Chapter 6 Realization

• REALIZATION
• Rico just went home from work when he saw his parents wearing black funeral clothes.
• “Mom, Dad… where are you going?”, Rico asked when he saw them looking unhappy and dejected.
• “Hurry up, son. Change your clothes. Wear the funeral ones. We’re visiting the Ortega family to extend our condolences.”, it was Rico’s mom.
• “W- Why?”, Rico asked nervously.
• “Mr. Ortega, Dina’s father had just died.”, his mother answered with sadness in her tone. His father’s eyes had turned red, which might be because of crying because Mr. Ortega is his best friend. Rico could not say anything because he was shocked, he thought Dina’s father was in stable condition already.
• At the funeral, Rico saw Dina’s mother and younger sister crying… but Dina was just sitting in a corner, silent and without tears.
• “Condolence.”, Rico sincerely said to Dina after saying his condolences to her mom and younger sister… however, it seems like Dina could not hear him. She did not care or acknowledge his presence. Rico sat beside Dina.
• “I am saddened with the news---“, Rico was interrupted by what he was about to say.
• “If you are really saddened, please do me a favor… leave this place at once.”, Dina said coldly. The words were directed to Rico, but she didn’t even waste her time looking at him. It was like she was talking to herself.
• ”I know what’s happening right now is extremely sad and depressing---”
• “GO AWAY! I SAID GO AWAY!!!”, Dina shouted at him, it was full of anger. For this reason, she caught the attention of people around them. Dina’s mom turned her head to look angrily at her.
• “Dina! Do you intend to disrespect your father even during his funeral?! He’s already dead, Dina, and you still don’t want to give him peace!?”, Dina’s mom shouted at her furiously.
• “They are here to extend us their condolences for your father’s passing… and you still want to make a fuss out of it?! Compose yourself and stop embarrassing us!”, Dina’s mom added angrily. Dina’s tears fell, but she never said anything. Instead, she hurriedly ran away. Rico was wondering about the commotion between Dina and her mom. Rico doesn’t want to do anything, but for some reason, he felt it was his fault why Dina got scolded. So, he decided to run after Dina. He saw her nearby, just crying.
• “Dad… Dad…”, Dina whimpered. Rico got worried, and he wanted to console Dina, but he doubted because he didn’t want to make Dina angry if he went near her. He decided to just stay and watch her back not far from her. In the end, he couldn’t do anything for Dina, and after a few moments, he decided to just let her be. He went in and stayed inside together with his parents.
• The Ballestros stayed for a little while as they mourned Mr. Ortega’s death. Rico saw his father grieving. He also waited for Dina to come back, but she didn’t. For some unexplainable reason, Rico felt uneasy when Dina avoided him. He is wondering why Dina is so angry at him. She didn’t even return to the funeral until they got home already.
• “Mom, what is the reason why Mr. Ortega died?”, Rico asked curiously when they got home. He preferred to ask his mom because he knows that his father is in no condition to talk about the death of his best friend, and he also remembered that it was his mom who spoke a lot with Dina’s mom at the funeral earlier. His mom went silent for a moment.
• “Mr. Ortega suffered another attack. His weak body hadn’t fully recovered yet when he suffered another episode. Due to severe complications, his body wasn’t able to withstand the recent attack.”, his mom told him. She was sad, and Rico just nodded as if contemplating her words. They all went silent then his dad went off a loud sigh.
• ”I’ll go get some rest.”, his dad said after sighing.
• “Mr. Ortega is your dad’s only best friend. They treat each other as brothers. This is really a sad event. For sure, he will just cry inside the room. I think he also blames himself for his death.”, Rico’s mom sadly commented. Rico wonders why his dad blames himself for Mr. Ortega’s death.
• ”Why?”, Rico curiously probed his mom.
• “Your dad really wants you to marry Mr. Ortega’s eldest daughter, Dina, and Mr. Ortega wanted the same for her. He also likes you to be with Dina. They both agreed to have you married at all costs. They are close to each other, and that is why they are also confident to entrust you and Dina together.”, Rico’s mom had told him. Rico continued to listen to her attentively.
• “However, Mr. Ortega didn’t see even the least interest of Dina’s willingness to marry you. She didn’t meet you on your date, which embarrassed him, and argued with Dina. While having a heated discussion with her, he suffered an attack. Remember, it was during that time when we visited him at the hospital, right?”, his mom said, and Rico nodded to affirm as he remembered his final moments with Mr. Ortega.
• “Yes, mom… remembering it, I’m saddened that it was my first and last time that I saw of him.”, Rico sadly commented to what his mother was saying.
• “I think Mr. Ortega is determined to have her marry you quickly… I guess he already felt these things would happen. That is why he frankly asked you to marry Dina at that time.”, his mom told him. Because of what his mom said, Rico felt anxious and guilty, primarily when he intended to refuse Mr. Ortega directly despite his critical health condition. He also felt relieved at the same time that he wasn’t able to do the refusal in front of him because he died just before doing so.
• “… but when they went home from the hospital, Dina told him that she doesn’t want to marry you and that her decision is final. They had a heated argument again, which caused him another attack, but this time…”, Rico’s mother sadly said, but Rico heard her clearly.
• Rico’s eyes widened as he wondered.
• How come she disagrees with her dad? Wasn’t Dina willing to marry me just for him? Why did she say she refused me?!, Rico pondered.
• “Mrs. Ortega and Dina’s younger sister, Sunshine, can’t avoid blaming Dina… I felt sad about that child. I think she felt alone, an outcast… and I think she is also blaming herself. For her, she is the reason why her father died… it’s like she killed her own father. Such a pity.”; his mom said and helplessly sighed due to Dina’s pitiful situation.
• Little by little, everything came on to the light inside Rico’s clever mind… the reason why Dina is resentful and vexed against him is that… he is the reason why she had become fatherless now. Rico’s declination to Dina’s father’s offer and refusal to Dina’s plea… and now that the whole world is blaming Dina, but in reality, it was him. He is the one truly at fault.
• Rico couldn’t say anything even though his mom continued saying lots of things, but everything became blurry, and he didn’t understand what she said. Her words are not registering on his mind because there is only one thing that is clear to him… He is the reason why Dina why lost her father.
• “Son, are you okay? I think you also need to get some rest. We are all tired. This has been a sad and long day for all of us.”, his mom said, and eventually went inside their bedroom as well.
• I-I… am the reason why Dina’s father died, and she is also blaming me for why she has to suffer all of these things! It’s because of me! I am the root cause of everything! Dina is a prideful woman, and she swallowed all her ego when she begged me to marry her… but I declined! I rejected her and humiliated her! And to not embarrass her family of my refusal… to protect their dignity… she didn’t reveal the truth! She covered me up and made it appear as if she’s the one who refused me… but the truth is… it was I who declined! She took all the blame for me!”, Rico thought with distress. He sat down on the sofa, he was trembling all over, and his knees had lost all their strength because of what he realized. He felt sick and queasy. He wiped his face and couldn’t believe what he had done. He made someone fatherless just to cover up his selfishness.