A Love After Marriage

Twenty Eight

"Caitlin, anak.." Nanay Belen came out from Isabelle's room after feeding her and saw Caitlin standing at the hallway, didn't intend to go in. "Anong nagyari?" She asked worriedly when she saw Caitlin's eyes were red and swollen.

Caitlin looked at Nanay Belen for a moment before she stepped forward and threw herself into the older woman's arms. "Nay Belen..." She cried, letting the tears that she has been holding to roll down freely. A lot of things have happened on the same day and she doesn't know how long she could hold on anymore. "I've tried my best. I really did. But..."

"Alam ko anak, alam kong ginawa mong lahat ng makakaya mo." Nanay Belen moved her hand to her back, stroking her soothingly. Although she doesn't know what happened to her, but it must be very bad and it hurt her a lot. Working for her for so many years, this is the first time she saw her broke down and cried in front of her.

"Alam ko ginawa mong lahat ng kaya mo. Wag mong sisihin ang sarili mo. Walang taong sisihin ka kung hahayaan mong magkamali minsan. Wag mong pasanin ang lahat. Matuto kang marunong maghangad ng tama, at para sa sarili mong kaligayahan." She has witnessed herself how strong Caitlin was and how she fight alone all these years. But no matter how strong, she is just a woman. She needs love and someone to rely on.

"Pagod na pagod na ako Nay." Caitlin closed her eyes, sobbing breathlessly. "Pagod na pagod na akong sumubok, Gusto ko ng sumuko, gusto ko ng lumaya. Gusto ko lang mabuhay kung ano ako. Mabuhay para sa sarili ko hindi para kung kanino."

Nanay Belen didn't say anything and just let her cry in her arms. Sometimes, a hug is better than any comforting words. Time slowly ticking away and when Caitlin finally stopped crying, Nanay Belen gently pulled away from her and wiped her tears away. "Mabuti pa magpahinga ka muna anak, natutulog pa naman si Isabelle, wag kang magaalala nandito naman ako, babantayan ko siya. Umuwi ka muna at magpahinga. Magalala si Isabelle kapag nakita ka niyang ganyan."

Caitlin nodded. She needs some time to gather her thoughts and calm herself down. She doesn't know how to tell Isabelle about Georgina's death. If can, she doesn't want to face it just yet.

"Nandito si Bea kanina, halos kakaalis lang niya. May tumawag sakanya sa opisina at kailangan niyang bumalik at mukhang importante. Babalik nalang daw siya mamaya." Nanay Belen said again, thinking that Caitlin might want to know. But to her surprise, her reaction was cold and uninterested.

As if didn't hear anything that Nanay Belen just said, Caitlin looked at her and spoke again. "Nay, babalik nalang po ko mamaya, magshoshower lang po at magpapahinga saglet. Babalik po ko before 6 or 7 pm."

"Okay." Nanay Belen nodded. "Wag kang magalala, aalagan ko si Isabelle. Akong bahala sakanya."

"Thank you po Nay Belen." Caitlin said before walking towards Isabelle's room and take a look at her daughter through the small viewing window at the door. Like what Nanay Belen said, she was sleeping.

Taking a deep breath, she turned back to Nanay Belen, forcing a light smile on her face before she leave with a heavy heart.

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Caitlin went straight to the bathroom after she reached home and decided to take a long bath to relax herself. It has been a long day, a tiring day for her. She lies back in the bathtub, soaking herself in the hot bubble bath with her eyes closed. The memories of what happened since last night slowly came back and replayed in her mind.

The worries she had when Isabelle was sick, the disappointment she felt when Bea was in the hospital with Daniel, the pain she endured when Bea confessed her love for Jhoanna, the feeling of being torn when Isabelle cried not to leave her father, the guilt she suffered when she can't save Isabelle... all these... it's too overwhelming and too much to bear.