Unfinished Yesterday

The Introduction

(Paula's P.O.V.)

I felt relieved nang dumating na kami sa bahay. Magpapaiwan sana si Vince sa Resort at hihintayin nalang ang tawag ko pero sinabi ko sa kanya na okay lang na sa bahay na siya maghihintay.

Sinalubong kami ni Nanay Mameng na nagtataka kung bakit bumalik ako at kasama ko pa si Vince. Hindi na ako nagpaliwanag at nagtanong ako sa kanya kung nasaan si Pauline. Sinabi niya na nasa kwarto nito.

Aakyat na sana ako ng makita ko si Vince na palakad lakad sa sala.

"You can come with me but sa labas ka muna ng kwarto niya magstay." Agad naman itong sumunod sa akin.

Mamaya naramdaman kong hinawakan niya ang kamay ko kaya tumigil ako at nilingon siya.

"Don't you think dapat nagdala ako ng regalo o pasalubong sa kanya? He said nervously.

Unti-unting nawala ang inis ko sa kanya. "Ano ba ang gusto niyang ipabili?"tanong nito.

Tiningnan ko lang siya "Kanina tinawagan niya ako para humingi ng pasalubong. Alam mo kung ano yun? Yacht"

Tiningnan ko kung ano ang magiging reaksyon niya . Nakita kong tumango siya "Ganun ba? Sige tatawagan ko ang accountant ko to find me a yacht." Mabilis na sabi nito.

I was shocked again. "Oh what happened to the thrifty Vince na lahat ng binibili ay pinag-iisipan? We're talking millions here Vince"

"Yan ang gusto ng anak natin, I'll give it to her" balewalang sabi nito.

I understood what he meant " No Vince, you'll not gonna spoil my daughter expensive things. You can buy her shoes,dress or whatever but not that expensive. We need to instill her the discipline of spending money wisely. I know ang gusto mo lang ay punan ang mga nawalang taon but you have a lifetime to do that. Hindi ko ipagkakait sa iyo ang anak ko. Parenting is tough Vince ,you need to be firm on your decisions on what is best for Pauline."

He looks at me with admiration "Motherhood changes you. I'll try my best Pao to be a good father. I am new to this and I will need your help every now and then."

"Everything for my daughter" I said and continue walking. Binitawan naman niya ang kamay ko.

"Our daughter Pao, not yours only" he said.

I  kept quiet kasi nasa harap na kami ng Kwarto ni Pauline. I opened the door slowly at nakita ko ang anak ko na nakaupo sa silya with a drawing canvass sa harap niya. She's facing the window overlooking the sea. Nakatalikod siya sa pintuan kaya hindi niya kami nakita.

I walked slowly and sit beside her. "Mama? You're here already?" She looked at her clock " But it's only 1:30 ,you finished working already? She asked na agad naman nagpakandong sa akin. We were both facing the sea now.

" Look what you've paint here? It's wonderful Yulen" I said admiring the beautiful drawing. Pareho kaming mahilig magpaint. Bonding na naming dalawa yan paminsan-minsan.

"Thank you" Hinahaplos ko yung buhok niya. She tilted her head and looked at me in the eyes " We will have a serious talk ?"

"How did you know?" I asked.

"You have that 'We need to talk look' all over you and you caressed my hair. You always do that every time that there's something important you would like to tell me" She said and she goes back looking at the sea.

"It's about your father" I said. I felt her tensed so I caressed her hair again.

"What about him?" She asked.

"Yulen your father wants to meet you and he wants to be part of your life." She didn't react " I told you already the circumstances about why your father and I were not together. But I  didn't tell you that your father didn't knew that you existed only until today. I made a mistake, I am sorry anak." I said in almost tears already.