Two Less Lonely People (A JLC-BA Fanfic)

Chapter 19

3 months later....

Alex was silent as he entered his condo unit followed by Ted.

"Pare, we moved the couch a bit because the kids had been all over your stuff. We did not have time to put them back after we had the furniture vacuumed last weekend.

"You didn't have to have them cleaned, pare." Alex said as he looked over his place.

"The kids made some mess."  Ted said slightly embarrased remembering how his 5-year old boy, Cholo, jumped up and down the couch and his 3-year old, Nessa spilled milk on it.

"We also changed the blinds and got new linens for your bedroom but couldn't find the same ones you had in the stores. I hope you will like what we got." Ted explained.

What Ted said were only half-truths because the couple decided to move the furniture around and change the fixtures so that the condo would look different. Meg said it is better that way so Alex won't be constantly reminded of Mina and the times they spent there together. Meg couldn't get over the guilt of telling Mina about Alex' decision to walk out on her 3 months ago.

Flashback

The couple went to see Mina one afternoon at Tita Ching's house. Mina was on her second week of chemotherapy sessions and she looked very fragile. Pain was evident on her face; but her suffering was not from the drugs she was taking but more because she was hurting from Alex' rejection.

"Mina, I'm sorry I didn't keep my promise that I wouldn't tell Alex the truth," Ted started.

"It's my fault Mina." Meg interjected. "I told Ted it would be unfair for the both of you that he didn't know. I didn't expect he would react that way. And I am sorry you learned about it...from me." Meg continued regretfully.

Mina tried to smile but she only managed to twitch her lower lip. "This is our fate, I have to accept it." Mina murmured.

End of Flashback

"We spent the weekends here since two months ago. I hope you don't mind." Ted smirked.

"Of course I don't mind, pare. It's better that way. It would be stifling if it was left unoccupied. Do you want this place?" Alex asked his friend.

"Huh?" was Ted's surprised reply.

"Since we are burying Papa in the farm, Mama wanted to stay close to visit his grave every day. I hope we can close the deal on the house we looked at 3 months ago. Ate Vicky will stay until after Christmas and it will just be the two of us after that." Alex told his friend.

Alex' father did not recover from his second heart attack and died a few days after Ted told him about Mina's illness. Ted was worried about how Alex would tackle his emotional ordeals but he was quite relieved his friend seemed to have survived them up to this point.

"Mama needed all of us to rally behind her during this time." Alex told him when he asked how he was carrying on, the last time they spoke prior to his trip back to the Philippines.

Alex' father wanted to be buried in the farm and so they cremated his remains until all arrangements had been made for the burial, before he and his mother, together with his eldest sister, Victoria traveled back home. Again, Ted did the leg work preparing for the funeral including securing permits for burying the remains in their private enclave.

"Are you sure you don't want to keep this place?" Ted asked.

Alex walked towards his small work table, apparently looking for something. He turned to where Ted was. "Where is Mina's picture?" as he traced with his hand the spot where it used to be.