Gone with the Wind (Upper East Side Two)

Chapter Forty

This will be the last chapter of Gone with the Wind. I want to thank all of you for supporting my story. 

May we always remember that we are loved by many. Live your life as you should be. It's okay for us to pause, but we must never stop. Continue reaching your dreams, and don't forget to thank God every day.

-

40 - Always

I cried again that night. Pakiramdam ko nawalan na naman ako ng isang importante sa buhay ko. It took me another week crying inside my room. Kay Rave na nasaktan ko at kay Zavi...

Lumubog na ang araw. Nilalamon na naman ng dilim ang kalangitan.

Someone knocked behind my door. Hindi ko rin naman iyon sinasara dahil wala namang nangahas na pumasok doon.

"Anak..." Daddy Regis went inside my room. Umiiyak na naman ako. Ito ang unang pagkakataon na pinuntahan niya ako.

Kita ang lungkot sa mga mata niya habang pinagmamasdan ako. Mabilis na bumuhos ang luha ko nang maramdaman ang yakap niya.

"Daddy... ang sakit. Ang sakit-sakit." Hagulgol ko. "Mahal na mahal ko si Zavi pero hindi ko alam kung kaya kong manatili sa piling niya." Pag-amin ko.

"I'm sorry, anak. It's my fault..." Umiling-iling ako. No, it's not his fault. Ako ang nagpasyang umalis kasama siya. Hindi niya iyon kasalanan dahil sariling desisyon ko iyon.

"No, dad. I went away with you. It's not your fault." Kumalas siya sa yakap namin. He fixed the hair on my face. Pinunasan niya ang luha sa aking mga mata.

"I always see your mother in you, Thalia. You grew up as a beautiful and a wise girl. Your mom will be very proud of you." Ngiti niya sa akin kahit nakikita ang pagkislap ng mga mata niya dahil sa luha.

"I always loved your mom... and I'm sorry, very sorry... that I did nothing when you both left in my life. I selfishly decided to abandon the two of you. I know that I will be forever indebted because of that."

"No, dad. I told you, I forgive you. It's all in the past now. Let's forget about it, hmm?" He nodded.

"I am so grateful when you decided to forgive me. But I still have to tell you something..." He trailed off.

"Days before you saw me again, I flew here in the Philippines. Days later, I decided to meet him..." Naguluhan ako sa sinabi niya. Sino?

He smiled at me — a sad smile. "I met the love of your life." Imporma niya. I never thought about Dad knowing Zavi. Ang alam ko lang ay nalaman niya lang na merong Zavi sa buhay ko ay noong naospital ako.

"I'm sorry, anak... but I asked him to let you go." Gulat ang rumehistro sa mukha ko nang marinig iyon.

"Why? Why did you do that?" Naguguluhang tanong ko. I can't seem to comprehend why he needs to ask Zavi to do that.

"You know that how I love your Lola Adrestia right?" Tumango ako kahit hindi ko alam kung bakit naisama si Lola sa usapan.

Kitang kita kay daddy noon kung gaano niya kamahal si Lola. Maalala ko pa noong bata pa ako ay laging tinutukso si daddy dahil doon ng mga kapatid niya.

"One day, she visited your Lolo Eleksius in the site he's working on. Unfortunately, he's not there. The building collapsed when she's there, and she got in a coma and died." I saw how a tear fell in daddy's eyes.

Masakit pa rin sa kanya ang nangyari kay Lola. Ang hirap mangulila sa taong mahal mo iyan ang totoo. May halong sakit at pait sa tuwing maiisip na wala na sila sa piling natin.