Mrs. Araneta

Chapter XIX: 52 🏡

"Last night I had a crazy dream
A wish was granted just for me
It could be for anything
I didn't ask for money
Or a mansion in Malibu
I simply wished for one more day with you"

Clea was discharged two weeks ago. Everything went well except for that little hole they found in between the left and right atria of her heart. Her doctors said that we all have it when we're still inside the womb and should close by itself after we we're born. As for Clea's case, it didn't. But it is not that serious that Clea would hardly ever feel that it's there. Greggy and Irene are holding on to that.

Irene is now staying in San Juan for good. She is missing Greggy and Clea all the time. Though she gets to see her everyday, it's not the same as when she's still living with them. But she's unshakable about her stand that she and Greggy needs to work with their issues first before they jumped into another major life decisions again. She hasn't even asked him yet, bakit siya iniwan ni Greggy.

While Greggy is having a hard time with Clea. He is aware of how attached Clea has been to Irene, but what Clea is displaying is a different kind of missing her mother. It comes with panic. And everyone in the household, even Irene noticed that.

His sister Elvira is a child therapist. She deals with trauma and other psychological issues. He invited her this morning to assess Clea without letting Clea know that she is being assessed.

GREGGY's POV:

My alarm went off for the second time. I really have to get moving. Baka nasa baba na si Elvira.
I touched the space beside me, and once again.. it is empty.

I miss Irene. So much. Mornings are never the same without her. I am against her wishes for us to go on separately for the time being. Ang hirap eh! Whenever she's here, parang she is just so freaking near yet so far.

I understand her reasons. Tama naman siya. We've been away from one another for a decade. May Alfonso at Clea na in between and we only get to know that just recently. BUT... is that enough para mag hiwalay kami ulit? Isn't ten years away, enough already?

I am also worried sick about her safety. Ang aga nya umaalis sa San Juan para maayos si Clea before she goes to school. She'll come back after all of her music lessons. She's tired as hell pero aayusin nya pa si Clea hanggang sa makatulog yung bata. Uuwi siya late n late na.

I wanted to be mad about it! Hindi ako makatulog kakaisip hanggang hindi nakaka balik si Roman dito sa bahay. That's my cue that she's home safe. While I continue to ponder on my thoughts, I heard Clea crying outside my room.

Forgive me. I love Clea with all my heart but this two weeks of dealing with her on and off emotions is starting to get the best of me. I opened the door and I saw Yaya Yolly carrying her.

"Ya, bakit?"
'Ayy tumakbo pababa hinahanap Mommy nya. Padating naman na si Irene, baka nga nasa labas na halos yun, ay nagwawala pa rin. Umiiyak.'
"Clea!" I saw my daughter and Yaya flinched.

"Paki baba nyo nga po, Ya."

Yaya placed my crying daughter in front of me.

"This is too much, Clea ha! You are giving everybody a hard time! Yung mommy mo pagod na pagod na araw araw to be with you! Alam mo naman na she's coming, why do you have throw a fit? Sumosobra ka na ha!"

I can see her shoulders shaking. Her head's bow down while she continues to cry.

'Greggy.. tama na.'
"No yaya! She understands naman ehh! Diba Clea? Oh bakit ang tigas ng ulo mo?"

That's when Irene walked in on us.

'Greggy.. Clea?'

Her face says it all. The shock she must have felt when she heard me talking to Clea this way.