Learn to Love Again

Untangled

“Ah… Sa, I want to tell you something.”

“Ano ‘yun?”

“Remember that time we were in Jollibee with Mark?” She just nodded. “You left for a while to get Cassie. Mark and I had a little talk about you, Cassie… and us.”

“Ha? What about us?”

“He believes we’re together.”

“Ah… the babe thing. Okay lang ‘yun. Aalis din naman ulit s’ya eh. He wouldn’t even notice that it’s not even true.”

“Sa, he came home to try and win you back. He came home to try and be a family with you and Cassie.”

“Wow.”

“I’m sorry kung hindi ko sinabi sa ’yo agad. And I’m more sorry kasi I didn’t correct it. Are you made at me?”

“Nope. Ako pa ba naman ang magagalit sa ‘yo eh ikaw na nga itong wala nang ginawa kundi tumulong sa aming mag-ina. Don’t worry about it. Kung talagang ‘yun ang gusto n’yang mangyari eh di dapat ituloy pa rin n’ya kahit meron na akong iba. Fake boyfriend ko pa lang nag-give up na  s’ya agad. Hindi n’ya ba kami kayang ipaglaban? If he gave up that easily, then it’s probably for the better. I guess it’s a sign that we’re not meant to be. There’s someone out there who’s better for me… sa aming dalawa ni Cassie.”

Their lives went back to normal the moment Cassie got home.  But now the “normal” included usual visits from Mark and the regular carpool services of Gerald. Mark stayed for three more weeks. He tried to spend every time he could with their daughter. And the day before his flight back to the USA, he and Sarah had a serious talk.

“Sarah, thank you for letting me be a part of Cassie’s life again. I promise to always be there for her,” Mark said.

“Don’t make promises to her that you might not be able to keep. Tama nang ako na lang. Don’t let her down also,” she softly said.

“I will try my best. And I hope we can be friends. I want you to be happy.”

“I am.”

“And I’m really sorry for what happened in the past. Wala akong ibang reason kundi naduwag ako sa responsibility. At habang lumilipas ang mga araw, mas lalo akong naduwag hanggang hindi ko na kayang magpakita o magparamdam pa ulit sa ‘yo. I’m really sorry. I can really see in your eyes that you are happy. Those twinkling eyes used to be mine… I used to be the cause of it.”

“Yeah, you USED to be.”

“I know I told Gerald that I wouldn’t try anymore but I need to ask you this. Wala na ba talagang chance for us?”

At first she got confused at the mention of Gerald’s name. She was about to make a protest when she remembered what he told her. Then she remembered his thoughtfulness the whole week Cassie was away. She smiled as his sweet smile came to her mind.

“You don’t have to say anything anymore. I completely get it,” he said upon seeing her facial expression.

“Huh?” she asked.

“Your smile says it all Sarah. I’m happy that you’re happy… that he’s making you happy. And I’m glad that Cassie loves him the same. Nakikita ko rin naman sa kanya na mahal na mahal n’ya kayong dalawa. And he promised me that he will take care of you and protect you both with his life.”

“He did?”

“Yeah. And I believe him. I’m lucky that someone took over and did what I could not do for you. Always stay happy Sarah.”

“Thank you Mark. I hope you find the one for you, too,” she thoughtfully said. 

********

Author’s Note: I really intended for this to be a short update…  a teaser of some sort. Let me leave you with a part of the song “At Last I See the Light”… a perfect ending to this chapter:

And at last I see the light

And it's like the fog has lifted

And at last I see the light

And it's like the sky is new

And it's warm and real and bright

And the world has somehow shifted

All at once everything looks different

Now that I see you