It's been a week since the incident. Irene never left her daughter's room. She sleeps there all day. She doesn't eat nor sleep anymore. Greggy, is already convincing her wife to come out and eat. Irene, being a hard headed woman never got out.
Cassy on the other hand is still adjusting with the set up. She have a room in her Tita Imee's room but she still finds the ambiance and the comfort of her room. Currently she is doing her homeworks when she remembered her Mom.
"How is she? Is she eating? Is she ok? Is she still crying?" she thought. Hindi niya namalayang umiiyak na siya at nakapasok na ang Tita Imee niya sa kwarto niya. Napatingala nalamang siya ng may naramdaman siyang yumakap sa kanya.
"I know it's hard baby. I know. I'm sorry." Imee said while rubbing the back of her niece.
"Tita what if pag balik ko hindi na niya ako tanggapin? What if hindi na niya ako bilang anak niya? Natatakot ako tita. Natatakot akong masaktan ulit. Natatakot akong wasakin niya. Natatakot ako na mas lalong lumayo loob ko. Ayoko bumalik sa kanya pero tita alam kong nasasaktan siya at ako yung dahilan nun. Mababaliw na ako kakasisi sa sarili ko."
Imee was too stunned to speak because she didn't know that her niece is already suffering. She didn't expect that even if she is hurting she still worries about Irene.
"Your dad is updating me baby. Nakakulong lang daw ang Mommy mo sa room mo. Hindi na rin nakikinig da Daddy mo. Mama Meldy, is there. And sh-" Hindi na natuloy ni Imee ang sasabihin ng may nagmessage sa kanya.
"Your dad messaged me. Napakain na rin daw nila ang Mommy mo. See? Kaya tahan na. You did this for the both of you. Not your fault babe." Imee assuring her niece.
"Tita ang sama kong anak!" Cassy shouted in frustration. Imee knew this would happen. Cassy, being tired with Irene. Paano niya ibabalik ang pamangkin niya?
"Shhh. Tahan na tahan na. Halika, let's take a nap. Tatabihan ka ni Tita. Halika na nak." Imee said while making her niece stand and went to bed. Pinatulog lamang niya ito at nakatulog din siya.
Meanwhile in Forbes.....
Imelda is with her daughter watching her eat. Nakaka dalawang subo palamang ito ng umayaw na siya.
"No Irene. You will finish your meal. Hindi na mapakali ang anak mo dahil kakaisip sayo." Napatingin si Irene sa kanyang Ina.
"Oo Irene. Hanggang ngayon iniisip ka ng anak mo. Kaya kumain ka na diyan at magayos ka. Show your daughter that you are strong. Ok?" Irene just nodded and continued eating.
...................
1 month after the incident it's already Imee's birthday basically Irene is invited. They all are complete in San Juan and already eating dinner. Cassy was silent, avoiding her Mom and only answering when asked.
After dinner, nagka ayaan silang magkantahan. It was a roulette. Liza was the 1st one to sing, Then Mike to Borgy to Sandro to Vinny to Bong then to Irene. Irene picked At The Beginning.
"We were strangers, starting out on a journey
Never dreaming, what we'd have to go through
Now here we are, I'm suddenly standing
At the beginning with you" Irene started.
This was Cassy's favorite song from her favorite movie. She watches this everytime with her Mom. It was their past time. BEFORE
"No one told me, I was going to find you
Unexpected, what you did to my heart
When I lost hope, you were there to remind me
This is the start" Irene sang beautifully. Cassy was just staring at the screen with no emotions written on her face.
"And life is a road that I wanna keep going
Love is a river, I wanna keep flowing
Life is a road, now and forever, wonderful journey
I'll be there when the world stops turning
I'll be there when the storm is through
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you." Irene sang the last line while looking at her daughter.
"We were strangers, on a crazy adventure
Never dreaming, how our dreams would come true
Now here we stand, unafraid of the future
At the beginning with you" Imee was just watching her sister sing. She felt a sting in her heart. As much as she wants to help her sister, she understands that Cassy needs some space.
"And life is a road that I wanna keep going
Love is a river, I wanna keep flowing
Life is a road, now and forever, wonderful journey
I'll be there when the world stops turning
I'll be there when the storm is through
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you
Knew there was somebody, somewhere
A new love in the dark
Now I know my dream will live on
I've been waiting so long
Nothing's gonna tear us apart
And life is a road that I wanna keep going
Love is a river, I wanna keep flowing
Life is a road, now and forever, wonderful journey
I'll be there when the world stops turning
I'll be there when the storm is through
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you." Irene sang while staring at her daughter. She wants to hug her. She wants to be with her. It's just that her daughter already distances herself to her.
"Life is a road that I wanna keep going
Love is a river, I wanna keep going on
Starting out on a journey
Life is a road that I wanna keep going
Love is a river, I wanna keep flowing
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you." She ended. She then gave the mic to Greggy then to Matthew then to Imee then to Simon then to Cassy.
Cassy decided to sing When I Was Your Man.
"Same bed but it feels just a little bit bigger now
Our song on the radio but it don't sound the same
When our friends talk about you, all it does is just tear me down." Cassy sang keeping herself compose. Ayaw niyang umiyak. 1 buwan na siyang iyak ng Iyak.
"Cause my heart breaks a little when I hear your name
It all just sounds like ooh, ooh, ooh, hoo
Mm, too young, too dumb to realize
That I should have bought you flowers
And held your hand
Should have gave you all my hours
When I had the chance
Take you to every party 'cause all you wanted to do was dance
Now my baby's dancing
But she's dancing with another man" Damang dama niya ang kanta. Celeste came to her Mom and hugged her. Nagpa buhat siya rito at nagpapa lambing. Cassy felt broken. She was shattered in pieces once again.
"My pride, my ego, my needs, and my selfish ways
Caused a good strong woman like you to walk out my life." She looked at Irene.
"Now I never, never get to clean up the mess I made, oh
And that haunts me every time I close my eyes." her tears are starting to fall.
"It all just sounds like ooh, ooh, ooh, hoo
Mm, too young, too dumb to realize
That I should have bought you flowers
And held your hand
Should have gave you all my hours
When I had the chance
Take you to every party 'cause all you wanted to do was dance" Her voice is already cracking. Her eyes are fixed to her Mom.
"Now my Mommy's dancing
But she's dancing with another kid." Her voice already broke.
"Although it hurts
I'll be the first to say that I was wrong
Oh, I know I'm probably much too late
To try and apologize for my mistakes
But I just want you to know." She stared at Celeste. And looked back at Irene.
"I hope she buys you flowers
I hope she holds your hand
Give you all her hours
When you have the chance
Take you to every party
'Cause I remember how much you loved to dance
Do all the things I should have done
When I was your kid
Do all the things I should have done
When I was your kid." She sang. They were all speechless. Irene and Cassy were crying, Imee was consoling her niece.
"I-i'm sorry tita. I-im so sorry." Cassy cried and ran up to her room. Irene followed her together with Greggy and Imee.
"B-baby please. Open the door. A-anak please." Irene gently and softly said. Little did the know Celeste came up with them.
"Cassy, love it's ok. Tita is here. It's ok baby. It's ok." Imee said. Then, Cassy opened her door and went to her Tita Imee. Imee hugged her niece tightly.
Cassy broke their hug and went to Celeste.
"Baby come here." She whispered. Celeste, who is innocent, came to her sister.
"Remember your promise to ate?" Celeste nodded.
"Always take care of Mommy and Daddy. Always make them feel that they are important especially Mommy. Never let Mommy feel that she is alone. Always make Mommy happy and proud. Don't make her sad and feel bad. Always be a good girl and follow her. That's what you told me to be my promise to you ate." Celeste stated. Cassy smiled. She removed Celeste's necklace and removed her ring. The family ring Irene gave her. She inserted her ring in the chain of the necklace
"Baby this is ate's ring. Take care of that ok? Kasi iningatan ni Ate yan. Diyan siya kumapit noon kasi akala niya magiging ok siya. Take care of that like how I took care of that. Alright? Promise ate that you'll take care of my ring like how ate took care of Mom." Cassy said while putting the necklace on Celeste's neck.
"M-mahal ko n-no." Irene whispered, pleading her daughter.
"While ate is not in Forbes, you'll protect Mommy at all cost ok? You'll never let anyone hurt her even you. Alright. Love and take care of Mommy for me all right?" sabi ni Cassy while cupping her sister's face.
"Ok ate!" Celeste innocently said.
"Alright. Thank you baby. Sige baba ka muna." Which Celeste obliged.
"B-baby wag naman yun oh. A-anak please no." Irene held her daughter's hand. Cassy stared at her Mom, tears are falling slowly. Irene hugged her daughter.
"Anak please. Baby please naman please. Anak balik ka na kay Mommy. Please." Irene sobbed and burried her face on her daughter's neck.
"Promise me you'll love her for me. Never hurt her like you're hurted me. Never make her cry like you did to me. Give her the time and attention she deserves. Please love her like you've loved me before. Please promise me that." Cassy cried while her chin is in Irene's shoulder.
"I promise. Baby. Balik ka na." Irene sobbed more.
"Babalik si Luna. Hindi lang ngayon. Mahal na mahal na mahal kita Soleil. Mahal kita higit pa sa buhay ko." Cassy stated and rubbed her Mom's back. She broke their hug and kissed her Mom's forhead. She was about to go back to her room when Irene held her hand.
"Please. Please Mommy let me go. Let's not make this any harder for us." Cassy gently said. Greggy removed her wife’s hand that made Irene cry more.
"Take care of Mommy, Dad." She said and Greggy nodded. He kissed her daughter's forhead.
Cassy went in her room and locked the door. There she cried amd cried. Basang basa na ang kanyang unan kakaiyak. Nakatulog narin ito.
Irene on the other hand needed to be strong. Because she promised her daughter that she will take care of her sister. She knew that one day, all will be alright in time. Healing will spread to them and recover from the pain.
Like leaves, they will grow soon. No matter what happens, they will go back to each others arms.
Author's Note: Road to 8k! Thank you everyone! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Muah muah!
- Rie 🌸