One Wild Night | ✅

26: Glad

IT HAS BEEN A FEW days since Roni and Grant visited Sylvia Rutherford's residence for the first time. Mahigit apat na beses na din ata silang bumalik doon dahil doon na nakatira si Collin ngayon and he likes to ask if Grant can visit. She obliges every single time kasi nga wala din naman silang ibang gagawin and it's another way to try and convince Collin to seek treatment. Madalas pa din siyang tumawag kay Leo at ganun din ito sa kanya, she likes to tell him stories ng mga nangyayari dito. She didn't want him to miss anything, be it good or bad, she just wants him to be part of her everyday routine. Besides, miss niya na ito at palagi din itong hinahanap ni Grant, mother like son nga naman talaga.

It has also been a few days since Collin's youngest sister ambushed her when she went to the bathroom, calling her a mistress and a home wrecker. Big words. Big accusations. Mabuti na lang talaga at napairal niya pa din ang maturity niya sa panahon na yun. She wanted to bitch out as much as she can pero it wasn't her territory and Charlene probably didn't know any better. She's just barely 18 and maybe the truth was kept from her. She's the adult between the two of them kaya naman siya dapat ang magbigay ng mas mahabang pasensya.

"My brother is sick. Is that why you're clinging on to him? Is that why you're with him? Easy money?" Nagulat siya nang makita ang bunsong kapatid ni Collin na si Charlene sa labas ng pintuan ng banyo na itinuro nito sa kanya. Her somehow sweet look earlier was replaced with a mean bitch face. Kakalabas pa lang niya pero dire-diretso na itong nagsalita.

"Charlene. Hi. You startled me." She said calmly kahit nainis siya sa pangugulat nito sa kanya, hindi siya patola kaya naman iintindihin na lang niya ito.

"Are you like one of those women who uses their kids to extort money? Answer me." Charlene said flatly. "Aren't you ashamed that you ruined a family to get this? You're a high class gold digger."

"What?!" Gulat niyang tanong dito. "Me a gold digger?"

Gustong-gusto ni Veronica na hampasin ang dalagang nakatayo sa harapan niya, looking at her with sheer disrespect kahit higit isang dekada ang tanda niya dito. She took a deep breath and managed to calm herself down bago muling tingnan ang babae. She's a calm adult who will na retaliate with the same aggression.

"I'm sorry if you think that way but I'm here solely because of my son and somehow yes, because of your sick brother. If he weren't, I might have fought him to death just to prevent him meeting Grant." She will try to lengthen her patience lalo na at komplikado naman nga ang lahat pero hindi naman siya magpapaapi kahit na kanino. "If it's about money, I don't think I have any problem with that. I can do well without all this. You're just richer but I can pretty much afford luxury too."

"Then why did he leave his daughter and wife then darted straight to you like a crazed dog?" Tanong ni Charlene  sa kanya, may pagkamaldita din ang isang to eh. Pasalamat to at nagtitimpi siya.

"I also wish I had an answer for that. Maybe because he wants to meet his son, your nephew." Sagot niya. If she knew the right answer baka nag-effort pa sana siyang sumagot pero iba eh, she really didn't know what was running in Collin's mind when he left Portia. All that she knows is that he loves her very much. Maybe he's scared of being a burden. Or maybe tama nga na gusto lang talaga nito makita at makilala ang anak nito sa kanya.

"Stop making that innocent look on your face. It doesn't suit a snake like you. You ruined a family. You're his mistress." Pag-aakusa nanaman nito sa kanya. Pigil na pigil siyang tadyakan ang babaeng to kung wala lang siya sa bahay ng mga ito at kung hindi lang ito higit na mas bata sa kanya.

"I think that's crossing the line too much, don't you think? I won't force you to understand or see it in my point of view but if you want answers then I think you should ask your brother. I won't even explain anything to you because that is not my responsibility." Roni tried to smile, sobrang effort na to kasi wild talaga siya mainis at magalit. "He can answer all of your questions. I'll go ahead of you. I'll see you and your kind mask back on in the receiving area."