Letters To Mr. Genius (Book 1&2)

Letters From Mr. Genius #38

Chapter 38
Znela

We spent the whole day sa bahay nila Terrence. They missed him a lot, halata iyon sa kanila. The twins went out for their shooting schedule and promised to be back before dinner. I will help Ate Maria sa kitchen para sa dinner mamaya. She will be cooking dishes na favourite ng kambal at ganun din ni Terrence.

"I admire you po for being hands on lalo na sa pangangailangan ng pamilya mo." I uttered as I helped her serve the afternoon tea.

"You know what Zee, I grew up being surrounded by caring people but it wasn't too fulfilling kasi my parents wasn't around." She smiled and looked at me. "Kaya pinangako ko sa sarili ko that I will be beside my children kahit anong mangyari. Alam mo, yung guidance and love ng sariling magulang sa anak, hindi yun mahihigitan ng sino mang tao."

"I agree po." Sagot ko sa kanya.

"Mothers have a very complicated job. Sino ba unang sinisisi kung nagkamali ang anak? Ang tatay ba? Hindi, di ba? Tayo, kami. Ang mga babae, ang mga nanay. People will castigate the mother first, ah hindi kasi ginabayan ng nanay, ah pinabayaan kasi ng nanay, ah wala kasing ginawa ang nanay, ah wala kasing nanay." I stood straight habang nakikinig sa kanya.

"Being a mother is not easy. It's too much pressure pero kung nakikita mo ang mga anak mo, all those pressure will be taken away. Alam mo ba Zee that having Rylle and Rio is a miracle for both Toffer and I." Kumunot ang noo ko.

She continued talking and I'm flattered that she's making time para ikwento sa akin ang mga ganitong bagay.

"My heart isn't as strong as the others. I had undergone two major surgeries. Akala ko I will not be blessed to have a family or to have a child at least but look at us now." She smiled even wider.

Kita ko sa mga mata niya ang saya. The way she speaks, sobrang malumanay na para kang hinihele habang nakahiga sa duyan. No wonder why Terrence grew up to be a good and kind person. Ate Maria has done her job very well.

"You know po, I want to commend you for raising Terrence very well. I'm not saying this because he is my man but because that's the truth. Despite the fact that my mother treated him bad, I never saw even a slightest hate from him. He respected her."

"I'm proud." She replied while putting the teacups on the tray. They are obviously pricey. They looked luxurious din kasi. "You know what, at some point I do understand your Mom." Tumigil siya sa ginagawa niya saka ako hinarap.

"She has done terrible things." Sagot ko na may kasamang hiya. "Not only to me but also to your family. I don't know kung kaya kong-," napatigil ako sa pagsasalita ng hinawakan niya ang mga kamay ko.

"You don't owe us anything." She assured. Sobrang bait niya. Sobrang genuine. Kung ako lang masusunod papatayuan ko na siya ng rebulto.

"Like I said, I do understand your Mom. She was just too afraid na mawala ka." Yumuko ako. "You call a woman a widow when her spouse has died, and a man, a widower when his spouse has died, but what do you call a parent who has lost their child?"

Napatingin ako sa kanya matapos marinig ang sinabi niya. "Wala di ba? Because no words can ever describe a parent's aching heart when they lost their child."

She was calm. Every words that are coming from her mouth is like a serene water that flows through a river. Relaxing. Welcoming.

"Siguro, she just took the wrong way on how to express it. Maybe your Mom was too pressured. Too desperate. People has unique way of expressing their love, siguro for your Mom, it was her only way. Her only known way."

She took a deep breath.

"I'm not saying that she's right but maybe, just maybe she's not totally wrong. She only wants the best for you but clearly you already know what it is, it just so happened that you have different idea, different realization."