Grieving Soul [#Wattys2019 Winner]

Chapter 42

#GrievingSoulWP

Chapter 42
Sealed

Carrying a tray of the light snacks I prepared for Mama Yunice and Gio, I went upstairs to go inside Gio's office when I saw the door slightly opened. I tried to balance the tray using only one hand and held the door knob with my other hand.

"Iyan lang ba ang pipirmahan ko, Ma?" tanong ni Gio sa kanyang ina.

Even from the outside, I could already feel the tension between Gio and Mama Yunice because of the way Gio spoke with his mother. Inayos ko ang pagkakahawak ko sa tray at nagdesisyon na huwag na munang pumasok.

"I heard from your father your plans about the company that you're going to build in Manila..." Mama Yunice started.

Pipihit na sana ako paalis nang madinig kong magsalita si Mama Yunice na dahilan kung bakit ako naging interesado sa kanilang pag-uusapan. Tahimik kong inilapag ang tray at saka dahan-dahang bumalik papalapit sa pintuan upang mas marinig ng maayos ang kanilang pag-uusapan.

"You don't know how proud I was when he told me about it. I know that you'll succeed because it is something that you do well," she continued. "Pagkatapos ay sasabihin sa akin ng Papa mo na itinigil mo ang lahat? Whose decision was that, Gio?"

My lips parted in disbelief when I heard that Gio already threw away everything he worked hard for. Knowing that he did it for me, didn't make me feel okay at all. Dahil sinabi ko sa kanya kagabi na ayaw ko ay walang pagda-dalawang-isip niyang ginawa ang gusto ko at hindi man lang inisip ang sarili niya.

"Sinabi sa akin ng Papa mo kung gaano ka kasaya habang sinasabi mo sa kanya ang mga plano mo pagkatapos ay sa isang iglap, naglaho ang lahat ng 'yon? No, Gio! I know very well that this is not your decision."

Mariin kong kinagat ang aking ibabang labi. The guilt that I was feeling was overflowing. Ako ang dahilan kung bakit niya itinigil ang lahat pero alam kong wala niyang balak aminin iyon kay Mama Yunice.

"Ma, I already made my decision," Gio firmly said without any explanation.

I could tell that he didn't want to talk about it because he didn't want to think about it anymore. He just wanted to forget that he sacrificed his dream for me, even though he didn't have to do it anymore.

Pagkatapos nilang mag-usap ni Mama Yunice ay sasabihin ko na sa kanya ang aking desisyon. I'm sure he could do something about it. Kapag sinabi kong gusto ko ay alam kong ipagpapatuloy niya 'yon lalo na dahil iyon ang gusto niyang gawin.

"Stop lying to me, Gio!" Mama Yunice raised her voice. "This is what Iarra wants, right?!"

Parang may sumaksak sa aking puso nang banggitin ni Mama Yunice ang aking pangalan. I almost forgot that she knew me so well. She treated me like her own daughter. Sa katunayan nga ay alam kong mas kilala niya pa ako kaysa sa sarili kong ina na wala masyadong alam patungkol sa akin. All my own mother knew about me was my flaws and shortcomings. When it came to trivial things, she didn't know even a thing.

"Ma, don't bring Iarra's name to this argument―"

"Why wouldn't I when I could clearly see that she's the one to blame about your unreasonable decision?" Mama Yunice didn't let Gio finish what he had to say. "I've always been proud and supportive with all of your decisions, but this one... I don't know, Gio. You disappointed me so much."

Hindi ko alam kung gaano kasakit ang nararamdaman ngayon ni Gio dahil sa sinabi ni Mama Yunice. Alam-alam ko kung ano ang pakiramdam na nabigo mo ang sarili mong magulang dahil halos buong buhay ko ay nararamdaman ko 'yan. Coming from his own mother, I knew it was a big blow to him.