Chapter Eighteen

Tears

Agad kong pinuntahan si Wesley sa condo niya. Pagdating ko doon ay agad ko siyang niyakap to comfort him. Tita Joyce was rushed to the hospital. Agad naming nalaman nang tumawag ang kinuha naming katulong ni tita sa bahay kay Wesley. Wesley got too worried for his mom that he almost didn't know what to do why he called me. Agad na rin kaming kumilos para mapuntahan si tita sa province.

Sa hospital ay nakausap namin ni Wesley ang doctor ni tita. And she was lying to us. Hindi na pala siya pumupunta sa doktor niya at hindi na rin siguro niya iniinom ang mga gamot niya. May edad na si tita and she needed medication. Pero dahil sa kapabayaan ay lumala na pala siya...

"Wesley..." I called his name gently. I also sat beside him as we watched Tita Joyce sleeping on the hospital bed.

I sighed quietly.

"It's my fault." Wesley said. I realized that he's been blaming himself.

"Wesley—"

"I was selfish. Siguradong nagkasakit si Mama dahil sa pang-iiwan ko sa kaniya noon. She was healthy, Yan. Nagsimula lang naman siyang magkasakit noong pinili kong pumunta sa England and be with my father. I knew that she didn't liked it but I still pushed through."

"Wesley..." I sighed. Tumingin ako kay tita na nanatiling natutulog at nagpapahinga. "Paggising ni tita mag-usap kayo." payo ko sa kaniya.

Nanatili lang nakatingin ang nag-aalalang mga mata ni Wesley sa mama niya.

***

"Huwag mong sisihin ang sarili mo, anak. Pangarap mo iyon at masaya ako na naabot mo." Tita Joyce managed to give Wesley a reassuring smile.

"Pero bakit, 'Ma?"

Umiling si tita. "Desisyon ko ito—"

"Bakit nga?! Your decision? It's your decision to leave me like this?!"

"Wesley," pagpapakalma ko sa kaniya nang bahagyang tumataas na ang boses niya habang kausap ang mama niya.

Umiling si Tita Joyce. "Tama na sa akin, Wesley, ang makita kang lumaki into a man that you are now. You've succeeded on becoming a great singer, anak. I am very proud of you. I know I should've supported you more back when you were just starting. But I also got afraid of things... Kaya sana ay patawarin mo ako, anak. Sa mga pagkukulang ko sa iyo bilang ina. But God knows that I did my very best. I gave my all to raise you. And I am happy to be your mother." Despite the emotions Tita Joyce gave out a peaceful smile. Kahit sa mga mata niya ay nakita kong at peace siya.

When Wesley's mother died we were left with the house. Sa aming dalawa ni Wesley ni tita pinamana ang kanilang bahay. Tita Joyce spent her last months with me and Wesley. Kaya nanatili rin kami ni Wesley sa province sa mga panahong iyon. I knew that Tita Joyce left us with peace in her heart.

During her funeral Wesley's dad was there. Umuwi siya sa Pilipinas at walang nakapigil sa kaniya nang malamang wala na si Tita Joyce. I saw him tear up and regret was obviously written all over his face. I concluded that despite what happened to them Wesley's father truly loved his mother.

"Aryanne, this is my father, Will Tomlinson." Wesley also introduced us formally.

Ngumiti sa akin ang dad ni Wesley. Now I knew where Wesley got his beautiful pair of sea green eyes. I smiled.

Wesley maintained his mother's surname. Mukhang wala rin naman iyong problema kay Mr. Tomlinson. That's why he's still known as Wesley Rivera until he became a famous singer. Same with me who became more comfortable with Cruz and not Bernales kahit halos pag-awayan din namin noon ni Papa. Gusto kong dala ko pa rin ang apelido ni Mama bilang alaala ko na rin sa kaniya.

It was still Tita Joyce's wake. Nandoon ang mga dati na naming kaibigan at mga kakilala ni Wesley. Maging ang ilang katrabaho namin including Savannah. And Arthur also came...

I saw him talking to Savannah. Hindi ko alam kung may nasabi na ba sa kaniya si Savannah pero tingin ko ay wala pa naman. Lumapit siya sa akin nang makita niya ako. I was always by Wesley's side and it was understandable since I am still his friend and we're both close to his mother who just passed away.

"You never mentioned that Savannah Ortega's your cousin?"

Umiling si Arthur. "Yeah, I failed to mention it to you."

Tumango nalang ako. Nagkatinginan din kami ni Savannah pero tumalikod na rin siya.

"Is he fine?" Arthur asked talking about Wesley.

Bumaling din ako sandali sa kung nasaan si Wesley. He was with his dad and our friends. "He will be fine." I said.

Tumingin muli ako kay Arthur. "Aren't you going home? Hindi ka ba hinahanap nina tita o ng trabaho mo?"

Art just shook his head.

Iniwan ko rin muna siya para puntahan si Wesley. Wesley excused himself and I followed him to the empty kitchen at that time. Hinarap niya ako nang kaming dalawa nalang.

"Have you talked to him?" he asked me. Alam kong tinutukoy niya si Arthur.

I bit my lip and slowly shake my head.

Wesley's lips parted. "Aryanne..." Ilang sandali pang nakabukas lang ang bibig niya habang nakatingin siya sa akin. "I can't do this with you kung palagi nalang ganito. If you still love me then break up with him." Kinuha niya ang kamay ko para mahawakan. "Yan, we can go abroad. I can bring you to England. We can start a life there."

Naramdaman ko ang pag-iinit ng mga mata ko. Gusto ko rin iyon. I wanted nothing but to be with Wesley. I nodded my head. He smiled faintly and took me in his arms. After a while he faced me again and lifted my chin up to meet my lips. And like always I returned his kisses.

Nang muli kaming lumabas sa mga tao ay hinanap ko si Arthur. I decided to talk to him. Matagal ko na rin talaga siyang gustong kausapin. We just can't find the time before. I'm not sure either if this is the right time but when will it be? I understand Wesley's feelings. Matagal na rin naming tinatago ang sa amin. Na alam kong magagawan ko naman ng paraan. I knew that he doesn't deserve this, too.

Nahirapan pa akong hanapin si Arthur at hindi ko siya agad nakita. He was outside near his car. "Art," I called him.

He turned to me and we're face to face. May emosyon sa mukha niya na hindi ko na gaanong pinagtuonan. Gusto ko lang na masabi ko na sa kaniya. "Art..." I gulped and I was also a bit nervous. Pero matapang ko na siyang hinarap. "Let's end things between us..." I said it straightforwardly.

Nanatili lang ang tingin ni Arthur sa akin pero wala agad siyang sinabi. "Why?" This is the first word he said after hearing what I just told him.

Umiling ako. "Ayoko na, Art..."

"Because of him?" deretso rin niyang sinabi.

I looked at him with wide eyes.

He nodded like he already knew. "Hindi naman ako tanga, Aryanne..." bigong aniya. "I noticed everything since he came back... You started refusing my touch and kisses, even a simple hug you wouldn't allow. Bakit? Kasi bumalik na siya. Dahil siya nalang ang pwedeng humawak at himalik sa 'yo? Like what I just saw in the kitchen earlier..."

Tears formed in my still widened eyes. Sinubukan ko pang umiling pero naiyak nalang ako. I sobbed in front of Arthur. He just stood there and remained looking at my state with his face almost void of emotion.

"I-I'm sorry, Art..." I cried.

"You can't breakup with me, Aryanne. Your father won't like it. And... we're getting married." His voice started breaking. I knew that he was hurting, too. I knew that it hurt him. I knew that I hurt him.

Lalong bumuhos ang mga luha ko. And it was becoming hard to breathe because of my tears and emotions. Kinuha ni Art ang kamay ko. "Let's go." aniya lang.

"Where are we going? I already told you that I'd stay here hanggang libing ni tita—"

"Babalik na tayo ng Manila and you're coming with me."

I shook my head. "No. Let me go, Art—"

Ang sumunod nalang na nangyari ay nakita ko nang nabitawan na ako ni Arthur dahil tinulak siya ni Wesley palayo sa akin and he punched Arthur on the face! Agad akong napatakip sa bibig ko sa bahagyang nanginginig na mga kamay. Tumayo ng tuwid si Art at nagpunas ng dugo sa labi niya pagkatapos ng nangyari. He looked at Wesley who looked ready to attack him again.

"W-Wesley..." I called him.

May mga nakakita na rin sa amin at sa nangyayari. Our friends also went to us. Tumabi sa akin si Maxine at hinawakan ako. I also saw Savannah who looked like she didn't expect what happened. Nang mag-angat ako ng tingin ay nagtagpo ang mga mata namin ni Arthur. At walang salita ay tinalikuran niya kaming lahat and went straight inside his car. Savannah tried to chase him pero agad nang nakaalis ang kotse niya.

Agad din akong dinaluhan ni Wesley. "Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" tanong niya sa aking nag-aalala.

Umiling lang ako.