Tanya's POV
Sinusuklayan ko si Therese habang nilalaro niya ang maynikang binili sa kanya ni Wayne kanina. She already had her pajamas on and I was just getting her ready for bed.
Muling bumalik sa isip ko ang nangyari sa parking lot. Tinitigan niya ako na parang pati siya ay nagulat sa ginawa niya. We didn't utter a single word to each other after what had happened. He kept his distance from me the whole day.
Hindi ko na nga alam kung ano na ang nangyayari sa amin. Kung hanggang saan ko dapat ipagpilitan ang sarili ko sa kanya o saan ako dapat huminto. Kung ako lang, hindi ako mapapagod sa kanya pero siya alam kong pagod na siya. Hindi na tamang paghintayin ko pa siya. He had enough and I couldn't blame him.
I heard a knock on my door before it opened and George popped his head in. "Hey..."
"Papa George!" Therese jumped out of bed with her doll in her hands. She ran to him, George caught her in his arms and carried her. "Do you like my new dolly?"
"Your dolly is beautiful. Just like you, my little princess. What did you do? Did you have fun?" He kissed her on the cheek.
"Yes, Papa. We went to the arcade and I played in the bounce house and then we had pizza..." Nagkwento si Therese tungkol sa mga ginawa namin ngayon at nang mapagod ay tumigil na ito. Therese yawned and rested her head on George's shoulder.
He quietly chuckled. "You've had a long day. Come on, I'll tuck you in."
"I still haven't fed Snow White and Clifford."
"Okay, we'll feed them first and then I'll tuck you in."
"Ako na magpapatulog sa kanya." I said.
"I'll handle this. You need to take a rest, sweetheart, you look tired." Lumapit siya sa akin habang karga si Therese. "Give Mommy a goodnight kiss."
"Mwah!" She leaned over to me and gave me a quick peck on the lips. "Goodnight, Mommy. I love you."
"I love you, too." I smiled.
"Get some sleep." Marahang sabi ni George bago niya ako hinalikan sa noo.
I nodded my head. Lumabas na si George at Therese at naiwan akong mag-isa sa kwarto. I let out a deep exhale and got up. Binuksan ko ang drawer sa vanity at nilabas ang isang singsing mula sa maliit na kahon.
I had in my hand our promise ring. Sampung taon kong iningatan ito. I had kept and cherished this just like how I had kept and cherished my love for him. Hindi na ako umasa noon na magkikita pa kami. Inisip ko na kung sakali man na magkita nga kami may sarili na siyang pamilya.
Just the mere thought of it breaks my heart. Pero sabi ko sa sarili ko noon, kung magkita nga kami at may pamilya na siya, gusto kong makitang masaya man lang siya sa buhay niya. I wanted him happy even if it's with someone else. Palagi kong pinagdadasal noon na kung nasaan man siya, kung anuman ang kinahinatnan ng buhay niya, sana masaya siya. That was what I wanted most for him, to be happy.
And ironically, I was the one who was causing him pain now. Ilang beses ko na siyang sinaktan at ayaw ko na na patuloy pa siyang saktan. No matter what I do, I only end up hurting him. Ayaw kong lalong lumalim ang sugat na ginawa ko. I just wanted him to be happy.
Pagbukas ko ng pinto ni Therese ay nakita ko si George na natutulog sa tabi ng armchair sa kama ng bata. Resting on his belly was an opened children's book. Lumapit ako at maingat na kinuha ang librong iyon at inilapag sa bedside table. Ganun din ang ginawa ko sa suot niyang salamin.
"Tanya." Nagulat ako ng hawakan ako sa kamay ni George.
I smiled. "Bakit diyan ka natulog? Baka mangawit ka."
