CHAPTER SEVEN
She was finally leaving. Her eyes welled with tears as her dad's words rang in her head.
All this time she blamed her mom when everything was her dad's doing. All this years, she fought with the wrong person.
She couldn't believe how stupid and naive she had been. Her mom must have been very hurt seeing her daughter support and defend a father like him.
She hated herself for everything that had happened.
After a short nap, she felt a little better. " Want to talk about it?" Asked Justin who was still driving with his eyes on the road and Carolina sat beside him at the passenger seat while Jane sat alone at the back seat.
She stares outside the window, " not really. I'm okay but I still have to talk with mom." Jane said with a sigh.
" Okay. If that's what you want." Said Carolina.
" Whenever you're ready, I'll be here." Replied Justin.
" Thanks," she quips with a smile.
" How's the winter bliss preparation going?" Jane enquired hoping to get her mind off her dad.
She was thankful that she finally found out the truth after being kept in the dark for so long. Yet again, she was angry with herself for not realizing sooner. All this while, she judged her mother wrongly. Making a trip back home now after all the fights she's had with her mom, only heaven knew of her bothered heart.
" Everything is going smoothly. Seems like this year's winter bliss would outshine the former years." Carolina replied with a smile, pulling Jane out of her train of thoughts.
Though Jane had a smile on her face, she had a lot of worries. What if her mom didn't want her anymore? It's not like she's treated her with care in the past years. She hopes and pray that things would walk out just fine.
Jane stood in front of the door, pondering over and again whether to ring the doorbell or not.
Some minutes later, Mrs Melody was about to go out so she decided to close the curtains to the living room, when she saw Jane pacing in the porch.
Her eyes widened in surprise but then again, she had expected this when she had left. Whatever happened she only hoped that her daughter will be happy and live well and care free like before.
After so much thinking, Jane finally decided to ring the doorbell. She had thought over everything, she also had questions to ask her mom. She needed to clarify things completely.
Mrs Melody opened the door and gave her a hug. She had prepared herself in advance, but, seeing her mom once again she couldn't help but cry.
The mother and daughter duo remained in each other's embrace. After the tearful welcome, they both sat in the living room to talk.
So it turns out that her mom was never at fault.
Jane stared at her mom in silence, probably thinking of a way to start a conversation.
" Uhm... Dad spoke to me everything that bad happened ten years ago and I realized that I never really gave you a chance to explain. So... So today, I want to give you that chance to tell me your own side of the story."
Mrs Melody stared at her daughter for a while contemplating whether or not to speak but she decided to say her mind today. She didn't want any misunderstandings to come up again so she chose to tell the whole thing.
" It all started when your dad came home drunk with lipstick stains on his clothes. I tried to sound him out back then but he wouldn't say anything so I decided to let it pass." She took a short pause and glanced at Jane who seemed to listen with interest.
She then continued, " he came at odd hours of the night. Every time I asked, he'd tell me to stay out of his business. He missed all plans with me and always said he was busy with work. One evening, I found out that the company would be hosting a dinner party but your dad didn't tell me. Since he didn't invite me, I thought I'd go there to surprise him."
Taking in deep breaths, she went on, " I stepped out of the car a little nervous but just imagining his smile and how happy he would be, I mustered all courage and went in. That was when I saw her again."
" Her?"
" Your dad's ex girlfriend, my cousin Mimi. He danced with her and for some reason I didn't want to doubt him.
I mean what if I was wrong about everything. So I stood by a table with a smile or maybe I was just trying to stay strong.
After the music stopped, he brought her to the same table where I stood.
I could see how she held on to him and I had a feeling that things were going to go wrong."
With a sad smile, she continued, " I asked what was going on hoping to get an explanation but your dad didn't deny anything. He stared at me and told me that he had met Mimi on a business trip once and that they got back together.
Mimi smiled wickedly, " he was never yours, no need to be sad. I only took back what belonged to me." I couldn't say anything. I didn't want to cause a scene so I left immediately.
When your dad got back, he told me that he wanted a divorce.
After you got back from your aunt's, I stayed away because I didn't want you to see the gap that was left in your dad's and I relationship and I also knew that you would loose your dad soon so I wanted you to spend as much time as you could with him before he leaves."
Her eyes glistened with unshed tears listening to her mom. She was mad at her dad but more mad at herself.
All this while she blamed her mom for everything, she had thought that her mom cared only about her work and didn't have time for them.
She looked at her mom with tears streaming down her face, " I'm sorry mom. I'm sorry for blaming you, sorry for hating you. I'm sorry for not being filial. I'm sorry you've had to deal with all this alone. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you. I'm so sorry." She said, her voice choked with tears.
Mrs Melody shook her head, " no, it's not your fault. I'm to blame, I couldn't give you the happy family you've always dreamed of." She said hugging her daughter.
" No mom. You gave me everything I needed. I don't want you to suffer injustice just to see me happy. You are all I need. Nothing else matters. I love you mom." She cried, her voice barely a whisper.
" I love you too."
The mother and daughter duo cried and so was the beginning of a new bond between them.