AFTER TWO WEEKS, Chari and Clyde arrived in Manila. Chari didn’t waste any more time. The next day, she immediately took Clyde to the hospital for a general check-up and observation because everything needed to be stable before he left for Japan. Since their arrival, Clint and Clyde have only met once because they were busy taking care of their son Tejie, who is currently scheduled for surgery too. He understood this, so he didn’t wait anymore. Even though they were in the same hospital, they never met.
She is currently at the information desk downstairs, where she will unexpectedly meet up with.
” Chari??” The man exclaimed from behind her.
Chari immediately turned around because of the loud voice. “Jet?”
Jet immediately approached her. “God! It’s been a while! Haha! How are you? ” He said, looking at Chari from head to toe. “You haven’t changed, Cha! Still pretty and cool! ” He said admiringly.
Chari didn’t speak; instead, she greeted Jet with a smile.
“Can we sit for a minute, Cha? We haven’t seen each other for a long time! I haven’t heard from you!” Jet said, after holding Chari’s arm to sit first.
They sat down on iron chairs lined up in the hallway.
“Hi Jet, How are you? It’s been a while. Who is your patient here?” Chari asked.
“My nephew, he’s going to have surgery,” Jet answered after a while.
“Ah okay,” Chari answered briefly.
“You? What brings you here, Chari?”Jet asked.
“Um, my son,” Chari answered.
“Your son? Why? What happened? And how long have you been here in Manila? Are you from another country? It’s been so long since we met!” Jet asked one after another while still holding Chari’s arm.
“Aah.. We’ve only been here in Manila for a week. I live in Camiguin,” Chari answered.
” Camiguin? Did you marry someone from there? That’s really a nice place to live. Anyway, where’s your husband? Is he with you now? ” Jet asked with a smile.
Chari smiled first. “I have been a single parent since Jet,” he said.
Jet’s face crumpled, noticeable in his eyes that were still admiring Chari.
“That man is so stupid, Chari! Did he abandon you? I almost begged you to come back when he had just left you?” Jet stated solemnly, his brow furrowed.
Chari didn’t reply. She feels guilty again because she hid Clint, who usually comes off as a really bad person to everyone she talks to when it comes to the ‘where is your husband issue’.
“Where do you live now? Are you okay? I mean, your situation. You need help?” Jet said.
Chari shook her head quickly. “Everything is okay, Jet. Thank you. We’re fine, so don’t worry.”
“Chari, you’re still like that, you’re still tough now, always rejecting help,” Jet said, staring seriously into Chari’s eyes.
Chari was embarrassed and looked in another direction. “Ah, how’s your family? Kids?” she asked to change the subject.
Jet adjusted his seat and sighed. “They are fine, the children are grown. You? How old is your child? Is it a boy or a girl?”
“A boy! He’s eight,” Chari answered quickly.
“And where is the father?,” Jet said in a boastful tone.
Chari didn’t reply, but just smiled.
A moment later, Jet’s cell phone rang.
Chari also stood up to say goodbye. She didn’t want to continue her conversation with Jet either.
Jet handed a small piece of paper to Chari. “Please contact me if you require any assistance, Cha. I would be very happy to help you. Okay? Anything Chari! Money, a house, a car! Chari, you have everything you need! Just for you, anything,” Jet brags. He still hasn’t lost it.
Chari just smiled and nodded. After that, Jet quickly walked to the elevator as if he was chasing someone while talking on the phone. Chari just looked at him until he got on board. It wasn’t long before her cellphone rang.
“Hmmn.. aaah.” Chari sighed. She didn’t answer the call, and it was obvious that that was not the name she wanted to see on the call register.
She walked towards the elevator. Her cell phone was still ringing and.. ” Hello Josh?” she answered. It was Josh, her boyfriend, calling from Camiguin.
MEANWHILE..
“I told you not to call me again and again, Trina!” Jet said, annoyed. “See? Then we’re going to talk here in this smelly hallway? What do you think of me? vendor?”
They were in a dark hallway on the top floor of the hospital. There weren’t many people there, and it seemed like a dead end.
“I know it’s an emergency! Just call me if you need anything, not just because you want to cuddle! What if someone sees me here and Jillie finds out? Maybe she’ll ask who I’m going to the hospital with!” He’s angrier now.
“Jet, why are you angry with me?” Trina asked softly. She even clutched Jet’s arm.
“Trina, because you have been so careless these days! What if Clint, who is already here in Manila, and I cross paths here at the hospital? Don’t you think about that? Tsst! You know, we had a misunderstanding since Chari sold the coffee shop to me,” Jet answered.
“Clint will be leaving next week for Japan, and staying there for a month too. Maybe we can go together. I really miss you, Jet,” Trina said softly.
“When Tejie is okay, let’s finish his operation first. Then-let’s have a vacation for a week. Hong Kong is closer, just to relax,” Jet answered.
Trina smiled at what Jet said and kissed his cheek while clutching his waist.
“Just please, Trina! Let’s avoid it for now. If you ever need me, just tell Maggie, okay? I will go to the salon, ” Jet said.
And in the end, the two even go to kiss.
IT WAS already midnight and Chari was still awake. She was already at home and was organizing some things that they needed for Clyde’s trip. Her cell phone was constantly ringing because Josh was calling, but she didn’t answer it because she wasn’t in the mood. She still hasn’t had proper sleep and rest since she and Clyde arrived in Manila. She still hasn’t taken out of the suitcase some of the things she brought since they traveled.
It’s quiet. There are some cars passing by and some people walking. She stood up for a moment and went out the front door of the house.
She looked across their narrow yard and smiled at the same time. ” I miss this place,” Chari whispered.
The house has not been changed. Her little garden with flowering plants is still there and even though the plants planted are new blooms, it is obvious that the beauty of the place has been brought back to life. They have a small swimming pool in the back of the house, and her favorite cement table, where she often hangs out when having a drink, was still there. The pillars of the house are still intact. The foundation is still strong, and the roofs that have been replaced are still in good shape. There are still some of her kitchen utensils and the bookshelf that were really kept.
Sje kept whispering. ” You’re really good, Clint. You never left our house. ”
After a while, she didn’t realize that tears were falling.
“You didn’t leave, you didn’t leave,” Chari whispered again and again.
A moment later…
“I really have no intention of leaving this place, Ma.” Clint said, who was currently standing behind Chari.
Chari quickly wiped her face. “Oh Clint! Why, why are you here?” Chari said.” Tejie might be looking for you.”
Clint approached her and hugged her that instant. “Why are you crying, Ma?”
“No, it’s been a while since we’ve been here, so I just noticed the house. I just saw that everything here is fine.” Chari answered.
“I really fixed it, Ma. I’m here every weekend. It’s my sanctuary, Ma. I feel so light and at peace when I am here, then I’ll go to your room, I’ll lie on your bed, and cry myself to sleep,” Clint said while kissing Chari’s forehead.
The two are hugging each other while doing some sweet dancing.
“I went to Clyde earlier, Ma.”
“Really? You talked? ”
“I brought him his favorite food. He was very happy to see me. He was in a good mood earlier, Ma. I’m so happy to see him recovering quickly. ”
“He was so happy to see you. He always asks you,” Chari said.
Clint was currently kissing her when suddenly her cell phone rang, which was in the pocket of the shorts she was wearing, so Clint quickly noticed it.
“Oh! Who is that?” Clint asked, trying to reach for the cellphone.
When Chari took out the cellphone and saw the name of the caller, it was, “Is that him again?” Clint said, annoyed.
He snatched Chari’s cellphone.
“Give me that Clint!” she said, grabbing Clint’s arm.
Clint moved the cellphone further away. After pressing the end call, “Chari! Haven’t you broken up with him yet?”
Chari just shook her head. “He’s just checking on us, Clint. Josh is a nice guy.”
Clint’s furrowed brows furrowed even more, sighing in annoyance. “So? What is your plan, Ma? ”
Chari took the cellphone from Clint’s hand. ” Go home, Clint. I want to rest.” she said, walking into the house.
“Ma, I’m sorry. I know that I didn’t keep up with the conversation. I hope you will give me more time. I also feel sorry for Tejie because every time I leave, he cries. I don’t know but-because this is the first time he’s been so close to me.” Clint explained.
“When Clyde’s surgery is over, we will return to Camiguin right away,”
Clint got closer. “Why? I thought? You’re going to live here? Why are you changing your mind, Chari? What’s with you, Ma?” he said.
“I’m tired, Clint! This is all I have time to sleep, so just go home!” Chari said angrily, slamming the door.
Clint didn’t want to knock anymore. He is also upset because he found out that Chari has not broken up with her boyfriend, Josh.
He would just go home and let her cool down.
June_Thirteen