Villa Martinez Series #4: So It's You

Chapter Twenty-four

Chapter Twenty-four

End

The event was coming to an end nang tuluyan akong nakawala sa ilang family friends na si mommy na lahat ang nag-entertain. My goal was to find Ryder who was also busy with the event's guests or business partners a while ago. Magkasama sila ni dad at Sandro kanina pero ngayon nasa kina Tita Lana na si daddy and Sandro remained talking with the business partners.

Pero imbes na si Ryder ang makita ko I saw his parents first instead. May kausap din ang daddy ni Ryder. His mom's eyes found me too and she excused herself from the group. Natigilan ako nang makitang mukhang lalapitan ako nito. Naghintay ako pero humakbang na rin para salubungin din ito.

"Alecxandra... can we talk?" anito nang tuluyan kaming makalapit sa isa't isa.

Tumango ako at sumunod nang igiya ako nito sa wala masyadong tao. We were both silent for a while. Until she spoke first. "Hija..." Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa mommy ni Ryder. She looks older now than the last time I saw her but she's still looking beautiful and elegant despite the simplicity, compared to my mom who I'm used with her flashy outfits, as what she already was in my memory. "How are you?"

Bahagya pa akong nagulat sa una nitong sinabi. Kinukumusta ako nito. When I thought she's probably angry with me for leaving his son two years ago with an issue with another man in a club. Parang nanuyo ang lalamunan ko. I have never explained my side before and I hope I can now. To clear things, dahil ayaw ko na sanang may matira pa ring mga hindi pagkakaunawaan...

"I'm fine, po... Uh, thank you, t-tita..." medyo kinakabahan kaya bahagya pa rin akong nautal.

I saw her smiling a bit. "Mabuti naman kung ganoon. I hope the years you were away do you good..."

"It did, tita..." marahan kong sinabi.

She nodded peacefully. Which to be honest I didn't expect. I did not expect her to be fine of me leaving his son without explanation. Pero sa pinapakita niya ngayong reaksiyon sa akin tingin ko ay mukhang naging maayos pa rin ang lahat para sa kaniya... And then she sighed. "Hindi ako makikialam sa magiging desisyon ninyo ng anak ko. You two are already both old enough to make a wise decision. And I trust you and my son, hija... Pero sana ay mag-usap kayo nang maayos..."

Hindi ako nakapagsalita.

"I'm happy to know that you leaving two years ago probably really did you good. I can see that you're looking healthier and more at peace now... I'm only hoping for what's the best for you and Ryder, Alecx," ani tita.

I pursed my lips a bit and then I finally spoke again. "Thank you, tita... Mag-uusap po kami ni Ryder..." I tried to assure her.

She nodded, looking satisfied with what I said. I appreciate the things she said. I can feel her genuine care not only for Ryder but also for me.

"T-tita... about what happened to years ago..."

Umiling siya at inunahan ako. "Huwag mo nang alalahanin iyon, hija... Ryder already explained to us everything that had happened... So we understand where you were coming from..." She sighed. "Alam kong may kasalanang nagawa sa iyo ang anak ko. Kaya... kahit ano pa man ang maging desisyon ninyong dalawa, ano pa man ang maging desisyon mo, tatanggapin namin iyon, hija... Ganoon din ang tingin ni Ryder..."

Suminghap ako. "Tita..."

Ryder's mom sighed. "To be honest, as Ryder's mother, mahirap din para sa akin. I wanted to protect my son, I didn't want to see him hurting... I wanted to get mad." Nagkatinginan kami ni tita bago siya bahagyang umiling at nagpatuloy. "But I accept na may kasalanan din ang anak ko... And that no matter how I try to protect him, he should learn too... Kailangan din niyang matuto na siya lang mag-isa..." she gave out a faint smile.