A Mafia's Obsession

CHAPTER 4

We were looking for clothes for me at the mall, specifically at QC Mega Mall. Mom said it was a treat, but I wasn't thrilled with the options. The dresses were too revealing for my liking.

"Just pick whatever you want, it's on me, I'll pay for everything," Mom said with a wink.

This kind of dresses is not my type, masyadong revealing.

"Uhm, Mom, I'm not really into these kinds of dresses. They're a bit scandalous," I said, feeling a little embarrassed. It was true, I felt like I'd be practically showing off my soul in those dresses.

"If that's so?" Mom nodded, thinking for a moment. "Let's go to a different shop," she said, pulling me out of the store.  

We ended up at For Me. So far, I liked the clothes there. They were simple and more my style.

"Ah, Mommy. These are good, I like these," I said, showing her the orange and pink t-shirts with fruit prints.

"Dalawa lang? Are you sure? There are so many pretty and cute clothes here. Just pick whatever you want, it's on me, darling. I'll pay for everything. You know I got you," she said, pulling me towards another section of clothes.

"Look, this dress is beautiful. Try it on. I'm sure it'll look great on you," she said, handing me a fitted red dress.

"Pero... Mom—" I didn't get to finish my sentence before she gently pushed me towards the fitting room. I took a deep breath, feeling a little overwhelmed, and started looking for the fitting room.

Nangmahanap ko ito ay sinukat ko, I liked it a bit. Lumabas na ako para ipakita ang suot kong dress kay Mommy, When I came out, I saw Mom, nakaupo sa sofa at nag babasa ng magazine.

"M-mommy," nahihiyang kuha ko sa attention niya

"Omg, you're gorgeous and sexy, darling. hindi ako nagkamali sa pagpili ng dress for you." masayang sabi ni mom at pumalakpak.  I was about to speak when she pulled me.

She had been pulling me, and my arm was starting to hurt.

"Hanap pa tayo ng iba pang dress for you." sabi nito may ngiti sa labi tumango na lang ako at nagpahila.

My mom and I were separated while touring, but she was just in the next section. I was about to look for her when I bumped into a woman, causing the dress I was holding to fall. The woman's things also fell.

"Hala! Sorry po, hindi ko po sinasadya. Tulongan ko na po kayo," I said, bending down to pick up the things fell from the person I bumped into.

"Okay lang, hindi naman ako nakatingin sa dinadanan-" She didn't finish her sentence, stopped mid-way when she looked up at me. After picking up the things that fell, she seemed to freeze, which made me curious

"Ahm, Miss, okay ka lang po ba?" I asked, since she was just staring at me, not moving. I dont know why, but my heart was racing. It felt like my heart knows her.

Parang nakita ko na siya kung saan, but I couldn't remember when.

"Ahm. okay lang po ba kayo?- Anak saan kaba galing?! Halos siyam na buwan kitang hinanap." She didn't let me finish my sentence, pulling me into a tight hug. I almost run out of breath because  of how tight she was holding me. I could hear her sobs.

"Po? Baka namali po kayo. Hindi po ako ang... ang anak niyo." I said, trying to get out of her embrace. But I panicked when her sobs grew louder. 

"What is happening here?" Mommy Majika asked as she passed by the clothes section where I was.

"Ah, Mommy, accident lang po. Nabanga ko kasI si Miss," sabi ko, still panicked because the woman I bumped into wouldn't stop crying.

"L-Luliana, anak ako ito. Ang Mama Lori mo. Saan ka nagpupunta? Ang tagal kitang hinanap. Sorry sa n-nagawa ko," she said, still crying.I don't know why, but my heart felt heavy, even though I  didn't know her. 

I could see her longing for her child, and a part of me felt a pang of sadness.

Wala na rin akong magulang kaya paano niya ako magiging anak?

"Hindi po ako ang anak niyo. Baka nagkakamali lang po kayo." I said, turning to leave, but she grabbed my arm and turned me to face her. She held my cheeks in her hands.

"L-Luliana, 'Wag kang ganiyan, anak. Naniniwala na si Nanay sa 'yo. umuwi na tayo, please," she said, but I was struggling to pull my arm away because her grip was hurting me, and my head was starting to ache.

"Miss, let go my daughter or I will call the guard to drag you out of this mall," Mommy said.

A part of me wanted to go with her, but another part of me didn't want to. Hindi ko alam bakit, but I felt like she was familiar to me, like we had met somewhere before.

"Miss, whomever you are, let go of her. can't you see nasasaktan na siya!" Mommy snapped, trying to pry the woman's hands of me.

"Pwede ba wag ka mangialam dito usapang mag Ina ito!" she said angrily, pulling me away from Mommy Majika.

"I said let go of my daughter! She's in pain! Let go!" Mom shouted, but the woman was stubborn. I wanted to stop her, but my head was throbbing, and I couldn't take it anymore.

"Ano ba! Sabing 'wag kang mangialam! Sino ka ba?!" the woman yelled, pulling me further away.

"Anak, please sumama ka na sa akin. Umuwi na tayo," she pleaded, but I just throbbing my head with one hand.

"Please po binatawan mo po ako baka nag kakamali ka lang po" wika ko pero umiling lang siya.

"Let her go!" Mommy shouted. The woman released my arm, and I quickly massaged my head as if the would alleviate the pain.

"Hindi ako pwedeng magkamali. Ikaw ang anak ko. A-anak kita. Umuwi na t-tayo anak ko," she said, her voice trembling as she hugge me, Mommy tried to pull me away from the woman.

"Ano ba! Hindi ka ba nakakaintindi?! Hindi ka niya kilala at baka nagkakamali ka lang. Let her go now," Mommy said, pushing the woman.

I started to cry because of the pain in my head, and the embarrassment of being watched by everyone.

"Zylene, are you okay?" Mom noticed me holding my head. I was in pain, and my body felt weak. I wanted to collapse, but I was trying to fight it. I noticed the woman freeze. 

"G-grace, anak, okay ka lang ba?" Concern was evident in her voice. I only managed to scream in response.

"Tawagin mo na ang Kuya mo ng makakain na tayo"

"'Wag ka na lumaban magugustohan mo ang gagawin sayo ni Kuya"

"Luliana, andito na si Papa"

"Aghhhhh ang sakit ng ulo ko, Mommy!" I started to kneel, unsure where the voice came from.

"Call an ambulance now!" Mom shouted as she rushed to my side.

"A-anong n-nangyayari?" the woman asked. I saw fear and panic in her eyes.

"This is all your fault! If something bad happens to her I will sue you," Mom threatened. I felt someone lift me.

"Please wait for the ambulance, don't close your eyes," I heard mom say, but I was so weak that I slowly closed my eyes.

Hindi ko na alam ang sumunod na nangyari dahil unti-unti na akong nilamon ng dilim.