Attention

RESENTMENT

....

It was a regular afternoon in Ilocos when Clara decided to try painting, even though she had no idea what to do. She gathered the necessary materials on the balcony.

She sighed as she pondered what her subject would be. Eventually, she settled on drawing a distorted face of a girl.

"Kahit anong subok ko, nangangapa talaga ako." she whispered and took a moment to compose herself.

Meanwhile, Irene was casually walking around the mansion, feeling bored. Fiona was with Imelda, as they had gone to visit the capital.

Irene stopped in her tracks when she noticed Clara standing on the balcony, staring at her canvas. She observed her daughter, who seemed to be having a difficult time.

Irene rushed over to Clara and guided her hand as she continued drawing. "A face distortion?" Irene asked softly.

Clara nodded, her eyes welling up with tears. "Y-yes, Mommy..."

Irene continued to guide Clara's hand as they drew together. When Clara put her hand down, she frowned. "Why did you stop?" she asked, softly.

"I don't know what to do, Mommy... You never taught me how to paint like you always did with ate," she almost whispered. Irene touched Clara's hand and gently stroked it with her thumb.

"Let me support you..." she smiled as she caressed Clara's chin.

Clara's cheeks were flushed with tears. She quickly wiped it away and avoided Irene's gaze.

Clara's cheeks flushed with tears. She quickly wiped them away and avoided Irene's gaze.

"Why are you crying, hmm?" Irene asked. Clara shook her head. "W-wala po. I'm okay." She answered.

"Clara.... tell mommy. Baby, why are you crying? May problema ka ba?" Irene cradled Clara's cheeks. Clara started crying and shook her head.

"I'm sorry, Mommy," she sobbed.

Irene wiped away her tears and encouraged her daughter to speak. "Sorry for being me... Sorry kung ito lang ako kaya hindi mo ako kayang mahalin." Clara said.

"Mommy sorry kung hindi ako si Fiona..." She remain, sobbing.

"I'm sorry if I can't give you the happiness like what Ate and Andy offers... buti pa sila mahal mo. Buti pa sila palagi mong pinagtutuan ng pansin nung mga bata pa kami." She added.

"Tapos ako....hindi... You know it hurts and it is hard; you just loved me because I lied to you....and that love faded when you discovered the truth..." she continues.

Irene frowned. "Are you saying I'm unfair?" she asked, tears streaming down her face.

"No mom, I'm saying you have your favorites... Si Ate Fiona...si Andy. Ni minsan hindi mo ako pinili..." Clara replied. Irene kissed her forehead and pulled her into a hug.

"Kung hindi ko pa yon ginawa, hindi ko pa mararamdaman yung pagmamahal mo," Clara explained.

"But atleast diba....I felt your love in 12 years. Yung pagmamahal na hinahanap-hanap ko nung bata pa ako..."

"Naalala mo 'yong promise mo sa 'kin? na sakin mo lang kakantahin yung kantang 'yon na laging nagpapatulog sa 'kin? hindi sa selfish ako at ayaw kong kinakanta mo yun sa iba... but because that song was too precious for me dahil alam kong kahit pangako lang 'yun, nararamdaman ko na mahal mo din ako at importante ako sayo." Clara sobbed.