Taste of Life

16

"Just try these cookies then dunk it sa milk." Mom's a cookie and milk eater just like Ate but I still believe it is not a good combination.

"I don't like soft cookie, Mom." I reminded her na hindi ako yung anak niyang yon.

"Just try." she insist and I just obliged. Nasa Central Park kami which was mom and dad's dating place back then. Paulit-ulit na nga kwento niya but I let her be kasi feeling ko she misses dad so much na nahihiya siya aminin. Lagi naman sila magka-facetime tho. I don't even feel na malayo kami. I think yung body clock na ni Dad yung nagadjust.

Dad's actually right, mom is a lot different here in New York. She looks so happy and carefree.

"Mom, if I stay here until next school year, would that be okay?"

She turned to me and observe my face. She always do this to check if genuine yung question. She sighed before answering me.

"Yes. I will support you kahit hindi pumayag ang Daddy mo." She smiled widely assuring me.

"Are you really against my plan?" She actually did not comment about it during my birthday.

"I agree with your Kuya Ian, you should try it first then we'll decide from whatever you experienced. "

I nodded and continued eating the cookies.

"Son, I am so proud of you." she suddenly said and look away.

I smiled. My mom is always like this. Kahit when Atchi decided to go to MIT, she's always so supportive. She wanted us to grow on our own. Unlike dad na minsan hindi ata tanggap na matanda na kami.

Mom toured me around the Central Park and when her legs got tired, tinawagan niya na yung driver. She also told me na wala halos kaming ginagastos since Lolo and Lola are the rich ones na nagpapasweldo sakanila. She said na it's been a while since someone visited the house kaya ganon nalang yung amazement nung helpers.

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Auntie Dani called when we got home, mukhang seryoso ang pinaguusapan nila since Mom excused herself. Auntie is also a doctor in Amsterdam so baka may ipapaconsult lang siya. If I'm not mistaken, she is a Cardiothoracic surgeon.

I decided to facetime Annie, 9pm na dito, so 9am na sa Pinas. I'm sure shes' driving papuntang the Grid.

"What's up, New Yorker!" She greeted. Nasa Resto na siya, I saw the background.

"Aga mo ah."

"Ganon talaga. Last day of immersion ko na." She joyfully said.

"Oh. I think the crew will miss you a lot."

She rolled her eyes. She still believed na ayaw sa kanya ng mga tao sa The Grid. But to be honest, Annie improved a lot.

"Eli and I talked." I finally said what's bugging me.

"Oh kamusta?"

"She seems so okay na parang walang nangyari."

"ohhh nakamoved on na siya agad? Grabe talaga si Madame Eli."

"Ganon ba yon?"

"Maybe? yaan mo pag nakita ko siya, tanungin ko." She laughed.

"Can you do that?"

"Gags. Joke lang. hindi kami close tyaka baka hindi niya pa nalilimutan yung nangyari sa yacht."

"I don't think so. Ewan. I asked her if okay kami, sabi niya oo raw pero I don't know bakit hindi ako matahimik."

"Baka kasi sayo hindi pa rin okay tapos sakanya okay na."

"Eh bakit hindi okay sakin?"

"Aba naman, bossing Troye, pati feelings mo ako magsasabi sayo?"

"You're good at this so malay ko ba."

"Eh kapag ganyan, ikaw magdesisyon anong nafefeel mo. Hindi yung kung anong sasabihin ko eh biglang yun nalang mafefeel mo. Edi sana sinabi ko nalang noon na mahalin mo si Madame Eleanor." she rolled her eyes.

"Ewan ko sayo. Matutulog na ko. Congrats on finishing your immersion sana kayanin mo ang research 2." I said goodbye and ended the call.

Lumabas ako ng kwarto para tanungin kay mommy what did Auntie Dani said but I saw her crying on her room. Napakunot ang noo ko at nilapitan siya.

"Ma?"

She didn't answer but she cried more and opened her arms to ask for a hug, so I hugged her. I asked what happened pero naiyak lang siya. She stopped when she fell asleep on my arms. Unti-unti ko siyang hiniga sa kama niya. And started calling my dad's number.

It took a few rings bago siya sumagot.

"Buti naman tinawagan mo na ko. Akala ko kinalimutan mo na ko eh." He's joking pa nga.

"Mom cried herself to sleep after Auntie Dani's phone call. I asked what happened pero umiiyak lang siya. Alam mo ba what's up, Dad?" His faced changed and naging seryoso.

"Okay, I'll call Dani. Just check on your mom from time to time. Try ko rin magbook ng flight later." He said and ended the call. I don't know how to feel. Tinatanong ko lang naman if alam niya. Hindi ko naman sinabi na magbook siya ng flight agad. Pero okay na rin since I think Mom's really hurting.

Diary Entry #35

Lord, please take whatever it is hurting my mom.