When we are confronted with many things, we tend to see only the bad side. Little do we realize there's still goodness in every distasteful situation. -jazlykdat

Aubrey

"There's a big chance that Dirran will become normal. He could even think and speak his mind but not 100%. However, it may take some time."

Nagkatinginan silang mag-asawa. That wasn't new to her. Iyon din ang sinabi ng dati nitong doctor.

"He would have to start sessions with an occupational speech therapist. We have the best therapists here in our clinic. Plus I get to supervise his progress." The specialist added.

"So, how long will he undergo the therapy?" tanong naman ni Vander sa espesyalista.

"It depends on his progress. We had patients who only had the therapy for a year and they can already go on their daily activities. But there are also some that takes two to three years."

"That long?" sambit ni Vander. Hindi na siya nagulat. Kapareho lang din kasi ang diagnosis ng Psychologist ni Dirran sa Pilipinas at Canada noon.

"But basing it on your child's previous therapy session records and how he responded a while ago, he might take only a year or less."

Napatango siya sa sinabi ng doctor. Nakita naman kasi niya ang progreso ng anak lalo na nang makilala nito ang ama.

"That would be really okay but we are based in the Philippines. Is there any therapist there that you could recommend who's equally good as the therapists in your clinic?"

Napangiti ang doctor sa tanong niya. She hopes it didn't sound quite insulting. Iniisip lang naman kasi niya ang sitwasyon. Nag-uumpisa nang lumago ang negosyo nila ni Lily, ayaw naman niya itong iwan sa kalagitnaan ng pag-angat nila.

"There's one whom I personally trained. I'll give you his details. But I suggest you still take him here every quarter so I could monitor." Tugon ng doctor. Nagpasalamat siya at hindi nito tinanggap ng negatibo ang tanong.

"We are going to think about it but most likely we'll have his sessions here." Vander butted in. Napatingin siya rito. Hindi na siya nagsalita pa nang makitang mukhang hindi nito nagustuhan ang sinabi niya sa doctor.

Vander was awfully silent nang nagmamaneho na ito pabalik sa hotel na tutuluyan nila. Even the kids are silent.

Dinala lang nila kanina ang mga gamit sa hotel bago nagpunta ng clinic. Apparently, Vander had everything prepared bago pa sila tumulak ng California.

The kids immediately sat on the couch when they entered the suite. The hotel suite they occupied has its own living room, dining room and two huge rooms. Sa isang room silang mga babae habang sa kabila naman ang mga lalaki. That was their set-up before they went to the clinic.

Vander occupied the single couch. Agad namang kumandong si Dirran sa ama at yumapos sa leeg nito. Umupo na rin siya sa katapat nitong single couch nang walang imik.

"I'll order food. Pick what you want." Iniabot nito sa dalawang nakatatandang anak ang menu sa table. Kinuha rin nito ang isa at binuklat.

She has nothing left to look at. Maliit na bagay pero parang kumirot ang dibdib niya. She suddenly felt out of place.

She inhaled deeply to calm herself. Deshima's already sleeping kaya ipinasok na lamang niya ang baby sa kuwarto.

She breathed in and out bago siya bumalik sa living room. Wala na doon sina Vander at Dirran. Desiry is already on the phone ordering food.

"Mommy, ako na ang pumili ng meal mo," Desiry said after putting the phone down. Tumango na lamang siya. She occupied her original space.

There was a long silence before Vander came back at the living room.

"Dirran's asleep. I think we can talk now." Saad nito nang makaupo sa dati rin nitong puwesto. He looks serious.

"Anong pag-uusapan natin?" Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin niya sa mag-aama.

"Dirran has to undergo the speech therapy here in L.A." umpisa ni Vander.

So, that's what he's been thinking kaya ito tahimik kanina pa?

"Puwede naman na sa Pilipinas na lang." suhestiyon niya.

"We should always make sure that he gets the best treatment. Narinig mo naman siguro yung sinabi ni Vance, 'di ba? The specialist is one of the bests in the world." He said calmly.

"I understand that pero hindi kasi ako puwedeng magtagal dito. Walang kasama si Lily sa travel agency." She reasoned out.

"Can you not work online? Mas okay kasi kung ikaw ang kasama ni Dirran dito?" tanong nito. Pakiramdam niya ay may yamot sa boses nito kahit kalmado naman ang pagkakasabi nito.

Vander stared at her and for a moment she baffled on her own thoughts.

"Imposible kasing mag-work ako online. I need to be in the office." She answered without thinking.

"Then give up the agency. I'll give you another business here if you want something to work on while you're here."

Vander sounded authoritative. Parang pinamulahan siya ng mukha sa pagdidikta nito sa dapat niyang gawin.

"Are you serious? No, I won't accept that. Hindi ba sinabi naman ng specialist na may magaling din sa Pilipinas?" Pagmamatigas niya. She felt like Vander is back to his old self. No, it can't be. Kailangan ay ipakita niya rito na hindi na puwede ang ugali nito noon.

She looked at her kids. Tahimik lang naman ang dalawa bata.

"Look, it's the best thing we could do for the kid kaysa every session siyang magpunta dito." Malumanay nitong saad.

"I really can't."

"It's for Dirran, Aubrey. Isa, dalawang taon lang naman." Pilit pa rin nito. Hindi niya mawari kung galit ito o nakikiusap. He's rather calm.

"But---" She's about to protest when he cuts her.

"Fine! Ako na lang ang maiiwan dito. Damn all those businesses! Mas importante ang anak ko."

Napipilan siya sa pahayag ng asawa.

"Who wants to stay and study here?" Baling nito sa dalawang anak. She wasn't able to react. Pakiramdam niya ay napahiya siya sa sinabi nito.

"Ako, dad. I can accompany you," Ayder presented.

"Dad, I can't leave Mee and Dee alone. Malulungkot sila." Tugon naman ni Desiry.

"Okay then we're settled, kaming tatlong lalaki ang maiiwan." Saad nito. He didn't even look at her. Tumayo ito at naglakad na patungong dining area.

Nagkatinginan silang tatlo. She asked Desiry and Ayder to get inside the room bago sinundan ang asawa.

Vander was holding a bottle and glass of wine when she reached the dining area. Nakatalikod ito mula sa direction niya. She inhaled deeply and stared at his back. Alam niyang ramdam nito ang presensiya niya pero ni hindi ito lumingon. His phone is on the island counter.

"Nakakainsulto naman 'yon." Saad niya rito.

He drank the wine in his glass before he turned and faced her.

"What?" He asked with a creased forehead.

"Me, not leaving a meager business while you, sacrificing a multi-billion business." She smiled bitterly at her own remark.

Nawala ang pagkakakunot ng noo nito.

"I didn't mean to insult you." Saad nito sa mababang tono. Tumalikod ito at nagsalin ulit ng wine sa baso. He even gestured to offer her one but she shook her head to disagree. Vander drank some more before staring at her.

Kataka-takang hindi na talaga siya nakararamdam ng takot sa asawa. Siguro dahil mukhang naging mas okay na itong kausap o nasanay na siya kaya wala na siyang maramdamang takot.

"I wasn't a good husband, Aubrey. The least I could do is to be a good father to my kids." Saad nito. Her heart sank at his remark. Naramdaman niya ang sentimyento nito.

"I'm sorry. Mali lang ang dating no'n sa akin." Puno ng sinseridad niyang saad. Vander inhaled deeply.

"It's just one to two years. It cannot be compared to the ten years you took care of him." Tugon ng asawa. Napangiti siya ng mapait. Parang ngayon lang nagsink-in sa utak niya na ipinagkait talaga niya ang anak sa ama nito. Pero ang mas masakit ay ang isiping ni hindi nagtanim ng galit si Vander sa kanya.

"Kung insulto 'yon sa 'yo, wala akong magagawa." Dagdag nito bago tumalikod at umupo sa stool. He played with the glass' mouth. She suddenly felt guilty.

"Para kasing galit ka sa akin kaya akala ko nang-iinsulto ka sa sinabi mo." Paliwanag niya rito. She sat on a stool next to him.

"I'm not mad at you. We are only talking about Dirran not about us. I do not like to drag issues about the kids to whatever happened to us."

Napangiti siya sinabi nito. He really changed. The Vander she knew from twelve years ago is entirely different from the wisdom of the man sitting next to her now.

"Dahil kung gano'ng klase akong ama, malamang galit pa rin sa 'yo ngayon sina Desiry at Ayder." Dagdag nito.

That remark hits her. Isa rin kasi sa ipinagtaka niya iyon nang magpunta ang mga ito sa condo. They were no longer mad at her considering that the last time they talked, halos itakwil siya ng mga ito.

Vander must have explained and took all the blame for what had happened. Alam niyang ipinagtanggol siya nito sa mga anak at hindi ito nagtanim ng kahit na anong galit para pamarisan ng mga anak.

She looked at him staring at his glass. She suddenly felt like hugging him tight.

Lalapit sana siya para yakapin ang asawa nang tumunog ang cellphone nito na nasa counter.

Vander took the phone and immediately answered.

"Yes, we're already here. I'm sorry. I was about to call you but something came up..." rinig niyang saad nito bago nagmadaling lumayo sa kinaroroonan niya.

She felt like shrapnel exploded in her chest. Nakita niya kasi ang pangalan ng taong tumawag.

It was Sienna.

She couldn't believe she could still feel that surge of jealousy.

Huli niyang naramdaman ang ganoong selos noong high school pa. Hindi pa sila noon ni Vander. Nanliligaw pa lang ito sa kanya pero nakita niya itong may nilalanding ibang babae. Sa galit niya ay sinugod niya ito at pinaghahampas ng bag. She even told him to stop courting her. Pakiramdam kasi niya noon ay niloloko siya ni Vander kahit hindi pa naman sila. Sinabi kasi nitong mahal siya nito pero may kalandian namang ibang babae.

That was how Vander knew that she was in-love with him. Hindi na siya nito nilubayan simula noon at ipinagpilitang sila na. Hindi naman siya tumanggi dahil totoo namang gusto din niya ang lalaki.

Napangiti siya ng mapait. Simula kasi ng araw na iyon, hindi na siya binigyan ni Vander ng dahilan para magselos sa kahit na sinong babae. Kahit pa nga noong mga panahong nabarkada ito, ni minsan hindi ito umuwing amoy-babae.

It was one of the things she never realized before.

Madalas kasama ng pagkasugapa sa bawal na gamot at barkada ay iba't-ibang babae pero ni minsan ay hindi niya ito kinakitaan ng anumang senyales na may kinalolokohan itong ibang babae noon.

Bakit ba ngayon niya lang naisip na may positibo pa rin kay Vander noong mga panahong iyon? Mas pinagtuunan niya kasi ng pansin ang mga mali nito.