Fifteen

 A middle-aged woman, with her head neatly tied into a ponytail and dressed in a sleek old rose dress entered the house. She is in squat body figure but it did not make her any less attractive as I studied her fair skin tone and pointy nose from the kitchen.

"This looks promising." She muttered to herself.

My mother smiled politely. "I'm sorry. If I knew you would be coming, sana nakapaglinis man lang ako."

The woman waved her hands and smiled politely as well. "Forget it, dear. I'm just so inlove with this house the moment I saw the pictures on the market that I flee here first thing in the morning." Napatigil ako sa narinig. My heart sank inside of my chest. "Besides, I will hire a professional house inspector to be with me during the official house inspection."

My mother nodded her head. "I hope you could would for until two months, then?" she narrowed her eyes at me and nodded in acknowledgement. "Me and my daughter have to settle things first before we transfer to our new apartment."

The woman followed my mother's gaze and it landed on me. She nodded in acknowledgement as well, a small smile tugging on her lips. "Yeah, that's not a problem. Two months is tolerable. I'm sure my grandchildren would love to live in this house."

"Thank you Mrs. Nabrasco."

They walked towards the kitchen, where the woman swept her gaze approvingly at the ceramic tiles and the large kitchen sink, probably imagining some of her baking tools and equipment laid carefully in some parts of the area.

"Where's your husband, by the way? He would do a great help in moving out your things." She asked nonchalantly as she studied the white marble floor, oblivious to my mother's suddenly tensed figure.

"I... uh..." she averted her gaze at me. "I just got out from our marriage." She squeaked, rubbing the her ring finger where their wedding band used to rest in place.

An alarmed expression crossed over Mrs. Nabraso's face. Kaagad niyang nilapitan si mommy. "Oh, I'm so sorry, dear! That was so insensitive of me."

My mother waved her hands weakly. "No, it's okay."

"I should've known..." Mrs. Nabrasco whimpered. "I'm really sorry. I hope you'll not take it personally and affect our deal because if anything, I'm more than willing to add a few thousands just to buy this house."

Upon hearing the woman's statement, both our shoulders slumped. I excused myself upstairs, my mind racing. I just listen to their muffled conversation downstairs until it started to fade. I heard the opening and closing of the door and a car's wheel screeching across the pavement before the engine rumbled and it drove away from our house. The woman's soon-to-be house.

Mayamaya pa ay nakarinig ako ng mahinang katok sa kwarto ko. I sat up on the bed, pretending to be amused by one of my snow globe collection when my mother entered the room.

"I know you're upset." She started.

I shrugged one shoulder and shaked the snow globe. The artificial snowflakes began doing crazy whirls around a Christmas cookie house and the couple dressed in winter outfit smiling widely at me.

Lumapit si mommy at hinila ang swivel chair sa tapat ng lamesa ko. She seated herself across of me and sighed.

"I'm really sorry, anak."

I nodded my head slowly, as if I'm trying to sink the words inside of my head.

"When I signed the annulment papers, I didn't knew that your father entrusted the house to my name. I talked to him about it. He said want nothing from the house anymore and so do I. That's why I decided to sell it."

Napabuntong-hininga din ako. "I see your point, Mom." I said, hoping it didn't sounded so rude as it was in my own ears.

"Mary Grace, you need to understand and respect the decision your Dad and I made." She speak so slow, as if she's trying to choose the right words to say in my face. She speaks as if she's talking to a 3-year old stubborn child who was denied of cookies after behaving accordingly which I really feel at this moment.

"But... why?" I asked in a silent voice. I always knew my parent's love story is worthy of a novel and it's breaking my heart that it has to end this way. If I didn't leave the two of them, they could still be together until now.

"I'm sorry, anak. We were both aware that we're coming to an end for some time now." She admitted, smoothening the non-existent wrinkles in her black pencil skirt. "But we were just too afraid to deal with it. We kept on ignoring the growing problem and didn't realized how bad it was until it was over."

I pursed my lips. "My father still loves you, you know that?"

She nodded her head and smiled a little. "Yes. I still love him too. I will always love your father, Mary Grace. Things are just... complicated between the two of us. Thunder is brave enough to tap the problem and suddenly, a decision was made. I know it will hurt the three of us in the process but it's for the best. I can't think of any plausible resolution to the growing ocean between me and your father other than annulment."

I chewed on my lower lips. Inilapag ko ang snow globe at bumuntong-hininga. "I think I need some time alone." Mahina kong wika bago ako nagtalukbong ng kumot. I felt my mother's presence lingering around for a moment before she stood up and quietly exited my room.

---

"Where are you taking her?" Even I could hear the accusation in my mother's voice as my Dad lead me outside.

Dad sighed, irritated. "We're just going to visit someone, Athena. I'm not trying to flee and drag my daughter with me if that's what you're thinking."

My mother furrowed her eyebrows and went down the staircase as she jab a pointing finger to my Dad. "Well, you better not, Thunder because—"

"Just drop it, Athena." My Dad said calmly, then he swept a gaze over her appearance. "Look at you, you haven't paid attention to what your body needs. You need to take good care of yourself."

For a moment, a flicker of hope sparked wildly inside of my chest. But my mother pursed her lips and turned her gaze from my dad. "Fine, you can bring my daughter. Be sure to come back before 9 in the evening."

Hindi na sumagot pa si Dad. Nagsimula na siyang maglakad patungo sa kotseng nakaparada sa labas ng gate. I waved goodbye at my mother and trailed after my dad. When I finally buckled my seatbelt, I casted him a glance.

"Whom are we goig to meet, Dad?"

"We're going to visit Sir Ferguson." He said before starting the engine and hitting the accelerator gently.

I feel thrilled upon knowing that we're going to visit one of my most favorite people in the world but it all died down when we entered the gate of Angeles Memorial Park. Natahimik ako. I looked at Dad but he's focused on driving until he found a vacant parking lot.

He cleared his throat. "I'm sorry about this, sweetheart." I could hear the loneliness lacing his voice. "But Sir Ferguson left shortly after you were gone."

I nodded my head silently and climbed out of the car. We strode casually towards the location of his tombstone, the afternoon wind blowing beneath our faces.

"Here he is." My Dad said as he pointed towards his tombstone.

Naupo ako sa tapat at pinagmasdan ang nakaukit niyang pangalan.

For a long time, we were silent, lost in our own thoughts. We haven't brought anything to offer to Sir Ferguson but ourselves. I know he's very old and I can't expect him to be around with me forever, but it still hurt knowing that he's gone and I wasn't there when he breathe his last breath.

"Mary Grace..." Dad started. "I know this may seem very hard for you, but I wanted to know what happened over the past two years." He said silently.

I nodded my head.

"Do not worry, if it's too painful for you to narrate it, you can stop anytime you want."

Pinaglaruan ko ang maliliit na damong tumutubo sa paligid ng libingan ni Sir Ferguson. Then I started telling my father everything. I told him how Nilo and Grand Ida found me. I told him about the cafe in Cape San Agustin where I worked for two years and my recent panic attacks and how Harry found me again. He freaked out a lot of times, especially when I told him how I got stucked inside the burning NCCC mall in Davao.

After I told him about my story, we we're both silent again, contemplating on what to say next.

"I can't believe you've been through hell and back..." he said, his voice cracking. "And I wasn't by your side when it all happened."

"Dad," I scooted closer to him and engulfed him into a hug. "It's okay. I'm fine."

"My little girl has to face all this shit alone. It makes me feel so horrible. I'm sorry."

"That's not true." I protested. "I was scared all the time, yes. But the people surrounding me gave me so much hope that this life is still worth living for."

"I just wished Annie is just as strong as you." He muttered. For a moment, I froze upon the mention of Ate Annie's name. I exhaled through my mouth.

"I'm sorry about Ate Annie."

"Yeah." He let out a bitter chuckle."I'm sure Ver must be flipping her middle finger at me somewhere for not taking care of our daughter properly."

---

Nang makabalik kami sa bahay, napansin ko kaagad ang isa pang kotse na nakaparada sa harap ng gate namin. I felt a little sad, knowing that it must be one of the potential buyers of the house. Dad didn't say anything though, we went inside, bringing the huge plastic bags of Chinese take-outs we bought on our way home.

I heard voices and silent laughter when we entered the living room. My gaze travelled to the kitchen, where my mother is laughing heartily at someone who happened to be a man whose back was into us. I did not missed my Dad's sudden clenching of jaw.

"Mom?"

Napatingin kaagad si mommy sa akin. Mas lumawak ang ngiti niya. "Sweetie, you're home."

The man stood up as well. He's dressed in a white button down shirt and brown slacks. A black-rimmed glass is sitting on the bridge of his nose. When he smiled at me, he looked very friendly.

"Uhm, yeah. I guess."

"Come here." She ushered. Her hair is tied in a neat bun and she changed into a turquoise sundress. I followed her on the kitchen, my Dad reluctantly trailing after me.

"I suppose this is Mary Grace?" the man smiled warmly at me.

"Yes, yes." My mom's smile brightened. "Mary Grace, this is Dr. Somerset Siang. Dr. Siang, my daughter."

"Pleased to finally meet you, Mary Grace." He offered his hand. I shake it politely because that's what you usually do to avoid upsetting a friendly stranger.

"Mary Grace, he will be your psychiatrist from now on." My mom declared. "You're going to have 1-hour sesssions with him, two times a week starting tomorrow."

"I'm looking forward to it, young lady."

He smiled warmly again and I couldn't help but smiled back. Dad suddenly place down the take-out bags of Chinese food and said, "I'm going home." in such cold tone. Napatingin kaming dalawa ni mommy sa kanya.

"What? Already?" I complained.

He kissed the top of my head quickly. "I'm sorry, honey. I need to go to work tomorrow."

I nodded my head in disappointment. "I'll see you again tomorrow." He promised before heading out of the door without saying goodbye to mom nor our new visitor.

Nilamon kami ng katahimikan nang makalabas na si Dad. My mother cleared her throat, a futile attempt to wash away the awkward atmosphere.

"I'm sorry about my ex-husband..." she started slowly. "He can be stubborn... sometimes."

Dr. Siang nodded his head.

"So, what did you brought for me?" she said in a cheerful voice. "Dr. Siang, you should stay here for dinner."

"Sure." He said. "I'm sure my wife wouldn't mind me getting home late this time," he said happily.

I sighed and plopped down to my seat. I could tell that this psychiatric session of mine is going to be a disaster.