Every New Beginning Counts

Chapter 30

Tumakbo kaagad si Ara papunta kay Sam na inaayos ang lamesa sa café. Kararating lang nila dahil naabutan sila ng traffic kaya naman halos kumpleto na lahat ng imbetado para sa farewell party nila ni Antoinette. Galing din kasi sila sa condo ni Kanoa na medyo malayo sa venue.

"Akala namin hindi na kayo sisipot, eh!" Sam hugged Ara. "Nauna pang dumating 'yung taga-Japan kaysa sa inyo!" 

"Impossible!" Ara frowned and chuckled. "Thank you so much for arranging this, Kuya."

Sam kissed forehead as a response to what she said. Tinanguan nito si Kanoa na nasa may pinto kausap si Jairold na naghihintay na rin pala sa kanila. Umuwi rin talaga si Sayaka para lang sa party nila ni Antoinette kaya tuwang-tuwa siya dahil kumpleto sila.

Belle walked towards her. "Ang ganda naman the dress! You bought that one?"

Umikot si Ara para ipakita ang dress na nabili niya online. Mumurahin lang naman iyon kumpara sa mga nakasanayan niyang mamahaling dress. Hindi na rin siya mahilig sa designer clothes nitong mga nakaraan, nabenta pa niya ang mga lumang gamit niya pandagdag sa savings nila ni Antoinette.

"Let's go to Kuya Sam's office? I wanna talk to you," bulong ni Belle.

"Okay. I'll just let Kanoa know para hindi niya ako hanapin. I'll be there in a minute," sabi ni Ara.

Lumapit siya sa mag-ama niyang kausap sina Jai at Gia. Nag-hi na rin siya sa mga ito at nagpasalamat sa pagpunta. Kapapanganak lang din ni Gia nitong nakaraan kaya ipinagpasalamat niya ang effort. Nag-sorry pa nga dahil wala raw farewell gift.

"We'll be inside Kuya Sam's office muna," bulong ni Ara kay Kanoa. "I think they're gonna talk to me about what happened yesterday. Are you gonna be okay here?"

"Sige lang. Maglalaro lang muna kami ni Antoinette sa play area niya." Tinuro ni Kanoa ang maliit na doll house na naka-set up malapit sa may media area ng café. "Sige na."

Ara waved at her Kuya Sam's friends. Kumpleto ang mga ito lalo na at naging ka-close na rin naman niya. Aaron, Belle's boyfriend, was with them, too. Even Sayaka who was talking to Frankie and Harley.

Pagpasok ni Ara sa office, nakaupo si Belle sa sofa, nakasandal naman si Sam sa office table. Sabay na tumingin ang mga ito. Hindi siya sigurado kung ano ang sasabihin. Posibleng magalit, pero wala na siyang pakialam.

"Mom called me last night about what happened yesterday sa bahay," si Belle ang naunang magsalita. "What really happened? I want your perspective, Barbara. Mom sounded upset and she said na you're disrespectful towards them lalo kay dad."

Sumandal si Ara sa pinto at ngumiti. "Disrespectful? What do you think? You both know dad, too."

"Knowing you, I know he did too much for you to react that way," sabi ni Sam. "Sabi ni mommy, bigla na lang kayong umalis. Bigla mo na lang daw kinuha si Antoinette sa kaniya and sumasagot ka na."

"If you could only see how Dad looked at Kanoa," Ara looked down and shook her head. "I understand his anger because I am his daughter, but I will never understand the disrespect towards the father of my child. He directly said that Kanoa was nothing but a mess, a bad influence. That he's nothing and that he doesn't deserve to be in our lives. That my decisions are the reason why I'm miserable . . . that my decisions made me miserable."

Sam and Belle were looking at Ara who was just looking down.

"He wanted Kanoa out of our lives. My plan won't work as long as I'm with him and my life won't get better until I decided to listen to him," Ara looked at her siblings. "And Mommy said nothing. She was . . . just there letting Dad insult Kanoa. She was just there looking at me while Dad tells me I'm a failure."