Broken Promises

Chapter 8 - Unexpected Greeting

SF, California

Irene went downstairs after performing her usual morning routine, she saw her kids in the kitchen, what is this kids up to? she thinks.

"Happy Mother's Day to you!" they sang as soon as they saw their mother enter the dining room.

Janella was the one who was holding the cake, Luis with balloons, Alfonso with bouquet and Andy's personal gift for his babba. Nagulat ng bahagya si Irene but immediately composed herself, ngumiti ito habang tinitignan ang mga taong importante sakanya.

"Blow your cake!" sabi ni Janella.

'Thank you, thank you my sweethearts..'

The older woman initiated a hug from her children as well as Andy, hinalikan ni Alfonso at Luis ang noo ng kanilang ina.

"Happy Mother's Day, babba!"

"Thank you, Love.."

Irene kissed her grandson's forehead and hugged him afterwards.

"We prepare breakfast for you, come!" sabi ni Janella sa ina, she pulled her gently and made her seat down.

"Wow, you guys are thoughtful naman!"

Irene looked at them with admiration, she's just refraining herself to cry kasi aasarin nanaman siyang iyakin ng mga anak niya.

"That's not all, we will have a surprise for you later and I'm sure you will love it, kain na muna tayo.." Alfonso said, tinapik naman ni Luis ang kuya niya.

"E hindi na surprise kuya, sinabi mo na!"

Napatawa naman sila sa sinabi ni Luis, they shared their meal together. Hindi naman matanggal sa isip ni Irene kung anong surprise ang tinutukoy ng anak. Pagkatapos nilang kumain, inayos na agad ni Alfonso ang paglalagyan ng mga kinompile niyang video greeting para kay Irene.

"What's this?" pagtatakang tanong niya.

Nagulat naman siya nang makita ang mga pamangkin niya na nasa Pilipinas. It was the men of her life; Borgy, Michael, Matthew, Sandro, Simon, and Vincent.

"We're sure that you missed them already so we asked for a video greeting para sayo.." sabi ni Alfonso sa ina, Irene is already crying habang nakatingin padin sa video.

Masayang-masaya si Irene yet there's a part of her heart that is still lacking, the presence and the void she has been trying to fill all these years. Tinitignan niya parin ang video, hoping that Kate would appear but to her disappointment, she didn't show up.

"Wow.. I'm speechless,"

Niyakap ni Irene ang mga anak, "Thank you, you have no idea how much it meant to me.."

"Okay wait, ito talaga mum.. Dito kami pinaka nag-effort, I know you miss this person so much and we hope that this will make you happy I guess,"

Luis played the video and went back to his seat.

"Hi, it's me obviously.. Um, I am out of words, it's not new I'm always timid. But I just want to greet you a Happy Mother's Day! Perhaps, you would be surprised to see me, it's kuya Alfonso and kuya Luis's fault, blame them. They made sure for me to send this, ilang araw akong kinulit. Anyway, no worries. I have nothing to say anymore, not good at this but yeah. Happy Mother's Day, again! Bye.."

Irene was even more speechless, she was too stunned to soeak after she watched the video. The older woman's tears were visible already, it's uncontrollable, she's sobbing at hindi siya makapaniwala that after three consecutive years, she was able to get a video greeting from her daughter.