YOUR HEART KNOWS IT

PART 41

Dee rubs her belly as she checks her reflection in the mirror. I wonder what she is thinking right now because she seems to be down in the mouth.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing" Clover went back to the fitting area for some adjustments on her second gown. Lorraine the dressmaker said that she might have starved herself too much there were no adjustments needed the last time.

"Are you sure?" I pressed.

"Yes, just looking at my stomach. When do you think will my baby bump show this time?"

"Well I'm no expert with that let's just wait and see" she smiled and turned her way to face me.

"We were watching you earlier," said Dee.

"I know"

"Haven't you still forgiven him"

"I don't know," I said shrugging my shoulders

"Well that's entirely up to you but I think you should give the guy another chance"

"I was mad, that's all but don't worry I won't make this a big deal"

"I'm sorry I didn't know he was gonna pay for it" I just gave her a smile

"Sure you don't, we can't read people's minds, can we?"

"Okay," she said giving me a smile.

"Hey, do you remember the story I told you before about the time when my uncle demanded me to pay him ten times more than what I owed him?"

"Yes, and I understand where you are coming from"

"Well I actually only told you half the truth about that"

It was Sunday and also my father's birthday. I promised him we will eat outside after mass. I've been saving up for it for two months now but my uncle surprisingly stopped by at the house just as we were about to go out. Without any "Hi's and Hello's," he demanded me to pay one thousand pesos for the hundred pesos, I owe him two weeks ago. "Why one thousand? What hundred pesos?" I asked because I don't recall ever borrowing money from him, 'the one my wife gave you when you met at the drug store' he said. I was flabbergasted, I didn't know that was meant to be paid. I never asked for that money, I thought they gave it to me in their own accord but I did not tell him that, instead I asked him "Can I please pay it, next week uncle? It is Daddy's birthday today I promised him we will eat outside" I begged "No, I need the money now" he demanded.

"Well if you want I can give you back the hundred pesos?"

"No! You should pay the interest for keeping it for two weeks?"

"What? But I thought it was meant to help my Dad?"

"Just give it back now or else I'll have to go and ask your Father, I'm gonna be late for my game "

"No please, I don't want to stress him. Here I said, giving him the five hundred pesos"

"What's this?" He asked looking at the yellow bill I gave him.

"Can I give the other half next week or maybe tomorrow? I promise I'll pay you I just need the money today because I promised Daddy"

"Just give it to me will ya! What is the need for celebrating his birthday when he's gonna die soon anyway?" He said taking the other bill from my hand.

"What?!" I wanted to scream at him but what can that do? Can it change anything? Will it change his mind?

"Tsk!" I heard him say as he turns around and started his way to the gate" I cried but I wiped my tears instantly. I can never show my dad I'm crying.

"What did your Uncle Tommy came for?" Daddy asked when I went back upstairs

" To greet you a Happy Birthday," I lied. " I told him to tell you himself but he said he'll just stop by some other time, he doesn't want to intrude with our schedule"

"Oh, well okay then I just hope he could have come up. I haven't talked to him for a while everyone seems to be busy these days"

"Well people are busy with their lives Daddy, but I think he'll stop by soon you don't think he can endure his favorite brother, can he?" I said enthusiastically.

"Alright, let's go then the mass is about to start," my dad said smiling.

"Yup," I said faking my smile trying to hide the sadness in my eyes.

After the mass, I felt like a sinner I lied to my Dad for the second time that day. I told him I lost the money I saved for eating out and asked him if we can just make a quick stop to the wet market so I can just cook for him.

He said, " Leslie it's okay, as long as I'm with you maybe the person needed more than us" so we ended up having our lunch at home that day. But deep inside I was hurt for not being able to keep my promise, shy- that I was only able to save up that amount of money, embarrassed- that I lied to him when all he deserved was the truth. But what would have hurt him more? Me lying or the truth that his family does not want him anymore because he doesn't have any money to offer?

" I  wanted to treat him a nice meal to where we all used to go on my birthday. I wanted to buy him a shirt just like how he used to buy new dresses every month but I never got to do that because it was the last birthday I got to celebrate with him and even now that I can afford to do so I can't do it for him because he's gone" No I won't cry. I've already cried enough tears in the past.

"Geez, You are making me cry again," Dee said wiping her tears.

"Psh. Now I'm done talking I don't know why I've opened up about this again when it's not even something relevant to the situation. Haha, we don't want Clover to see us like this do we?"

She chuckled, " I hate you, but I'm still proud of you"

"Well I'm proud of the both of us," I said smiling at her.

"Ate Rachel, can you come here for a second, please?" Clover shouts in the fitting room.

"Coming!!" I shouted back