A Second Chance

Epilogue: Huling Kabanata

"Pa," Chloe uttered as soon as Paul walked out from the door.
"Pa, 'yung kamay mo po." She said and reach for his hand that have a blood on its fist.
"That's nothing. Magpahinga ka na." Paul replied, he gazed Chloe and walked away.
Chloe looked at her father's back, she then looks at Sam. Hindi sya umalis o kumilos sa kinatatayuan. Sam meet her daughter's gazes.
"Chloe" Sam whispered. Chloe gulped and looked away. Nahahati ang simpatya sa dalawa.
"Anak, let me explain." Sam plead, hinang-hina man ay lumapit pa rin sya Chloe.
"No need, Ma. Alam ko na po lahat." Chloe uttered, Sam shakes her head.
"No. Hindi, Chloe. Please, pakinggan mo muna ako." She pleads again.
"You lied, Ma. Alam ko na po lahat. Alam –"
"Anak, please. Pakinggan mo muna ako, please." Sam cut her off. Chloe took a deep breath, she then locked her eyes into Sam's.
"Sinundan kita sa Tagaytay, Ma. I'm sorry po pero may iba sa inyo 'nong lalaking 'yon simula 'nong nakita natin sya sa firm. Sorry po pero naghanap ako ng pwedeng maging sagot sa mga tanong ko. Nakita ko ang mga pictures nyong dalawa sa kwarto mo. Alam ko pong wala akong karapatang makialam, pero ayoko po kasing masira ang pamilyang 'to. 'nong sinundan kita, Ma narinig ko lahat ng mga pinag-usapan nyo. Sobrang saya ko pa nga kasi hindi ka pumayag sa gusto nya, but you stayed there with him. Then you lied, sa akin at kay Papa. Nakita ko rin kayo kanina, sobrang sakit sa puso, Mama. And my heart aches for Papa also, kasi akala ko hindi ka nga pumayag sa gusto ng lalaking 'yon. Kaya alam mo lahat, Mama. At kahit alam ko na may ganon, hindi ako nagsumbong. Hindi ako nagsumbong kay Papa kahit na nako-konsensya ako. Akala ko, ayaw mong saktan si Papa, pero bakit Ma? Bakit mo nagawa 'yon kay Papa? Bakit mo kami sinaktan? Akala ko ba mahal mo po kami? Bakit meron nang iba?" Chloe said, Sam sniffles. Chloe wiped her tears as Sam reached for her hand.
"Hindi na po ako makikialam. Wala na po akong ipipilit katulad ng dati. Siguro kaya humantong sa ganito ngayon kasi baka nga pinilit ko lang kayo ni Papa. Pinilit kong maging buong pamilya tayo." Chloe said and turned around, but Sam stopped her.
"Chloe – anak, pag-usapan natin 'to please." She said that made Chloe faced her again.

Chloe stares at her mother's face, yes she stays for Sam. Sam told her everything, lahat-lahat. At nagsisisi syang inunahan nya si Sam. Now she get it. And she believes in Sam. Naniniwala syang hindi niloloko ni Sam si Paul para lang kay Ian. Sam fell asleep, crying. She admits that's she's in fault for keeping secrets from Paul. They are married, and it should be no spaces for their secrets, but she failed.

"Pa." Chloe uttered when Paul came in. His gust has bandage. He just eyed his wife.
"Go now, Chloe. Go to sleep. Magpahinga ka na." He told Chloe and kisses her forehead.
"Pa, hindi naman po kayo maghihiwalay ni Mama diba?" She asked. Paul eyed her, he then heaved a deep sigh.
"Go to sleep, anak. It's late." He replied. Chloe slumped her shoulder as she nods.

Nagising si Sam na walang kasama kinabukasan, naaalala nyang kasama nya si Chloe bago sya nakatulog. She look around and sighed when she didn't find any trace of her husband.

"Paul," She uttered when she found Paul in their living room.
"Where – where are you going?" She asked when she noticed his traveling bag.
"Aalis ka? Bakit?" She asked asked when Paul did not answer.
"Sa bahay na muna ako. Chloe and Kate will stay with me." Paul said, he then stood up and gets his bag. Sam shooked her head.
"No. Hindi. Please, Love. 'wag naman ganito please, 'wag mo 'kong iiwan, Paul please." Nagsimula na namang mag-unahan ang mga luha. She hugs Paul as she beg.
"We have to breath, Sam. I need to sort these things out." He told her.
"No. Hindi kayo aalis ng mga bata. Maniwala ka sakin, Paul, I am not cheating on you. Hindi kita niloloko, please." She says as she cries. Paul untangled her hands on his waist. He then started to walk away.
"Don't leave me, please Paul. Don't do this to me!" She wrapped her arms around him again, Paul prevents his tears. Sam burried her face on his back, begging him to stay.

What had happened to them? Where's the love that they've built for years? Bakit biglang ngayon ay unti-unting naguguho ang lahat sa kanila? Saan nagsimulang magkamali ang lahat?