A Beautiful Affair (ABS-CBN): Kabanata/Episode 18

Kabanata 18

Dinamdam ni Gen ang nasaksihan at tumakbo sa kaibigan upang maghinga ng sama ng loob. Dito siya naliwanagan na wala naman pala siyang karapatan magalit dahil hindi naman sila ni Edward. Matapos ang maikling panunuyo ay agad din na magkaka-ayos ang dalawa at hindi lalaon ay lalabas na sila ulit, gaya na lamang ng pagsama ni Edward sa paglilingkod ni Gen ng walang bayad sa isang liblib na lugar bilang manggagamot. Sa kanilang muling pagbabati ay idudulog din ni Edward ang kanyang mga suliranin sa dalaga, tulad ng laging paghahambing sa kanya ng ama sa nakatatandang kapatid na si Carlotta na matagal nang wala. Samantala, sa Agusan naman ay muling tinupad ni Leon ang isa pang hiling ni Emy na magpalipas ng araw sa ilog, magsaya, at kumain. Dito ay pinatangay ni Leon sa agos ang lalagyan na naglalaman ng mga kagamitan ng ina, marahil isang sagisag na pinapalaya na niya ang nakaraan. Hindi man aminin, halata na nahuhulog na ang loob ni Emy sa binata, at siya rin naman sa dalaga.

Nawa’y totoo na itong pagpapalaya ni Leon sa nakaraan dahil sa totoo lang ay nakakasawa na rin naman siyang panoorin na ngawa ng ngawa sa pagpapahirap sa sarili. Matuto kang maging masaya, maikli lang ang buhay. Ang napansin ko naman sa kabanata na ito ay kung gaano kabilis mahulog ang loob ng mga tauhan sa isa’t-isa, na sa una ay mahirap maunawaan, ngunit kinalaunan ay nasasagot rin naman. Kung tutuusin, ulila naman silang lahat bukod kay Edward. Mayroon palang ama si Leon, subalit alam naman natin kung ano ang lagi niyang iniisip. Tila ba nag-iisang kahinaan ito nilang apat. Naaawa naman ako ng kaunti kay Sophia, ngunit hanga rin ako sa kanyang pananaw bilang isang makabagong babae na hindi alipin sa mga panuntunan ng lipunan. Nakakalungkot lamang na mukhang nahulog na rin ang loob niya kay Edward. Sa mga pagsasamang gaya ng sa kanila, mayroong malinaw na alituntuning hindi na kailangan ulit-ulitin pa, at ang lumabag dito ang talunan sa huli.

“Maraming salamat sa pagbibigay mo ng buhay sa ‘kin. Hindi ko man nakuha ang sagot sa tunay kong pagkatao, nakuha ko naman ang sarili ko” –Leon

Episode 18

Gen does not take what she has just seen lightly and runs to her friend to let her emotions out. It is right then that she realizes how she really has no right to feel that way because she and Edward have no relationship to begin with. After a rather short attempt to make amends for what happened, the two patch things up and are soon going out again, like him tagging along her volunteer medical mission in some far-flung area. In their reconciliation, it is Edward’s turn to find a shoulder to cry on through Gen, sharing his father’s endless comparison of him and his older sister Carlotta who has long been out of the picture. Meanwhile in Agusan, Leon fulfills another one of Emy’s wishes, which is to have a picnic by the river. It is also there where Leon lets go of the box containing his mother’s belongings, probably symbolizing a break with the past. Although they would not admit it, it is obvious that Emy has fallen for him, and he for her.

Here is to hoping that this letting the past go drama of Leon is true this time because witnessing him torture himself by whining ad nauseam is becoming a tiring sight. Learn to chase happiness, as life is short. What I have noticed about this episode, though, is how everyone seems to fall pretty fast for one another, which at first is something quite difficult to grasp, but is eventually answered later on. Come to think of it, they are all orphans here except for Edward. Well, Leon has a father, but we know where he is coming from anyway. It seems as though this is a common weakness for all four of them. As for Sophia, I feel a bit of pity, but I also admire her woman of the world outlook in life who is not constrained by the bullshit conventions invented by modern society. It is just depressing that she seems to have fallen for Edward. In relationships such as what they have, there are clear boundaries that no longer need reiteration, and if you cross that line, you know you would end up as the loser.

<<Kabanata/Episode 17

Kabanata/Episode 19>>