Complicated Love

Chapter Seven

Seven

Pangalawang araw na namin ngayon dito sa baler at kasalukuyang busy na naman ako dito sa pag-aayos ng mga problema ng Sienna's Cafe. Ang mag-ama naman ay ine-enjoy ang pagligo sa dagat. Hindi na ako magtataka kung mangingitim silang dalawa, sa dalas ba naman nilang maligo sa dagat. Mukhang masarap maligo at kanina nga ay kinulit pa ako ni Hailey na sumama sa kanila para maligo na mariin kong tinanggihan. Gusto kong maayos ko na kaagad ang problema nang Cafe. Nakakahiya naman kay Greg kung magtatagal pa kami dito habang natatambakan naman siya ng trabaho sa kompanya.

"Maam andito na po lahat ng staffs ng Cafe. Eto po si Diane, Eros at Weng sila po ang mga waiter at waitress natin. Habang si Manang Roda naman po ang dishwasher natin. At ako naman po ang tumatayong cashier." mahabang saad ni Grace na ipinakikilala ang lahat ng staffs ng coffee shop.

"I called all of you here to tell you about the situation of our Cafe. Are you aware of the problem we have as of now? Well I hope alam niyo. Anyway I observed yesterday the problems about your services to the costumers. So I decided to train you for one week. Naisip ko na kahit three hours lang everyday para makapag-trabaho pa din kayo. Don't worry may dagdag na sweldo yung another 3 hours niyo for the training.  Okay that's all I want to say I hope its alright for all of us."

Nagsitanguhan naman silang lahat. Kaya pinabalik ko na agad sila sa kani-kanilang trabaho. Mabuti naman at pumayag ang lahat. Sinabi ko na din kay Grace na magpaskil sa harap ng hiring for the cashier position since I'm planning to train Grace to be the new manager. Since alas dos na nang hapon ay nagpasya akong puntahan sila Greg at Hailey. Mukhang nalibang yata talaga ang dalawa. Binilinan ko pa mandin si Greg na wag hayaang nakababad nang matagal sa init nang araw si Hailey. Hindi pa  mandin maganda sa balat ang init ng araw pagdating ng alas dos.

Napangiti ako nang makita ko sila ni Hailey na nakaupo sa ilalim nang puno nang niyog. Halatang masaya si Hailey habang nakikinig sa sinasabi nang papa niya. I love watching them while talking. They look so cute! I felt like our little girl will be a business woman just like his father. Hindi tuloy muna ako lumapit sa kanila. I don't want to ruin the moment. Just like what happened yesterday. Hindi ko tuloy maiwasang mapa-buntong hininga nang maalala ang naging usapan namin kahapon.

"Did you already talked to Hailey about our status? About the annulment?" he worriedly ask. Napa-angat naman ako nang tingin sa kaniya. He's seriously asking me about this right now.

"Nope. I didn't tell it yet. We both know that it will be hard for Hailey so I'm still finding the right time to tell it to her."

He nodded and we both sighed. We both knew that it will be hard. Sa lahat naman nang pamilya na nagkakalabuan ang mga magulang ay ang anak ang unang-una sa naapektuhan. But I will try my best to make Hailey understand the situation and eventually she will accept it someday. I just really hope that Hailey will not think about this too much.

"What if we try to fix this right now?" he suggest. I was shocked of what he said.

"Are you seriously asking me if we can still fix it?"

"Yes. Hindi pa naman siguro huli ang lahat Iris. Whatever I say or did wrong I hope you can still find in heart to forgive me. To give this relationship a second chance. For Hailey please."

Tuluyan na akong napanganga sa mga sinasabi ni Greg. Si Gregorio Valdez ba talaga ang kausap ko ngayon? Narinig ko ba talaga'ng sinabi niya ang salitang 'please'?

"I will give you time to think for this Iris. I hope you choose the right decision for us and especially for Hailey." he said and left me speechless.  Right decision? Is he saying that staying in this marriage is the the right decision for us? I felt like I just lost my mind because of what Greg said.

Just looking at Greg and Hailey right now I feel so guilty and confuse at the same time. Can I really let Hailey feel the pain of having a broken family? Kung ako ang masusunod lagi kong pipiliin ang magiging kasiyahan ng anak ko. Pero paano naman ako? Will I let Greg broke me again? Hahayaan ko bang maiwala ko na naman ang sarili ko dahil kay Greg. Will I let myself feel the pain again? Hindi ko namalayang tumutulo na pala ang luha ko. Agad ko itong pinunasan at tumalikod. I cannot let Greg and Hailey see me crying. It will break my daughter's heart seeing me while crying. Imbes na lumapit sa kanila ay bumalik na lang ako sa coffee shop. Maybe I will just focus myself in fixing all the problems here in the coffee shop. I cannot let my personal life meddle with the responsibility I have that Mama Lou gave me. At nanggaling na din mismo sa bibig ni Greg na bibigyan niya ako nang panahon para pag-isipan ko ang magiging desisyon ko. Pinilit kong iwaglit muna ang sarili kong problema.

"Daddy will you and Mommy will be alright starting from now? Sa bahay ka na ba matutulog kasama namin?" Hailey ask. Nagitla ako sa tanong nang anak ko. Hindi ko tuloy nasagot agad ang tanong niya. Ano nga ba dapat ang sabihin ko?

"Uhmm.. Right now I can say that your Mommy and I are fine with each other honey. But I'm not sure if I can stay at our house. Pag-uusapan pa kase namin ng Mommy mo ang tungkol don" I answered trying to be honest but I want to be careful while saying this sensitive topic. Hailey is just 5 years old and I cannot take seeing my daughter being hurt knowing that I am one of the reason why.

"But why Daddy? I don't understand what's the reason? I already asked Lolo about this but he said it is better if you and Mommy will be the one who will explain it to me" she whined and pouting. I can't help but to feel sad for our precious daughter. She's too young to experience this kind of situation. I'm perfectly aware that Hailey is very smart despite of her young age. Hindi ko tuloy alam kung paano sasagutin ang mga tanong niya.

"Baby you're Lolo is right. But I wanted to let you know that your Mom and I love you very much alright?" I said while looking at her beautiful and innocent eyes. I love her eyes cause it resembles her mother's eyes so much.

"I already know that Daddy." naka-pout niyang sabi. Natawa naman ako dahil sa inasal niya. Hindi ko tuloy napigilan at pinanggigilan kong halikan ang pisngi niya at leeg. She's so cute! She is really our angel. I'm thankful that our baby is so smart and understanding. At dahil hapon na binuhat ko na si Hailey at dinala sa hotel para makapag-snack na din. Syempre gusto ko din makita si Iris. Masyado siyang busy sa coffee shop na hindi niya pa mapagbigyan si Hailey para maligo sa dagat. I just hope that she's thinking about what I said yesterday. Nagsisimula nang magtanong si Hailey at hindi ko gustong magsinungaling sa anak ko. I don't want to dissapoint Hailey. If I need to use my power just to make sure that my daughter will be spared from the pain she have to felt because of  her Mom and I situation. No parents want their children to feel any pain. If they can just get the pain our children have to felt we will surely get it. I just hope that Iris will choose the right decision for us. I hope that Iris and I can still fix our problems for our precious daughter's sake. I can still remember the night when Iris and I had a huge fight that I don't even understand the reason why. Because up until now I don't really know why we end up like this because as far as I know we have a good relationship not until that night happened. I regretted not talking about it with her that night because I thought she's not serious about it. But I confirmed it when she handed me our annulment paper. I don't really know what is her reason cause she doesn't want to tell me why. She only keep saying that she's giving me the  freedom that I wanted and also her freedom for herself. So I just assumed that she wanted space for a while but I can give it to her. Kung pansamantalang kalayaan lang naman ay kaya ko yung ibigay kay Iris. Kaya hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit kelangan pa naming umabot sa anullment.  I really wanted to talk to her  about our problem not until I saw her with one of his co-worker and they are both happy based on their loud laughs. She seems so happy and that's make me agreed to the annullment she wanted. Maybe she love someone else already and I'm not that selfish to be a hindrance about the freedom she wanted.  The only way I think that assured me is the fact that annullment here in the Philippines is not that easy. But right now I wanted to fight even if it's not for me,  even if for Hailey only. I cannot let my daughter experience having a broken family. Even if it means doing some risky things just to make sure that Hailey will be happy and have the complete family she deserves.

Done chapter seven... Hope you like it guys! Is it too much to ask for your votes and comments?😇😅