Scene 69 – Memories will turn bitter
The kids were quiet. Solemn somehow. They missed Ralphe, she missed him too. She didn't even had a chance to say goodbye. He left while she was still asleep. It hurt, him leaving. He was in DC now. Tatum said, he'd be back soon but it had been a week since he left.
She knew she had hurt him. She knew it and maybe it was okay if he left. Maybe he'd be able to find the love he wanted. She snorted. Love in space? Unlikely.
"Mommy, Uncle Ian's here!"
Nagmadaling pinuntahan ni Clara si Ian, nadatnan niya si Ian na yakap yakap si Tatum. Si Tatum na sobrang miss na si Ralphe at si Tatum sa di malamang kadahilanan ay nagtatampo sa kanya.
"What are you doing here?"
Kumalas sa pagkayakap si Ian, naglakad ito papunta sa kanya at ngumuti, "I wanted to come earlier but I couldn't get away. Sophie wanted to celebrate something."
"We're fine." sabi ni Clara kay Ian.
"I heard Ralphe left for DC." kinarga nito si Tatum at tinaas ang kilay, "What's that about?"
Nagkibit balikat si Clara, sinubukan kunin si Tatum pero lumayo ito sa kanya at lalong dumikit kay Ian. Nagbuntomg hininga siya, "He wants to go back to space."
Narinig niyang umungot si Tatum at tinignan ni Ian si Tatum na mukhang natutuwa kay Tatum. "Go play with Sophie." utos ni Ian kay Tatum bago nito binaba si Tatum.
Nang umalis na si Tatum ay nagpunta sila ni Clara sa den at umupo sa magkabilang sofa. "I take it, ayaw ni Tatum umalis si Ralphe?"
"Wala naman siyang magagawa. Kilala mo si Ralphe, pag nakapag desisyon na hindi na to mababago."
"Actually, I don't." sabat nito, "Hindi ko kilala si Ralphe. We're not friends. We never were."
Alam niya iyon. Pero hindi niya alam kung bakit. Bakit may animosity sa dalawa. Basta alam lang niya na talagang hindi magkasundo ang dalawa.
"And why is that?" Tanong niya.
Nagbikit balikat si Ian, ininom ang scotch at nilayo ang tingin sa kanya, "We're not here to discuss my relationship with him. We're here discuss yours."
Ano pa bang dapat pag usapan?
"I may not like Ralphe but I know he's a good person. He helped someone from the past to get through something and I owe him so now I am paying what I owed."
She didn't know what to think, she wanted to know what did Ralphe help that someone? Why did Ian feel like he owed the guy?
BINABASA MO ANG
The Widow
RomansaWhen Clara Dela Merced left the Philippines, she left everything behind knowing that it was the right thing to do especially when the father of her child didn't want them. She left to start anew, she just didn't expect to find a home and love among...
