Your Universe

#YU22

Mom is inside her room watching a movie when we got inside. "Menggay!" she said as she opened her arms for a bear hug. Lumapit naman agad si Maine at niyakap siya.

"Tita, namiss ko po kayo!"

"Namiss din kita, anak," my mom called me to join them. "Namiss ko din itong Tisoy ko eh."

I smiled at her as we pulled off her hug. She lost more weight than the last time Maine was here, kaya lalo akong nag-alala para sa kanya.

"Ma, kumakain ka ba ng ayos dito?" I asked her. I checked on her supplies at the refrigerator and saw it was empty. "Wala ka na naman palang fruits."

"Naubos namin ng Ate April mo nung isang araw eh," she said. Maine is sitting beside her, watching the movie. Mom's head is resting comfortably on Maine's shoulders. "Hindi pa lang nakakabili ulit at marami na namang inaasikaso. Buti napadalaw kayo ni Maine?"

"Tinapos lang namin yung competition ni Maine, ma."

"Tita nanalo po kami!" Maine exclaimed. "Kaya magcecelebrate po tayo today!" she pulled off her phone from her bag and showed it to mom. "Ito po yung video nung sayaw namin, pasensya na po kasi si RJ yung maingay diyan sa background sabi ni Mary," she said, rolling her eyes on me which made me chuckle. "Mas kabado pa po kesa sa tatay ko."

"Sa kabado talaga ako eh!"

My mom was laughing the entire time she was watching the video. Nagcocomment din siya on some parts of it, kahit dun sa pagsigaw sigaw ko. Ang saya ko na makita na ganito yung dalawa sa pinakaimportanteng babae sa buhay ko, mahal ang isa't-isa.

"Ma, lalabas muna ako para bumili ng fruits mo ha?" I told her. "Para naman may stock ka ulit dito."

They both smiled at me and nodded, their attention going back to the video after.

Hindi na rin naman ako nagtagal sa grocery na malapit sa ospital at bumalik na rin ako agad. I bought a variety of fruits my mom can choose from para hindi siya mahirapan. Dati pa kasi, sinasabihan niya kaming kumain lagi ng fruits.

As I opened my mom's hospital room door, I found my mom and Maine hugging each other, I can hear them softly laughing while crying. Hindi muna ako umalis sa may pinto, didn't really want to spoil the moment with my presence. This is a sight to behold for me, my mom and my girl, though crying, are happily chatting with themselves.

It was Maine who noticed me first. "RJ! Kanina ka pa?"

Umiling ako habang palapit sa kanila. Nilagay ko sa ref yung mga fruits, but left an apple with me. Hinugasan ko muna bago ko inabot kay mommy.

"Anong pinag-uusapan niyo kanina?" I asked them as I sat down on the couch. Maine stayed beside my mom. They looked at each other and started giggling, as if I wasn't there.

"Girl talk lang yun, anak," mom told me. "Something Maine and I will keep."

Maine stuck her tongue out at me and chuckled. Whatever that is, hindi ko na sila kukulitin. As long as they're both happy, I'm happy.

•MAINE•

"Saan mo gustong pumunta?" RJ asked as we got out of the hospital. Dumating na kasi sina Ate April and Tito Richard kaya umuwi na rin kami. Hindi kasi pwedeng madaming tao sa hospital room kaya nagpaalam na kami kay Tita Rio. She got sad, kaya I promised to visit her again, kami ni RJ, after his championship game which he promised her to win.