VOLS 1: Stacia Walker

Epilogue

Epilogue

Stacia packed her bags and was ready to leave, but before she could do it. . . Kian promised her to do one thing for him, and so she waited outside the tea shop waiting for what her son had told her to wait.

Hindi naman niya alam kung anong pina-plano ni Kian. Wala siyang ideya sa gagawin nito, pero masaya siya na sinusuportahan siya sa pag-alis nito. When she thought of leaving the city she planned before, it would be for the best, but she was scared of what would Kian think about it. When she talked to him, Kian just told him that if she felt that it was the right thing to do for her, he would support her. Kian will stay in their home while she wanders and finds a new home to live in.

She lived in this hometown for her whole life and leaving it for good might be hard to take in, but it was a good decision she thought. The ladies in her teapot session supported her when she announced it. It was bittersweet for her, she just joined them and left them that fast. But they didn't see it in a bad way, if Stacia saw it as an opportunity to be happy and live a happy life, there was no reason to be mad about it.

Nasaan na ba 'to si Kian?

When she took a sip from her teacup, she noticed someone standing in front of her, and she raised her eyes to look at the person's perusal. Natigilan naman ito nang makita niya si Thamara. 

"Care for a hug?" she extended her arms and put a slight smile on her face.

Agad namang inilipag ni Stacia ang hawak na tasa sa mesa at tumayo mula sa kinauupuan. Hindi niya mapigilan ang nararamdaman at bumuhos na lamang ang mga luha nito. Thamara tried not to cry, but seemingly these tears couldn't be stopped. After a few minutes, Stacia slowly parted her hugs from Thamara, cupping her arms on her face.

"I didn't expect to see you here. H-How?" she asked.

"I think we should take a sit first before I would tell you what happened. . ."

Muli namang bumalik sa pagkauupo si Stacia at umupo naman sa harapan nito si Thamara. Hindi pa rin ito makapaniwala na nakikita ang anak niya at hindi inalis ang pagkahahawak sa kamay.

"I missed you, Tham. . . I'm sorry if—"

"Mom, I would like to cut you off there," anito. "I missed you, too, and I've been too hard-headed and selfish for the past few months and I only think about myself. I understand why you stopped visiting me. . . Kian told me you were hurt and I didn't care about it. I was wrong and I made so many bad decisions and things in life I've come to a realization when I was still locked up. It was. . . hard. . ." She tried not to break her voice, but couldn't help it.

"I'm sorry that you had to go through it, Tham. . . I never want you to experience something like that. For all of my life, I only want the good things for my children—you and your brother. Even if you didn't apologize to me before, I already forgive you because I thought that would be the best thing. I just stopped visiting you because I thought you didn't want to see me anymore. . ."

"And it's all on me. . . I pushed you away. I got mad, and I'm sorry for getting so mad at you just because you found someone you will love and forget about us. That's what I thought when you met Jordan. . . I'm so sorry for being rude to him. You know, it wasn't easy for me as well. . . But I would take it all since I was the one who reacted so badly."

"And I don't blame you for that. . . I understand why you reacted that way. But you know. . . It hurts me much more when you were the one who sent those people to do that to Jordan."

Bumagsak naman ang balikat ni Thamara at napayuko ito. "I explained to Jordan before that I didn't mean it, but it wouldn't happen if it wasn't because of me. . . I apologized to him, but I understand when he didn't accept it. . ."