Mrs. Araneta

Chapter XVII: Patrick 👨‍⚖️

October 1996, Alfonso's birth anniversary

"I have walked side by side with loss. I have laid my head down on his lap and felt his palm against my cheek. It is true; I have been intimate with loss. I have invited him into my heart, into my bed. I have let him live with me for all this time. And it was only after having known him, did I understand; he is an intermediary, a bridge to something so much more beautiful. For it is only through my meeting with loss, that I can truly know love."
-Lang Leav

Couple of weeks after knowing that Clea is indeed Irene's biological daughter, she's spending more time with her mother's family to make up for the lost time. Imee's children are all boys, and so are Bong's. Clea is now everyone's favorite being the only girl.

***
Irene is running a bit late for work. Greggy already left leaving Irene and Clea for the day. And because today is holiday, Clea gets to spend her morning in San Juan. Irene will pick her up later. Her Ate Imee volunteered to look after Clea since the Congress is in recess.

She's very strict when it comes to Clea's wellbeing. She asked her Nanay Yolly to stop using any talcum powder. No cologne for Clea unless it's going to be sprayed only through the end part of her clothes. They also placed dehumidifier inside her room to control the humidity that gets inside to avoid any possible triggers for her asthma. She's averting Clea from regularly eating sweets. Even her laundry detergent and fabric conditioner, she changed it to the scent free one.

All of this to Greggy's amusement and confusion. He didn't asked why all the changes because at the back of his mind, Irene is Irene. She will take and do things according to what she deemed fit and necessary. If only he knew why.

***
It's past two in the afternoon when Irene arrived at their ancestral house in San Juan. She's going to pick up Clea to do some grocery shopping for the cookies she's requesting before they head back to Makati.

IRENE's POV:

The house is surprisingly quiet. Ang ingay sa bahay kapag nandito si Clea ahh. I checked the kitchen, wala naman. Even the garden, yung bike nya nandun lang.

"Ate? Clea?" Mom is probably sleeping.

'Ay Ma'am, nasa kwarto po ni Congresswoman si Clea, naglalaro po sila'

Nako Ate! Nap time ni Clea, hindi man lang patulugin yung bata.

I opened her door without knocking to see what the two of them are up to.
And to my horror, I saw my daughter sitting in one of Ate's couch with her hair tied back. But her face! Oh God! Her face is covered with green paste that I do not know exactly what could it be.

"Oh my God, Clea.."
'Oh! Mommy!!!! Mommy I miss you, mommy ko!'
"Ate! Ano to?? Anong ginagawa mo sa anak ko?"

'Ayy ang OA mo Irene ha. Mask yan no, aloe! Para pretty kami ni Clea, diba Clea?'
'Yes Mommy! Look! Pretty si Clea Mommy.'

I just smiled at Clea to not give her the impression that I am mad at Ate.

"Ate? Sandali lang, usap nga tayo."
'Dito na lang.. para may kasama si Clea.'
"Ate.." She knows I'm not messing around.

As soon as she closed the door, I let out of my frustration towards her.

"Ateee! Ano ba! May scent yang mask mo ehh, alam mo naman na asthmatic yang bata! Nilagay mo pa talaga sa mukha nya! Ano ba!"
'Huy Irene! Boses mo ha! Wag kang sumigaw dyan! Okay naman si Clea ahh. Ano bang problema mo? Ano bang akala mo? Ipapa hamak ko yang anak mo? Hoy! Pamangkin ko yan, mahal ko yan! What is wrong with you? Akala mo ba hindi ko alam? Why did you take her sa ospital kahapon? Pina kuhanan mo ng dugo? What for? Alam ba ni Greggy yan? Kulang na lang ibaligtad mo yung bahay nyo sa Forbes wag lang magka alikabok yang bata, you have to let loose. Nakakasakal ka!'