Chapter 5: Flashback

"Son, do you still remember Jenny?"

Yazed was arranging the books when his mother asked.

"Who is she?" he asked, even though he guessed who she was referring to.

"You forgot already? She is the daughter of my closest friend whom we used to visit when we returned to the Philippines." Amber took one of the photos in the photo album she was looking at.

"Here. Look."

Yazed recalled the past when he saw the old photo that his mother presented to him. It had been five years since he last saw her.

"Do you remember?" Amber asked her son with a smile.

The young man nodded. He’s fifteen now and currently studying in Italy. "What about her?"

"She is bigger now. She's very beautiful. You suit each other."

"Mom, she just turned ten years old. Right?"

"Yes. But look…"

Yazed's eyes turned to his mother's cell phone. A smiling child was there. Her face was gentle and her eyes were beautiful. But what caught his attention more were her white and even teeth.

"It's good and she listened to my advice not to eat too many sweets." A small smile flashed on Yazed's lips as he stared at the teeth of the girl in the picture.

Amber smiled. "Yes. You know, Dalia often mentions that to me. Ever since you told her about that, her eating habit has changed."

"Good for her." He shrugged in response to his mother and refocused his attention on the books.

"Son, I want you to be close to each other again."

Yazed frowned. "Why?"

"Did you forget our agreement?" Amber asked in a sullen tone.

He understood what his mother wanted to convey. "Are you serious about it, Mom?"

"I think she's the best one for you."

"Mom, you don't have control over the fate of the two of us."

Amber made a face. She deliberately showed her disappointment.

"We’re still young, okay? We shouldn't be talking about that yet."

"But you have a girlfriend now. And I don't like her."

"She's not my girlfriend," he clarified about the woman his mother was referring to. "Anette and I are just close friends."

"Son…" she tenderly took Yazed's hand, "I want Jenny to be your wife."

"Mom, please? This is not the right time to talk about it." Judging from his voice, he was clearly about to get annoyed.

"I'm not saying that you should get married now. I was just reminding you. You know, Jenny is very precious to me. I know you can take care of her. I'm afraid if she goes to another man, she will be like me, a battered wife."

..

AFTER Yazed’s flashback to the past, he shifted his gaze to his mother who had been comatose for several years. She never saw him graduate from college and have a good job.

They lived in Italy for more than a decade. They had a very hard life after his father abandoned them. But they managed to survive with only each other to lean on.

When his mother heard about the sudden death of her best friend, she immediately flew back to the Philippines and left him. He only returned home when his parents had an accident.

"I promise, mom, I will fulfill your last will. I will not stop until I see her." The young man referred to the daughter of his mother's best friend.

Yazed glanced at the apparatuses that supported his mother’s life. Its rhythmic noise sadden him.

"Wake up, mom, Please, I'm begging you. I miss you so much." He raised one of his mother's hands and brought it to his cheek. The warmth that came from it slightly alleviated the loneliness he felt. When one of the doctor entered the room, he stand up and ask him.

"How is she, Doc?" Yazed immediately asked the doctor.

"Well, it's a good sign that her body is responding." The doctor reported to his patient’s son.

Yazed breathed a sigh of relief at the news. After five years of waiting in despair, it was indeed a great news to him.

"Her brain also functions well. Sooner or later, your mum will be on her way to a total recovery," the doctor continued.

"Thank you, Doc!" Yazed's sincere gratitude to the good doctor.

He nodded. "If you need anything, you know where to find me."

"Thank you," he thanked again before the doctor left.

When Yazed was left in the room, he couldn't help but stare at his mother.

It was a car accident that made her fall into a coma. His father was the driver when the accident happened. According to the investigation, they were not drunk. And the car did not have any problem. They think it happened because of a fight.

It was still a mystery to Yazed what the root of his parents' quarrel was. That must have been heavy because the police had seen strangulation wounds.

"Mom, wake up. Only you can answer my questions." He talked to his sleeping mother.

Yazed's gaze shifted to the door that had just been opened. His best friend entered — Dexter, his personal lawyer and a detective.

"How is Auntie?" Dexter greeted the friend.

"She’s getting better. You, how is your investigation?"

"We have a new lead," Dexter said as he looked at his friend's mother.

"That's good news." Yazed was suddenly delighted.

"But the bad news is…" Dexter stopped for a moment and glanced at the unconscious patient, "Wait. How do I say it?" He scratched his head.

"Just say it!" Yazed sighed when he saw his friend was hesitating.

"It involves your dad."

"What do you mean?" Yazed asked confusedly.

"I can't say the concrete details yet. I will tell you once I confirm the evidence."

"Why keep me hanging? At least give me some hint." Yazed's voice was full of irritation.

"I am your lawyer. You should listen to me and stop arguing. It’s for the best." Dexter scolded him.

"Fine. I have a lot of trust in you. But how about her?" he was referring to the daughter of his Aunt Dalia they were looking for.

"There is still no news. But we are doing all the best we can to find her."

Yazed let out a deep sigh. "I was really wondering if she's still alive."

"Let’s think positive. Maybe she can help a lot in Aunt Amber's recovery."

Both looked at the lady. She seemed to sleep peacefully and didn’t even have any trace of worry and trouble.

But no one knows, Amber heard everything. She just can't move even a finger or open her eyes.

After they left the hospital, Dexter bid goodbye to Yazed. He knows that his friend was going to the airport to pick up his father that just arrived from Hong Kong.

Yazed just nod to his friend before enter to his car. He was just on time and his father was waiting for him at arrival area. "How was your trip, Dad?"

Edwin just passed by his son who greeted him at NAIA and went straight to the car. Yazed just shook his head. He sat in front of the steering wheel and then started the car.

"Your mom? Is there any improvement in her condition?" Edwin asked his son as the car moved on the road.

"She's still the same even though she's no longer in critical condition."

"Where is she?"

Yazed didn’t like the way his father asked questions, but he just disregarded that for his mother.

"The doctor told me that it would be good for her if we just took her home. She needs our physical presence. It may help her recover faster."

Edwin sighed to show his son his concern for his wife. "Why isn't she still waking up?"

"The doctor and I are also puzzled by that question, Dad. Couldn't that have something to do with the root of the accident that happened to you two?" He relived the past.

Their eyes met through the rearview mirror. Yazed looked away first to turn his attention back to the path they were taking.

"Are you trying to say something?" the aura of Edwin's face darkened.

"I also have the right to know the truth." He responded firmly.

“And do you think I’m lying? I told the police that what happened ten years ago was an accident. It was raining and the road was slippery that night. Do I have to repeat it to you?" Edwin exclaimed angrily and gave a death glare.

"Dad…" He couldn't continue what he wanted to say when he saw the anger on his father's face.

He turned his gaze out the window after leaning back in his seat. "Drive. I'm exhausted and need to rest."

"You've been avoiding this matter for—"

Edwin immediately cut off the rest of what his son had to say. "Just drive and shut your mouth!" He yelled angrily.

Yazed stopped talking. His father's avoidance was really obvious. But he believed that there was no secret that will remain hidden forever. He knew that truth and justice will prevail.