Kabanata 18
Dinamdam ni Gen ang nasaksihan at
tumakbo sa kaibigan upang maghinga ng sama ng loob. Dito siya naliwanagan na wala
naman pala siyang karapatan magalit dahil hindi naman sila ni Edward. Matapos
ang maikling panunuyo ay agad din na magkaka-ayos ang dalawa at hindi lalaon ay
lalabas na sila ulit, gaya na lamang ng pagsama ni Edward sa paglilingkod ni
Gen ng walang bayad sa isang liblib na lugar bilang manggagamot. Sa kanilang
muling pagbabati ay idudulog din ni Edward ang kanyang mga suliranin sa dalaga,
tulad ng laging paghahambing sa kanya ng ama sa nakatatandang kapatid na si
Carlotta na matagal nang wala. Samantala, sa Agusan naman ay muling tinupad ni
Leon ang isa pang hiling ni Emy na magpalipas ng araw sa ilog, magsaya, at
kumain. Dito ay pinatangay ni Leon sa agos ang lalagyan na naglalaman ng mga
kagamitan ng ina, marahil isang sagisag na pinapalaya na niya ang nakaraan.
Hindi man aminin, halata na nahuhulog na ang loob ni Emy sa binata, at siya rin
naman sa dalaga.
Nawa’y totoo na itong pagpapalaya ni
Leon sa nakaraan dahil sa totoo lang ay nakakasawa na rin naman siyang panoorin
na ngawa ng ngawa sa pagpapahirap sa sarili. Matuto kang maging masaya, maikli lang
ang buhay. Ang napansin ko naman sa kabanata na ito ay kung gaano kabilis
mahulog ang loob ng mga tauhan sa isa’t-isa, na sa una ay mahirap maunawaan,
ngunit kinalaunan ay nasasagot rin naman. Kung tutuusin, ulila naman silang
lahat bukod kay Edward. Mayroon palang ama si Leon, subalit alam naman natin
kung ano ang lagi niyang iniisip. Tila ba nag-iisang kahinaan ito nilang apat.
Naaawa naman ako ng kaunti kay Sophia, ngunit hanga rin ako sa kanyang pananaw
bilang isang makabagong babae na hindi alipin sa mga panuntunan ng lipunan.
Nakakalungkot lamang na mukhang nahulog na rin ang loob niya kay Edward. Sa mga
pagsasamang gaya ng sa kanila, mayroong malinaw na alituntuning hindi na
kailangan ulit-ulitin pa, at ang lumabag dito ang talunan sa huli.
“Maraming salamat sa pagbibigay mo ng buhay sa ‘kin. Hindi ko man nakuha
ang sagot sa tunay kong pagkatao, nakuha ko naman ang sarili ko” –Leon
Episode 18
Gen
does not take what she has just seen lightly and runs to her friend to let her
emotions out. It is right then that she realizes how she really has no right to
feel that way because she and Edward have no relationship to begin with. After
a rather short attempt to make amends for what happened, the two patch things
up and are soon going out again, like him tagging along her volunteer medical
mission in some far-flung area. In their reconciliation, it is Edward’s turn to
find a shoulder to cry on through Gen, sharing his father’s endless comparison
of him and his older sister Carlotta who has long been out of the picture.
Meanwhile in Agusan, Leon fulfills another one of Emy’s wishes, which is to
have a picnic by the river. It is also there where Leon lets go of the box
containing his mother’s belongings, probably symbolizing a break with the past.
Although they would not admit it, it is obvious that Emy has fallen for him,
and he for her.
Here
is to hoping that this letting the past go drama of Leon is true this time
because witnessing him torture himself by whining ad nauseam is becoming a
tiring sight. Learn to chase happiness, as life is short. What I have noticed
about this episode, though, is how everyone seems to fall pretty fast for one
another, which at first is something quite difficult to grasp, but is
eventually answered later on. Come to think of it, they are all orphans here
except for Edward. Well, Leon has a father, but we know where he is coming from
anyway. It seems as though this is a common weakness for all four of them. As
for Sophia, I feel a bit of pity, but I also admire her woman of the world
outlook in life who is not constrained by the bullshit conventions invented by modern
society. It is just depressing that she seems to have fallen for Edward. In
relationships such as what they have, there are clear boundaries that no longer
need reiteration, and if you cross that line, you know you would end up as the
loser.
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