5 days after Vinicius returned in the Philippines...
Carren's Pov
We are having a dinner. Peil and Lance are noisy— the typical them. Trying to lighten the mood and making us laugh. Si Vinicius, ang anak niyang si Kenzo, si tito Benidicto, Lance, Peil, Venz, Vanz at ako ang ay nagsasalo sa hapag-kainan dito sa Raichel's park. It was already six in the evening. It's the night of December fifth. The sorroundings are full of chistmas lights. The sunflowers can still be seen in here because of the dazzling yet wonderful lights coming from the trees.
Damang-dama na ang pasko. Sariwa ang hangin dahil sa mga puno. May mga nakakabit na bituwing kumikinang sa mga puno, malayang sumasabay sa hampas ng hangin ang sanga ng mga puno na tila sumasayaw, may mga nakalatag na sunflowers sa mga vases na nasa aming harapan.
I'm wearing a bodycon red dress and I didn't try to tie my hair.
Kung ano-ano ang pinag-uusapan namin, tungkol kay Vinicius at sa kaniyang anak. It was all about their family— with Flexa, of course. Hindi ito matatawag na pamilya kung wala siya. Everytime her name was mentioned, I instantly become quiet. Hindi ko alam. Her names like a cactus. Kinuwento naman ni Vinicius ang mga lugar sa Singapore. From the first day he step foot on that place.
It was still like a dream for me. Dati rati, Vinicius, Peil, Lance and I were still managing the Carren-derya. We are trying our best to earn money for my siblings. They are trying their best to help me as long as they can. Naaalala ko pa, no'ng mga panahong kaming dalawa ni Vinicius ang naiwan dito, mas lumalim ang aming samahan. Umiling-uling ako. No— naaalala ko na naman. Hindi 'to pwede. Baka kung ano pang maisip ko. I'm trying my best not to make things complicated.
"Carren?" Napatigil ako at nagtatakang napatingin sa kanilang lahat. They were looking at me as if I did something confusing.
"Anong ginagawa mo? you keep o—"
"Wala, ah! ano ka ba!" I replied to Lance and tried to laugh. Pero 'yung tawang 'yun ay nagresulta bilang isang pilit at peke. Peil winced. Nacri-cringe na siguro siya.
"I also wanted tell a story about Flexa." Naging seryoso ang reaksyon ng mukha ni Vinicius. From grinning to sad reaction. It made me confused at what will he exactly tell us. But for sure, it was some sweet flashbacks of their love story. How did they marry— the theme and the venue, their shortcomings, how life strengthen their relationship as husband and wife. How they even love each other more after realizing each other's flaws. How they planned for a child's name— or how did they do it.
"Carren, stop all the conclusion." I totally grin and rolled my eyes mentally after Peil roasted me. She really knows how my mind works.
And I am exactly questioning something— why was Flexa didn't flee with Vinicius and their child? oh, maybe she never wanted to meet us. She stayed at Singapore or maybe meet her parents for a bonding— or perhaps her elegant friends.
I am sounding bitter now because I don't want to hear any single thing about their relationship. I don't want to hear anything about it!
"She died." My mouth froze upon hearing what Vinicius just said. I tried to find words to say but I don't know what exactly to utter. We are all in shocked.
It was Peil who recovered first.
"Omg! paano nangyari? Baki— paano siya namatay?" Tila hindi pa niya kabisado ang tunay na sasabihin. Pinaypayan niya ang sarili gamit ang kaniyang palad.
"She died 2 months ago. She has a disease that threatened her life for 9 years."
Lahat kami nabigla. Napamaang ako. He explained it. Mula no'ng nag-desisyon siyang tulungan si Flexa. And things sinked in to me even before he could explain further details. I didn't talk after he spilled that. Pakiramdam ko ay wala akong masabi. Wala akong mga salitang nais pakawalan.
Vinicius and Flexa didn't get married. They faked it to their parents. She helped Flexa and stayed at her side until she died. She helped her knowing her wish—he is her first love. She wanted someone to have Vinicius at her side and feel to be loved— to have someone to be with her side through ups and downs. To have someone to spend the years until she die.
Flexa and Vincius adopted a child because Flexa wanted to adopt.
Nandito na kami ngayon sa bahay. Nakahiga ako sa sariling kama. Nakatulala.
It means that he didn't love her? hindi mahal ni Vinicius si Flexa?
Kapag binigay mo daw po 'yan sa minamahal mo, kahit gaano pa kalayo ang pagitan niyo at gaano pa kayo pinaghihiwalay ng tadhana, babalik at babalik raw po kayo sa isa't isa. Kaya raw po pag-ugnayin ang dalawang tao.
I remembered the ring Vinicius gave me. Nilagay niya iyon sa daliri ko bago siya tuluyang umalis. Gumulong-gulong ako sa kama at tinakpan ng unan ang mukha ko. Carren, show some sympathy! hindi dapat ganito. Namatay si Flexa. Hindi ganito kadali ang nais mo.