Unfathomable Love

XXI

Aiah is effortlessly avoiding Irene, tahimik lang ito at nagsasalita lang kung tinatanong. Magkatabi si Beatrice at Irene habang katabi naman ni Aiah si Imee at Imelda.

They all had a proper and fun dinner together, they stayed in the dining room for some chitchat.

"Excuse me po, I'll just use the bathroom.." sabi ni Aiah.

Maya-maua sumunod si Irene dahil may kukunin daw ito.

"Aiah," tawag niya sa dalaga.

Nilingon naman siya ni Aiah, na para bang nagtatanong kung anong kailangan nito sakanya.

Irene smiled at her, naglakad ito papalapit sakanya at niyakap.

"I didn't know anak, I'm sorry.." sabi ni Irene, hindi naman maintindihan ni Aiah ang ibig sabihin ni Irene.

"I couldn't imagine the pain you've been through, forgive me anak.. I'll make him pay sa ginawa niya sayo,"

And with that Aiah knew kung sino ang tinutukoy niya.

"We're okay, okay na po kami. You don't have to worry about me, or us anymore.." sagot ni Aiah. Irene shook her head as if saying that she can't just let it pass.

"No.. I know I hurt you, pero mas doble yung sakit anak, kapag ikaw na ang nasasaktan.. You don't know how much I wish to go home and bring you with me, Aiah, I love you.."

Nakatitig lang si Aiah sakanya at halos hindi makagalaw.

"It was easy for you to leave, hindi kana rin mahihirapan na kalimutan ako. Please, let's just leave it that way.."

"Do you really think that it was easy for me? Anak, it wasn't. For years, I admit I tried to temporarily not think about you so I could go on with life everyday but it wasn't enough. Hindi sapat 'yun. I was hell bent begging na makita at makasama ka ulit so the pain would stop but I couldn't.."

Irene's tears are starting to form as well as Lindtsey's.

"Aiah, you have been a big part of my life and you own a piece in my heart. Hindi madaling gawin 'yun, anak. Let me be your mom, let me still be your mom.."

"What's happening here?"

It was Beatrice.

"Why are you crying?" tanong ni Bea kay Irene, tumingin siya kay Aiah who's already wiping her tears.

"Wala kana talagang ibang ginawa kundi paiyakin si mommy, stop it Aiah. Itigil mo na yung sakit na pinaparamdam mo kay mommy.." sabi ni Beatrice, hinawakan agad siya ni Irene.

"No, walang kasalanan si Aiah, anak.."

"No mom, she's always the reason why you're hurting and crying.."

"Bea, you don't understand. Tama na,"

"I do understand, naiintindihan ko lahat. That this is still hard for you and you haven't fully accepted it yet, you've been crying relentlessly for more than five years already all because of one reason."

Tahimik lang si Lindtsey habang nakikinig sa dalawa.

"Utang na loob, Aiah. Stop hurting my mother, tama na.." Beatrice authoritatively said, Irene looked at Aiah apologetically.

"Beatrice, stop it. Hindi ako sinasaktan ni Lindtsey, ako ang nasasaktan para sakanya." Irene said straightforwardly. Hindi naman inakala ni Aiah na ipapagtanggol siya ni Irene ngayon.

"Don't worry, this will be the last time you'll see me with your mom. Hindi mo na kailangang mag-alala, she's yours and I don't have the right to take her away from you kung 'yan yung inaakala mo. I know my boundaries, alam ko kung saan ako lulugar." Lindtsey softly uttered, napatigil naman si Irene.