Against All Odds (Playboy Series #2)

Chapter 58

Wala sa sarili akong umuwi sa condo. Saka lang nagbalik ang huwisyo ko nang pagbukas ko ng pinto ng unit ay nakarinig ako ng mga pamilyar na boses galing siguro sa sala.

Kunot-noo at humahataw ang puso kong tinungo ang sala. At nang makatuntong doon ay umawang ang labi ko sa tamang hinala.

"Nandiyan na pala siya," Tita Lorna smiled at me then looked at Mommy.

Mommy.

Tumayo si Mommy at unti-unting lumapit sa akin. Halata ang kanyang panghihina pero sinikap niyang maglakad patungo sa akin. Naestatwa naman ako sa aking kinatatayuan, hindi makapaniwalang narito nga siya.

My mother is here! In the place where she swore she won't come back again!

Nanginginig ang mga kamay niya nang abutin niya ang aking mukha. Mas lalo ko iyong ikinagulat. I couldn't remember the last time she looked at me in the eye and caressed my face this soft that it eases all my pain.

"Mommy..." my voice broke and tears pooled in my eyes.

She smiled softly. "Yani... anak..."

I bit my lip and pulled her for a tight hug. This is the first time I heard her say my name and that word after the tragedy!

"Mommy..." I cried on her shoulder and hugged her tighter like she'd vanish into thin air if the embrace is loose.

It feels like magic. Everything that pained me this day suddenly feels nothing. I buried my face more on her shoulder, feeling my mother's presence.

"I'm sorry... anak..."

Umiling-iling ako habang nakayakap pa rin sa kanya. It's fine! It's totally fine! What's important is she's back!

"I'm here now... Mommy's here now..."

Hindi ko alam kung gaano kami katagal na nakatayo lang doon at nag-iiyakan. Nang kumalma ay saka ko lang napagtuonan ng pansin ang ibang tao roon. I also hugged my Tita Jackie who is also in tears. Tapos ay nagpasalamat ako kay Tita Lorna at Tito Bernard sa pag-asikaso nila sa pag-uwi nila Mommy.

They gave us time to catch up and talk. Lumipat kami ni Mommy sa terrace. Nagsisimula nang dumilim at ang simoy ng hangin ay malamig sa aking balat. But I couldn't feel any cold. I feel so warm all over by just staring at my mom. Magkaharap kami at sa gitna namin ay ang bilugang lamesa.

She smiled when she noticed that I'm staring too much at her. Nakakagaan lang ng puso na hindi na siya masyadong maputla ngayon at kapansin-pansin ang hindi na niya pangangayayat. It means she's healing. I should call her doctor. Masyado akong naging abala nitong mga nakaraang linggo na nakalimutan kong kamustahin ang kalagayan niya.

"How are you, Yani?"

Nangilid na naman ang mga luha ko dahil sa banayad niyang tanong. Being asked by your mother really hits different. Na kahit hindi ka naman talaga ayos, mapapasabi ka na lang na ganoon.

"I'm fine... 'my..." I smiled back.

"That's good to hear," she smilingly stared at me.

"I-Ikaw po?" kabado kong tanong.

Muli siyang ngumiti. "I'm getting better now, hija. My presence before you tonight is the proof,"

Parang may nawalang nakadagan sa aking puso. Hindi ko na alam kung ano ang sasabihin. It's like the tragedies made us so distant that we need rebuild our relationship again. But it's fine. I'm willing to start over again with her. Anything for my mother.

Kalaunan ay yumuko siya. Sumibol ang kaba sa aking dibdib.

"I'm so sorry, hija..."

Suminghap ako. "It's fine, Mommy. You shouldn't apologize. No one is to blame here. We were just both victims of the..." tragedy. Hindi ko na itinuloy dahil sa takot na maalala na naman iyon ni Mommy.