Home For A Cloudless Sky

Chapter 10

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Chapter 10

"Ate Pau, please." paghabol ni Cait sa kapatid. "She's changed. Kung anoman 'yung mga rumors na narinig mo about her, please, don't let it define her."

Marahas na lumingon sa amin si Pau. Her eyes screamed cruelty. "Rumors? Really, Cait? They're not rumors! I've seen it with my own eyes. Oh, wait.. Don't tell me kahit minsan hindi man lang ako nabanggit ni Bea sa mga kwento niya?" she smiled sarcastically. "I'm sure that the moment na narinig mong isa ako sa ginago niya, hindi siya makakatapak dito sa bahay natin."

A tear fell from Cait's eyes. I took a step forward and shielded her from Pauline. "Pauline, I'm sorry. We're here.. I'm here to earn your approval. Mahal ko si Cait, believe it or not."

"Mahal? Sa huling pagkakatanda ko hindi ka marunong niyan! You have always reminded me that you don't have a fucking heart! So what changed?!" her trembling lips parted as she stepped closer, her eyes meeting mine with a hesitant yet determined glint.

I took a deep breath when I felt Cait's hand tightened its grip on my arm. "Because it's Cait."

Hindi makapaniwalang nilingon niya ang kapatid. "Iyon lang?! Dahil siya si Cait? Iyon lang? Ganoon lang kasimple 'yung sagot mo?!"

"Cait opened my eyes and brought me back to reality. She healed me in ways that nobody else ever tried to do. Hindi ko man masabi noon sa'yo but I was always grateful na palagi kang nandoon para iiwas ako sa mga kagaguhan ko. I appreciate all the things you did for me.. I'm sorry na pati ikaw nadamay sa kagaguhan ko. If only I could turn back time, Pau, pero imposible.. kaya nga bawat paggising ko ngayon, I'm working hard to be the best I can be, not just for myself, but for Caitlin."

Pauline wiped her tears away before turning her back on us. Pumasok na siya sa loob at iniwan kami.

"Hey.. Love," pagkuha ko sa atensyon ni Cait.

Nang mag-angat siya ng tingin ay puno ng luha ang mga mata niya. Maingat kong pinunasan ang mga luhang kumakawala sa mga mata niya.

"I'm sorry, Cait. I'm the worst. Fuck!" huminga ako nang malalim at tinalikuran siya. I looked up and closed my eyes as I rested both of my hands on my waist trying to calm myself down.

Cait wrapped her arms around me.

"Ang gago ko, 'di ba?"

Now that I think about it.. kung ikinuwento ko ba lahat ng nangyari at nagbanggit ng mga pangalan tapos nalaman niya agad na isa sa mga pinaglaruan ko ay ang kapatid niya.. Sa una pa lang kaya nilayuan na niya ako? At kung oo.. Ano ako ngayon? Sino kaya ako ngayon?

I need to let go of the regrets and second-guessing, and focus on the lessons learned and the path ahead. It's time to stop beating myself up over what didn't happen, and start building towards what could be.

"I'm not backing out, Cait. I'm not giving up on you just because Pauline doesn't approve of me. I will keep on making myself better and prove that I'm worthy of you."