*

“YOU WON’T believe it, Ma. Yñigo is getting married.”

Nari touched her Mom Nerissa’s photo. Her mother was smiling, so full of life. It was taken five years before she passed away. She used to be a domestic helper in Kuwait.

She was truly happy for her brother’s engagement. But she could not help feeling that familiar tug in her heart at the same time. She used to be engaged, too. She was only twenty-four back then and was in a three-year relationship with Gerald, her classmate back in college.

When he proposed, she did not think twice and said, ‘yes.’ Their promise was the same as Yñigo and Laurice’s promise—that they will save up for their wedding and for the family they were going to build.

But their mother got sick and has to come home to the Philippines. She had pneumonia and was already ill. Their savings were used up during her hospitalization, but the doctors were not still able to save her. Her body eventually succumbed to illness. And that was how Uncle Chuck became their savior.

Ynari didn’t know what to do during the darkest time of her life. He was all they had. She did not know who her father was. Her mother was still pregnant with her when he abandoned them. And the same goes for Yñigo’s father. He already had a family of his own and did not take responsibility for her brother.

Nari’s priority changed, and her relationship with Gerald suffered. Until they decided to just end it. And Nari regretted letting him go.

When her mother was laid to her final rest, she reached out to Gerald and asked for another chance. She was ready to make it up to him, but it was already late. Gerald got another woman pregnant, and he needed to take responsibility.

She was still in the process of putting the pieces back together, but life gave her a kick, and she hit rock bottom again. If only they did not allow themselves to be weak during those times, maybe they did not have to be sorry, maybe they were still happy, fulfilling their dreams together.

Tears blurred Nari’s eyes as it streamed down her face.

“Ma, you think I could still marry someone who’s not like my father who left us?” She took a deep breath and wiped her tears. “Gerald is probably happy now. It doesn’t matter if we did not end up together. As long as Yñigo and Laurice are happy, I’ll be happy, too. I will take good care of my nephews and niece, I promise.”

She put the picture back on the nightstand and dried her eyes.

“You really are so dramatic, Nari.”

She got out of bed. She needed something to put her to sleep. She promised she won’t drink anymore to avoid trouble. But if it’s only a bottle, there’s nothing wrong with that.

She headed down to Chuck’s Pasta.

*

“SO YÑIGO is engaged, Nari.” Uncle Chuck put the bottle he opened for her on the counter. “Aren’t you pressured right now?” he joked.

Nari made a face. “Uncle, come on.” She took the beer and drank it.

“Don’t lose hope. Someone will come along sooner than you think. With that pretty face of yours, I’m sure you’ll find someone who will replace Gerald in your heart.”

Her forehead wrinkled.

“As long as he’s not the likes of Yñigo’s father and mine. You’re here for me, anyway. What about you, Uncle? Don’t you have plans of falling in love again?”

Twenty years ago, Uncle Chuck’s wife left him for another man. Because her uncle was an OFW, his wife couldn’t bear the loneliness and cheated on him. It was a good thing Jonie did not go with her mother. Or Uncle Chuck would have already lost his mind.

“Uncle, Vic Sotto is just your age and look at him, he was able to have another child.”

Vic Sotto was a famous TV personality and had been married a couple of times already.

“Alright, alright. I won’t say ‘no’ to love when it comes knocking in,” Uncle Chuck said, chuckling.

Nari giggled and finally stood up.

“You are the coolest uncle ever. Thanks for the beer. Goodnight!”

“Goodnight!”

With the beer still in her hand, she turned her back and took a swig. She was almost at the door when it suddenly opened, and a very familiar face appeared.

Nari’s heart stopped for a moment. She couldn’t believe her eyes. It was the same man she saw outside the comfort room… she could not be wrong!

“You—”

Nari spluttered the beer from her mouth, and it went straight into his face. His face twitched into a disgusting frown, and his eyes firmly shut for a moment. Then his eyes widened as he stared into her face. Nari caught her mouth in her hand. His jaw was already clenched!

“What. The. Fuck.”

She would have stopped to admire how he looked hot doing that, but now wasn’t the right time. Nari darted to the door, screaming.