“The CONCLUSION is the point at which we arrive at a final judgment regarding a situation. This judgment can be influenced by a combination of factual evidence and logical reasoning, or it can be based solely on what we think. Regardless of the approach, achieving a balanced perspective is crucial. We should diligently gather and assess the facts before arriving at our ultimate understanding.”

 
***

Surprised and confused, Jimhuesh found himself at a loss. Senthie’s words had left him bewildered; it wasn’t the dinner or their conversation that had prompted her to make such a decision. She no longer wanted any connection with him, and yet, the reason remained a haunting silence.

“Why?” he asked, a question that had already escaped his lips countless times. “It can’t be nothing. There must be something amiss. I apologize for what happened earlier; you were uncomfortable during dinner. I truly am sorry. But please, could you help me understand why you’ve chosen not to see me again?”

He let out a deep breath, struggling to contain the unexplained emotions swirling within him. Almost pleading, he continued, “Could you share with me what I’ve done wrong? Just give me a valid reason, please.”

Senthie’s scoff caught him off guard. Her actions were inscrutable to him; he felt violated, unable to pinpoint anything he had done to elicit such a strong reaction. He had always known her to be anything but shallow, which only added to his confusion as her personality seemed to have undergone an abrupt and jarring transformation.

She smiled, but her eyes betrayed a simmering anger. It was the kind of fury that could make even the innocent feel guilty and cower in her presence.

“You want a valid reason?” She scoffed before fixing a piercing glare on him. “You’re right, I shouldn’t act so damn immature.”

With an exasperated sigh, she continued, “I just discovered that my father abandoned our family for another woman.” She shook her head. “Scratch that. It wasn’t even for another woman, I suppose. It was plainly for money. He chose wealth over his own flesh and blood.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. It’s a terrible situation,” he responded. He felt overwhelmed by the sudden revelation and wasn’t entirely sure if his response was appropriate. Confused by why she was sharing this deeply personal revelation in the current circumstances, he added, “I can only imagine how shocking that must have been, but . . . how does it relate to us now?”

Senthie shook her head, a mixture of frustration and disbelief in her expression. “You won’t believe what I’m about to say.”

Staring earnestly into her eyes, he assured her, “I believe you, and I always will.”

Taking a deep breath and exhaling audibly, she groaned in frustration. “My father . . .” she began, and with a tight-lipped smile, she finally revealed the astonishing truth. “My father is your mom’s husband.”

 ~

Senthie’s revelation left Jimhuesh utterly stunned, a deep emotional wound cutting through her heart. In response, she promptly turned off her phone, fearing his attempts to reach out. She knew his persistence well and realized she needed some time to come to terms with everything.

Her words about not wanting to see him again were not spoken lightly; they had caused hurt, not only to him but to herself as well. She had once considered him as a potential boyfriend, but an unexpected and almost unbelievable revelation had altered everything. Her father was the unexpected link - Narciso Gomez.

After a refreshing shower, Senthie collapsed onto her bed, her gaze fixed on the ceiling. Questions swirled in her mind as she tried to understand the source of her anger. She examined her feelings, placing a hand over her chest. “What is this feeling? Why does it hurt so much? I thought I had moved on from the past. Is it because he didn’t recognize me? But that’s understandable, I’ve changed so much in nineteen years.”

The last time Narciso had laid eyes on her, she was just a six-year-old child. There was no conceivable way he could recognize her now. In contrast, Senthie, after several lingering glances, managed to piece together the puzzle. A sense of familiarity had nagged at her, and then it clicked—the man in the picture she had ripped apart on that fateful day - the last day she had been Rinana Gomez - was none other than her father, Narciso Gomez, but now living with the name of Ronaldo Dela Cruz.

It was his face, a bit weathered by time, and his voice, slightly rougher, but it was undoubtedly him, a conclusion she reached with both logic and intuition.

Senthie pressed her hand against her chest. “Do I still harbor feelings for him? Do I still love him?” She shook her head, attempting to dismiss the idea. “No, that’s absurd. There must be another reason. I’m not even shedding tears.”

She withdrew her hand from her chest, shifting her position to the side. She stretched out her arms and brought one leg closer to her stomach, releasing a sigh. “Is it because he chose money over us?” She chuckled and rolled to the other side. “It’s amusing that he even changed his name. What’s even more baffling is how he appears to enjoy his life after everything he’s done. Did he ever feel guilty for Mom?”

Then, it struck her like a bolt of lightning. Her tumultuous emotions were connected to her mother. She felt an overwhelming sympathy for her. She pondered how she would deliver this shocking news to Katrina; Senthie believed it was not only necessary but also that her mother deserved to know the truth.

“But what is the truth, exactly? Why did he never contact us? Why did he never reach out? Has he forgotten about us? He doesn’t have amnesia, does he?” She shook her head and laughed. “That’s ridiculous! That would be like straight out of a drama. This is the reality. He must have his reasons. Perhaps, our lives were in danger and he had to stay away to keep us safe. Ugh! That would be even more absurd!” She sighed heavily. “Did he choose to live a better life, or was there another reason?”

 ~

The following day, Senthie awoke burdened by an inexplicable sense of anxiety, a heavy weight pressing on her chest. Her heart raced, its beats erratic and palpable. Sitting up, she focused on deep breaths, attempting to soothe her frayed nerves. “This doesn’t feel right. Something bad must’ve happened or is about to happen.”

After a series of calming breaths, she reached for her phone on the bedside table and powered it on. The moment the screen lit up; her phone vibrated incessantly. She waited for the vibrations to cease before she noticed twenty-seven messages, all from Jimhuesh.

She sighed, but an unidentifiable unease continued to quicken her pulse. She scrolled through the messages, starting with the very first one.

“Sensen, did you get home safely? I’m not entirely sure about what you mentioned earlier, but I believe you, so I plan to discuss it with my parents later. I’ll update you once I’ve gathered more information.”
– Sent yesterday at 9:14 PM

“Hope you’re still awake, I’m about to talk to them now.”
 – Sent yesterday at 9:48 PM

“Sensen, I’m so sorry. I can’t believe how much they’ve kept from me. Can I call you? Actually, can we meet in person? This is too important for just a phone call. I can come to your place. Waiting for your response.”
– Sent yesterday at 10:21 PM

“Sensen, it seems your phone is switched off. I can’t reach you.”
– Sent yesterday at 10:52 PM

“I guess you won’t turn on your phone. I’ll just call you later, then.”
 – Sent today at 12:09 AM

She gasped. “Did he stay up all night, waiting for my reply, hoping for me to reconnect?” She quickly scrolled up to review the other messages.

“Sensen, Dad collapsed!”
– Sent today at 1:12 AM

Senthie’s eyes widened. Her initial surprise quickly evolved into concern as she continued to read Jimhuesh’s messages.

“I can’t contact you, and I understand you’re upset. But he’s still your dad, so once you read this message, I hope you’ll consider visiting him. Please.”
 – Sent today at 2:48 AM

“Asian Hospital.”
– Sent today at 2:49 AM

“Sensen, it’s all my fault. I’m so sorry.”
 – Sent today at 3:17 AM

The text messages continued with a consistent theme of apology, causing Senthie to scroll swiftly until she reached the last two messages.

“Sensen, Dad’s in critical condition because of me. I never meant for any of this to happen, I swear. I’m deeply sorry.”
– Sent today at 6:26 AM

“Sensen, could you please come and see Dad, just this once? I want to go there and pick you up, but I can’t seem to muster the courage to face you. I’m overwhelmed with shame.”
 – Sent today at 7:31 AM

A solitary tear landed on her phone screen, her tears catching her off guard. She couldn’t quite pinpoint the source of her emotions, whether it was her father’s situation or something else entirely.

 ~

Senthie made her way to the hospital, a sense of nervousness and concern accompanying her, directed at both her father and Jimhuesh. She carried with her a curiosity about the events that had unfolded—why Jimhuesh had issued so many apologies and how it was somehow connected to Ronaldo’s condition.

Moments later, she arrived at Ronaldo’s room, which was no ordinary hospital room but a presidential suite, complete with living, kitchen, and dining areas.

Ronaldo lay unconscious on the bed, connected to a ventilator machine. On the other side, Jennifer clutched his hand, tears streaming down her face. She sniffled and turned her head as she noticed Senthie’s arrival. “Oh, you’re here,” she said, her voice breaking.

Senthie wasn’t sure how to respond, so she offered a polite nod and remained silent as she approached Ronaldo. She studied his worn appearance, the lines etched on his forehead, marked by the pallor of someone who had endured challenging times. However, Senthie couldn’t find any emotions beyond pity within herself.

When her gaze shifted to Jennifer, her heart ached with sympathy. She couldn’t shake the feeling that somehow, this was her fault. “I’m sorry,” she murmured.

Jennifer’s red, puffy eyes locked onto hers. “What on earth are you apologizing for, dear? You haven’t done anything wrong.” She sniffled and wiped away her tears. “If anyone should be apologizing, it’s me. Not you.”

Shaking her head, Senthie moved toward the other side of the bed and halted beside an empty chair next to Jennifer. “May I sit?”

She nodded, her smile was warm and welcoming. Senthie gently pulled the chair closer and settled into it. “I’ve heard from Jim that he talked to both of you last night about some things. I’m sorry; I think I should apologize for it.”

“I should be the one apologizing, Ms. Salvador. I’m sorry for everything. I didn’t know he had a family. If only I had known, I would never . . .” Her voice trembled, and fresh tears welled up in her eyes. “But please, try to understand his situation. He doesn’t remember anything. His memories haven’t returned. The doctor says there’s no hope for him to recover them. His head sustained the most damage.”

Senthie’s forehead furrowed. He has amnesia . . . ? So, I wasn’t being ridiculous when I thought that was a possibility. I thought . . . this kind of circumstance only happens in movies. Confused, she asked, “How . . . ?”

“I was on vacation in Dubai when I found him on the seashore. It was late at night, and it was on November eighth . . .” Jennifer’s words came to a pause. Senthie’s heart seemed to stop in tandem. Her stomach twisted uncomfortably at the mention of that date. It was her birthday.

Jennifer sniffled and continued, “Everything that happened that day brought back memories of when my late husband was in my arms . . . begging him to open his eyes. It was difficult. I felt sorry for Ronaldo, so I took care of him. I called every doctor I knew to treat him. That’s when we learned he had a fractured skull, resulting in a brain injury. It took a month for him to recover externally, but when he regained consciousness, he didn’t remember anything, not even his name.”

“We couldn’t even begin to search for his family or where he lived. When I found him, he had no phone, wallet, or any identification. It seemed hopeless, so I took the chance and brought him to the Philippines to introduce him as my son’s father. . . .” She gently reached for Senthie’s hands. “I’m sorry I couldn’t do more than that. I hope you can understand.”

She offered a gentle smile. “I understand, you don’t have to apologize, Ms. Jenny.”

“Thank you, Ms. Salvador.” She returned her smile and then turned her gaze toward Ronaldo. “You’ve granted his wish. He’s finally met a member of his family, and that’s you, his daughter.”

Suddenly, Senthie felt a warm hand cupping her face. Jennifer’s thumb brushed across her cheek. “You’re crying, dear.”

Startled, she stammered, “Oh, s-sorry, I didn’t even realize,” and quickly wiped her face. It was a mix of emotions that had prompted her tears. Perhaps they flowed when she realized her father had tried to keep his promise, or maybe it was the realization that she had jumped to the worst conclusions and had been entirely wrong about him. He hadn’t come back, not because he didn’t want to, but because he couldn’t. She felt an overwhelming sense of guilt and self-loathing.

“Are you all right, dear?” she asked.

Senthie smiled warmly. “Thank you, Ms. Jenny, for sharing this with me and for taking care of my father. He’s truly fortunate to have met you.”

An interlude of silence passed between them; a moment perfectly suited to their exchange of smiles. However, that stillness was eventually disrupted by a breathy voice. “H-honey . . .”

Both instantly turned their heads in the direction of the voice. It was faint, barely audible, and weak, but he had spoken. Ronaldo had finally regained consciousness.