Regrets are Always at the End

Kabanata 36

Sean's POV

"Papa naman eh. You know how much I don't like her," reklamo ko kay papa. Magiging client ko kasi ulit yung palaka na yun. "And now you're telling me na magkakatrabaho ulit kami? You're feeding me to the dragon, pa."

"Anak, you know that the Enriquez's have been our client ever since nung nagsisimula pa lang tayo," pagsimula ni dad. "It'll be rude if we decline their offer. And mr. Enriquez is willing to pay you twice."

"Pa, I don't care about the money," paliwanag ko sa kanya. "Ang akin ay, ayaw ko siya makatrabaho."

"Sean, open your heart to new opportunities," sabat ni mama sa pag-uusap namin ni papa. "You never know, baka siya na maging bago kong manugang."

I glared at her kasi I didn't like her idea. May pa bagong manugang pa siyang nalalaman. Nakakainis na eh. Hinulog ko na lang yung pwet ko sa sofa at huminga ng malalim.

"Fine, I'll accept their offer," sabi ko kay papa. "In one condition."

Ngumiti si papa at tinapik yung balikat ko. Kung hindi ko lang sila magulang, hindi ko talaga tatanggapin ang offer na ito. Tumayo na ako at dumiretso sa study room ko. I wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone. Sobrang init ng ulo ko. Not because of Sandy. But because of Gizelle. Hanggang ngayon, wala pa ring update si Samuel sa kinakaroonan ni Gizelle. Ang tanging update lang na nabigay niya kanina was that, Gizelle asked for help from an attorney. Pero yun lang, wala ng iba.

Umupo ako sa swivel chair at nakita ko yung wedding picture namin ni Gizelle. Bigla ko naalala yung kasal namin. I was the happiest guy on earth, kasi napasakin na rin ang babaeng minahal ko at mamahalin ko. Pero, sino ang nag-akalang mawawala rin pala siya sa buhay ko. Siguro nga, hindi talaga kami para sa isa't-isa. Napatigil ako sa pagmumuni-muni nung may kumatok sa pinto.

"Pasok," sigaw ko. Agad bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si kuya Myrick sa study room. "Kuya, ba't ka napadalaw?"

"Sean, it's been a month pero wala pa rin tayong alam kung saan si Gizelle," sabi ni kuya Myrick sa'kin. "I think it's time to let Gizelle go."

"What do you mean, kuya?" tanong ko sa kanya. "Ganun na lang yun? Hindi na lang natin hahanapin? We'll give up just like that?"

"Sean, Gizelle did what she did because she wanted freedom," biglang sigaw ni kuya Myrick. I was taken aback. "She wanted freedom from everyone. Don't take it the wrong way, Sean. Gusto kong makita ulit yung kapatid ko na buhay. Pero gusto ko rin na kusa siyang babalik sa atin, sa'yo. Gizelle had too much from everything.

"Gizelle didn't have any freedom at home. Lahat ng kilos niya, lahat ng desisyon niya, lahat ng mga kaibigan niya, dapat si mama ang magsasabi. She was mama's puppet. But never namin narinig na nagreklamo siya. She did what an obedient daughter would do.

"And now that she finally had a taste of the freedom she's always been craving about, I want her to be happy, Sean. When she was still with us, never ko siyan nakitang masaya. Yes, she would laugh and smile and show the whole world that she was happy. But deep within her, she's been fighting the sadness within herself, alone.

"Kaya Sean, I'm begging you, as Gizelle's brother. Huwag na natin hanapin si Gizelle. Let her find her way home, if she still wants to return to us. If hindi, then let's leave her alone. Let her be. She deserves it."