The Unfortunate Crush (Published under UKIYOTO PUBLISHING HOUSE)

Chapter 36

By the soft, hazy light from the setting sun, I noticed that upon the beach was scattered a handful of shells that had been washed up by the ocean and got stranded on this island.

Kung nakakapagsalita lang ang mga kabibeng ito, what stories would they tell? Would they speak of life and what had brought them to this place?

Kasalukuyan akong nakaupo sa buhanginan habang si Rett ay nasa hindi kalayuan at sinusubukang tawagan ang piloto ng kanyang chopper.

"Iha..."

Kaagad akong napalingon kay Tita Sam na siyang nagsalita.

"Tita."

Umupo kaagad ito sa aking tabi.

"I'm very sorry for all the things I did..." Napapiyok ito.

Earlier, when we returned to Eden, Rett has become obviously harsh to her mother. Pinagsabihan ko man ito ay hindi pa rin niya maalis ang malamig niyang pakikitungo sa ina.

Napakurap-kurap ako.

I have expected that his mom would hate me even more once she found out about the truth. Pero nagkamali ako.  

That's why it's a shock to me to see her saying sorry now.

"N-Naiintindihan ko naman po, Tita. Your actions toward me are understandable---"

"No, of course they're not!" She cut me off. "I so was rude and harsh to you! Pasensya na, iha. Hindi ko alam na ganoon," Madamdamin niyang sagot.

Napaiwas ako ng tingin.

Natatandaan ko ang mga araw kung kailan nagmakaawa ako sa kanya.

I then tried to reflect if I was on her shoes, gagawin ko rin kaya ang ginawa niya?

What she only did was protect his son's family from being home wrecked by me.

It's just so hard to be angry when I know where she's coming from.

"Okay lang po, Tita. You only did what's good for your son at naiintindihan ko po..."

"I-I'm sorry... I really am." Her voice broke. "Kinuwento ni Dana at ni Rett ang lahat lahat sa akin. I didn't know that they both fell out of love."

"Mahal ko po si Rett, Tita. Kaya kung hahayaan niyo po ako... Pangako po, aalagaan ko siya..."

Humikbi ito at niyakap ako. Tumango ito. "Of course, iha... Kung saan siya masaya ay susuportahan ko siya... And it turns out, ikaw talaga ang kaligayahan niya..."

Napasinghap ako at niyakap sila pabalik. "Salamat, Tita."

Humalakhak ito at pinunasan ang aking mga luha. "It's mom now."

Napangisi ako sa kabila ng aking pagluha. "Mom," I said.

Ngumiti ito at hinawakan ang aking kamay.

"O siya. Maghanda ka na, ang asawa mo'y hindi na mapakali. Gusto na niyang matingnan ka ng doctor."

Napalingon kami kay Rett na humalukipkip lang sa gilid habang tinitingnan kami.

Masyado itong seryoso kaya natawa na lang kaming dalawa ni Mommy Sam.

"Tita and An! You should try this!" Lahat kami ay napalingon kay Danabel na kasakuluyang iniihaw ang oysters at squids.

Nagpaalam si Tita na umalis para daluhan muna  si Dana kaya tumango ako.

Napahinga ako ng malalim.

It seems like a weight has been lifted inside me at nang tingnan ko si Rett ay pakiramdam ko ay ganoon din siya.