Chapter 45 A SORRY

I am about to leave the place when I saw Hyntall in front of me.

“Hyntall? Why are you here?” I asked him. He smiled at me and looked at the view of Las Haciendas.

“I just wanted to take a last glance of this beautiful place,” he said. What does he mean about that?

“I know sorry isn’t enough to cast all the burdens we gave to you,” he said, while he’s still focusing on the view. He diverted his gaze on his hands. He was looking at his tattoos.

“In behalf of my wife, I mean my ex-wife, I want to say sorry for all that she have done. Despite the evil choices she made, she once had a beautiful soul. The pain she felt just consumed her, and made her a person far from what I’ve known.” He turned to me. “I’m beyond grateful that you didn’t turned to be like her. And, despite what happened to you, you choose love over vengeance.” He smiled at me.

“Can I ask you? Why did you allowed them?” A sudden curiosity just pop out of my mind.

“What?”

“Kliosate and Anastasia?” I said and he smirked.

“Anastasia knows how much I love her, and Klio too. But, what choice do I have? They’re having a baby. I don’t want to see the child grow up not having a complete family. I don’t want that child to experience what we experienced, not having a complete family. Even if it cost me to sacrifice love and marriage, then I would willingly pay the price,” wika nito. I didn’t know Hyntall is willing to sacrifice his own happiness just for the happiness of the people he loves.

“But, they lost the baby. Why didn’t you take her back?” He chuckled.

“I saw how happy she was with Kliosate. The happiness I’ve seen in her, is the happiness I felt when I am with her. That, I know how much she’s in love with my brother. So, I set her free.” Now, I understand Hyntall more. He’s broken all this time but he never showed that because he knew his family needs him, he was their shoulder.

He gazed back on the view. He continued, “You don’t really know the value of love until you’re willing to sacrifice everything. Even though it cost you pain.” He sighed.

“That pain will surely give a stain in your heart but it will help you to value yourself even more,” he said. “Just like the reflection on the pendant of your necklace.” I was confused when he said that. Napatingin ako sa necklace ko. I wear three necklace, one has a pendant of rings, one has a pendant like a knot… I don’t know what exactly the term is, I forgot, and another one is the small mirror like pendant where I can see my reflection, it has a small words engraved in it—Choose someone you know who can love you the most— I realized something.

Whoever gave this to me, I’m beyond grateful. This necklace is a symbol of self love. The reflection of myself in the pendant speaks for it. And, nobody can give you love the way yourself can. Nobody can love you the most, except for yourself. So, we must always choose ourselves, first.

Ibinalik niya ang tingin sa’kin.

“I have to go. Take care of yourself. I’ll pray for your healing.” Two men in uniforms came.

Lumapit ito at biglang naglabas ng posas. They handcuffed Hyntall. What is happening?

“Hyntall? What does this mean?” I was really in shocked.

“It’s time to pay all the consequences of our actions,” sabi nito at ngumiti. I saw Lade and Rivahn, they were also handcuffed.

“Who will manage what your family had? How about Señor Matias?” I asked. Kasi kung makukulong sila paano ang mga ari-arian nila? Kakayanin ba ‘yon lahat ni Señor Matias?

“Leyra, Abuelo died 2 years ago.” Nagulat ulit ako ng marinig ‘yon. I’ve missed so much.

“Señor Vicenzo, I mean our Grandpa, he’ll take care of everything. It’s time to bring back to him everything he had lost.

Don’t worry about Kriogri. He’ll take good care of him. Krio will remember you, I know that. If destiny will allow you to meet again. That’s the sign that you’re fated to each other.” Mga huling salita nito. Naglakad na sila at pinapasok sa sasakyan.

Before they could leave. I run onto them.

“Wait!” I get the necklace that has a pendant of rings in my neck.

“It has an engraved of an Atticus. I know it’s from you guys,” I said and Lade and Rivahn exchange looks and both of them chuckled. “I want to give it back to you. Someone deserves it. I know both of you will find them.” Iniabot ko sa kanila ang mga sing-sing.

“Take care of yourself, Leyra,” Rivahn said.

“Mahal ka namin. Mag-iingat ka lagi,” Lade also said. After that they bid good bye.

I don’t know what would I feel but I’m glad they wanted to change.

***

Nakarating na ako sa bahay. Alam ko na ang way pabalik dito. I have a photograph of it.

Nagliligpit na sila ng gamit. We are also leaving this place. We all need healing, and the right thing to start to its process is to leave what life we had in here.

“Anak, you’re here. Everything is good. Let’s go?” pag-anyaya sa’kin ni Mommy.

“But, before that we have to visit someone, before we’ll leave this place.” Mommy smiled at me. I was so confused. Who would we visit?

Sumunod na lang ako sa kanya. Ilang minuto rin ang nakalipas, hindi pa rin nagbago ang lifestyle ko, my memories still resets, but I know how to live with it now.

Nakarating kami sa isang open field. Nang makababa kami, I observe gravestones. We are in a cemetery. I just followed Mommy. Nakarating kami sa isang gravestone. My tears started to fall when I saw Daddy’s name written on it.

“Your Dad wants to see you, baby,” sabi ni Mommy. I kneeled to hold his gravestone.

“I missed you so much, Daddy. Sorry kung dito pa ang muling pagkikita natin. I hope you’re at peace now. Don’t worry about me, I am braver than before. I’ll promise I’ll take good care of Mom,” ani ko habang dumadaloy sa pisngi ang aking mga luha.

“I’ll be a better Mother now. Thank you for everything, honey,” wika naman ni Mommy. Mom held me to get up.

“I am pregnant that time when your Dad took me from my parents. You know what it wasn’t just your Dad who save me, it was also you, baby.” Mommy started to burst into tears.

“Anak, I’m so sorry I wasn’t a Mother to you. I’m sorry if I became so cruel to you. Sa sobrang takot kong maging kagaya sa mga magulang ko, hindi ko namalayan na nagiging gano’n na rin pala ako. I’m so sorry for not showing you the love you needed. I’m so busy to became a mother to people I don’t know to the point that I forgot about my own children. I’m really sorry.” This moment of us gives warmth on my heart. She continued, “I just wanted you to know that I love you so much. You and your sisters, are my greatest blessing and treasure in life.” I hugged Mom tightly.

“It’s okay, Mom. As a daughter, may pagkukulang din ako sayo. We can’t change what we didn’t fulfilled in the past, but we can fulfill it now. I am beyond blessed to be your daughter.” Kumawala ako sa yakap. “Bukod sa namana ko ang kagandahan mo, well hindi nga lang kasing ganda mo.” We both laughed. Hanggang ngayon sobrang ganda pa rin niya, we look just like sisters. “I am grateful, at namana ko sayo ang lakas ng loob na harapin ang lahat ng pagsubok. I love you, Mommy,” I said and hugged her again.

We bid our last goodbye to Dad and leave.

This day was a moment of apologies.

A sorry cannot change anything what’s been done, but a sorry can be a stepping stone to mend a wrecked heart.