Wish Not Granted

Kenneth is sitting on his executive chair when Ryan arrived in his office. He looked around for Darlene, but it seems she's not there.

"Where's Darlene?"

"Uhm… She went home." Kenneth looked at the plastic bag he's holding.

Ryan looked at the bag with dismay.

"I'm guessing those are what she said she will buy earlier," Kenneth said.

Ryan went closer to Kenneth's desk and put the plastic bag down.

"Did you get mad at Darlene?" Kenneth asked him.

"Sorry…" He wants to tell him everything, but he can't. Darlene might get more mad at him. The letter is their secret.

"It's okay. She can be a brat sometimes. But… just what really happened?"

"She didn't tell you anything?"

Kenneth looked at him. Ryan knows that look. He's probing him. He looked away.

"She didn't. Is there something that I should know?" Kenneth asked.

Ryan sighed. "I shouted at her. I guess she was frightened. I never shouted at her before, right?"

"You've been very good to her, Ry. I'm sorry if she's a nuisance sometimes. Actually, it's very nice that you always tolerate her. It's okay if you get mad at her sometimes. It will pass and for sure, she will be the sweet little girl she has always been to you."

"No, it's… it's not like that, Ken. I think I really need to make it up to her." How can he explain to him what happened?

"Just let it go," Kenneth said. "Maybe sometimes this really needs to happen. It's just right for you to reprimand her since you always spoil her."

"Can I go now and take the day off?" He needs to talk to Darlene.

"Of course," Kenneth said. "You're not my employee. You're my business partner. You're also the boss so you can do whatever you want. Also, it's the weekend. You just came to the office because you need to do something."

"You've been like that since Kristine died." He wasn't able to stop himself. "You've been working like hell since your wife died. There are times that I'm grateful because our business bloomed. But I never wanted my friend to die, and virtually lose my best friend because he's too workaholic."

Maybe, Kristine was right. Maybe Kenneth really needs a new love life so that his attention will be diverted from work. Thinking that he agrees with his dead friend kind of annoyed Ryan.

"I want to take Darlene to the mall. Probably buy her some ice cream or something. Just to make it up to her," he said to divert the conversation.

Kenneth nodded. "Sure. Or maybe you want to take her to the cinema? She really wants to see that movie, but it seems I can't finish all that I need to do now so I really can't take her."

Ryan knows it's more likely that Kenneth will not fulfill the promise he made to Darlene. He suddenly felt pity for his goddaughter. Maybe this was also what Kristine wanted to fix. She knows that after she dies, this is what will happen. That Kenneth will have no time for Darlene.

"Ken, I'm serious. Please reconsider your working habit."

Kenneth just looked at him. "Just go to your goddaughter already."

"Okay."

Kenneth's house is not that far from Furniture.com. Ryan met his mother Aunt Marie who thought he went there for his friend. When he told her that he's there to talk to Darlene, Aunt Marie called her granddaughter immediately. Of course, Ryan did not tell her the reason why he wants to talk to Darlene, but the old lady is used to having Ryan around the house and hanging out with her granddaughter.

"I came here to… apologize…" Ryan said when Darlene came. He tried to smile, but instead, he winced.

That made the child giggle.

"So I guess… I'm forgiven?" he asked.

"I'm not mad at you, Uncle. I was just a little scared when you shouted earlier."

"And I'm sorry. Come on, let me make it up to you. Also, there is something that we need to talk about."

"Aren't you busy, Uncle?"

"I have all the time in the world for you, Darling." He smiled his usual sweet smile for her. Darling is their pet name to Darlene, he and Kenneth and the others who are close to her.

"How about your designs?"

"It will be fine. Your dad will understand. Come! Let's go to UrbanShop, grab something to eat in The Coffee Club and then go watch that movie you want to see."

Darlene felt excited. "Okay!"

And so, the two of them went to UrbanShop. Ryan did not only bring Darlene there to make it up to her, but also to discuss the letter that Kristine left.

"Sorry if I shouted at you earlier. I got out of hand, I admit," Ryan started.

"I did not understand everything that you said back then. Maybe you're right, I'm still too young to understand those things. But Mom wouldn't have left the letter if she knows I can't fulfill her wish. And she also believed you will help me."

Ryan nodded. He then explained to her everything.

"The last time that I saw Sam, it was on his father's funeral. I went to Uncle Baste's wake, then his funeral day. That was… four years ago… Sam was… She's different than what she was fifteen years ago. She has totally changed... in a good way. She's not the Aaron-Carter-look-a-like that your mother described in the letter. She has grown into a beautiful woman."

"Did my father see her?"

Ryan shook his head. "That time your mom and dad were on a vacation. Second honeymoon. You wanted to have a baby sibling, remember?"

Darlene felt sad. "So it was my fault that they did not see each other."

"Hey, don't say that! Actually, it was your dad who planned that trip, so he's the one who is really at fault."

Darlene smiled at his joke. He smiled back.

"I didn't tell them because, it's just didn't feel right. They were in Japan at that time, having a wonderful time, then I'll tell them about somebody's death? I don't think that's a good idea. So, I just went by myself. I saw her, Sam. She went back from the US. We talked; we talked a lot. That time, she just finished studying Medicine, though she's still taking further studies for her specialization as a pathologist. But she already has a license and can practice Medicine."

"Her dream came true."

"Yes. Well, all our dreams came true... That time, she has a boyfriend."

Darlene became silent.

"Well, they could have separated during the four-year period after that meeting... Or they could have gotten married. I didn't meet the guy. He wasn't able to come. He's working in the US, but he's also a Filipino."

"Oh..."

"Lene, listen… There are a lot of reasons why I don't want to agree with what your mom wants us to do. First, I really could not think of a way to reach out to Sam. After her father's funeral, I never saw her again. She immediately went back to the US. As I've said, I'm not close to her siblings since we barely saw each other during high school. Her older brother is living in Manila that time, and her older sister is in the US. So we can't just go to Moonville and ask them about Sam. That would be… weird.

"Also, as I've said, Sam might be married to her boyfriend already. That was four years ago, Lene. A lot of things have happened. Your mom died already, remember?"

Ryan believes that Darlene somehow understands what he said. She might be just eight years old, but she's a smart girl. But he almost spit the caffe latte he was drinking with what the kid replied.

"Uncle, do you believe in destiny?"

"What?"

"Why did Mom tell you to give the letter just now? Maybe because he felt that after two years, Sam will go back, and Dad will meet her again. Then they'll fall in love with each other again."

"I think, Kristine thought that two years is enough for Kenneth to grieve her passing. Other people even get married after a year of losing their loved ones. But your mom gave him some extra time so that when her wish comes true, your father would be totally ready emotionally and mentally to be in a new relationship... That is something that is quite hard for you to grasp, I know. Don't force yourself to understand. But it's not about destiny. It's about giving enough time."

That's the only explanation he could think of with what Kristine did. Ryan hoped it would be enough for Darlene to understand.

"Lene, if there would be a chance that your father would love again, it would be God's choice when and to whom. It could be with Samantha de Vera, or to someone else. But whatever we do, it will only happen if it's bound to happen. As you've said, it's destiny."

Ryan does not know how Darlene knew about destiny. Maybe it's because of the various teleseryes she watches with her Grandma Marie. She should not be allowed to watch those type of shows because the kid is becoming too idealistic when it comes to love.

Which should not be, because it's wrong.

"Why don't we just go watch the movie you want to see with your father?"

Darlene smiled.

"Okay, then. Go and finish your frappe and scone, then we will go to TDC."

Ryan looked at his wristwatch to check the time. When suddenly, he heard someone call him. Actually, it was too soft it's almost a whisper, but he still heard it. And that soft call sent shivers to his spine because of the sound of the voice of the person who said his name.

"Ryan…"

He looked at the woman who called him, and upon seeing her face, his guess was confirmed. The woman was the one he thought off when he heard that voice.

Suddenly, he is faced with the woman that he loved and let go nine years ago.