ET2: Through The Storm

Chapter 58

Aron Ryle's POV

After a week of being discharged from the hospital, I decided to visit my mama Lavianna at their house. I also bought some fruits and other veggies before I came over. It won't be good if I came empty handed. 

When I got out of my car, I saw my mother sitting on her wheelchair on their balcony. She's doing cross-stitch, I guess, because of the threads on her lap. 

I gathered the things I bought and walked over. She noticed my arrival beforehand. When I came in the gate, she was already smiling at me and had put aside the things on her hand a while ago. 

"Ryle, anak, " she welcomed me. 

"Ma!" I replied. "Diretso ko lang po muna ang mga pinamili ko sa kusina." 

I went straight to the kitchen and organized the products I purchased. I put those in need to refrigerate in the fridge.

After sorting things out, I went back to the sala where my mother was staying. "Ma, si Dwight po?" I asked when I sat down on the chair next to her. "I haven't noticed her around."

"Lumabas siya. May bibilhin daw na libro."

"Po?" I wondered. "Sobra ala-sais na po, ah."

"Kaya nga. Baka naglibang-libang muna siya. Let her be."

I nodded, unable to disagree. Indeed, Dwight needs to have time for herself to relax and calm her mind. 

"Hindi niya ba binanggit sa'yo?" 

"She didn't mention it," I replied. "But it's alright, ma.  Her mood hasn't been stable these past weeks. I better let her have some fun outside."

"Napansin ko nga rin." Worries were all over her face. "She's is not good in shape lately. Pagkatapos niyang magluto, she went straight to her room. She only cooked for me. Wala raw siyang gana kumain."

"Ma, I'm worried about her but I can't do anything about it," I said, almost in whisper because every word felt heavy. 

"So do I. Wala akong magagawa para sa kaniya dahil noong natagpuan ko siya wala rin akong impormasyong nakuha mula sa kaniya."

"Ma, don't worry," I said, assuring her. "I'll stay with Dwight during this time."

She nodded emotionally. "Alam ko. Alam ko. Simula pa noong una, alam ko kung gaano ka-dalisay ang pagtingin mo, anak. Pinangatawanan mo mga pangako mo kay Dwight. You loved her truly."

"My dad taught me to treat women with sincerity. . ." Before I could notice my words, I already uttered them. "Oops, I'm sorry, ma. My dad. . ."

"What happened between me and your dad is already in the past."

"Ma, did you regret meeting my dad?"

She smiled with her eyes on me. For a moment, I ought to think if I asked the wrong question.

She smiled and I could breath with relief. "Regrets?" She pursed her lips. "When you met someone you loved dearly, would you be able to regret that experience after so many years?"

"There was pain, resentment and longing but not regrets," she continued when I couldn't speak for a moment. 

"Ma, wala pa po si Dwight. Ako na po muna magluluto," I proposed after quite some time, the darkness already replaced twilight.

"Nag-text na ba sa'yo si Dwight kung saan na siya?" She asked while I pushed forward her wheelchair to the kitchen. 

"She did," I replied as I reached for the apron. "She ran into a college friend. They were having a good time together. Susunduin ko sana siya pero sabi niya 'wag na lang daw kasi ihahatid naman siya ng mga kaibigan niya." As I thought of it, I shouldn't insist on doing so. Mas mabuti na dito na lang ako sa bahay to cook dinner for them. Para pagdating niya may luto ng pagkain.