Mrs. Araneta

Chapter XXIV: Mickey 🐭

"But he, that dares not grasp the thorn,
should never crave the rose."
-Anne Bronte

***
GREGGY's POV:

"You say you've been overseas
I say over where
You say just a holiday
My Alsatian heir
I say I've been working late, working overtime
Haven't seen the sun since eighty-nine"

Full week has passed since Irene and Clea are back, and in two days time, we will be traveling to Paris for Clea's first Disneyland trip. I should be happy but I am not. I am every bit of a broken man.

While Irene is making it work for Clea with her current living situation, I find it odd and painful. She's staying with him. Their house is just beside mine. I badly wanted to ask her whether or not they're working things out, but I am too afraid for what I might hear from her.

And tonight, Clea will be sleeping with them. That's how it is now. Every other day, Clea gets to spend her evening with Irene and Patrick.
She will go to school the next day with me, picking her up. On the nights she sleeps here with me, Irene will go back to their place once Clea settled in. She'll be back the next day to fix Clea before she goes to school.

That's one hell of a job. But she's sticking with it.What for? For him? For Clea? Or for her not to be with me? I am playing with her ring.. the ring I gave her last year as I allow my thoughts to continue drift away. I should be happy for her. That finally, it seems that she's moving on. But I can't.

Not yet. Maybe someday soon? Or never. If this is the new version of us, then please just take it all. I just want one moment from where I can go back.

Back to when she still loves me.
Back to when I was her world.
Back to when her sun set and shines for us.
Back to when I was not breaking her heart.

Because if for the time I have left, all I will be having are memories, I'd rather go without. Because it hurts to remember.

***
I heard someone knocking outside my door. I know it's her. But even before I get hold of the knob, Clea opened it already. 'Mommmmmyyyy!'

She's smiling. And all I can think about.. is how beautiful she is. She really is so damn beautiful.

'Why are you here? Nag pa pack si Daddy oh.'
'Behave naman ako Mommy ahh. Nag d-draw lang ako. And Daddy's not talking naman, ang boring!'

She moves her eyes from Clea to my clothes that's all over my bed.

'Stay ka dito? O you want to help Nanay prepare the food muna?'
'May food? Hindi tayo mag cook with Dada?'

'Anak, late kasi uuwi si Dada. We will eat with Daddy. Is that okay?'
'Course' Mommy! See you both ha. Paki bilisan, gutom na po ako.'

As soon as Clea get out of the door, Irene started scanning my things for maybe what am I missing.

'May natapos ka na?'
"I don't know how to pack. Ayan lahat. Just leave it, kay Yaya na lang."

'Nag aayos sila ni Clea ng pagkain, diba? Let me do the packing na. Move over.'
"Why?"

'Why what?'
"You do not have to do this, why would you?"

'It's okay, Greggy. Hindi naman mahirap mag pack. Kawawa ka naman kung magulo gamit mo.'
"Baka mag selos asawa mo."

She just started laughing. Anong nakakatawa sa sinabi ko? Totoo naman ahh!

'Where's your hygiene kit? Meron na?'
"Wala pa. I didn't know I needed one."