"Sorry ha," Nella wiped her tears feeling embarrassed for being so emotionally fragile with Jane. "I—thank you kasi ang haba ng pasensya mo sakin. Thank you kasi hindi moko minamadali, and thank you lalo dahil iniintindi moko."
Jane tucked Nella's hair behind her ear and looked her in the eyes. "Nella, ako rin naman eh. Siguro by now nakikita mo na may issues din ako sa sarili ko. No one wants an insecure friend. Pero kahit ganun, lagi mong pinapalakas yung loob ko. Sayo ko lang napapakita yung ganung side ng sarili ko. Akala ng mga tao I have it all figured out. Ang totoo nyan eh hindi ako masyado sure sa sarili ko and anything related sa akin. Siguro alam mo na yun by now. Kaya salamat din kasi iniintindi mo rin ako."
Having a close friend they can tell their secrets to was somehow new to Nella and Jane. After Nella's mom got sick, Nella isolated herself. She barred herself from any distractions and made her mom the center of her world. Jane, on the other hand, easily made friends ever since she was little. However, her friends were mere acquaintances. They hang out, they have fun, but they barely know anything about her. Nella was the first friend she has ever allowed herself to be vulnerable with. Jane was the same for Nella. They took a risk and have now found someone they can lean on.
The two stayed silent for a while. They held each other's hand letting the other feel their presence.
"My mom got sick when I was in third grade. I didn't have any idea," Nella broke the silence.
Jane leaned forward and paid close attention.
"Siguro kasi ang bata ko pa? Or maybe my mom knew it was going to scare me and make me worry about her, and she didn't want that kaya they kept it from me for years. Parte na rin siguro ng pagiging bata ko kaya hindi ko rin napansin na my mom was wearing wigs na pala, but I had no idea. Napansin ko pumapayat sya, and I remember telling her na she should eat more. Other than that, everything seemed pretty normal—at least from my perspective," Nella continued.
Jane nodded. She placed a hand on Nella's arm and rubbed it gently.
"Tapos I remember, I think it was sixth grade na my mom looked better than ever. I guess she stopped wearing the wigs when her hair grew to a pixie cut. Akala ko nagpagupit lang sya. Basta ang galing nya mag-tago. Tuwang-tuwa pa ako kasi bagay sa kanya yung buhok nya, and gustong-gusto naman nya yung reaction ko. I saw her much happier than the previous years kaya I was happy, too. Even yung dad ko, parang there was this glow in her na I haven't seen before. We were all happy. Yun pala kasi she went into remission," Nella swallowed.
Jane nodded. She felt the lump slowly making its way to its throne on her throat.
"Then we started going to vacations. San-san kami nagpunta dito sa U.S. Then slowly, we started exploring other countries. My mom has this thing na tuwing may bibisitahin kaming country, she wants to do some kind of charity work, but she doesn't like calling it that. She preferred calling it 'neighborly love'. So ayun, she'd talk to organizations tapos before we leave like let's say sa Philippines, we share our blessings with one of the communities that need it the most like handing out mga small grocery sa mga poor areas of the country. We would give school supplies sa mga less fortunate na students. Nagpapa-kain kami sa mga areas where even getting a meal was difficult for the people. Then may kasama ng mga games para sa mga bata and pa-raffle, and of course, food. It was fun. It was something I looked forward to. It was always the highlight of our vacation for me, and I know for my mom, too. Hindi ko na-realize na my mom was so grateful she was alive and given more time with us kaya gusto nya rin to pay it forward. I didn't know that until I found out na she was sick," Nella closed her eyes and tried her hardest not to cry again.
"Napakabuting tao pala ng mama mo," Jane sighed while she continued to rub Nella's arm to comfort her.
"Sobra," Nella nodded. "I really look up to her. She was my role model and still is. Kahit nung bata pa lang ako, I was hesitant if superheroes really exist—like si Superman, si Wonder woman, si Darna even," she and Jane giggled. "Basta ang alam ko, if they do exist, my mom was one of them."
YOU ARE READING
Hey You
Fanfiction"Hey You" is a JaneNella Fanfiction starring Jane De Leon and Janella Salvador. Indeed, love moves in mysterious ways. It tucks its way deep into the corners of even those with the most stubborn hearts, and they won't even know it. No one can get a...
