AFTER THE MOVIE

Epilogue

"I guess this is it, baby? New country, new life."

Dare look so relaxed in his seat after almost 19 hours of plane ride with one stopover, but he didn't even talked to Regina the whole trip.

Hinatid sila ng mommy at daddy n'ya sa airport. But it seems that the kid is looking for someone coz he glances everywhere until their plane flew for New York.

Aminado s'ya na mas pinili n'yang patayin ang cellphone at ispend ang huling gabi n'ya sa Pinas kasama ang mga magulang na namiss n'ya dahil sa ilang taon din silang nagtiisan at hindi nagkausap.

She hasn't even been in contact with anyone. Didn't watch any news nor opened her social media account. Kahit kasi nakanews blackout s'ya alam n'yang sila ang trending topic sa ngayon at ang nangyari sa premiere night ng pelikula nila ni Narda.

"Hey, Dare, is there anything wrong?" She ask as they're about to land any minute now.

"You left dada without talking to her. You always do that mommy. First when I was still a baby and you flew to Vietnam. Second was when we visit lola Mai and tito Jameson in Vietnam then we went out without dada and when we got home she's already gone. And now, we're in another country without dada."

Matandain talaga sa details si Dare pero hindi n'ya alam na ganito ka keen sa details ang anak.

"But mommy leaves with enough reason, baby. Hindi naman ako bastang-basta lumalayo dahil lang sa gusto kong takasan ang dada mo. Pumunta tayo dito dahil sa work ng mommy. I got signed for a singing career here and ipapacheck din kita sa mga doctors dito. Dito kita planong ipaopera. Isn't that enough reason to leave your dada?"

"Maybe. But we can leave with a good heart. Goodbyes were never easy but it's much needed especially when we're leaving the people close to our hearts. I love my dada. I don't have any problem with her. But I haven't had the chance to say goodbye because of you."

"Kaya ba hindi mo ako iniimik simula ng sumakay tayo ng plane? Sorry na okay? Promise, when we're already settled, i'll contact your tito Ding so you can talk to him, lola Berta and lolo Rolando as well as your dada. You can still say goodbye to them even if we're already here."

"Running away is not always the best solution."

She was taken aback by her son's word.

"Saan mo ba napupulot ang mga salitang 'yan, Dare?"

"TV. But it makes sense right? That's why I kept that in mind. You should have let her explain."

"Talaga bang mag-eexplain ako sa 5 years old?" Naisa-isip n'ya.

"I've given enough chances, Dare. But sadly she disappoints me everytime. Ni hindi n'ya tayo nagawang ipaglaban. You've heard your tito Elmo right? Bumalik tayo sa loob ng sinehan to defend your dada pero naging duwag na naman s'ya. Kinailangan pang akuin ng tito Elmo mo na anak ka n'ya para mapagtakpan ang dada mo. Para maipagtanggol tayo. Duwag kasi ang dada mo, Dare. Hindi n'ya tayo kayang ipaglaban. Ni hindi n'ya tayo kayang ipagmalaki."

THEY then heard a video playing from someone's phone who's sitting at the back.

Maiinis na sana si Regina kasi kilala n'ya 'yong tinig ng nagsasalita sa video. It was Elmo's voice. The same scene na inabutan nila kahapon sa sinehan bago tuluyang umalis at sumama na sa mga magulang n'ya pauwi. Hindi na s'ya nag-abala pang tingnan at pakinggan ang mga susunod na sasabihin ni Elmo at Narda.

"Aamin na po ako. Gusto kong sa akin mismo manggaling ang statement at hindi sa kung sinuman na gusto lang gumanti sa akin kaya ito ginagawa."

Napatda s'ya sa kinauupuan dahil sa narinig.