Loving The Light [Cosmos Series#4]

Kabanata 23

"Mommy!" A loud thud in my heart caused chaos in my inside as I felt like my nerves immediately awakened when I saw a familiar built of my mother, standing near the bed.

Marahas na bumaling ang kanyang ulo sa aking direksyon. The time stopped as her eyes widened when she met mine. I could no longer calm down when a shed of tear escaped her eye. I hurriedly walked towards her direction. "Mommy," bulong ko at agad na ipinulupot ang mga braso sa kanyang katawan.

"Auriese!" The warmth of her voice with her arms on me conquered my body.

"M-ommy," I sobbed. Bahagyang nanginig ang aking balikat kasabay ng aking mga hikbi.

"A-Auriese, anak."

Mariin akong napapikit sa boses niya, kasabay ng marahang paghagod niya sa aking likuran. Hindi ko alam kung ilang minuto ang itinagal namin sa ganoong posisyon. We kept whispering how much we missed each other while she's trying to calm me down but I can't, that made me weep in pain.

"You're alive, Mommy. I'm sorry, if I thought you're dead. I'm sorry if I stopped because of the body we found," I murmured when I pulled away from her. Naglandas ang kanyang kamay patungo sa aking palad. She held it tightly as we sat in the bed.

She shook her head on me while a smile is now formed in her lips. Sa kabila ng mga luha ay sumilay ang kanyang ngiti. "Its not your fault that you are fooled in your weakest state.
Those who took advantage of your weakness are the ones who's at fault in this. Those who are wicked. Stop apologizing, Auriese..." She trailed off but still smiling. "Or should I call you Attorney?"

I bit my lower lip. Napalabi ako sa sinabi niya. "I-I'm not, Mommy. B-but Prestin is already a lawyer. I'm sorry, I stopped at my first year in law school."

"That's alright. I'm still proud to the both of you. Not being a lawyer won't lessen my love for you," she muttered as she slightly tightened her grip on my hands.

I tugged the side of my lips for a smile. "Dad's waiting for you, Mommy. Also Prestin and R-Rye."

I stared at every bits of her reaction. Unti-unting kumunot ang kanyang noo. "Who's Rye?" She asked as she lifted her hand and wiped the tears on my cheek using the back of her palm.

"M-my son, Mommy. Your grandson."

Nahigit ko ang aking hininga. I nibbled my lower lip when her hand stopped wiping my tears. I heaved a deep breath when a smile formed in her lips. Muling nanubig ang kanyang mga mata. "I have a g-grandson? How old is he? N-nahirapan ka bang manganak? How about your husband, did he gave all your cravings? How's your pregnancy-- Oh God, I missed my daughter's wedding. How about it, who helped you--"

I smiled. I'm already expecting her to bombard me with questions and I won't mind if this lasts for a day. And I think a day is not enough compared to the years my family spent without her.

"Mommy," I called, that made her stop from her questions. I slide near her as I slipped my hands in her waist. Itinaas ako pa ang dalawang paa pagilid sa kama upang lalo siyang malapitan. Marahan ko siyang niyakap mula sa gilid at parang bata na isinandal ang ulo sa kanyang balikat.

"Prestin took good care of me. He gave all my cravings. He's also with me when I gave birth. I-I'm not married, Mommy. There's no wedding. A-all I have is Rye," I slowly muttered as I reminisced the time when I was still pregnant. "He just turned four. He's A-Archer Ysrael Gallardo and he'll be glad to see you, Mommy. I'm... sorry if I'm not married--"

"It's okay with me, Auriese. Married or not, surely you'll be a good mother. It doesn't matter if Rye's dad doesn't  wants to accept your son. I know you can raise him well."