I
Leighton poured a glass with water from the pitcher on his mom's beside table. He handed her the glass soon as she swallowed the pills for her hypertension.
Napaisip si Leighton habang itinataas ang comforter para ikumot iyon sa kanyang ina. His mom is not getting any younger. All these months he's not home, he kept on insinuating his mom's fine.
"Should we call your doctor?" He suggested, but maintaining his signature firm voice.
His mom smiled. Hinila siya nito paupo sa gilid ng kama. "I'm fine, baby. Just stay here for few minutes."
Leighton's face soured. "Hindi mo ba nakita iyong sarili mo kanina? Parang hindi ka na makahinga sa—" he sighed. "Yeah, it's my fault."
"Hindi ako na-stressed, baby. Totoo! Nagulat lang ako, na-overwhelm, biglang sumaya—as in naghalu-halo kaya naman parang sasabog ang puso ko."
"Huwag mo nga akong pinaglololoko, Mama!" Naiinis na ang tono ni Leighton. Tinalikuran niya ang ina at akmang tatayo na siya nang maramdaman niyang kumilos ito at yumakap sa kanya mula sa likod.
"My precious baby... all this time, I'm so scared... I thought you're not capable of feeling love anymore."
Garalgal na ang tono ng kanyang ina. He stopped resisting her. Pinabayaan na lang niyang nakasandal ito sa likuran niya habang yakap ang baywang niya.
"They said I'm a quirky woman. Your evil witch grandma said I can't raise you so she did. T-Then you started hating me... you stopped smiling, you're always serious. You hated losing... kahit 'pag galit ka, aalis ka na lang bigla. Hindi mo na gustong ipakita sa akin ang totoong ikaw."
Inalis ni Leighton sa baywang niya ang mga braso ng ina. Dahan-dahan siyang humarap dito. Her eyes are shining, its lids are watery.
Ginagap niya ang magkabilang pisngi ng kanyang ina. He lightly bumped his forehead on his mom's. It's a gesture they were doing when he was about five or six. Back then, he believed by doing so, there is a magical energy being passed on which can make any wounds heal faster.
"I don't hate you, Mama... it never happened," Leighton whispered. "Nakakainis ka lang talaga madalas at nare-realize ko iyon habang tumatanda ako. Yeah, they were right, you're quirky. I wonder how you charmed Dad."
"I wonder, too..." Ngumiti ang mama niya at sumabay doon ang mga luha na kanina pa naiipon sa sulok ng mga mata nito. "I might ask that same question to Kay."
"Ma!" Saway ni Leighton sa ina.
Tinawanan lang siya nito. "You're blushing, baby!"
"I'm not!" Depensa niya. "And you're supposed to be making all the fuss, right? It's not usual to—"
His mom playfully nudged him. "Ay! Common na kaya iyan sa mga animes na napapanood ko! Kinikilig pa nga ako."
Talking to his 'delighted' Mom is going somewhere he knows he'll get vexed. So, he changed the topic. "His adoption to our family... are you really serious?!"
"It was supposed to be a surprise. We thought if you could have an older brother who can always accompany you, aside from Morris, you'll improve. Besides, I really like him. The legal process may took years but he can live with us after the approval of his next visa. But because of your confession... I don't know."
"Can't you just stop that freaking adoption already?"
"I think you should ask him, baby... He already said he wants the process to go on."
