“Honey, you’re so thin, I told you to take care of yourself when I’m not around and always eat at the right time.” Mom gently said almost in whisper as she lay down in the hospital bed.
I look at her face which seems to slump down emphasizing her fragile bones.
I’ll tell you a secret. My mom here is actually not my biological mother. Why? She adopted me when she found out that my real mother who happens to be her husband’s mistress died from giving birth to me. Out of her kindness, she adopted me wholeheartedly. They did not keep my adoption a secret from me because one day I will surely find it out. She is a very kind hearted lady and she taught me how to be kind just like her.
3 years later she gave birth to drake, their first biological baby and my step brother. Unfortunately, father died in a car accident when I was 10 and drake was almost 7, leaving the 3 of us behind. Mother did not complain in acquiring all the responsibility my dad left. She always does her best to provide me and Drake material and psychological needs. But last year, her body couldn’t take it any longer.
We found out she has first stage leukemia, I couldn’t believe it at first either. Why her? Why my kind mom? There are so many people in this world who much more deserve that kind of disease, why her? She stop working due to her health is declining and here she is now lying in the hospital bed still clinging unto life. I know she won’t let the disease eat her, she is the only family me and Drake all have. Anyway, good thing I was almost at the right age to find a job after I graduated. The work at the hotel is my first job. The pay is not so big but it’s better than nothing, besides I get to help my mom pay some of the hospital bills.
Right now, I am doing my very best to help my Mom in any way that I could just like what she did for the past years. I am planning to find a second job that won’t conflict the work schedule I have in the hotel, I only have night duty so I have to find a job that is for the morning. But I won’t mention it to her, she might not agree, I don’t want her to worry. I love my mom so much I’ll do anything for her, she is the most gentle person I have ever met. I must pay back all the kindness she has shown to me even though I’m not blood related to her and more importantly a product of a forbidden sin in the society.
Drake and mom is the only family I have left.
“Honey? Answer me dear. You’re day dreaming again?” She brushes the back of her palm on my right cheek while smiling.
“Huh?” Yeah, sometimes my head wonder off somewhere I don’t even know. It’s a habit.
“I said, you’re thinner than the last time I saw you. You’re not eating right, aren’t you?”
“Of course not mom, I am properly eating. I promised you that right?” I pulled her hands that is on my cheek and held it tight with both of my hands.
“You better be, once I get to get out of here I’ll make it up to you and Drake” I followed her gaze as she turn her head and landed on the long couch near the wall. Drake is curled up on it and is silently sleeping, Drake, you Sleepy head.
“Mom, you don’t have to. What you should think about and focus on is to get better soon okay? Our house is very lonely without your ranting and loud voice, especially early in the morning.” I smiled naughtily.
She laughed along with me.
“Oh, honey, make sure Drake goes to school properly okay? I’m counting on you.”
“Don’t cha worry, Drake is a good kid, just like me.” I pointed myself and held my head up. I’m actually telling the truth. I graduated one of the top students in our school. It’s a pity I can’t proceed to college yet because of our financial problems.
Mom smiled gently and ruffled my hair.” Thanks Sen, I’m sorry you have to be mature at a young age.” Her eyes started to color red, a sign that she’s about to cry.
“Jeez mom, don’t worry. I’ll do anything for you okay? I owe everything I am today from you—
“Good Morning! “
I turn my head to look up where the voice comes from and I saw my mother’s personal doctor Mr. Blake along with a young aged nurse.
I stood up and greeted him.
We discussed about mom’s condition which seems to be stable, thank God. After our conversation I followed the doctor when he instructed me to go with him for some brief instruction about mother’s treatment. Before twilight came I bid goodbye to mom and went home along with Drake.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Sen!”
“ I smell something’s burning!” I heard Drake shouted, his voice from his room echoed our small house up to the kitchen where I am at, making me startle.
What is it? I stare at the pile of hospital bills and holding while sitting in front of the table. Right, I was cooking our dinner , while waiting for the food to be cook enough I checked the hospital bills. But when I was staring at those piles of papers my head wondered off again. My head must have spun when I glanced at those bills to pay with a lot of zero’s.
“Not again!” Running toward the stove I almost stumble at my fast pace. The fried chicken I’m cooking is now black all over. I fan my hand to wave away the smoke in front of my face, coughing as I unluckily inhaled some of it.
I started cooking all over again, this time I’ll make sure that I’ll end up in front of the table with an edible delicious food for dinner.
I stood in front of the stove wearing an apron my mom used to wear. Yup, I do all the house chores and frankly speaking I’m good at it. Well, I might even apply as a house boy someday. Naah! Just joking.
While cooking, I hummed a song and eventually got carried.
“Theres somethin, somethin about this place”
I swing my hips as I sing Lady Gaga’s “You and I” song. I really like it, it’s something like a country music.
“Somethin, somethin about lonely nights and my lipstick on your face!”
“Somethin, somethin about my old Nebraska guy!”
“Yeah!” I loudly shouted a spun around and paused.
I sung the last lyrics while my eyes are closed and with all my breath….
“Somethin about, baby you and I!” I hit the right note!
I open my eyes slowly and like a thunder stroked on me I saw my little bro standing in front of me fighting the urge to laugh.
Still don’t know what to do, I turned red.
Oh shit, what am I doing. I stood still in horror.Me, A guy In an apron, cooking in the kitchen while singing Lady Gaga’s song! Oh, for the love of humanity! Drake would absolutely thaught of something weird, very weird I can’t even think of it.
Clap-clap-clap
Drake started clapping his hands while laughing.
“Wow! You can sing Sen! I like that song!”
I wrinkled my brows from my brother’s unpredictable reaction. Yup, Drake is the type of kid who does and reacts on things unpredictably.
With wide eyes he walks towards the table and sits down on the chair, a signal that it’s time for dinner.
“ I wish I could sing like you, but, aahh I’ve got a very bad voice quality I must have got this quality from Dad.” He beamed and reached for the plates.
While eating, we talked about the past and laugh every time we would recall a funny memory .
On my way to my work at the hotel, I stared blankly down on the rock that I was kicking. I decided to walk my way to there, besides it’s only a 10 minutes walk from where I live. I might encounter a wanted poster or a job offer along the way, who knows what I might encounter in the way?
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Yup! He'll absolutely encouter something on the way.......
hehhehehe.....what woul that be?