Stay, Love (Travesia Series #2) √ COMPLETED

Kabanata 52

Years

Kabanata 52

It's been years of longing. Years of missing the warmth of a mother's hug. It feels like... I'm still having a dream.

"Astley..." She called me and trying her best to welcome me with her arms, even though I could see that she was having a hard time moving her muscles.

I thought, this moment wouldn't happen anymore. My biological mother, who I have search for years is now finally in front of me. She's smiling as if she's not suffering from pain.

"M-Mama..." I wiped my tears and slowly walked towards her. Maraming mga aparatus ang nakakabit sa katawan niya at kapansin pansin ang panghihina.

Kung mas maaga ko lang nalaman... E 'di sana'y mas nagkaroon ako ng oras para makasama siya. Mas may oras ako para gawin ang mga bagay na gusto kong gawin kasama sila ni Papa. Kung nalaman ko lang ang totoo nang mas maaga, siguro'y mas mapapanatag ang kalooban ko at hindi masasaktan ng ganito.

I heard she's been fighting breast cancer. It's been years, but she didn't want to let me know about it. Maging kay Papa ay tinago niya. Pati ang tunay kong katayuan kung sino ba ang totoo kong magulang ay tinago niya sa akin.

Pero naiintindihan ko ang sitwasyon ni Mama. Kung ako man ang nasa pudir niya ay mas gugustuhin ko pang maglihim kaysa sa masaktan ang taong mahal ko. I can't blame her for not telling me the truth. I can't blame her for not staying with me back then. I can't blame her for choosing to turn her back away from us because she's too scared.

Mostly, people preferred to stay away and run from such situations. Yet, coming back with full of regrets.

But, that's part of life.

We are living here in this world with regrets. No one survives their lives with no sorrow and no pain. That's the reality.

"Alam mo bang iyan ang engagement ring namin ng Papa mo?"

Nilingon ko si Mama. Nakayakap ako sa kanya. Hindi ko alam kung bakit magmula nang magkita kami ay parang ayoko nang umalis sa tabi niya. I feel like if I leave her, it might be the last time I see her. Or else, maybe there's no chance to see her again.

I'm too scared to lose her. Not now. God, please give us more time...

I scanned the ring that Papa gave me on my eighteenth birthday. I raised my fingers and stared at the shining diamond of my ring. Until now, I didn't expect that Papa would gave this to me. I'm also surprised that he bought this for my mom, because I know that this is hard to buy unless you have a connection.

Dahil kilala itong brand at mamahalin ay tanging mayayaman lang ang nakakakuha nito. I just realized that Papa really loved Mama. He's madly in love with her.

"Mabuti'y napunta sayo. Ibinalik ko 'yan sa kanya dahil alam ko kung gaano 'yan kamahal. Natatakot akong mawala ko 'yan at ipakulong niya pa ako---"

"Dati ka nang nakakulong sa puso ko---"

"Oh, please, Ramos. Nag-uusap pa kami ng anak mo." I laughed when Mama rolled her eyes at Papa. Papa just shrugged his head and crossed his arms. He sat down besided her.

"Eh, totoo naman. Hanggang ngayon ay nandito ka pa rin. Nakakulong ka na sa puso ko noon pa man."

"Anak, alam mo na ngayon kung sino ang patay na patay sa aming dalawa---"

"Guess who asked her friend to get my number, huh? Nakuha mo pang tanungin si Ranco para---"

"Hoy, Ramos! Oo na't crush kita noon pero ikaw naman itong baliw na baliw sa akin ngayon, 'no!" B'welta ni Mama kaya natawa ako.