Chapter 7 His Responsibility

• HIS RESPONSIBILITY
• Rico became depressed as he felt guilty to what happened to Dina… it was his everyday burden from the moment he woke up in the morning until he slept at night. His guilt is all he could ever think of, and because of this, he never had a good night's sleep ever since he realized what he had done. Assuming he is responsible for Mr. Ortega’s death, he could concentrate even at work. He keeps on convincing himself that he never wanted this to happen, but every time he tried to reason out, Dina’s pitiful face would always pop out. He felt regretful and culpable. He can’t deny his mistakes, especially when he remembers Dina crying while whimpering her father’s name, grieving alone without anyone consoling her.
• “Rico, my son… are you sick? You look restless these days. Are you okay?”, her mother asked him when he noticed her son acting uneasy and anxious for almost a week already. Rico can no longer deny he felt guilty for not telling the truth. Rico cried. He is not able to ease the weight of his burden. His parents begin to worry; they never saw their only child cry like this, not even when Alice left him.
• “Rico? My son? Why?”, his mom asked with worry painted all over her face. Rico shook his head as his tears fell.
• ”Mom! I’m sorry! I cannot take this anymore! Mom, I think… I’m the reason why Mr. Ortega died!”, Rico confessed to his mom. Her eyes widened, thoroughly shocked as his father just overheard what he said when he entered the room.
• ”W-what are you saying, Rico?!”, it was his mom. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
• “D-Dina… actually didn’t refuse to marry me. The truth is she was really begging me to marry her for Mr. Ortega’s sake… but mom… I-I declined. It was me, mom! I was the one who disagreed, and I refused her. I turned her down. I rejected her even though I knew it was hard to beg me. I know she hated me, but she swallowed all her pride at ill feelings towards me when he begged me to marry her. I was aware of this but yet… I still rejected her. I humiliated her that day, mom… and to protect their family’s dignity, she made Mr. Ortega believe that she was totally against it, but in reality… it was me, mom. It was me. My selfishness forced Dina to do that… in her good intention not to humiliate their family… to save them from the embarrassment of being refused, she lied to cover me up…and I didn’t expect that… it would happen this way---“, Rico was interrupted when his dad went over him and held Rico by his shirt’s collar. It was clear on his face that he was extremely furious over his son’s actions.
• “Rodrigo! Calm down!”, his mom mediated him and his angry dad, even though she is still shocked over his son’s confession.
• “How are you able to sleep soundly at night, Rico?! How can you do that despite these horrible things that you have done?! Despite knowing that you made the Ortega’s become fatherless! You took away their family’s foundation!! You took my best friend away from me! But even worst is that you let Dina take all the humiliation and blame! What kind of person are you?! Is that what we have taught you?! NO! You are not my SON!”, Rico’s father angrily said, trembling with too much disappointment to his son. He went out of breath and tried to stop whatever violent things he could do further to his own son; instead of physically hurting him, he went inside his bedroom.
• “Rodrigo!”, Rico’s mother tried to call his dad.
• ”Take a rest first, my son. ”, his mom said to him in a calm voice before going after his father to console him. Rico obeyed his mom and went inside his room; however, he lost all his strength and fell silently on the floor when he closed the door. He cried.
• Dina was right… there is nothing we could do. My conscience won’t let me be due to my guilt. If I had only realized this earlier… Mr. Ortega wouldn’t have to die like this… we won’t be in this kind of situation., Rico thought. He could not take a rest because various things had bugged his mind… until he came up with a firm decision.
• “Dad!”, Rico said as he went inside his parent’s room without knocking. Both of his parents were surprised to see him rushing there.
• ”AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!”, his father shouted at him.
• “Dad…”, Rico started, but his father seemed uninterested in listening to whatever he was supposed to say.
• “Don’t call me dad! You are no son of mine!”, he said to him angrily.
• “Rico, my son… just let your father be, let him take a rest first.”, his mom tried to persuade him.
• ”But dad! You must listen to me first!”, Rico insisted.
• “WHY?! Why must I listen to you?! You’re no less evil than any beast without feelings!”, Rico’s father answered furiously. His words couldn’t ease his father’s anger.
• “Dad… I’m begging you, please listen to me. I really feel guilty; that is why I want you to hear me… I know I’m wrong, dad! I know it!”, Rico cried in front of his father. His father saw his haggard face… it seemed like he really had been having sleepless nights. His dad slightly calmed down and went silent when he heard what Rico said and felt pity for him. Rico grabbed this opportunity to say what he wanted to tell his parents.
• “I will take responsibility, dad. I will take Dina as part of my obligations! I will marry her!”, Rico said firmly. His father was taken aback when he heard what his son had just said. Even his mother was shocked too.
• “You should’ve decided that earlier.”, his father sadly said and became calm because he felt compassion towards his son.
• “Dad, I know it’s too late, but because of what happened… Dina was blamed. She took accountability for these things, not realizing that she, too… had lost her loved one. She is sad, alone… and yet she chooses to be silent. That’s why I won’t let her be alone anymore. She had no one. That’s why I want to stay by her side. You taught me to become responsible and take the consequences of my actions… you brought me up to become a good person, dad, mom. All I want to do is to fulfill Mr. Ortega’s final wish, and that is to marry Dina.”, Rico. His father shook his head.
• “I also want that to happen, my son… but I am not sure Dina will agree, especially with the bad things that have been happening to her. I don’t think she will accept you easily. Remember, in Dina’s eyes… Rico, you are her most hated person because you are the reason why her father died.”, Rico’s father answered.
• “I know, dad… so please, help me persuade the Ortegas to agree.”, Rico said. He is very determined to ease the burden of his guilt. His father stared at him as he saw his son’s sincerity. Rico is truthful in his words, and he decides to take Dina into their family.