The Closet and the Skeletons Within

Ryan just stared at Jenneth, obviously as shocked as she is with that sudden meeting. That is how Jenneth got a good look at him. The guy didn't seem to change a lot, but she could see that he has been better. He looks more handsome in her eyes. He seems to have that boyish charm still, but that matured into a more manly appeal.

And then, she suddenly felt she missed him. It alarmed her a little, making her try to compose herself and pretend that this encounter is nothing but a trivial matter to her.

"Wow! It's really you." She tried so hard to smile casually.

Ryan is still dumbfounded. His mouth is partially opened as he continually gazed at her. Jenneth finds his expression kind of funny, making her smile.

"Your mouth is open, Ryan," she told him.

Ryan instantly closed his mouth, and that made her giggle. That's when he found his wit to respond.

"Jenneth."

She stopped giggling. "I thought you forgot."

"Forgot you? How could I forget you? I would never do that."

It was Jenneth's turn to be dumbfounded. Maybe, it was the way Ryan said that. That he would never forget her. Or maybe, it was the exact words that he said.

𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦.

She swallowed. Those words of him didn't fail to affect her in a way that can make her feel so many emotions that she should not feel. She just changed the subject to also divert her thoughts and emotions.

She looked at the little girl sitting opposite Ryan. "Is this your… your daughter?" That one came out not as easy as she made it sound. Something inside her does not seem to accept that this little girl is Ryan's daughter.

Ryan looked at the girl she's with. "Nope. She is Darlene. Kenneth and Kristine's daughter."

The little girl looked at Jenneth and smiled. "Hello!"

Jenneth felt relieved, and she does not know why. "Oh! Hi there, Darlene! I'm Jenneth. You can call me Aunty Jhing." She shook her hand. "Now I can see that you resemble your mom very much. You're both beautiful."

She looked at Ryan again. "You seem to prefer younger women now, huh? So much younger..." she joked before smirking.

But Ryan didn't seem to get her joke. "What? No way! Darlene, she's my goddaughter. I'm just treating her for some frappe and scone."

Jenneth giggled at Ryan's reaction. "I was just joking. You're too defensive."

"It's not funny." Ryan looked around. Some customers are now looking at them, probably thinking he's a pedophile who's dating a girl who can pass as his daughter.

Jenneth finally realized what had just happened. She should apologize to Ryan, but instead she just changed the subject. "So how's Kenneth and Kristine? Do they have a lot of children that you end up babysitting their oldest child?"

"Darlene is their only child. Kristine died two years ago. Kenneth is in the office… working…"

Jenneth was stunned. She unconsciously looked at Darlene as she felt bad for her.

Who smiled at her. "Uncle Ryan is the one who takes me out when Dad is too busy with work."

"I'm sorry." Jenneth sat beside Darlene and embraced her. "You're a very beautiful girl. Like what I've said, you look so much like your mother. Except the eyes. You got Kenneth's eyes."

"Are you a friend of my mom and dad?" Darlene asked.

Jenneth nodded. "During high school. They are one year ahead of me."

"But I just met you now," Darlene said.

"Uncle Ryan never mentioned me to you?"

Darlene looked at Ryan, who scowled before looking away.

Jenneth smiled. "I'm not surprised. I lived in Manila. I worked there. I'm a medical technologist. Do you know that?"

Darlene shook her head.

Jenneth felt the need to explain to the little girl about her work. "In a hospital, they take some blood samples and urine samples and other stuff from the patient. They test those samples to know the cause of the patient's illness. That's what I do. I test the specimen taken from the patient to know what is making them sick."

"Even the urine?" Darlene asked, obviously grossed out.

Jenneth smiled. "Sometimes, I even tests poop."

"Eww..." Darlene said, voicing out her disgust.

Jenneth laughed at the girl's reaction.

"Why do you like that kind of work? Don't you feel disgusted?"

"No, I don't… Actually, I also don't know why I liked this job. Maybe because I was influenced by my high school idol. Sam de Vera." She could still remember that genius girl that she admires since high school.

"Sam de Vera?"

Jenneth nodded. "Hm-hm... Oh, but of course! She's your father's best friend. He probably told you stories about her."

"You know Sam de Vera? Do you talk to her, Aunty?"

"Jhing, so, you're having a vacation? Here in Tarlac?" Ryan suddenly intercepted.

Jenneth's heart fluttered as she heard his voice again. She calmed herself, and pretended her heart is not racing as she answered him. "Nope. I'm actually staying here for good."

"For… good?"

Jenneth nodded. "Hmm... I'm back here for good. Actually, I got a new job in TGH."

"Tarlac General Hospital?" Darlene asked.

Jenneth looked at the girl again. "Yup. That's where I test blood and poop."

"Isn't that the hospital owned by Sam de Vera's family?" Darlene asked.

"Yup!" Jenneth is amazed at the child's wittiness.

"Uhm… Jhing, sorry but we have to go," Ryan suddenly said. "We are about to watch a movie. Lene, let's go! The movie is about to start."

Jenneth suddenly felt dismayed. Why does it feel like Ryan is avoiding her? But of course, after all that had happened between them...

She felt kind of sad as she remembered all the memories she had with him. "Well, I guess, I'll just see you around then?" she just told them.

"Uncle, let's stay for a little longer," Darlene said to Ryan. "Let's just watch the movie later."

"We can't stay that long, Lene. I promised your father that you will eat lunch at home," Ryan said. "We need to go now so that we can go home early."

"Then, let's just not watch the movie," Darlene said.

"Didn't you want to watch that movie very badly? If we don't go and see it now, it might be removed from TDC. That's why we need to watch it now before that happens. I'm just worried you might not have a chance to see it. You said you wanted to watch that for weeks now. So why are you saying now that you don't want to see it? You are so fickle-minded."

Darlene gaped at her godfather's rant. Meanwhile, Jenneth realized that it's better if she just gives in. She felt that Ryan seems he wants her to leave now.

"Maybe next time, Darlene," she just said. Anyway, the city's not that big and we might see each other again. Please say 'hi' to your dad for me."

Darlene just nodded.

Jenneth then turned to Ryan. "Well, nice to see you again, Ry. It's been a long time."

"Nine years… I mean, I guess it's nine years. I'm not counting, so, I'm not quite sure about that."

Jenneth smiled. "You're right. Nine years."

Nine years had passed, but it feels like it was just yesterday when everything happened. Nine years had passed but all the feelings she felt still lingers inside her. She brushed the thought off her mind as she said her last goodbye to the two.

"So, I guess I'll just see you around then." She took her white Coach handbag. "Bye Darlene."

"Bye Auntie." Darlene smiled at her.

"Ryan."

Ryan just nodded. With that, Jenneth stood up and marched towards the exit of The Coffee Club. She tried so hard not to look back. She also took deep breaths because that sudden encounter seemed to have caused havoc in her disposition. She walked as fast as she can to her car in the parking lot.

Her phone buzzed, signaling the receipt of the text message from Atty. Manalo. She replied and told her she's on her way to her house. Then she remembered the webpage of Furniture.com that she was opening earlier. She looked at it again for the contact number. She thought of visiting the said shop after her meeting with her lawyer. But she froze when she read the contact person of the said furniture shop.

Ryan Arcilla, Operations Manager

Maybe she really can't have the new closet she wants.