Our Song

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen

Tears

Agad kong pinuntahan si Wesley sa condo niya. Pagdating ko doon ay agad ko siyang niyakap to comfort him. Tita Joyce was rushed to the hospital. Agad naming nalaman nang tumawag ang kinuha naming katulong ni tita sa bahay kay Wesley. Wesley got too worried for his mom that he almost didn't know what to do why he called me. Agad na rin kaming kumilos para mapuntahan si tita sa province.

Sa hospital ay nakausap namin ni Wesley ang doctor ni tita. And she was lying to us. Hindi na pala siya pumupunta sa doktor niya at hindi na rin siguro niya iniinom ang mga gamot niya. May edad na si tita and she needed medication. Pero dahil sa kapabayaan ay lumala na pala siya...

"Wesley..." I called his name gently. I also sat beside him as we watched Tita Joyce sleeping on the hospital bed.

I sighed quietly.

"It's my fault." Wesley said. I realized that he's been blaming himself.

"Wesley—"

"I was selfish. Siguradong nagkasakit si Mama dahil sa pang-iiwan ko sa kaniya noon. She was healthy, Yan. Nagsimula lang naman siyang magkasakit noong pinili kong pumunta sa England and be with my father. I knew that she didn't liked it but I still pushed through."

"Wesley..." I sighed. Tumingin ako kay tita na nanatiling natutulog at nagpapahinga. "Paggising ni tita mag-usap kayo." payo ko sa kaniya.

Nanatili lang nakatingin ang nag-aalalang mga mata ni Wesley sa mama niya.

***

"Huwag mong sisihin ang sarili mo, anak. Pangarap mo iyon at masaya ako na naabot mo." Tita Joyce managed to give Wesley a reassuring smile.

"Pero bakit, 'Ma?"

Umiling si tita. "Desisyon ko ito—"

"Bakit nga?! Your decision? It's your decision to leave me like this?!"

"Wesley," pagpapakalma ko sa kaniya nang bahagyang tumataas na ang boses niya habang kausap ang mama niya.

Umiling si Tita Joyce. "Tama na sa akin, Wesley, ang makita kang lumaki into a man that you are now. You've succeeded on becoming a great singer, anak. I am very proud of you. I know I should've supported you more back when you were just starting. But I also got afraid of things... Kaya sana ay patawarin mo ako, anak. Sa mga pagkukulang ko sa iyo bilang ina. But God knows that I did my very best. I gave my all to raise you. And I am happy to be your mother." Despite the emotions Tita Joyce gave out a peaceful smile. Kahit sa mga mata niya ay nakita kong at peace siya.

When Wesley's mother died we were left with the house. Sa aming dalawa ni Wesley ni tita pinamana ang kanilang bahay. Tita Joyce spent her last months with me and Wesley. Kaya nanatili rin kami ni Wesley sa province sa mga panahong iyon. I knew that Tita Joyce left us with peace in her heart.

During her funeral Wesley's dad was there. Umuwi siya sa Pilipinas at walang nakapigil sa kaniya nang malamang wala na si Tita Joyce. I saw him tear up and regret was obviously written all over his face. I concluded that despite what happened to them Wesley's father truly loved his mother.

"Aryanne, this is my father, Will Tomlinson." Wesley also introduced us formally.

Ngumiti sa akin ang dad ni Wesley. Now I knew where Wesley got his beautiful pair of sea green eyes. I smiled.

Wesley maintained his mother's surname. Mukhang wala rin naman iyong problema kay Mr. Tomlinson. That's why he's still known as Wesley Rivera until he became a famous singer. Same with me who became more comfortable with Cruz and not Bernales kahit halos pag-awayan din namin noon ni Papa. Gusto kong dala ko pa rin ang apelido ni Mama bilang alaala ko na rin sa kaniya.