Reunited

Chapter Two

        "Hi, Ma." Josephine greeted her mother as Lea went inside the house. Lea had just finished her work.

        "So, my baby girl," Lea kissed her daughter's cheek. "How's your first day in school?"

        "It was awesome!" Jo smiled. "I never knew that the school had such a unique curriculum program. It's the first university in the Philippines to offer such courses in the performing arts." 

        Lea happened to glance at the calendar. Her smiling face grew into a frown.

        Jo seemed to notice the sudden shift of her mother's emotions. "Ma, what seems to the problem?"

        Lea sat down on the sofa. Jo sat down beside her.

        "It has been twenty five years since I first met your father." Lea spoke in a timid voice. 

        Jo comforted her mother by placing her hand on Lea's back. "Ma, it's okay. You said you have moved on. You have managed to live in solitude for sixteen years. You and me." She gave her mother a hug.

        "I know, dearie, but I can't help remembering the first time your father and I met. Believe me, when you grow older, these memories will seem as if they only happened yesterday."

        "Really, Ma?" Josephine smiled.

        "Of course." Lea stood up. "Now, enough chit-chat. We need to eat our supper."

        "Dad," Joseph asked his father as they were getting ready to leave the house. "Can you tell me the reason why you left mother again?"

        John stopped cold in his tracks. He had realised his son was trying to learn about his mother.

        "Joseph, since when have you gained interest about your mother?" He asked his son, who was tying up his shoes.

        Joseph stood up after he finished tying his shoes. "I just want to know, Dad. I..." He felt like crying, but he kept it all in. "...I never had a mother with me."

        John walked towards Joseph and stopped in front of him. "I'll drive you to church. We'll talk about it while we're on our way there."

        "Good morning, class." Professor Fox stepped inside the classroom. The students immediately straightened up their seats for their first lesson.

        "Good morning, Professor Fox." The class greeted their teacher.

        The class grew silent under the breath of the professor.

        The professor finally spoke. "There will be no lesson for today, but-"

        "Yes!" Some of the male students were elated knowing there would be no 'first' lesson from the professor.

        "-But..." Professor Fox continued, making his voice a bit louder for everyone to keep quiet. "...I have a task for you all."

        This time the class grew silent.

        "We shall be going to the Recital Room on the second floor. Now, all of you will have to perform a recital-"

        Most of the students were in shock. They never knew they would have to perform a recital – inside the Recital Room.

        "-The school didn't just give me this subject with an allotted time of two hours being stuck inside this puny classroom. I have listened to your reasons why you chose to study in this prestigious university. So, get up, move your heavy arses, and let us make our way towards the Recital Room."