Around 6 in the evening, we are still in the Pearl Farm Butik and Cafe having our girl talk, as Samantha calls it. Enjoying the beautiful cafe, still with the distinctive Samal culture interior. At the same time, satisfying our sweet cravings with their variety of drinks.
My phone rings while I'm sipping my drink. Maddox's name is on my phone's screen.
"Guys, it's Maddox; I have to take this."
"Hello," I answered the call, putting it in speaker mode.
"Baby, are you done with your girl talk? The boys and I are preparing something special for the three of you there. Let us know what time you will be back in your room."
"Mad, we're almost done." Samantha and Lea nod.
I expect to wake up Sunday morning with the same vibes as yesterday with Maddox beside me. My phone ring awakens me at the break of dawn as the time on my phone tells me it's 5:15. It must be urgent, looking at Aunt Melanie calling me mark's on the screen."Hello, Aunt Melanie. What is it?" I answered but didn't put the call on speaker mode to avoid waking up Maddox beside me."Angel, sorry for waking you up this early. Your mom was rushed to the hospital at around 4 in the morning. I am with her now; I just called to inform you right away."My heart is pounding, listening to Aunt Melanie. It's not the kind of morning I expect to have in one of the beautiful islands in the Philippines."Angel, are you there?"
A knock on the door stops us from discussing what happened during our holiday on the island. What appears on our door is far from what I expect, Cassandra and her friends standing, holding a bouquet of flowers and fruits."Hey, Angel, I'm sorry if we are so late. We woke up late, like nearly 10 in the morning. We had to take our breakfast before leaving the island and come here quickly."Cassandra talks casually, which I am not used to. Her new behavior still comes as a shock to me. I don't even know if she's acting genuinely or just faking it."Cassy, guys, come on in." Finally, I can speak out of confusion."Thank you, Angel. Please take this."Cassandra hands me a lar
It's just mom and me in her hospital room; silence dominates between us. I sit on the chair beside mom's bed."Mom, it's just the two of us now. Can we talk?""If that's about my health, we will. I'm just waiting for someone, and then we can talk."I nod in agreement. "Who? Your doctor?""No, your father, Angelo."I freeze, and my mouth falls open, comprehending if I heard her right. Mom's eyes confirmed it. She looks at me without batting an eyelid."Angel, he is still your father."Mom obviously read me just by looking at my facial expressions.
I immediately get to mom's bed and wake her up as the tension between Angelo and me grows. The only thing that keeps me from venting my anger at him is having mom in one room.I gently rock mom's shoulder to wake her up. "Mom, he's here; wake up."Mom must be in deep sleep as she hasn't come back to her senses the third time I shake her arm."Angel, you can let your mom rest for a while. I can wait." Angelo says to me while I am desperately trying to wake mom up.I can't. I refuse to voice it out. I snort at the thought of it. It looks like mom is seriously sleeping like a baby, so I had no choice but to sit opposite Angelo's couch. I throw him a swift glance when his eyes are on mo
I loosen my arms around mom and wipe my tears. Angelo stops stroking his hand on my back as he stands beside me. He leans close and raises a hand like he is about to incline his arm around my shoulder, but he halts himself. I don't want to humiliate him, so I ignore it."What do we do now? What did the doctor say? What options do we have?""Angel, I don't want you to expect too much of me getting back to full recovery."I lean over, gather mom's hands and hold them tightly."Mom, don't talk like there's no hope in your health. You'll gain back your strength, be back healthy, and we will spend many more years together. We will do everything we can."Mom shut her eyes whil
It's Monday, and I don't plan to go to school, for I want to be on my mom's side even if she's pushing me not to skip class. I told her I'd have a different learning mode if my teachers allow me, which mom seems not convinced about. I made up my mind, so the only thing left is to call my teacher Jerselle."Angel, are you sure about this mode of class you're telling me?""Yes, mom. Look, I'm calling my class adviser to ask her about it."I dialed teacher Jerselle's number and put it on speaker mode to have mom listen to our conversation. Ms. Jerselle picks up the call on the second ring."Hello, Ms. Jerselle, thanks for answering. I hope I'm not disturbing you at this time." Ms. Jerselle is probably on her way to sch
I adjust myself, and Maddox gathers my hand as I face him."You have to promise not to be mad at our friends and me with what I'm about to say."I pull my hands and cross them on my chest."I smell something fishy here. What exactly do you want to tell me? Say it now, no more buts and swearing." I commanded Maddox.Maddox's cheeks begin to blush, which rarely happens to him. I don't know if he's embarrassed or nervous about something he wants to confess."So?" I said impatiently."Baby, this is concerning our island vacation. There is someone who sponsored it, not me."
Precisely 7 pm, Angelo knocks on mom's door. It's not a surprise that he's here; I waited for Angelo not to confront him about the island vacation but to have an update with mom's doctor's appointment. As he told us the last time he visited, he wanted to help and arranged for the best team of doctors who could look into mom's condition."Come on in," I said as I nodded at him. "Have a seat."Before he sits on the couch, Angelo is watching mom sleeping. I sit opposite him."Thank you; I'm here to talk to you and your mom about my appointments with the best team of doctors for her in Singapore.""That's great news. Have you chosen which hospital you will be taking, mom?""
“Mad?”Maddox pulls me close to him and wraps his arms around me. My hands voluntarily wrap around Maddox’s body. He is warm, unlike the Christmas weather. My heart is pounding in my chest like the beat of a drum as we keep our bodies close to each other even more.We are both speechless until I hear Maddox cry. I feel so bad for causing so much pain to him. I hate and blame myself for every hurt Maddox is bearing. I gently pat Maddox’s back.“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry, Mad.”“It’s okay.” Maddox loosens his arms around me. I glance up at Maddox, trying to make eye contact with him.I can't
It’s December 24, the loneliest Christmas in my life without mom. This is the only yuletide season that I don't like celebrating. I've never felt like having Christmas since mom was in her bad condition.Dad asked me yesterday if I’d want to have an out-of-town vacation with my friends but I declined. I don’t want to leave the city as it seems like leaving mom. I know dad couldn’t ask me to join them for Christmas since his wife would be against it. So, I told him I'm staying in my condo.I'm having instant food for breakfast as I am starving already. If mom was here, she'll surely prepare something nutritious for me, she won't settle for instant breakfast.The doorbell rings while I'm eating my morning oatmeal. I wonder who would want to visit me as
On my first day without mom, I visited our old apartment in the hope of reminiscing about those times with mom in our nest. I fix the things mom left as well as my room for me to stay in. Everything is in chaos.There are spider webs on the ceiling, and dust on the sofa and on the floor. The apartment smells like an old building that hasn't been used for years. I can’t believe how much dirt it accumulated during the short time we’ve been staying in Singapore and at my mom's funeral.I start cleaning the small living room, the kitchen, and the dining area. It took me almost an hour to finish even in just a small area. Next is my room before cleaning my mom’s room. My room is just as messy as the living area. I have to put some of the papers in the trash to make space for my school materials.
Time stops…I don’t even know where Cassy and her minions get the nerve to visit mom’s funeral. The audacity they have is incomparable.“Hey, what do you guys think you’re doing here? Seriously? This is not a show.” Lea asks Cassandra as she gets close to mom’s coffin.Cassandra snorts. “We come here with good intentions. I know this is hard for Angel to lose everything, right? Not just her mom but also Maddox.” Cassy says the latter with a hint of tease. "That's why we're here to ease her pain. I know how it feels to be left alone."“Cassandra…”I can’t be wrong, I know exactly
Lea comes to us in mom’s room. Lucy is on the left side of the bed as she was trying to help mom make it comfortable and probably breathe easily. Mommy is like running out of breath which is worse than usual.“Mommy…” I hop on the right side of the bed.Mom only moves her teary eyes. She looks at me, her lips parting like she wants to speak up but is unable to because of the shortness of breath.“Mom it's okay, I’m here. You don’t have to say anything, mommy.”“Angel, is Aunt Athena normally like this when she wakes up?” Lea asks, her voice trembling in fear.“No Lea, this is the worst one but mom will be
It’s another day in Singapore and our last day to be exact. With a heavy heart, I pack mom’s stuff to prepare for our flight.“Mom, are you sure about this?”“Angel, this is the best decision I know. Let’s not argue about this anymore. We will have more time together in the Philippines.”Dad didn’t disagree with mom last night. I don't know why. Dad probably only wants to give whatever mom wishes. He immediately booked tickets for all of us. Although it is hard for him as well. I saw it in his eyes last night, he was sad.I knock on dad’s door to check on him. He let me in. Dad's luggage is open while his clothes scattering on his bed. "Dad, let me help you," I volunteer as I
“What is happening here? Ms. Lucy? Candace?”They both look back at me while helping mom on the bed. I see mom is having difficulty breathing.“Mommy, I’m here.” I walk over to mom’s bed and sit on the edge of it.“I already gave her the medicine Angel. Athena will be fine in a few minutes.” Candace says.“Thank you guys, but you should have told me earlier.”Mom holds my arm. “Angel…” Mom says between breathing heavily. “I told them not to…” She pauses for another heavy breath. 'I’ll be fine, don’t worry.” It’s hard for mom to utter a sentence.
Around 11 in the morning when mom wakes up. Mom’s eyes look tired, the dark circles have been getting bigger and bigger for the past few days.“Angel?” Mom smiles lazily as she looks at me.I smile back at her as I walk over to the bed. “Mommy, I’ll help you sit on the bed.”Mom is so light that I think I could carry her like a baby. She loses too much weight while battling cancer. I sit mom in the bed and put a pillow at her back to make it comfortable.“Mom, what do you wanna have for breakfast? I’ll cook it for you.”“Angel, what’s wrong?”
It’s 9 in the morning and I’m here in the bathroom, looking at myself in the mirror. The dark circles in my eyes are getting bigger. I wash my face with water hoping it will help me awake as I only slept for at least 3 hours.It was hard to watch mom in pain last night. I was helpless thinking and knowing there was nothing I could do to ease her pain. Angelo and I were with mom until she was able to sleep.Mom is still sleeping when I walk out of the bathroom so I head to the kitchen to drink some water and check on Candace, Lucy and Angelo.“Good morning, guys. Were you able to sleep?” Candace and Lucy turn back as I grab a glass to pour some water.“Good morning, Angel.” They greet me in unis