Trieja: Jake And Josh [Under Revision]

Chapter 54

Love is like a sunset. The rays of the sun give light to shine the world, yet it can be dangerous to us. Love always comes with pain. They're inseparable. One can't live without the other. Like a mourning person who just lost his partner, misery comes next after the pain. Though, heartaches never leave easily. You'd be in sorrow as you endure everything.

Love is flawed, like a beautiful butterfly flying freely with broken wings. Sometimes, it will make you fall in order for you to stand stronger. But how can Claire be lionhearted, when pain makes her weak... almost to nothing... closer to being lifeless? How can she survive this new chapter if she has no one to hold on to?

Witnessing the hurt registering in Marni's eyes that day, she knew that their relationship won't have any second chances. Kasalanan naman niya eh. If only she'd been true to herself, 'di sana siya makakasakit ng iba. Alam niyang kahit anong pilit niyang tanggapin ito at pilitin ang sariling mahalin ang babae, she's only fooling herself.

Seeing how she hurt Marni made her look at herself in the mirror. Claire stared at her almond eyes, scrutinized her face. Pwede na ba siyang matawag na masama? Pasok na ba siya sa pagiging kontrabida sa buhay ng iba? She just ruined Marni's happiness. Kung tanggap niya lang sana ito, maayos sana sila.

Nahugot niya ang hininga nung mamuo ang luha sa kanyang mga mata.

"I tried..." nahihirapan niyang sabi, para bang kaharap niya lang si Marni kung subukin niyang magpaliwanag.

Claire wanted to talk to Marni... but what's there to explain? Malinaw na malinaw na sa kanilang dalawa na hindi niya kayang mahalin ito dahil isa lang itong babae. She shouldn't pursue someone who seemed to be, already, happy with someone else. Sasaktan niya lang lalo si Marni kung ganoon.

Huminga siya ng malalim, pilit pinatatag ang loob. Listening to her baby's cry, it snapped her back to reality. Wala siyang panahon para magmukmok. Now that Marni decided to leave her, she's all alone. Siya lang ang tanging maaasahan ng kanyang 3-month old na anak. If Claire must mourn for her broken heart, she'd be considered as an immature and irresponsible mother.

"The baby comes first." She whispered softly.

Lumipas ang ilang linggo. Tanging pagtitinda ng kwekwek, fishball, kikiam, siomai, kalamansi juice, at marami pang iba ang naging puhunan niya. Pero hindi iyon sapat para sa kanilang dalawa. Claire could only eat four times a week because of how small the income she could get from her simple business.

Ngayon niya lang naramdaman ang ganitong hirap sa tanang buhay niya. It all seemed fine when Marni was still there with her. But now that she's gone, reality's kicking her hard in the gut, waking her up from that beautiful dream.

"Ma'am, sige na naman po. Kayang-kaya ko na ho magtrabaho, 'di na po ako nanghihina." Kumbinsi niya sa may-ari ng Tea House.

Claire tried talking to her boss, persuaded the owner of the Tea House to let her work while holding her baby. Wala kasi si Aling Nadra kaya wala siyang mapag-iwanan.

She heard the flicking of her manager's tongue in annoyance. Marahan pero halatang iritado nitong pinalis ang kamay ni Claire na nakahawak sa braso nito.

"Claire, 'wag kang makulit. The doctor advised you to rest," katwiran ng boss niya. But she knew better. Kitang-kita niya ang bago na empleyado na kinuha nito. At iyon na ang pumalit sa kanya.

Pinukaw si Claire ng malalim na buntong hininga ng manager niya. She gazed back at the owner, still hoping that she'd change her mind. But the finality in her eyes, and the firmness of her grip when she reached out to Claire's hand and gave her a small envelope, her faith slowly collapsed.