Nothing changed the next morning.
On her way to work, hinayaan nalang ni Ren si Riley na sumunod sa kanya hanggang bus stop. But this time, Riley is waiting until Ren gets on the bus.
She almost forgot, again, her cell phone that she placed in the living room when she was preparing for work. But Riley handed it to her before they leave the house.
When Ren arrived and entered the building, she saw Claire running towards her. They both greet each other with a good morning. Claire already apologized for her behavior last time.
"Ma'am nung umuwi ka po nag aantay parin sa labas si ate Riley?" tanong ni Claire nang makasakay na sila sa elevator.
Nagtatakang tumingin si Ren sa kanya, "H-how did you know?"
"Sinamahan ko siya Ma'am pero pinauwi na rin niya ako kasi gabi na."
"Magkasama kayo?"
Tumango si Claire.
"She's... she's waiting for you yesterday in the lounge Ma'am. Hinihintay ka niya lumabas, but she saw that you're with Halsey kaya bumalik nalang siya sa bistro. Tapos sinamahan ko nalang po siya."
Claire looked at Ren to see her reaction but there was nothing.
"Ma'am... is it really over?" tumingin si Ren kay Claire. "You know that I like her Ma'am, right? Hindi ko po alam kung may chance ako kay ate Riley but I will try," she said while looking directly at Ren. She wants to express her sincerity.
"Do whatever you want Claire," Ren said before exiting the elevator.
Pagkalabas na pagkalabas ni Ren sa elevator narinig na agad niya yung bunganga ni Halsey.
"Maaaaam may surprise ako since today is Friday and is your last day as a full time employee!" dirediretso lang na naglalakad si Ren habang nasa gilid niya si Halsey na malapad na nakangiti sa kanya.
"What?" walang ganang sagot ni Ren.
"Sandamakmak na meeting! Hahaha..."
Ren typically despises sitting in an office meeting that could have been an email, but she was fine with it today because those meetings will help her to divert her thoughts.
"Ma'am! Alam mo..." ayan na yung mga kwento ni Halsey pero hinayaan nalang ni Ren. "Nakita ko na yung laging kasama ni Claire, yung Riley?" Ren is trying her best not to roll her eyes. "Ang ganda pala niya Ma'am!" Halsey continued.
Humarap sa kanya si Ren na nakasimangot, "Are you not going to your work?"
Halsey just scratches her head and nods at Ren. Napatalon siya sa gulat ng pabalibag na sinara ni Ren yung pinto.
-
Nita, Tristan, and Martha were having dinner together. They're talking about inviting Riley on their hang-out day.
All of them are fine with the idea but they don't know if Ren is okay with it.
"Nita sure ka na wala ka ng tea kay Riley?" Nang aasar na tanong ni Martha.
"Oo nga! Kahit hindi ko alam yung side niya, I know Riley has her reasons and that bitch Jasmine has something to do with it." Nita was really disappointed and mad at Riley years ago because of what she did to Ren.
"I met Riley last week." Putol ni Tristan. Gulat na napatingin sa kanya si Martha at Nita. "How is she?!" Tanong ni Nita.
"She said she's doing fine but... it seems that she really changed a lot, physically." Nagaalalang sabi ni Tristan.
"But I bet she's still pretty." sabi ni Nita. Hinampas siya sa braso ni Martha at napailing nalang si Tristan. "Baklang 'to! Seryoso kasi."
"Have you heard anything about it from Lily?" Tanong ni Tristan kay Nita.
"As far as I know, it's the accident that makes her look like that. Although sakitin naman na talaga si Riley noon pa, mas mabilis siya mag kasakit ngayon sabi ni Lily."
"Your sister really knows a lot about what happened?" Tanong ni Martha.
"I think so. Pero hindi siya nag ke-kwento masyado because it's not her story to tell. Martha and Tristan nodded as they agreed with Nita.
"It also happened to Ren diba? She's always sick, diba nga nakakailang bisita siya sa hospital sa isang buwan." dagdag ni Nita.
Gigil na nagkamot ng ulo si Martha, "Ang fucked up naman!"
"Anyway, if Riley will join us every Saturday I'll also ask Lily." sabi ni Nita.
"Yeah sure!" sagot ni Tristan.
"Also..." Lumingon si Martha at Tristan kay Nita.
"D-don't mention the accident to Ren." tuloy niya.
"Hala ka!" Malakas at gulat na sabi ni Martha.
"Don't tell me?!" sabay na tanong ni Tristan at Nita.
"Eme lang guys hahaha..."
"Parang gago, mag kapatid talaga kayo ni Jenna." sabi ni Nita.
-
Ren ends her day feeling exhausted.
The meetings that she attended are more hectic and stressful than she expected. She arrived at her place around 11 PM.
Pag pasok niya ng bahay, nakita niya na natutulog sa sofa si Nanang Tes. Nalimutan niya na pupunta pala siya sa bahay. Habang inaayos ni Ren yung kumot niya biglang may yumakap sa binti niya.
She knows who it is.
Umupo siya para mayakap niya si Lai, "Hello baby," humalik siya sa pisngi "Why are you still awake?" tanong ni Ren.
"I'm already sleeping in your bed, pero may narinig akong pumasok." niyakap ulit siya ni Lai, "I miss you."
"I miss you too baby." malambing na sabi ni Ren.
"Oh 'nak nandyan ka na pala." inaantok na sabi ni Nanang Tes. "Lagi ka talagang inuumaga ng uwi?" nakaupo na siya ngayon sa sofa.
"Hindi naman ho lagi Nang, ngayon na lang po ulit."
"Si Riley din laging late na umuwi?"
Nag tatakang lumingon si Ren, "Po?"
"Akala ko nga naandito na siya, pero kumatok ako sa pinto niya walang sumasagot kaya sinilip ko. Wala pa siya. Teka susubukan ko ulit."
Naglakad papunta si Nang Tes sa kwarto ni Riley para katukin ito pero walang sumasagot. Binuksan niya yung pinto para silipin pero walang tao sa loob.
"Wala pa 'nak."
Kinabahan si Ren.
Wala siya masyadong alam sa trabaho ni Riley pero madalas nauuna siyang umuwi sa kanya.
"Baka ho may pinuntahan lang."
Umupo siya sa sofa at umupo sa lap niya si Lai. "You look scared." ang sabi niya habang nakayakap kay Ren.
Hindi niya alam, pero hindi siya mapakali.
Biglang napatayo si Ren at ibinaba niya si Lai. "Nang may pupuntahan lang ho, babalik din ako." paalam niya at dali dali siya na lumabas ng bahay.
She's going to a beach-themed diner that is 15 minutes away from their house.
"Don't tell me.." she thought while running on her way to the diner.
Probably after 7 minutes, she reached the corner lot of the diner.
Huminto siya sa may kanto para magpahinga at huminga. Nakita niya si Riley na nakaupo sa labas at nang makita siya ni Riley, kumakaway ito sa kanya ng may malapad na ngiti sa muka kaya tumakbo ulit siya papalapit.
"Hello! Nag sara na yung diner, try nalang natin sa ib-."
"Why are you still here?! Gabi na Riley!"
Napansin ni Riley na sobrang hinihingal si Ren, "D-did you run from-"
Hinawakan niya sa balikat si Riley, "Why are you still here?!" tumaas na yung boses ni Ren.
"I'm waiting for you?" Nagtataka na sagot ni Riley. Nakahawak parin yung dalawang kamay ni Ren sa balikat niya.
"I'm dead serious here Riley! Paano kung hindi ako dumating? I didn't even respond to you earlier when you asked me out!" Nanginginig na sigaw ni Ren.
"I-I trust you Ren," she said while looking into her eyes.
Napapikit at sabunot si Ren sa buhok niya. She's trying to calm herself.
"You're mad..." lumingon sa kanya si Ren, "Get mad at me." seryosong sabi ni Riley.
Igting panga na huminga ng malalim si Ren, "You know damn well that I can't do that." matigas niyang sabi tapos hinawakan niya yung kamay ni Riley, "Let's go home."
Hinila ni Riley yung kamay niya. Not because she doesn't like to hold Ren's hand, but because she knows that she doesn't deserve this kind of treatment.
"I know what you're thinking Riley," pagod na sabi ni Ren tapos ibinalik niya yung pagkakahawak sa kamay ni Riley. This time, she intertwined their fingers.
"This is not free. You don't deserve to hold my hand, you're going to pay for this."
-
They are silently walking on their way home and Ren is not letting go of Riley's hand.
Riley breaks the silence.
"Ren I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For everything."
Huminto sa paglalalad si Ren at humarap siya kay Riley. Inangat niya yung mag kahawak nilang kamay.
"Pay half of the price now."
Nagtatakang nakatingin si Riley sa kanya.
"Half? H-how? With what?"
"Don't say and ask anything. Let's just walk." seryosong sabi ni Ren.
Riley was about to argue when Ren turned around and began walking again.
Naglakad sila pauwi ng tahimik.
-
Magkahawak kamay na pumasok ng bahay si Riley at Ren.
Gising parin si Nanang Tes at nakita ni Lai na may kasama si Ren kaya tumakbo siya palapit sa kanila. "Mama Ren!" masiglang sigaw ni Lai tapos yumakap siya sa binti.
Bumitaw si Ren sa pagkakahawak kay Riley para mayakap si Lai.
Nanigas si Riley sa kinatatayuan niya, "You have a child?!" pasigaw na tanong niya kaya napatingin si Nanang Tes, Ren at Lai sa kanya.
"Yes! I am her child and she is my mamkajahsjsjsks-" hindi natapos magsalita si Lai kasi tinakpan na ni Ren yung bibig niya.
Umuungot na binuhat ni Ren si Lai papuntang living room habang nakatakip yung kamay niya sa bibig. Nakatayo parin si Riley sa may pintuan.
"Riley anak ano ginagawa mo dyan, halika rito." aya ni Nanang.
Wala sa wisyong lumapit si Riley sa kanila. Napansin niya na nakatingin ng masama sa kanya si Lai habang nakakalong kay Ren.
"Let's sleep na." ang sabi ni Lai tapos yumakap siya sa leeg ni Ren.
Hindi na napigilan ni Riley, "Anak mo siya?" seryosong tanong niya.
Pinipigilan ni Ren na tumawa.
"I told you alread-" tinakpan ulit ni Ren yung bibig ni Lai at hinalikan ito sa noo.
"Pasensya ka na kay Riley, medyo pilya ang batang yan." natatawang sabi ni Nanang. "Ampon ko yan si Lai." dagdag niya.
Nakisuyo si Nanang Tes kung pwede niya muna iwan si Lai ng dalawang linggo sa kanila kasi aalis siya papuntang Mindoro. Hindi niya naman maisama ang bata kasi takot sumakay ng barko. Walang problema kay Ren kasi naalagaan na niya dati si Lai.
Nakangiting tumingin si Nanang Tes sa dalawa, "Gano'n pa rin nak," tumingin siya kay Ren, "Naka enroll si Lai sa isang art workshop malapit dito para hindi siya lagi nasa sa bahay." Tumango tango si Ren.
"Okay lang ba sa iyo iha? Pilya ang batang yan pero mabait naman." tanong ni Nanang kay Riley.
Ngumiti at tumango si Riley, "Opo!" tumingin at pinanuod niya si Ren kung paano niya lambingin si Lai, "Wala pong problema sa akin." masiglang sagot ni Riley.
"Mahilig po sa bata si Riley kaya walang prob.." tumingin si Ren kay Riley na gulat na nakatingin din sa kanya "...lema." Huli na ng mapagtanto ni Ren yung sinabi niya.
Riley is hiding her smile while Ren shyly looks away.
Ren still remembered.
-
Saturday
It's 8 AM and Ren is getting Lai ready because she will bring her to their hang-out place, and Jenna will pick them up.
"Hands up!" tinaas ni Lai yung kamay niya tapos isinuot ni Ren yung dress.
"Kasama si Auntie Jenna?" tanong ni Lai, tumango lang si Ren. "How about.. her?" tanong niya tapos tinuro yung side kung saan nandon yung kwarto ni Riley. "Are you not going to invite her? She will be lonely here.."
"Call her Riley.."
"Oh! Sounds like my name, Laily!" tumango ng nakangiti si Ren. "But.. you did not answer my question Renren." nakapout na sabi ni Lai.
Nag ring yung doorbell bago pa makasagot si Ren. "Let's go baby!" Excited na tumango si Lai.
Akala ni Ren bubuksan ni Riley yung pinto pero hindi.
Ren opened the door and saw Jenna, Marcus, and... Lily. It's been a while since she last saw her, but Ren knows. The gang told her that it was Lily who is with Riley when she left. Ren just also found out that Jasmine, Nita, and Lily are half-siblings.
She has no idea how she will approach Lily.
"OMG BEBE LAI!" Tumatalon na bati ni Jenna kay Lai. Tumakbo palapit sa kanya yung bata at binuhat ito. "I miss you auntie panget." sabi ni Lai habang nakayakap sa leeg ni Jenna, "Itapon kaya kita!" malambing na sagot ni Jenna.
Kumaway si Lai kay Marcus, "Hello Uncle!" tapos tinuro niya si Lily, "Who's she?"
"Ang original bebe girl! Call her Auntie Lily." sagot ni Marcus. Ngumiti si Lai at kumaway kay Lily.
"Hi ate Ren, long time no see." bati ni Lily kay Ren, ngumiti lang siya, "Yeah, long time no see."
"Where's Riley ate Ren? Hindi mo nasabi sa kanya?" Tumango si Ren. "I-I forgot."
"RILEY LUMABAS KA NA NAPAPALIBUTAN KA NA NAMIN!" Maingay na sigaw ni Jenna. Natawa si Marcus, Lily, at Lai.
Pero hindi nalabas si Riley.
Lily and Marcus decided to go inside her room. When they entered, they saw Riley was still sleeping but they both noticed that she is soaking in her own sweat and she looked pale.
Nagulat si Ren at Jenna ng biglang lumabas si Marcus sa pinto, "Ate Ren may thermometer ka?!" Ren have seen Marcus like this before. He's panicking.
Ren immediately look for a thermometer and handed it to Marcus.
"Ano nanamang ginawa mo Riley?!" nagaalalang tanong ni Marcus habang tinutuyo yung pawis ni Riley. Lahat sila nasa loob na ng kwarto.
Ren saw that both Lily and Marcus know how to take care of Riley, like how she takes care of her when they are still together.
"Who will look after her?" tanong ni Marcus.
Unconsciously, they all glanced at Ren, but she was just standing there looking at them in silence. They did not get an answer from her.
"Let's stay here." tumingin si Marcus kay Jenna at Lily. Tumango sila.
"Leave. Hindi ako mamamatay," biglang sagot ni Riley. Kaya napalingon silang lahat sa kanya, "I can manage." dagdag niya habang pinipilit bumangon. Inalalayan siya ni Marcus pero tinapik lang ni Riley yung kamay niya.
"Attitude ka talaga Riley!" asar na sagot ni Marcus sabay sabunot sa buhok.
"I'll stay with Riley."
Jenna saw something.
"Lily said she will stay," Ren took a glance at Lily, "Let's go. Baka naghihintay na sila Tristan." she continued and then left the room.