Letters From Comet

154 | Narration

It's been thirty minutes since Adira and Comet arrived at a nearby coffee shop, pero wala pang nagsasalita sa kanila. Ni hindi nga rin sila makatingin sa isa't isa.

Noong una silang magkakilala last year, takot ang nasa mga mata ni Adira samantalang pagkamuhi naman ang nasa mga mata ni Comet. Pero ngayong iba na ang sitwasyon nila, parang hindi na nila alam kung paano sisimulan ang mga bagay na alam naman nilang dapat nilang pag-usapan.

But because they both knew that they needed this, they also knew that one of them had to start or this conversation will go to nothing again.

"Hiwalay na kami ng Tito mo," Adira started, still feeling uneasy about this whole set up. "We just felt like the relationship was wrong all along."

Dahil matagal na niyang hindi kinakausap ang Uncle Daddy niya, hindi alam ni Comet na hiwalay na pala ito sa babaeng kaharap niya ngayon. Pero kahit narinig na ang unang sinabi ni Adira, hindi pa rin siya nagsalita.

"We were highschool sweethearts. Doon unang nagsimula ang relationship namin. But things got out of hand back then, and we broke up. Ikinasal din kami sa iba't ibang tao but mine didn't really go into the right place because it was an arrangement. Para kaming business partners ng asawa ko the whole time we were together."

Comet scoffed at what he heard. Hindi siya makapaniwala sa mga naririnig ngayon. "Kaya kinailangan mong sirain 'yong magandang relasyon ng Uncle Daddy ko at ng asawa niya?"

"N-No. It... it wasn't like that," Adira said, defending herself.

"I grew up under their care after my parents died in an accident. Buong buhay ko nakita ko kung paano nila minahal at pinahalagahan ang isa't isa. Kaya hindi ko maintindihan kung paanong nasira silang dalawa when you came into the picture lalo na kung high school pa pala 'yong mga memories na meron kayo."

Adira started crying. She's feeling all the embarrassment starting to creep in. She's a 48 year old woman who cheated at 47, and is now pregnant because of that adultery. Paano napunta dito ang mga desisyon niya sa buhay? How could she ruin herself in her late 40s?

"I'm sorry, Comet. Siguro kasalanan ko rin. I needed affection and I missed your Uncle Dad. The memories just came rushing in at hindi na ako nakapag-isip nang maayos. That's why I am ashamed to even face you right now," Adira said in between her tears. "Pero para sa anak ko, gagawin ko ang lahat."

"Talaga? Nakwento ni Given sa akin na hindi mo rin naman siya trinato nang maayos buong buhay niya. Paborito mo si Grace, paborito ng asawa mo si Gift. She was always left out in the dark, and she didn't deserve any of that."

Alam ni Comet sa sarili niya na hindi niya dapat ganito kausapin ang Nanay ng babaeng mahal niya pero dahil sa mga nangyari, hindi niya lang din mapigilan ang sarili niya.

"Alam kong marami akong kasalanan kay Given at gusto kong bumawi sa kaniya. Breaking up with your Uncle, fixing our family, and talking to you are my first steps. Naiintindihan ko kung galit ka sa akin at sa mga ginawa ko, pero sana hindi mo idamay ang anak ko. We were never close while she was growing up but she's still my daughter and I know that she loves you. I just hope you're not giving her a hard time because of how tangled our families have been."

"Mahal na mahal ko po si Given, at hindi ko siya kailanman sisisihin para sa mga bagay na ikaw naman ang gumawa. Sinabi ko na 'yon sa kaniya. Pero masisisi mo ba siya kung siya mismo ang nag-iisip ng mga bagay-bagay? She's guilty because you hurt my family back then. She's guilty because my Auntie Mom died. She's guilty because you're pregnant right now. Pero masisigurado ko sa inyo na hindi ko siya pinapahirapan dahil sa mga bagay na 'yan. Hindi ako gano'n kababaw."

Comet tried to calm himself down. Hindi niya pa siguro talaga kayang kausapin si Adira nang maayos sa ngayon pero sa loob-loob niya, umaasa rin siya na sana magkaayos din sila lalo na kapag naayos na sila ni Given dahil Nanay pa rin ito ng babaeng mahal niya and he doesn't want the past to possibly affect his and Given's future.

"Sana magkaayos din po kayo ni Given. Sana maramdaman niya rin ang sincerity ninyo dahil doon lang siya makakalaya sa lahat ng iniisip niya ngayon."

When Comet attempted to leave, Adira suddenly grabbed him by the wrist, realizing that she didn't gave him a proper apology yet.

"Sana mapatawad mo rin ako, hijo. Pati na ang Uncle Daddy mo dahil matagal ka na niyang gustong kausapin, hindi niya lang alam kung paano gagawin. Gagawin ko ang lahat para maging maayos 'to, pangako."

For the first time since they faced each other even from a year ago, Comet smiled at Adira.
"It's no use dwelling on the past. Pinapatawad ko na po kayo kaya sana, mapatawad niyo rin ang sarili niyo pati na ang lahat ng taong nadamay sa sitwasyon."

Adira smiled genuinely, knowing that her daughter met a man who she knows will take care of her and love her for the rest of her life.

And when Comet left first, the both of them knew. All that's left for them to do now is to fully take care of everything. It's time to settle things.