Timeless Euphoria (Friend Series #3) | ✓

Chapter 31

Athalia's POV

Bumaling ako kung saan nagmula ang pagtawag sa pangalan ko. I squinted my eyes as the sun rays blocked my view.

A silhouette of a woman walked near me and finally took her seat just beside mine.

"Madam Del Fuego." I greeted as soon as my visions were clear.

"Call me tita. Its not like your mom and I aren't be best friends." she smiled.

"Did mother sent you here?"

"Nah, she wouldn't bother. Hindi ko nga alam dyan sa kaibigan ko na iyan eh. She choose to complicate herself." she shrugged and made herself comfortable on her seating position.

"Cause' she is indeed complicated." pagsegunda ko at nag iwas sa kanya ng tingin. I focused my gaze seeing the open field of the campus.

"Athalia, don't say that. She's your mother-"

"Adoptive mother." pagtatama ko ng hindi siya nililingon.

"You're mother sacrificed many things for you, Athalia." aniya ng mahinang boses.

I didn't say a word and just pretend she isn't beside me. I heard her sigh deeply noticing I didn't give a shit about whatever she's saying.

Umayos ako ng upo at pinagcross ang mga braso bago mabigat na huminga.

"You know, your mother worked inside a bar." panimula niya na nagpatigil sa akin. Slightly gaining my attention.

She worked where?

"Hera was a dancer there and a waitress. Wala siyang mga magulang dahil bata pa lang, iniwan na siya nito. She worked her whole soul and dignity inside that bar, despite it being a pure hell to her. Then one day, 12:00 midnight, a knock on her apartment door caught her attention. Pagbukas niya, bumungad sa kanya ang isang anghel. Ikay iyon, Athalia." sunod-sunod na lintaya niya.

At first I didn't mind whatever she was saying. Kaibigan siya ng aking ina, malamang sa malamang proprotektahan niya ito. Who knows if she's spitting lies.

I don't know her much. Its hard to trust people nowadays.

"Sa loob ng isang maliit na basket, umiiyak ang isang batang babae. Aniya, isang napakagandang anghel ang napunta sa buhay niya. She fell inlove with you the moment she saw your eyes. Despite her miserable life, she welcomed you open arms. Inamin niya sa amin na ayaw niya maging ina, dahil baka raw maging masalimuot ang buhay na mapaglakihan mo, na matulad ka sa kanya balang araw. Kinatatakutan niya iyon. Ngunit sinubukan niya maging ina. It was her first time living a life with you, Athalia." dugtong pa niya.

This time I felt a heavy pang on my chest. Unti-unti nararamdaman ko ang paninikip ng aking dibdib.

I-I didn't know that....

"Alam ng mama mo na hindi ka niya kayang buhayin sa pamamagitan ng pagtratrabaho niya sa bar. Hera thinks it wasn't enough for your needs and wants so she hoped for a rich man. No one wanted to marry a woman with a kid. The only man who accepted her, was your father. But life was so cruel to her, but atleast she had you. 'Ang hirap ng buhay at mabuhay, basta ang mahalaga masaya si Athalia' it was her words." she paused for a moment and I felt her eyes shifted on me.

In my peripheral vision, I could see she was looking at my reaction but I remained my face emotionless despite my insides being gripped in a undescribable feeling.

Nakita ko ang paglipat niya ng tingin pabalik sa harap at nagpatuloy sa sasabihin.

"When she met your father. Your mother hoped that finally, she could give you a whole and complete family she always wished for. Hindi nawala ang pag asang iyon sa kanya kahit noong nalaman niya na may ibang babae ang ama mo. Despite the pain of heartbreak, she never stopped hoping to fix their marriage. We tried to advice her, na hiwalayan niya na ang ama mo para hindi na siya masaktan, pero alam mo kung ano ang sinabi niya?.... 'Ayoko. Ayokong lumaki si Athalia na walang ama. Natatakot ako na baka magalit siya sa akin kasi hindi ko siya binigyan ng buong pamilya.' it was her response."