The Wedding That Never Was

Rings 46 - Two lovers who could never be

Rings 46 – Two lovers who could never be

Jenny felt that she was floating. Her father died without even the surgery. All the conversations that he had with them was him saying his piece and saying goodbye.

She couldn't believe it. Just as she was feeling that maybe this time would be different, that her family could actually be whole again. Now their father was gone. They'd never be whole again. Her mother was inconsolable, so were the twins. Ate Cassandra called Kuya James immediately and now Kuya James and the kids were on their flight back here.

Jenny stood outside the gate of their house staring at their house. It looked so small. She couldn't believe that they fit there in the past. Or was she too used to with mansions and palaces that this place looked so small for her?

She felt the warm hands of Angelo on her waist, "Let's go inside?"

They were here because her mother wanted the funeral to take place here. Kuya Anton already offered his place but her mother refused and wanted it here. So the staff were doing everything to make it happen. Ate Cassandra and the rest were at Kuya Anton's place resting but Jenny wanted a look into their old house. The house where she grew up.

"It's so small. Paano kaya kami nagkasya noon dyan? Pero alam ko kahit maliit lang yan, naging masaya naman kami." naluluha niyang kwento habang nakatingin parin sa bahay.

Hinagod ni Angelo ang kanyang likod, "Family is always home. A house does not make it a home. It's a small house but you were home and happy."

Tumango siya at binuksan na ng kahoy na gate ng bahay, naglakad sila papasok sa loob, nahihirapan siya pero bago siya tuluyan magpaalam sa bahay na kinalakihan ay gusto niya munang makita ulit ito.

Nilibot nila ni Angelo ang loob ng maliit na bahay. Tahimik lang si Angelo habang hawak hawak nito ang kamay niya at sila ay naglilibot sa loob. Lumabas din sila at pumunta sa may baboyan nila. Ngumiti siya nang naalala na ayan ang pinaka ayaw niyang gawain noon.  Ang pag linis ng baboyan. Dahil mga bata pa ang kambal noon, sila lang ni Ate Cassandra ang nakatoka sa paglilinis.

Minsan tumatakas siya para lang hindi malinis at pag uwi naman niya nalinis na ng Itay. At dun siya lagi nakokonsensya dahil si Itay umuuwi galing sa pagtatanim tas lilinisin pa ang baboyan.

Naluha ulit bigla siya nang naalala ito.  Tama nga sila siguro na kapag galit ang namumuo sa puso, nakakalimutan din ang mga masasyang memorya.

She'd forgotten that while her father was ruthless and unfaithful, he was still a good provider and a good father. There were still happy memories. She'd forgotten that along the way.  All she remembered was how her father continuously cheated on her mother and how he disowned her and her sister. 

But now, she remembered and she won't forget it anymore.

Umalis sila ni Angelo sa bahay na may maagan na puso, hindi man ganun nawala ang sakit ng mawalan ng magulang pero kahit papano naisip ni Jenny na kaya na niya. 

Nagpahinga muna sila sa bahay nila Kuya Anton. Una ay ayaw na sumama ni Angelo at mag book nalang daw ito sa hotel dahil ang sabi nito ay di maganda ang relasyon nito kayla Kuya Anton. Pero sa maliit nilang bayan ay wala naman hotel, siguro may inn sa sentro pero di iyon pwede para sa tulad ni Angelo kaya pinilit din nalang niya ito na sumama sa kanila.

Nagising siya ng mga hapon din at mabilis na kinuha ang cellphone niya nang may maalala na isang bagay. Tinawagan niya agad ang Kuya James. 

"Jenny." bati nito.  "We'll be there tomorrow night."

"I need to tell you something and I need you to handle it." simula niya, "My father had a past." hindi niya talaga masimulan sabihin,  ang tagal niyang itinago ito kaya di niya alam paano masabi sa ibang tao.