Vintage

Chapter 28: My Sassy Lover.

"I have something to talk about with you," May breaks the silence in the kitchen while they are having breakfast on the next day.

Win stops eating and grabs a glass of orange juice in front of him. He drinks a few gulps of it and softly sighs. "No offence, ma. If you want to talk us into having another celebration party again, I-"

"No, it's not that, baby," May chuckles. Vanida smiles at the young man because, well, even though the party last night was quite eventful, it was successful. The group chat that she is in with her friends at the hospital was flooded last night with warm wishes of congratulations and they said they enjoyed the party too.

Win corrects his posture to the back of the chair and nods. "Okay, what is it this time, ma?"

May glances at Vanida for a moment and then her gaze moves to Bright before it falls back on her son. "I've been thinking about this the whole week. Phi Vanida and I, we want you and Bright to live like a normal married couple. You know, live together and have adventures together," she pauses for a second.

"O-okay..." Win whispers, already predicting about what's coming next.

May leans forward and rests her hands on the table. "We don't want you to worry about us," she tells.

"Ma, if you think that you're a burden for us, you're not. Mae too," Bright speaks up.

"We know, honey," Vanida replies softly. "Trust me, we know."

May takes a deep breath before continuing. "We also know that we're sick. We have cancer for God's sake," she lamely laughs. "But please don't take that as a reason for you to stop enjoying your life. We... We heard your conversation yesterday morning about the living situation. You'd be tired eventually, having to go back and forth between two houses."

"I don't mind, ma," Bright convinces her. Win also nods, along with the older man.

"But we do," May gives both men a small smile. "Win, I... I have a request to make."

Win feels his breath get stuck in his throat for a second. "What kind of request, ma?"

May reaches for Win's hand on the table and squeezes it. "I want you to sell our house."

"But ma-"

"Sell it," May cuts him off. "All the memories and all the precious moments that we had with pa will always be carved in our hearts, baby," she murmurs. Her lips are quivering as she refrains herself from crying. Tears are already welling in her eyes, threatening to fall. "We have to move forward. A house is just a house, after all. It's a physical thing that reminds us of pa. But the most important thing is here," she pats on her chest, where her heart is located inside. "Trust me, baby."

Win's cheeks are dampened with his own tears. He covers his face with his hands, sobbing at the table. Bright scoots his chair closer to Win's and pulls him into a hug. "Win... Hey..." Bright rubs his back to comfort him.

"I'm scared. I've already let go of the store that pa gave me..." Win cries with hiccups in between.

"The store is still here, Win. I'm taking care of it well. Don't worry. I won't let it go," Bright promises. Vanida grabs May's hand and weakly smiles at her.

Win detaches himself from Bright and exhales a deep breath. He hopes he's doing the right thing. "Okay, if that's what you want, ma. I'll sell the house," he finally agrees. Happiness is written all over May's face with her son's answer. "But where are we going to live after this?" He wonders.

"Well, your mother will be living with me at this house!" Vanida exclaims excitedly. "As for you two, you can already start searching for a small and cute place to live after getting married," she raises her eyebrow at Bright and grins at Win.