Again

41 - The Power Of Love

K...kamusta na po pakiramdam ninyo?

I'm okay. Thank you for everything.

Wala pong anuman.

Alyssa...

Y...yes ma'am?

Bakit ayaw mong maniwala na hindi na ako galit sa inyo ni Dennise?

P...po?

You look tensed. You are tensed! Relax hija!

Ah, eh...

Totoo ang sinabi ko sa anak ko Alyssa. O pwede ko na rin ba ikaw tawaging Ysay?

Y...ysay na lang po, ma'am.

Tita, you should start calling me tita. O better yet, call me mommy too.

P...po?

Come here!

Alanganing lumapit si Alyssa sa mommy ni Dennise. At nabigla siya nang niyakap siya nito at biglang umiyak.

T...tita!

Thank you! Thank you for bringing me back my daughter!

I....

Bumitaw ito sa kanya at hinawakan siya sa magkabilang pisngi.

That day when you came to me, I admit I was still full of hatred, but when you talked, with your words, it all died down. Not so suddenly, but even before you left, I already softened my resolve about you two. Pero bigla ka na lang umalis nang hindi man lang ako nakapagpasalamat sa'yo.

I'm sorry po. I thought....I thought you just wanted me to confirm what I had promised and I did. I didn't think....I never thought you would forgive me, forgive us at all.

Because you're willing to sacrifice, Ysay. And you were unselfish. And I realized, love is all about that. I should be the one doing that, doing that for my daughter pero hindi. I am a mother and it should be my responsibility to make sure my daughter is happy, not the other way around. And she is happy with you.

I could sacrifice my strict belief on relationship and not be selfish about it, just for the sake of my daughter's happiness. Everything that had happened wouldn't have happened if I'd realize it sooner, if my husband realized it noon pa man. At katulad nga ng sabi nila, nasa huli ang pagsisisi. Kailangang may masaktan muna bago natin maintindihan at matanggap ang pangyayari.

Pero, nandito na. I could live the rest of my days blaming myself because I was an incompetent mother, or start forgiving and redeeming myself to both of you, which is way way better, right?

Umiling si Alyssa.

But Tita, you don't have to! And please, stop blaming yourself na po! We all didn't want that to happen!

I know! I know that now, anak! But just the same, patawarin mo pa rin ako, patawarin ninyo ako ni Dennise! And I promise, I promise habang nabubuhay ako, I'll be the most supportive mother to both of you!

Salamat po, tita! Salamat po!

They embraced and for a while, tunog lang ng pag-iyak nila ang naririnig sa pagitan nila. By that alone, whatever burdens left in Alyssa's chest were finally removed. Sana din lang, ganun ang nararamdaman ni tita Arlene para tuluyan na itong gumaling.

Pagkatapos mahimasmasan pareho, nagbitiw sila at inalalayan ni Alyssa ang babae na maupo katabi niya.

I didn't properly introduce myself po sa inyo. You knew me only as Deny's friend and classmate then, but let me introduce myself now as your daughter's girlfriend. And though it's already late to do this, I'll still gonna ask your blessing on our relationship po, tita.