Mend Her Broken Heart (Original Version) -Completed-

Second Epilogue

Second Epilogue

Hosea Penelope

"IS IT POSSIBLE to find a greater love?"

"Yes it is, Hopee."

Gulat na binalingan ko ang pinto. Nakasandal sa hamba si Mama. Hindi ko alam na naroon pala siya. Buong akala ko ay mag-isa lamang ako sa silid... mag-isa lamang ako sa bahay. Kanina ay umalis siya upang magtungo sa opisina. Posible kaya na narinig niyang kinakausap ko na naman ang aking sarili?

I have a habit of talking to myself when I'm confused... when I couldn't figure things out. I shouldn't be thinking about love. But the debate with my best friend after the Romeo and Juliet discussion at English class ended this afternoon made me think about it. For my best friend, Romeo's great love wasn't Juliet but she was his greater love.

I stared at my mother, suddenly becoming curious. "So, is Papa not your great love?" nagdadalawang isip kong tanong.

Nakagat ko ang aking labi nang makita ang panlalaki ng mga mata ni Mama. Hindi ko alam ang kuwento ng aking mga magulang kaya't hindi ko rin alam ang ibig-sabihin ng reaksiyon niyang iyon. I tried to ask her about their love story but she wouldn't tell me. She said that I was too young to understand.

Dahandahan siyang lumapit patungo sa akin nang tila makahuma sa tanong ko.

"Actually, he was. Your father wasn't my first love but I'm sure that he was my great love."

Natulala ako sa narinig. Pilit kong inorganisa ang kanyang sinabi. Was? Past tense? Ibig-sabihin ba niyon, pagkatapos ni Papa ay mayroon pa siyang ibang minahal? Someone became a greater love? Someone else had a bigger space in her heart?

I heard that Papa's brother, Tito Charles, who married Mama's sister, Tita Valerie, was Mama's first love. That's the only portion of their story that I knew. Mom said that it was too complicated, that it's impossible for me to understand. Anyway, kung si Tito Charles nga ang first love ni Mama, posible kaya na siya rin ang greater love?

Napailing ako. Tama si Mama, kumplikado nga. Ang kaninang magulong bagay na iniisip ko ay lalo lamang gumulo. Kasalanan talaga ito ng Romeo and Juliet!

"You look confused," halakhak ni Mama.

Iginiya niya ang ulo ko paharap sa vanity mirror. Doon ay malinaw ang ebidensya ng kaguluhan ng aking pag-iisip. Kunot na kunot ang aking noo.

"Your Papa is also my greater love, Darling."

I only stared at her reflection that was looking back at mine. How could she compare a single person? The dreamy look on her face made me realize that she's serious.

Sinuklay ni Mama ang aking buhok gamit ang kanyang mga daliri. Unti-unting guminhawa ang aking isipan. Nabawasan ang pangungunot ng aking noo. Gayunpaman ay hindi ko pa rin naunawaan ang ibig niyang sabihin.

"Your Papa will always be my great and my greater love," Mama said with a dreamy sigh. "Hopee, do you think you can still love the person that you used to hate?"

Umiling ako. Tingin ko ay hindi ko kayang gawin iyon. Paano mo ba mamahalin ang taong kinamumuhian mo? Can love replace hatred?

Nilingon ko si Mama. Nakatitig lamang siya sa akin na tila naghihintay ng sagot ko. Wait! Ibig-sabihin ba ng tanong niya ay hindi talaga maganda ang nakaraan ng mga magulang ko? Na kinasuklaman ni Mama si Papa?

I suddenly remembered growing up and spending every half of the week with Mama, three days with Papa and every Sunday with both of them. As a child, I didn't understand the situation. I didn't even care about the situation. As long as I have both of them, it's fine with me. Back then, I knew that my family was complete.