark tried to reassure his family pero tanging ‘weh?’ lang ang naani niya mula sa kanila. “Do you want to know why I wanted to go there?”
“Ipahinga mo yan.” Marahang sinandal ni Renjun ang ulo ni Mark sa balikat niya at umupo na rin ang mga bata sa tabi.
“I still went because I wanted to experience one thing again.”
Napatingin si Renjun at ang mga bata sa kanya. MJ even scooted near him as if waiting for him to continue talking.
“Ano? Maospital?” Renjun mumbled against Mark’s hair as he placed soft kisses on it.
“Yung time na sinagot mo ko.”
Minju and Jisung gasped at the same time then teased them to spill everything. If there’s anything they won’t grow tired of hearing, it’s the story about their parents' past; good or bad.
“Ganito kasi ‘yon, guys,” despite his weak voice, they could hear the endearment on Mark’s voice as he speak of their story. “I asked your papa to be my boyfriend while we were riding a roller coaster sa perya.”
“You forgot an important detail.”
“You want me to tell them that?”
“Ano yon?” Sabay na tanong nila Minju at Jisung. Inangat ni Mark ang kanyang ulo para tignan si Renjun, earning permission from him.
“Okay, so, college. Second year, if I remember that correctly.”
“Oh, tignan mo, hindi mo maalala.” Pabirong pagtatampo ni Renjun in which Mark only replied with a laugh.
“Second year college when we met and I pursued him for… like… 7 months.”
“7 months?!” Sabay ulit na sinabi nila Minju at Jisung.
“Yeah, 7 months. In the span of those months, hindi ako tumigil na ligawan si papa niyo kaya lahat ng trip niya sinakyan ko. Even pagka-cutting–“
“Cutting?!”
“Shh, mamaya na kayo magreact.” Agad na dipensa ni Renjun.
“Yes, madalas mag-cutting si papa niyo noong college. Summa cum laude pa yan sa lagay na yan.” Mark smirked at Renjun. “He never gave me any signs of interest, though. Sadyang mapilit lang si Donghyuck na i-pursue ko pa rin daw si Renjun at bibigay din yan. Turns out, kahit na anong gawin ko, hindi bumigay si papa. Hinarana ko na, hinatid sundo sa school, pinagdalhan ng lunch na luto ni mama, lahat, pero wala. Tigas ni papa, no?”
“Ayokong sagutin baka hindi matuloy kasal ko.” Sabi ni Jisung.
“And then, one time, a miracle happened. He asked me out.” Napangiti si Renjun nang biglang maalal ang nangyari pero nanatili siyang tahimik at hinayaang ituloy ni Mark ang kwento. “May bukas na perya that time kasi magpa-pasko na. Tandang-tanda ko pa, November 25, isang buwan bago mag-pasko, binigay agad ni Lord ang pamasko ko.”
“Hindi ko nga tanda yung date.” Renjun whispered.
“What was that?”
“Wala. Tuloy.”
Mark continued. “So, ayon. Hindi ko tinuring na date yon, parang gala lang as friends.”
“Ouch.” Renjun taunted him.
“Love naman eh.” Mark pouted. “As I was saying, hindi nga date yon. Gala lang daw. So we went sa perya, sobrang daming tao, natakot ako baka mawala si papa kasi kung saan saan pumupunta ‘to eh…”
“Okay, skip that part.”
“Why? This is cute.”
Tinakpan ni Minju ang bibig ng papa niya. “Go, dad! Tuloy!”
“Thank you, ate. So, yeah, maraming tao kaya I thought of a way para hindi mawala si papa.”
“Omg, first time holding hands?” Minju exclaimed.
“How I wish gano’n nga nangyari.” Renjun reacted.
“Bumili ako ng balloon, yung lumilipad, tapos tinali ko sa wrist ni papa.”
Their two eldest bursted out laughing, napahilamos nalang ng mukha si Renjun sa hiya. “Ginawa pa akong bata, di ba?”
“Kinilig ka nga eh.” Mark said, earning a light smack on the shoulder from Renjun. “Okay, so, hindi alam ni papa na hindi ako mahilig sa mga nakakahilong rides, hindi ko na rin sinabi muna kaya kung saan saan ako dinala ni papa. Halos humiwalay na kaluluwa ko noong tinry namin yung vikings.”
“Doon ka na nagstart mamutla eh.” Banggit ni Renjun.
“Yeah, but that was not the best part, love. Last ride namin is sa roller coaster. Pinagdasal ko nalang talaga na sana mabuhay pa ako after that. Nang makasakay na kami, papa reassured me na I could still back out, just like kanina, pero syempre hindi nagpatinag si dad. May plano ako eh.”
“Uy, grabe, sa roller coaster pala ako nanggaling?” Tanong ni Jisung, ilang segundo pa bago nila magets ang pinaparating niya. Samu’t saring kurot tuloy ang natanggap niya mula kay Renjun.
“Chill, kuya, it took us a year bago ko mahalikan si papa.” Nginitian naman ni Mark si Renjun na nananahimik lang sa tabi niya. “So, nang magsimula na yung ride, hindi ko napigilan, hinawakan ko na si papa. Sa kamay, ha. Naisip ko pa noon baka hindi ko na magawa yung plano ko pero nagpakatatag ako, para sa kinabukasan namin.”
Renjun yelled. “Ano ba yan, Mark?! Ayusin mo!”
“Okay, okay, ito na. Masuka suka man ako that time, I still gathered all my courage to finally ask the question to your papa. Alalang-alala ko nakatiwarik kami sa ere noong tinanong ko siya para maging boyfriend ko, hindi niya yata ako narinig kaya inulit ko. The second time around narinig niya ako, pero nagpanggap siyang hindi niya narinig. Napakahard to get talaga. So, noong malapit nang matapos yung ride, tinanong ko ulit. Saktong pagkahinto namin sa baba, sinagot niya ako.”
Minju and Jisung cheered. “Pero hindi ko narinig.” And they earned a simultaneous ‘aww’ from the two.
This time, Renjun took the initiative to continue the story. “Kasi nahimatay siya kaya dumiretso kami sa ospital, kaso walang available doon sa malapit na ospital kaya binuhat ko si dad papunta sa terminal ng tricycle na, jusko! Napakalayo!”
Napasandal nalang si Mark kay Renjun habang nakangisi. “Sabi ko kay manong driver, dalhin kami sa ibang ospital na malapit lang. Jusmiyo, dinala kami sa kabilang siyudad eh magkano lang laman ng wallet ko noon kaya nagpatulong na ako kay tito Donghyuck niyo. Buti nalang at nasa malapit lang si tito niyo noon kaya napuntahan agad kami sa ospital. Pagdating naman doon, namroblema pa ako kasi kailangan daw ng immediate family para maadmit ang dad niyo na walang malay. Ito namang si Donghyuck, napaka-walang hiya, sinabing asawa ako.”
“Wow, grabe manifestations ni tito.” Minju commented.
“Thankfully, naadmit na siya doon. Kaso—”
“Shuta, ibang klaseng date pala meron dati, hospital hopping.” Singit ni Jisung.
“Sinabi mo pa, kuya. Hihintayin pa raw namin yung doktor na naka-assign kay dad ng isang oras, eh jusmiyo mukhang nagmimeeting na sila ni San Pedro kasi hindi magising si dad niyo. Kaya no choice kami, dinala ulit namin siya sa ibang hospital. This time, tumulong na si tito Jaemin niyo, mabuti nalang talaga’t maraming connections ‘yon at may kakilala raw siya sa isang hospital… na few kilometers away pa. Dahil nga desperado na ako that time, nagmadali na kami. Mura pa naman taxi noon kaya nagtaxi na kami. Ito namang dad niyo, biglang nagising.”
“Niluwa siguro ng langit si dad–aray ko!” Jisung reacted upon Minju’s slap on his arm.
“Imagine sobrang nag-aalala na ako sa kanya pero itong lalaking ‘to, inuna pang tanungin kung anong sinagot ko sa roller coaster.” Tinitigan ni Renjun ang asawa niya. “Ano nga ulit sabi mo? Did you say ‘yes’? Kung hindi ka lang nasuka ulit, binatukan na kita eh.”
“Ang memorable naman niyan, hard launch niyo sa hospital.” Dagdag ni Minju, which is true.
“Nilegal ako ni dad niyo sa parents niya habang nakaconfine siya. Hindi ko nga maharap nang maayos yung parents niya kasi, hello? Ako kaya dahilan kung bakit nasa ospital yung anak nila that time.”
Hindi na nila namalayan ang oras dahil sa pagkukwento ni Renjun; kung paano nila hinarap ang parents ni Mark at nilaban ang relasyon nila sa parents ni Renjun, kung paano niligawan ni Renjun si Mark in return, all their college escapades together, how Renjun’s locker got filled with letters from Mark every day (which he still kept all this time), and everything that happened which eventually lead them to what they have now.
True to Jisung’s words, siya na ang nagmaneho pauwi, with Minju on the shotgun seat na nakikipag-agawan pa sa bluetooth ng radio nila. Mark and Renjun settled on the back, MJ slept beside Renjun while Renee offered her cuteness as comfort to her dad.
Bumubuti na ang pakiramdam ni Mark, thanks to Renjun’s aid—the aid in context is Renjun himself. “Love,” bulong ni Mark while resting his head on Renjun’s shoulder. “If I could ride that roller coaster again, I’d definitely go.”
Renjun gave him a side eye. “Don’t say things you don’t mean, love.”
“I mean it, though.” Mark replied. “Even if I knew I’d get in trouble just to get your ‘yes’ back then, you know I would do it all over again.”
“You and your words, Mark.”
“Have they ever failed you, Renjun?”
No. They haven’t and they never will. Just as Mark vowed to him, through their ups and downs, he’s always with Renjun and Renjun knows that.
“We’re on this roller coaster ride for life, love.”
If they knew the consequences just to end up with this beautiful family from the start, they would gladly take all the rides of a lifetime together.