Learn to Love Again

What Should've Been His Life

The next day, Sarah got up early. Well actually, she wasn’t able to sleep well. She has thought a million times before of the time when Cassie would finally be meeting Mark but being in that situation made her realize how ‘unready’ she is of it. She tossed and turned, trying to think of how to tell her daughter that the father she has only seen in a picture is now ready to face her. She was also worried of Cassie’s reaction. Will she accept him? Will she get mad? Will she talk to him? Would she even want to face him?

She brewed some coffee and sat on a stool while waiting for it. She was so deep in thought that she didn’t notice her mom enter the kitchen.

“Anak, malalim ang ‘ata ang iniisip mo?”

“Ma, nandito na si Mark?”

“Ano? Saan mo nakita?”

“Pagkahatid po sa akin ni Ge kagabi, nasa labas po s’ya. Siguro kakatok pa lang s’ya nung dumating kami. Gusto daw n’ya makita si Cassie.”

“Anong sabi mo?”

“Sabi ko bumalik na lang s’ya ulit ngayon kasi gabi na.”

“Siguro nga panahon na para makilala ni Cassie ang daddy n’ya.”

“Sa palagay mo ba Ma tama na ipakilala ko pa s’ya kay Mark?”

“Anak, karapatan n’yang malaman kung sino ang ama n’ya.”

“Ma, natatakot ako sa magiging epekto nito sa kanya.”

“Matalinong bata si Cassie. Maiintindihan n’ya ito.”

“Sana nga Ma.”

An hour later, Sarah went to Cassie’s bedroom to wake her up. “Baby? Gising ka na. Today is a very important day. You have to get ready now. Cassie?”

“Mommy is Tito Ge there already?” she sleepily asked.

“Wala pa baby. Pero there’s someone else who’s coming by to visit you?”

“Sino po?” she said as she sat up.

“Ah Cass… kasi I need to tell you something.”

“What is it Mom?”

“It’s about your dad.”

“And?”

“He wants to see you. He’s going to visit you today,” Sarah slowly said.

“Okay,” the child casually said. “What about Tito Ge? What time is coming over?”

“Kasi baby sabi ni Tito Ge hindi na lang daw muna s’ya pupunta ngayon kasi nga dadating ang daddy mo. He wants you to spend time with your dad.”

“Pero Mom he promised he’ll bring us to Jollibee today,” she complained.

“I know pero kasi nga pupunta ang daddy mo kaya hindi na lang muna s’ya pupunta.”

“Mom, Tito Ge can come naman after Daddy leaves di ba? Let’s call him. I still want to go to Jollibee with him. Please Mom, please.”

“Eh kung si daddy mo na lang kaya ang magdala sa ‘yo sa Jollibee?”

“Mommy, hindi naman s’ya ang bestfriend ko eh. Please naman po. Please call Tito Ge,” Cassie begged.

She gave in, “Okay. Now get up. We’re going to eat breakfast already.”

“Yes, Mom.”

Sarah went out of her daughter’s bedroom and straight to hers. She grabbed her phone and sent Gerald a message: Good morning. I need to talk to you. Please call me paggising mo. She put down her phone and was about to go out when her phone rang. “Ge,” she said when she answered the phone.