Redamancy

XIII.

PART 3

***

Richard was sitting in the sala waiting for Tita Midz to come down. It was 10pm and just a few days after Christmas. He felt miserable and his feet led him there.

A few minutes later, Tita Midz comes down in her robe and obviously ready for bed. Richard stood up and was about to approach her.

"Doon tayo sa lanai.."

Richard just nodded and followed her outside by the garden. They sat down at the garden set and were just quiet. After a while, a maid brings out a cup of coffee for Richard and a tea for Tita Midz. Richard waited for the maid to leave before he explains why he was there.

"Tita, I just - "
"Drink that first bago tayo mag-usap.."

Richard looks at her and was about to protest but she looked at him straight into his eyes.

"Lasing ka.."

Richard sighs. True enough, he had a few bottles before going there. He took a sip of the hot coffee while Tita Midz was just watching him. He finished half when Tita Midz breaks the silence around them.

"Alam ko kung bakit ka nandito..", Richard looks at her. "When did you find out and how?"

"Just a few hours ago. From a friend in New York..", Tita Midz nodded.

"She called me 3 days ago.."
"Po?"
"She told me the good news.. and.. She asked me about you.." Tita Midz took a sip of her tea.
Richard waiting for her to continue.

"I told her you are doing well and got engaged recently.. she said,
'good for him, Tita. He deserves to be happy',
but here I am.. looking at your miserable face.."

Richard gives out a loud sigh. He is okay. He knows he is happy, but what happened and he ended up this sad and miserable.

"Nagsisisi ka ba?"
"Saan po?"
"Sa parehong sitwasyon. Nagsisisi ka ba na hindi mo siya inalagaan at binalikan? O nagsisisi ka dahil nagpropose ka sa girlfriend mo ngayon?"

Richard bowed, covered his face with his hands, and tries to not punch something. He doesn't know what to feel. He is confused, angry, happy, scared, jealous, and other sorts of feelings and found himself crying.

Tita Midz stood up and rubs his back.
"Anak.."
"Kasalanan ko, Tita.. I'm sorry.. I'm sorry.. hindi ko.. hindi ko natupad yung pangako ko.. I'm sorry, Tita.." he sobs.
"Bakit sa akin ka humihingi ng tawad?"

Richard sits upright and wipes his tears with his shirt.
Tita Midz sits closer to him and held his hand.
"Mahal mo pa ba?"
Richard sighs, catches his breath and looks at her.
"You can tell me, anak.."
Richard nodded and sobs again. Tita Midz couldn't do anything but to let him cry again.

After a few minutes, Richard stood up.
"Saan ka pupunta?"
"Thank you, Tita. This is a mistake. I'm sorry.. dito ako nagpunta.."
Tita Midz held his hand, "Anak, dito ka na muna. Dito ka na matulog. You can't drive in your state."
Richard shakes his head, "wag na po.. nakakahiya sa mga anak niyo.."
"No. Dito ka. Hindi ako papayag na umalis ka ng ganyan."
Tita Midz calls for one of her helpers and asked them to fix the guest room immediately.
"Anak.. kailangan mo magpahinga para makapag-isip ka.."
"Tita.." he looks ar her sadly, "masama ba akong tao?"
Tita Midz shakes her head.
"Hindi.. nagkamali ka lang at nasaktan but maybe.. this is the best for you and Dawn.."
Richard sighs.