The next day, Victoria is not in the mood to talk to her parents she's so disappointed to them.
She's ready to go to school, she didn't eat her breakfast. Nagpahatid na ito sa driver niya sa school.
it's 7 in the morning na, Irene just woke up, Greggy is at the kitchen cooking breakfast for them.
Irene went to the kitchen to drink some water, hindi niya kinikibo si Greggy.
Greggy took his briefcase "The food is at the table, I'm going"he said before leaving the house. Greggy is waiting for her respond but Irene didn't respond to him.
She went back to Louis's room to change, she's going to museum.
After 20 minutes she's ready to go, she skip her breakfast.
Victoria is on her class now and she's bored.
"Beh, tara gala mamaya. Half day lang naman tayo ngayon eh"Cassie said
"Sorry but I can't go. I want to sleep"she replied
"Okay po"Cassie said at bumalik na sa upuan niya.
Victoria is looking at the window, she had a plan already na kasi kaya tinanggihan niya ang alok ni cassie. She's having an art block this past few weeks and she wants to find some inspiration, tsaka para na din malibang niya ang sarili niya.
Kahit papaano ay makalimutan niya ang mga dinadala niyang problema.
Greggy is on her office. Mag isa lang ito ngayon.
"Irene, what can I do to bring your trust again? I'm really sorry"sabi nito sa kanyang sarili
"Louis, bumalik ka na, please. I need you, please help me to build our family again."his tears began to fall, agad niya naman itong pinunasan.
(FF)
It's already 12, nagpahatid si Victoria sa museum. She's carrying her bag with a pencil, eraser, and sketch book inside. She smiled before entering inside the museum.
Hindi masyadong matao sa loob, kaya gusto niyang mas manatili dito ng matagal.
She enjoyed every art that she saw inside the art gallery.
Habang nag eenjoy siya ay nakalimutan na nitong kumain.
She sat at the bench inside the museum to sketch.
She didn't have any idea that Irene is also in the same museum where she's at.
Habang naglilibot si Irene sa loob ng museum ay may nakita itong pamilyar na mukha, she went nearer and she confirmed that its Victoria.
"Victoria?"she said. Lumingon naman si Victoria.
"M-mommy?"
"Diba may pasok ka? What are you doing here?"she asked
"Half day lang po kami, sige po I have to go"she said coldly
Irene held her hands. "Kumain ka na ba? Gusto mo sabay tayo?"Irene asked
"I'm not hungry"she answered coldly
"Ahhh..since halfday ka lang, pwede mo ba akong samahan?"Irene said
"Where?"
"Kumain"She said
at last she convinced her daughter to eat with her, but Victoria keeps on ignoring her.
Irene and Victoria went to Mcdo, Irene ordered some fries, spaghetti, burger, ice cream, and coke.
Magkaharap sila ni Victoria sa isang table, Irene was eating while Victoria is just looking at her mom.
"Hindi ka pa ba talaga gutom, anak?"Irene asked
"Basta kumain ka na lang po dyan"sagot nito at tumingin sa paligid, nagpatuloy naman si Irene sa pag kain.
After nilang kumain ay inaya naman ni Irene si Victoria sa isang lugar. Wala namang ideya si Victoria kung saan sila pupunta ng mommy niya basta sumasama nalng ito dito.
After few minutes nakadating na sila sa simenteryo kung saan naka libing si Louis.
Nakatayo si Irene sa harap ng puntod ni Louis at nakatayo naman si Victoria sa likod ni Irene, inoobserbahan niya lang ito.
"Hi, Anak. Miss ka na ni mommy"she sobbed
Lumapit naman si Victoria kay Irene at tinapik tapik ang likod nito. "Mommy, tama na po"she said
"I miss her so much kung alam mo lang, Victoria"she said while looking at Victoria.
Hindi naman makatingin si Victoria sa mga mata ng kanyang ina.
"Mommy she's fine there, kalimutan na natin si ate. Please, kasi walang mangyayari kung pilit mo pa ding binabalikan yung nakaraan na" she demanded while looking down.
"What? Why would I forget her? She's my daughter! Anak, what are you saying ba?"she asked
"Andito pa ako, kami ni daddy. Nakakalimutan mo na din kami eh. Lagi nalang kayong nag-aaway ni daddy. Nakakapagod na, kadami ko nang problema dumadagdag pa kayo"she explained
"Mommy, please wag na kayong mag away ni daddy. Ayokong nakikita ko kayong nag iiwasan lagi. Please?"she begged while holding her mothers hand.
Naging tahimik naman si Irene nang marinig iyon mula kay Victoria.
She looked at her daughter who is looking at her with a puffy eyes, her nose were red and cupping.
"okay, if that what makes you happy"she spoke at binitawan ang mga kamay ni Victoria.
Victoria hugged her. "Thank you po"she said.
After that they went home. They arrived at 6. Maaga namang natulog si Victoria dahil napagod ito.
Irene is at the kitchen, she's wearing a black silk robe while holding a glass of red wine. she's waiting for Greggy.
10 na nang makauwi si Greggy sa bahay nila. She saw Irene at the kitchen but hindi niya ito pinansin at nagtungo na sa taas para magbihis.
Pagkatapos niyang magbihis ay tumungo ito sa kusina kung saan naroroon si Irene.
"Bakit hindi ka pa natutulog?". Greggy asked her while getting some water
"We have something to talk about"she spoke
"Kung tungkol ito sa divorce, I'm not going to sign that stupid papers"he insisted and left Irene. Irene followed him and grab his hands
"It's about Victoria "she said
"What about her? Is there something wrong?"she asked worriedly
"Kanina, nagpunta kami kay Louis. She doesn't want to see us fight. So let's pretend muna that were okay, and pag na ayos na yung divorce paper natin pwede nang hindi tayo mag panggap."she explained
Greggy narrowed her brows to Irene. "Lolokohin natin siya? Iniisip mo ba kung ano yung pwedeng maramdaman ng anak natin? I can't do that Irene. And I'm not gonna sign the papers, end of discussion!" she said angrily at nagpunta na sa taas. She left Irene alone at the sala.
FRIDAY.....
Victoria just finished wearing her clothes for school, she went to the kitchen to eat her breakfast and she was surprised when she saw her parents at the dining table. Irene is preparing the meal while Greggy is reading newspaper.
She went to her chair at umupo na.
"Good morning"Irene greeted her but tinitigan niya lang ito ng ilang segundo at nag focus na sa pagkain.
"Dad, can you pass the bacon, please?" she said to Greggy. Inabot naman ni Greggy ito.
Irene sat on her chair at tinitignan lang sila Victoria at Greggy habang kumakain. Pareho nilang hindi pinapansin si Irene.
After mag breakfast ni Victoria ay nagpahatid na ito sa driver nila. Silang dalawa nalang ang natitira sa bahay.
Tumingin si Greggy kay Irene na naka tulala sa malayo at inabot ang tubig.
"Kanina ka pa tulala dyan"he whispered
"Akala ko di mo na ako papansinin eh"she said at kinuha ang tubig.
"Eh paano kita kakausapin lagi kang wala sa bahay. Hindi mo na nga nabibigyan ng oras yung anak natin. Una ako, tapos ngayon si Victoria? Irene gumising ka."sabi nito at nilapag ng malakas ang binabasa sa lamesa.
Tumayo si Greggy at nagpunta sa taas para maghanda na na pumasok sa trabaho, she left Irene speechless at the kitchen.
Her tears began to filled her eyes. Sinundan niya si Greggy sa taas "Sinisisi mo ako? Bakit, sino bang may kasalanan Greggy, ako ba? Ako ba yung sumisira sa pamilya na ito? Hindi ba't ikaw?" she shouts
"Ako? Bakit? Anong ginawa kong mali? Nagampanam ko yung tungkulin ko bilang mabuting asawa, hindi ako nagkulang! Ikaw? Napabayaan mo kami! Ako na asawa mo at ang anak natin! Tapos gusto mo akong hiwalayan? Bakit? Bakit mo ako gustong hiwalayan Irene ha? Naging mabuti akong asawa at tatay ng mga anak natin! Iniintindi kita! Iniintindi ka namin! hindi ako yung may problema dito Irene, Ikaw yon! Ikaw!"he shouts. Greggy received a sharp slap on his face that make him red.
"Naging mabuting asawa at tatay? Pagiging mabuti bang asawa at tatay yung nambabae ka?"she flared with anger
"What? Irene wala akong babae, never kong gagawin sa'yo yun"
"Pero nagawa mo"she said halata mo sa boses niya na pagod ito.
"No. Hindi ako nambabae"he protested
"Then explain those lipstick on your clothes? Lagi kang late na umuuwi noon. Those cond*oms inside your pockets, yung pabango.Ipaliwanag mo yun!"she shouts angrily
"Buhay pa si Louis I know na may babae ka na, pinili ko lang manahimik dahil ayaw kong masira yung pamilya natin. Habang masaya kayo, nasasaktan ako, Greggy, nasasaktan mo ako! Ayokong sabihin saanila kasi masisira ka sakanilang dalawa, bilib na bilib nga sila sa'yo eh. Tapos nasa akin lahat ng sama ng loob."sabi nito at umalis na. She went to Louis's room at doon nagkulong.
Greggy went speechless when he heard that from Irene. Reality hits him hard. Napaupo nalang ito sa kama at napahawak sa ulo, he's crying.
"Ginawa ko ang lahat para hindi ka masira sa mga anak natin, sa paningin nila ako ang laging masama, pero ikaw yung nanakit sa amin, pero ako lahat ang sumalo"Irene muttered while looking at their family picture.
"Sorry mga anak, but I think I can't save this family anymore, I'm so tired" she whispered.
to be continued...