Chapter 17

"Just focus on the road," Cela told herself as she drives her car. The road is clear and the sky has no signs of possible rain but the chaos is right inside of her.

She wants to stop but forces herself to continue.

"Soon, it will be dark and the night will take over. Another day is coming and there I will go." She thought for a moment. "Maybe I should start writing songs," she told herself.

Today was harder than she thought and brought more baggages than unloading them. Nate was right about having a lot of things that they have yet to discuss but she had to leave before it became much harder to let go.

She wanted to stay much longer. She wanted to tell him how much he missed him all these years. Now she has to deal with the enormous amount of regret brought by knowing she didn't try hard enough to do every possible thing to see him again much sooner rather than later because it's now late.

And that embrace. It was the most heartbreaking thing that happened today. Nina must have indulged in it countless times, she already got used to it that it became a regular and expected thing that Nate does to her. It's the jealousy that's killing her right now.

Authors can do anything in the stories they are writing. Even the impossible can be possible. They are like gods in their own world. However, like what she said earlier, this is reality.

Nate sits at the back of his car. He's holding his cellphone but he still hasn't called Nina.

The closure he thought he would get by the end of this meeting is still open enough for a tiny, little chance.

"What are you thinking, Nate?" he asked himself.

He closed his eyes for a moment before dialing Nina's number. She's unavailable to take the call. For some reason, that gives him a breather. He doesn't know what to tell her anyway.

Nina called while he's driving. He's not in the mood to answer her call but he knew he had to.

"Hi, hon," he greeted her casually.

"Are you driving right now?" she asked.

"Yeah, I put you on speaker," he said.

"And you are alone?" she asked.

Nate suddenly remembered that Nina left the other day without telling him and now she wants to know if he's alone. He didn't answer.

"Are you mad at me?" she asked.

"Oh, sorry. The signal here is weak. I'll redial," he said instead. He couldn't force himself to participate in the conversation.

"Let me know when you arrive home so we can talk clearly," she said.

"I will. You take care," he said.

Nate hanged up. His phone's screen lock immediately showed up. It's a happy picture of them together taken during their first anniversary.

"We didn't even have photo together," he said to himself after realizing that he and Cela never had even one photo together and the chance of having one has gone to none.

After a few seconds, he went back to his senses and shakes his head. There's no reason for him to regret not having anything that will remind him of Cela. He heard from someone that things that will bring confusion come during times like this. He has to keep his guards up high no matter how bad he still feels about Nina's behavior lately.

Cela stopped by a convenient store to get some food. In one corner of the store are some teenage kids gushing over some photos taken from the photo booth. They are laughing and just being their teenage selves. She stares at them with envy in her eyes. If only her teenage life was as normal as theirs she would have had a happier life now.

"How much for that?" she asked the teller. From out of the blue, she got the courage to try the booth. She definitely has photos but most of them were taken with her family. She didn't have memorable photos she could be excited to see one day.

"Just look at the screen, Ma'am. There's a timer to signal that it's time to smile," the staff told her.

She looks at herself in the camera. The youth is still there but it's only a matter of a few years and it will be gone. The years just passed quietly until it's almost late to catch up.

"Are you okay, Ma'am?" the staff asked from outside.

"Yeah, I am good," she said.

"Here are your pictures."

The pictures came out nicely but no matter how small the prints are, it's still obvious that there is a space the could've been occupied by another person.

"Just focus on the road and you will be fine," she said to herself again as she hits the road going home.

Rolan calls in the middle of her driving. It's a good thing he calls to distract her mind from thinking of Nate. She puts him on speaker.

"Sis, do you have plans for dinner?" Rolan asked.

"I am not writing today and I don't have plans for dinner either. Just too lazy," she replied.

"Can you come over for dinner later?" he asked.

"What's the occasion?" she asked.

"It's for Nanny Rita," he answered.

"What about Nanny Rita? Oh my gosh, I haven't checked on her lately. Is she okay? Is she still seeing the doctor for her regular check up?" she asked.

"Yeah, she does. You really have to come over to catch up. Please come," he said.

Cela agreed to come to dinner. Her heart is pounding after the call. She doesn't want calls like that but even that becomes a welcome distraction to her.

She headed to her brother's house after a quick stop to her place to take a shower and dust off everything that happened in the morning. She promised to herself that the next and remaining hours of the day would be for Nanny Rita.

In front of the gate is a car not familiar to her. She shook her head assuming her brother invited his colleagues again on a family gathering.

She's surprised to see all familiar faces but she didn't expect them to be gathered all at one time.

"Ivy, what a surprise. Are you here to follow up on the book?" she asked.

"Oh, please. I'm here not because of the book," Ivy answered.

"Sis, you're early. Nanny Rita is in the garden right now," Rolan said.

"Who's preparing in the kitchen?" she asked.

"Joyce," he said.

Cela couldn't believe. She excused herself and her brother and take him in the balcony.

"What are you doing? Why are those two here?" she asked her brother.

"Well, I invited Ivy over. We've been catching up since last week and it's kind of a weird if I didn't invite her today. Besides, Nanny Rita also knows her," he answered.

Cela shook her head. "You are weird. I'm out of whatever you three have. I'll go see Nanny Rita now," she said.

As much as she hates her brother right now for being insensitive by inviting both Joyce and Ivy in his house, she also understands why he can't let go of one. Like her, Rolan was deprived of many experiences in his younger life and now that he has the opportunity to explore and choose, his lack of experience in this area and his strive to perfection in everything that their mother imposed on him, make him overly careful and he takes time to decide.

Cela opened the door to the backyard. She has not seen their garden in long time. There's not much changes but it is surely well-maintained. The bright afternoon sky and the gentle wind make it one good place to relax. Suddenly, she forgets about the Trees Park.

Nanny Rita is not alone in the garden. She's having coffee with someone she's known for a long time.

"Doc Rio! Is it really you?" Cela greeted their guest.

She knows him from way back. He's been their family doctor since they were kids and even before their parents separated. He's taken good care of the family that includes Nanny Rita who has a history of anemia.

"Nanny Rita, please don't tell me you became anemic again," Cela asked.

Nanny Rita looked to her doctor then to Cela.

"Well, I must admit I had become neglectful lately. I was watching series and movies overnight and that led to low blood. But I am okay now. Nothing to worry about. I am well taken care of," she explained.

"Oh my. I hope that's the last of it. You can watch movies all day but please go to bed early," Cela said as if she sleeps early.

"Doc, please tell your patient to be more careful. Good thing, you are always on call," she asked Doc Rio.

Doc Rio smiled but he looks uncomfortable. "Yes. I assure you and your brother that this won't happen again to her," he said.

"Something's different but I couldn't tell exactly what," Cela said as she noticed the different atmosphere in the garden.

Nanny Rita suddenly reached for her hand. "I am marrying Doc Rio and it's going to be tomorrow," Nanny Rita told her.

Doc Rio looks relieved now. He waits for Cela's response.

"Did I hear it right? You two are getting married?" Cela asked after a few seconds processing what she just heard.

Both nodded.

"How did that happen? I mean, are you marrying her so you can take care of her closely?" Cela asked Doc Rio.

"Cela, we've been meeting discreetly for the longest time," Doc Rio said.

"Really? Did Mom know about this?" Cela asked because it seemed impossible that something this close could escape her mother's radar.

"Knowing her, I thought she had her suspicion but she never asked me even once so I never told her," Nanny Rita said.

"But why not? He's a doctor. She'd approve of him," Cela asked.

"I didn't want it to be a burden to the family. Back then, your mother was very problematic. She's concerned about your brother's relationship with Ivy. I thought it would be insensitive to tell her about our relationship when it's the same problem that she and your brother were dealing back then," Nanny Rita explained.

"You owe me an explanation. I want to know the whole story," Cela said. She's obviously happy and excited for her.

"My dear, I'd been trying to talk to you before but you were always busy and you still are now," Nanny Rita.

"Not today. This is the one reason why I am staying here overnight," Cela excitedly told her nanny.

"Really? Oh, that's so great! That means you will be present in our wedding tomorrow!" Nanny Rita said.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Cela said.

"Oh, dear. Thank you. I asked Rolan to convince you harder if you refused to come over tonight. Good thing, he didn't have to," Nanny Rita said.

"Wait, are you marrying in which church? Where are the gowns, where is everything?" Cela asked.

"No worries, dear. We are marrying in civil," Nanny Rita said.

Cela welcomes the good news with all her heart. This is a timely distraction from whatever happened in the day a natural way to bond with her family. Being happy for others is so much better than going home and alone with just memories.

It has been long since the house last witnessed a genuinely happy atmosphere. Perhaps, it's time for creating new memories.