Let's Play Doctor!

Game 40 - Sometimes, goodbye is overrated

James  smiled. “Not at all.” Cassandra walked out of the study. He then sat on the edge of my desk and sighed. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”

Pumunta ako sa may cabinet kung nasaan yung first aid kit. Lumapit ako sa kanya at umiling nalang. “Ayos lang.” sabi ko at binuksan ko yung first aid kit at kinuha yung disinfectant. “This might sting a bit.” Sabi ko sabay buhos ng disinfectant.

He swore. “Sorry.” He murmured. Nilinis ko yung sugat niya. “We weren’t always like that you know?” he started as I cleaned his cut.

“Were you ever happy James? I mean with your marriage with her?” tanong ko kahit alam kung wala sa place kong magtanong.

“Sa tingin ko hindi, puro away lang ang nangyayari sa amin tuwing nasa iisang kwarto kami.” Pag-aamin niya sa akin.

“So bakit mo siya pinakasalan kung hindi ka naman pala masaya?” tanong ko. I was stitching his cut already.

”I was happy once. But marriage…”

I only nodded. I know what he meant. Marriage sucks. It can ruin everything. It ruined them both. “Pardon me but if you’re unhappy now, why not just end it?” I asked.

He smiled wanly at me. “I can’t. I just can’t. We both made mistakes. We made our bed and we have to lie on it.”

Pagkatapos namin ay nagpunta na kami sa dining room kung nasaan ang lahat at naghihintay sa amin. James sat beside Cassandra as I sat across Caleb.

We ate dinner peacefully.

After dinner, the guests stayed for a drink or two. Nagpunta ako sa study at nakitang nalinis na yung lapag. May bago na rin set ng decanter at mga baso. I poured myself a glass of whiskey.

I drank my whiskey and sat on the settee. My phone rang and I answered it as soon as I saw who it was. “Any news?” tanong ko agad.

“She lives in Highland Park, Illinois.” My P.I., George said. I hired a P.I. when Ralphe asked me to find out about Clara, dahil nga hindi ko makausap si Ian dahil hindi naman kami nun close at ayaw ko na rin tanungin si Elena tungkol dito kaya nag hire na ako ng P.I. to look for her.

I was curious as to where she was.

I furrowed my brow. George found her easily so why not Ralphe? I’m sure he hired a P.I. too. “Panao mo nalaman yan George? Sigurado akong naghire din si Ralphe ng P.I. at bakit nahanap mo si Clara?”

Hindi sa nagtataka ako sa kakayahan ng P.I. ko after all he’s one of the best but still Ralphe is Ralphe. He would also hire one of the best.

“Hindi ko dapat to sinasabi sayo, Emma pero isa ka sa mga pinaka-importanreng kliente ko. Binayaran ako para ilayo ang pag-iimbestiga ni Ralphe Mendez kay Clara dela Merced. Tuwing may lead na yung P.I. nito ay nilalayo ko pa ito.” Pagpapaliwanag niya.

“Sinasabi mo bang binayaran ka ni Ian Areballo para itago parin kung nasaan si Clara?” tanong ko pero hindi ko na kailangan pang marinig ang sagot niya dahil tama ako. Ian paid him. “So tell me, George is she really pregnant?”

 

“Yes.”

Pagkatapos niyang i–report sa akin ang kalagayan ni Clara ay tinapos ko na rin yung pag-uusap ko sa kanya. Clara clearly didn’t want Ralphe to find her. Hindi ko man talaga gusto si Clara at kaibigan ko si Ralphe, he can be an oaf sometime and if Clare really doesn’t want to be found then I need to tell Ralphe to stop.

So I called Ralphe. He answered the first ring. “May balita ka na Emma?” tanong nito agad sa akin.

Hindi ko alam pero nanghina ako, pakiramdam ko gusto niya talagang mahanap si Clara pero may dahilan siguro si Clara kung bakit. At alam kong dahil yun sa gustong mangyari ni Ralphe. He wanted an abortion.

For Pete’s sake, why couldn’t he man up and take responsibilities?

“I’m sorry Ralphe, pero dead end din eh.” I lied. “Siguro panahon na para itigil mo yung paghahanap mo sa kanya. It looks to me that she doesn’t want to be found. If she really wanted someone to find her, then she would have left tracks. Ayaw sabihin ni Ian at pinahanap ko na siya sa PI ko at wala rin.”

I heard him sigh. “I just can’t believe she would disappear like that. She didn't even say goodbye.”

“Sometimes, goodbye is overrated. Maybe it’s for the best that she didn’t say goodbye.”

“Yeah maybe. I just hate how we ended things up. It was messed up and I doubt that if we ever see each other again, we can be causal.”

I doubt you’d see her again.

“Thank you Emma for helping me. I guess tama ka. Kung gusto talaga ni Clara na magpakita, ginawa na niya ang lahat. She’s not a subtle person.”

And I felt guilty.