IT’S BEEN almost four days since Tejie woke up. He couldn’t stop crying when he saw me, and so did I. Even though it was difficult to speak, he told me what happened. It was God’s mercy, and there was not much damage to his brain, so he did not need surgery. He said that only the fractures in his body made it difficult for him to move.
Mama Cha and I had a good conversation. The next day, Clyde’s condition also became stable. It is normal for him to go through such conditions called “aftershocks,” but overall he will be fine when his heart is completely healed. His life will go back to normal and he will be able to dance again, which he has been dying to do for a long time.
I’m so happy that everything is going well for us. Mama Cha, who was already four months pregnant, surprised me because she unexpectedly came one day with Nick and Ben. She was surprised to see my stitched arm as well as Tejie’s condition. Today is my sixth day in the hospital, and I didn’t expect what was going to happen.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
Trina came with her Aunt Maggie.
“What the f**k do you want, Trina?” I said, trying to control my temper. “Leave now, I might not be able to hold back anymore! What the f**k is wrong with you? Aren’t you f**kin’ happy with all the trouble you’ve given me?”
Trina immediately burst into tears, came close to me and held me by the arm. “Clint.. Hmmn.. Please, sorry.”
Her aunt answered. “Clint, we’re begging you,” she said calmly.
Trina tightened her grip on me even more. “Clint, I’m begging you, maybe you can stop sending our evidence to Jet’s wife. Clint, I don’t want to go to jail. What about Tejie? ”
I answered quickly. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of Tejie. You’re useless after all. You’re the same as your aunt! ” I snatched my arm back from her grip.
“Clint, Trina is pregnant. She can’t be jailed. Please, Clint, just focus on the good things she has done and not on her mistakes,” Aunt Maggie explained to her.
“Why? Did she do anything right?” I said flatly, then gave Maggie a snappy look.
I didn’t speak anymore.
“Clint, please. Have mercy on Jet and me, Clint – ”
“Clint?” Mama Cha, who was just getting closer to us, suddenly spoke. From a distance, I could clearly see her anger.
“Cha-Chari?” Aunt Maggie stammered when she saw Mama Cha.
“Aunt Cha?” Even Trina was shocked.
A moment of silence prevailed among the four of us. Neither of them wanted to talk, especially when Mama Cha came near us. And for a while, it was..
“You f**kin’ cunts!”
Ugh! Uhuh! ” Trina gasped when Mama Cha slapped her hard. She almost fell on the floor because it was too hard.
Next, she walks towards Aunt Maggie.
“Cha-”
“Ugh!” Aunt Maggie couldn’t even speak when Mama Cha slapped her.
“Do you know that even if Jet and your aunt rot in jail, it’s still not enough?” Mama Cha said.
And again.
Trina received a strong slap on the right cheek again.
“That’s for my son!” Mama Cha’s weak but strong words.
And again. Another slap to the left.
“That’s for me!”
Until..
Mama Cha slapped Trina one after another. I saw that she was crying because she was very angry, so I hurried to wean her and quickly took her away from them because she was also attacking Maggie and giving her consecutive hard slaps.
“And you, Maggie! I have been a good friend to you for almost all of our lives, but what have you done to me? Haaa! Mama Cha’s voice is quite loud.
“Ma, Ma.. Stop, stop, Ma. ” I pulled her, trying to keep her away from the two. She can’t even stop her voice from rising, and it’s causing a scene.
“Get out please. She’s pregnant, don’t give us another problem again, please so get out,” I said to them in a low voice.
Trina cupped her hands over her mouth. “I’m sorry-so sorry,” she murmured.
“What the f**k, Clint! Hmmm!” Mama Cha is crying so hard now.
I hugged her tightly.
“I left you because of them! I almost died from the sadness of being pregnant alone because I didn’t want to get into trouble and then – even Clyde is still suffering from his illness because of my pregnancy then–aah! Then–Huu.. F**k! ” And she started wailing on my chest.
“Ma, it’s alright.. We’re free now, Ma. It’s over now, Ma. Hmn.. Chari, stop crying, you have a being inside you, and it’s bad for her,” I reassured her repeatedly. Mama Cha seemed like a toddler who was still sobbing at that time. I knew and felt her intense anger but tried to control myself.
“Clint.. Huu.. I hate them, Clint.. Huu..”
“Ma, that’s alright. I’ll continue with all my plans. I’ll let Jet’s wife imprison them.”
Finally, I feel relieved. The mind of the woman I love who is currently carrying the next child of my life will be at peace.
_____
ONE MONTH LATER…
I have everything fixed. I didn’t go through with sending the evidence that I was supposed to pass on to Jet’s wife and expose her to almost a decade of infidelity. Jet pleaded with Mama Cha, who in turn listened. Mama Cha’s heart was so soft that she felt sorry when she found out that Trina was pregnant. It’s still the same as before; Mama Cha still begged me to forgive the two because of the child Trina was carrying. It was the same thing she did before. Trina promises that he will not leave Trina and the child, even if she remains forever attached to Trina. The conversation went well. But on one condition.
We will bring Tejie because he doesn’t like her. I went through the legal process and signed it, so there would be no trouble if Trina’s nonsense thinking started again. She promised not to disturb the child and not to show him any more, which Tejie also agreed to, because he really doesn’t like his mother and doesn’t consider Jet as his biological father. We will bring him to Camiguin and treat him as family. Clyde is also waiting for him, who is currently doing well, because he is always happy.
I sold Trina and my house as well as all the cars that she used to buy with my own money. She didn’t get anything from me, not even a cent, because, after all, she didn’t really have any connection with me. I’ll let her start from scratch and let Jet take care of her. Not getting jailed is enough! That alone is a big deal for them. Thanks to Mama Cha, who was kind enough to forgive them despite what they did.
_____
FOUR MONTHS LATER..
“Tej, hurry! Don’t forget the teddy bear! ” Clyde shouted happily from the bottom of the stairs.
“Shall I also bring our gifts, Clyde?” Tejie answered from the top of the stairs.
I just watched the two. They are confused about taking care of those they will bring to the hospital. Mama Cha gave birth two days ago, but only now can the two of them see the baby.
“Dad! Is it good?” Clyde asked me while showing the white daisy. “I’ll give it to our baby! Haha!” He said, laughing loudly.
Clyde has changed a lot since he was with Tejie. But the impact on him was greater when we were formed as a family. His recovery was fast, especially when he found out that he was going to be a big brother. Since then, he has helped himself recover faster because he stated that he wanted his older brother to be fine when his baby sister was born.
“Dad, is this okay?” Tejie asked while showing the pink baby rattle that he himself had chosen to buy.
There has also been a big change in Tejie’s behavior, even though he and Clyde have only been together for a few months. He has become a polite and calm child since being with Clyde. Clyde’s influence on him is so strong that even the dancing that he used to hate is now being studied, as well as breakdancing, but he needs to heal well first, because the broken bones are not as good as how much they go back to before.
We have also returned to Manila. The house next to Mama Cha’s old house was sold to me. I bought it right away and renovated it to make our place bigger. I had the house built, which I furnished up to the third floor for the rooms of my two young men. Mama Cha and I never left our old nest. This is where we all started, and as long as we live, we will remain here.
“Brothers, hurry up! Mom said, your baby sister is awake!” I shouted as I showed them Mama Cha and I was making a video call.
“Dad, who does she look like?” Tejie asked.
“Tej, of course!” Clyde brags.
“Eh, if you–look like Daddy? Eh, the baby is a girl, she should look like Mom! ”
I just laughed at the two.
“Get in the car! You’re carrying so much!”
“Dad, this is our gift to Claudie! We saved it, Dad,” said Clyde.
They were carrying almost four large paper bags that were said to be gifts for their baby sister.
“We’re excited, Dad! I want to see her tiny eyes! Haha!” Clyde exclaimed happily.
We are about to go to the hospital where we will visit the new member of Clint Kadie P. Tuason’s dance crew, whom we named Claudie. Claudie baby had narrow eyes and a very white complexion. Maybe you already know what she looks like. None other than— her loving mother! My Mama Chari!
Mama Cha, who took care of me and gave me two beautiful angels, Mama Cha, who I will never tire of loving as long as I am breathing.
I am Clint Kadie P. Tuason, 34 years old, saying that—age doesn’t really matter when you fall. It doesn’t matter who she is or what she is in your life, as long as you are happy together, everything goes well. Fate is written, but we design our own worlds and our endings. No one will be alone if someone truly cares for them.
“Dad, shall we buy flowers for Mom?”
“Of course, Clyde, baby! Mom is so special.”
“Dad, I’m a big brother now!”
“Oh! Yes! I’m sorry! Haha!”
It feels so good to be with the ones you love. A complete family that Mama Cha and I dreamed of actually having because we never experienced that. So we promise each other that we won’t let the marriage break again. And I also promised her that I would do everything to give them a good life.
I’m Clint Kadie P. Tuason again, proud MOMMA’S BOY! I thank you all.
THE END
_____
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING. HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT TIME.