#2: Strumming the Pain

Strumming 50

"Will you really be okay, my love?"

Bumuntong-hininga ako bago ko hinarap si Kirk na halatang nag-aalala sa 'kin. We're in Pampanga right now because I'm planning to talk to my mother for the last time. Alam kong wala nang pag-asa na maayos pa ang relasyon naming mag-ina kaya kakausapin ko siya sa huling pagkakataon.

Maybe this time, we could finally set ourselves free from the hatred we had for each other. Only one could hope.

"Pagod na akong magtanim ng sama ng loob. Maybe this way... I'll be free from the pain I got from her." sagot ko naman sa kanya

Ilang linggo na rin ang lumipas simula nang malaman namin ang ginawa ni Maisie. Kirk took care of everything. He insisted, and I didn't have a choice but to let him do what needs to be done. I also already cleared my name. Well, I already explained everything. May ilan pa rin namang ayaw maniwala pero na-realize ko na...

Not everyone will believe you. But at least, the people who matters to me the most believed me. And for me, that's already enough.

"I will just be here, love. I will always be proud of you..." he whispered and kissed me on the lips. "Kahit na ano pa ang sabihin nila sa 'yo, lagi mong tatandaan na kailangan mo lang tumakbo papunta sa 'kin dahil yayakapin kita... hanggang sa kaya mo na silang harapin. At sa mga oras na 'yon, alam kong alam mong mas matapang ka na... at mas kaya mo na."

I smiled softly and hugged him. "Thank you... Thank you, love."

And since I don't know where to find my mother, we decided to go to their resto— hoping we will see her there. My brows furrowed when we got there,  I saw how crowded the resto is. Did she already sell it? Last time I checked, she told me her business isn't going well.

My question was immediately answered when I saw her coming out the resto. She talked to someone, I concluded that she still owns the place. Did she also lie about it? I got my answer when I talked to her. We waited until the closing hours so I could talk to her. She looked shock when she saw me, but she immediately put on a blank face.

"Ano'ng ginagawa mo rito?" tanong niya kaagad sa 'kin. Kaagad siyang tumayo sa may cashier area para lapitan ako.

"I need to talk to you." sagot ko naman.

She scoffed. "At ano naman ang sasabihin sa 'kin ng magaling kong anak?" sarkastikong tanong niya sa 'kin.

Inilibot ko ang paningin ko sa buong resto. "You lied to me about your business, didn't you?"

"Nagpunta ka ba rito para itanong 'yan?" walang reaksyong tanong niya sa 'kin.

"No, I just happened to see how packed your resto is after saying that your business is failing. What a great actress you are..." sagot ko naman.

"Nakita ko 'yung video mo. Walang hiya, gano'n ba ang ginagawa mo kaya ka mayaman ngayon?" she asked, laughing. Tumango-tango siya at lumapit sa 'kin, tinignan ako mula ulo hanggang paa. "At least alam mo kung paano gamitin ang katawan mo."