An Uprising Of Love

08

“What are you doing?” I was startled because of mom's voice. My body automatically shivered when I felt her behind me.

She stepped back when I faced her. She looks bloomy today. Her smile is also reaching her eyes. This is the first time I've seen her smile genuinely after a long year. What's making her happy?

“N-nothing..” Nag iwas ako ng tingin. Hanggang ngayon ay may takot pa rin ako sa kaniya.

“You're cooking?” Lumingon ako sa kaniya ng sabihin niya 'yon. She suddenly hid the unknown feeling that was coursing through her eyes. The smile that had previously reached her eyes has now been replaced by a stern expression, and her gaze has also grown icy.

“N-no Mom.. Our maid made that..” I lied, of course. That stern expression on her face is scaring me. I felt like if I agreed with what she said, she might hit me.

“Good, anyway, I'll get going.” Umalis lang ito ng gano'n gano'n lang. Nag labas ako ng isang malalim na hininga bago nag patuloy sa ginagawa ko.

I sometimes feel envious of others because of how wonderful their mothers are to them. I often wonder why my mother isn't as kind as their mother. When they leave the house, I want to be hugged and kissed as well. The congratulations they got from their parents when they made the top ranking at school. How parents compliment their kids, even for little things. I, too, wish to receive that kind of care.

Don't get me wrong; my mother was also nice to me. I believe she's just expressing herself in her own unique way. People have numerous ways of expressing compassion and love. I'm curious about my mother's ways of expressing her love for me.

My mother's behavior changed after the deaths of my father and sister. She used to be warm and thoughtful toward us. But when my father and sister died, she suffered on the inside as well. I'm the one who has stuck by her throughout her difficult times.

When that tragedy occurred, I witnessed how my mother changed in an instant. She transformed from a nice and affectionate woman to a frigid and uncaring woman.

“Ano po ang ginagawa niyo, Ma'am?” Ate Jane's voice brought me back to my senses.

“I'm cooking.” I gave her a warm smile.

“Hala, Ma'am Kaylee! Ako na po riyan! Bakit po kayo ang nag luluto? Kami na po ang gagawa niyan!” Tarantang sabi nito. Aligaga pa siyang lumapit sa akin.

“No, no, it's okay.. I made it for someone..” Nag iwas ako ng tingin dahil sa kahihiyan.

“Sinong someone 'yan, Ma'am? Mukhang ma swerte po ang ginawan niyo niyan ah? Ngayon na lang po ulit kasi kayo nag luto..” Her last statement was almost a whisper.

“No, I'm the one who's lucky.” I said dismissing her last statement. I don't want to bring it up.

“Parehas na lang po kayong swerte sa isa't isa, Ma'am.” She shyly said. I laughed because of that.

“Oh, anyway, can you taste it for me?” Kumuha ako ng kutsara at ipinatikim iyon sa kaniya. Hinipan niya muna dahil mainit.

Hinihintay ko ang magiging sasabihin niya dahil ninamnam niya pa 'yon. Napapikit pa siya kaya naman kinabahan ako. Is it bad?

“Ma'am!” Nagulat ako sa biglaang pag taas niya ng boses. Ito naman! Sigaw nang sigaw!

“B-bakit? Pangit ba ang lasa? Maalat? Mapait? What? T-tell me!” Kinakabahang tanong ko sa kaniya. Nag panic na ako dahil sa reaksyon niya.