Alyssa x Dennise

Coming Home

Ella's

I was sitting silently enjoying my glass of wine when Bea sits next to me watching her mommy and mama Den pack up after all the celebration was over.

"They look so happy together. What went wrong, Mama Ells?"

Too say that I was shocked by what Bea just said is an understatement. She must have noticed my confusion so she kept on talking so I would understand.

"I have always known. I've seen mommy date other people like Uncle Piolo but I've never really seen her look at him or anyone else like that. I mean, you always tell me that you three are the best of friends but look at her. She doesn't look at you like that. No one looks at their bestfriend like that." I sigh as it breaks my heart how I watch my favorite ship fit perfectly together but not really.

"She is undeniably in love with Mama Den. She never told me but I always knew in the way she talked about her. I also know that somehow Mama Den felt the same because of how she treated her and all of that resonated with how she treats me like her own too. And I have always been wondering what happened to them."

"They were about your age when what your mommy calls their grand tragedy happened. They were young but I knew it was love. Everyone knew. Whoever dares to say it wasn't love probably doesn't know what love is at all. But they hurt each other. Your mommy, she did things that really hurt your Mama Den."

"What did she do?"

"That's not my story to tell anymore, little love. But needless to say, they drifted apart after all the fiasco. I personally believe it needed to happen because if not, they would have completely destroyed each other and not one of them will still be here now."

"It was that bad?"

"Sadly, yes."

"But how about you? I can imagine how hard it must be to be stuck in the middle."

"Oh, I wasn't. I knew at that moment that your mama Den needed me more then and I was vocal to your mommy about it and she understood. Your mommy blamed herself a lot for the ripple that was caused by her actions. She dreaded losing herself and losing the only person she ever wished to keep."

"Wow I haven't imagined it to be that chaotic. Looking at them now, it doesn't seem like they hurt each other that bad."

"It must have been because of what happened three years after."

"Three years after?"

"Yes. Have you ever seen that photo your mommy keeps in her wallet? That dusty thing is 25 years old. Three years after they broke up, they had somehow found their way back to each other."

I see a glint of surprise and anticipation in Bea's eyes like a little girl watching Disney.

"Don't be so excited. This isn't grand like a fairytale. They just got drunk and hooked up."

We break out into a fit of laughter and Bea urges me to continue. "Keep going Mama Ells. I'm so into this now. hahahaha"

"Going back, no one was shocked anymore. I wasn't. Neither were your titos and titas and even your grandparents. Everyone just expected for them to fall back into each other. I believe that somehow even after everything, they did too. And that second chance was beautiful. Your Mama Den made your mommy want to be the best person she can possibly be and she took care of her and made her feel like a queen and did everything to keep her."

"But why aren't they together now? Maybe there is something we could still do. It's not yet too late, Mama Ells. They're obviously still in love with each other."

"Oh, sweetie. Believe me when I say there's nothing else we can do anymore. They tried. Your Mama Den tried but she just couldn't trust her then anymore. And because of that she could no longer love her completely. So she asked for her to let her go. I remember Alyssa knocking at my door at three in the morning sobbing and I immediately knew what was wrong. It was the most defeated I have ever seen her yet it was also her strongest moment. She was devastated but she understood and even though it was hard for her, she let Dennise go."

"But if you really love someone, shouldn't you fight for them?"

"Not always, Bey. Not always. They both fought enough and your mommy knew when to give up. She just knew that Den would blossom better without her and she did. Another three years after she had started her clothing line and slowly paved her way to the top. Your mommy on the other end quit law school and pursued her love for poetry. She kept writing until she was good enough to be published."

"Mommy was a writer?"

"Alyssa has her way with words. She was, until she found you."

"I made her stop writing?"

"No, Bey. Ten years after she let your Mama Den go, you came into her life and everything started to make sense again. She wrote when she was sad and maybe the reason why she stopped was because she was finally okay because she had you."

"But, it still doesn't add up. If Mama Den wanted to leave, how is she here now?"

"It's because of you too, little love. They always wanted a child together but fate was never on their favor so when she heard that Alyssa adopted you she dropped ten years worth of hard work in Berlin and put up a smaller shop here in Manila just for the slightest chance to be with you. Your Mama Den treats you like her own because she knows in her heart that you are. You are her Sunshine. They may not have ended up together but they both have you."

Bea sighs and her face falls in defeat. "I wasn't there yet but I just wish it turned out better for them."

We both look at Dennise and Alyssa now giggling like teenagers in the kitchen sharing a bottle of wine. I put my hand over hers and I give her a reassuring smile. "They'll come around, Bey. Believe me."

FIN.