Atonement

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Jihan sits on the sand, her gaze fixed on the bleeding sunset sky in the distance. A silent tear rolls down her cheek, which she hastily wipes away with the back of her hand. She needed to get away from everyone for a while after what happened earlier. Seeing her mother brought back memories she had tried to bury in oblivion. 

She clenches her fist tightly, in an attempt to keep her emotions at bay as she revisits that one painful memory.

Five years ago, Jihan finally saw her mother.

Five years ago, she waited across the street, her heart filled with so much joy as she finally caught a glimpse of the woman she had missed so terribly.

Five years ago, Jihan was ready to forgive and forget, but her mother was so good at breaking her heart that instead of repairing it, Lianne Saavedra shattered it even more. 

"Dad." She found her father behind his desk preoccupied with lots of paperwork. He had been cooped up in his home office all day. Benjamin Zacharias looked up from his laptop and smiled despite obvious weariness. 

"Hey sweetie", he said, his voice lacking in energy. 

"Are you really not coming with us?" she had asked this question numerous times, as if her father would give her a different answer each time.

"I'm really sorry I won't be able to make it. I'm swamped with work, anak." He smiled apologetically.  

Jihan frowned, unable to hide the disappointment on her face. She knew it was a lost cause but at least she tried. 

"Come on now, princess. Don't give me that look." Her father sighed, exhaustion reflecting in his eyes.  He closed his laptop and stood up. He hugged her and kissed her  on the forehead in greeting.  " It's busy season in the company. You know that, right? Even if I wanted to, I doubt my responsibilities would allow me."

Yes, she understood that, but it was holiday season, and they were supposed to go to New York together for Christmas.  

"You're such a workaholic. But you know I love you and  I support you with everything . Even if sometimes nakakatampo ka na."

He broke the hug and gave her a guilty look. 

"Don't work too hard, Dad. Money isn't everything."

"But I enjoy the work. It means so much to me. At isa pa, wala na akong pangtustos sa mga layaw mo kapag hindi ko ginalingan sa trabaho." He laughed at his own jest. She rolled her eyes at his father's silliness. 

"Kidding aside. How about this?  Babawi na lang ako pag-uwi niyo. Anything you want, I'll grant it."

She nodded and finally gave in. There was no use in being petulant. And she wasn't a spoiled brat at all. Never. 'Yung nang-iwan yung spoiled brat', she scoffed at the thought but would never voice it out in the presence of her father. Not when they were already doing great. 

"You take care there, love, alright?"  He affectionately pinched her nose and ruffled her hair. 

"It's not like I'm gonna be alone, Dad. I'm  gonna be with Tita Rosalie's and my cousins the whole time."

Rosalie was her father's younger sister and a famous actress. 

"Oh and Aira's coming, too!" 

"Yeah, I heard. I'm surprised Maggie is letting her daughter out of her sight." 

"Well, we had to be very persuasive. It took a lot of effort to convince Tita Maggie, mind you, Dad."