I didn't let my husband go back to the condo alone dahil late na, kaya pinatulog ko nalang siya rito sa bahay.
He stayed in my room, while I went back to my mother's bedroom dahil ayokong magising siya nang wala ako.
Nakatulog ako right away noong humiga ako sa tabi niya, at nagising din nang maaga kaya ako na ang nag prepare ng breakfast nila Lani at Lori.
And of course, cereal nanaman dahil hindi ako marunong magluto.
Nandito naman si Wren and I could ask him for help but I didn't want my mother to see him kaya bago ako bumaba ng kitchen ay dinaanan ko muna siya para sabihing wag siyang lalabas hanggang hindi ko sinasabi.
My mother just got abandoned by her husband, so I didn't want to make her feel bad by showing up with mine even though she wasn't actually aware that I was already married.
"Ako na jan, 'ma." I rushed toward my mother and grabbed my sisters' school bags from her.
She was getting them ready to school pero hindi pa siya nakakaligo kahit na may duty siya ngayon. She also looked so haggard with the dark circles under her eyes.
"Get ready for work, 'ma. Ako na po ang bahala rito," I told her.
After putting down my sisters' school bag on the chair, sunod ko namang inayos 'yong pinagkainan nila.
May pasok din ako at late na ako pero kailangan ko munang tapusin ang lahat ng mga 'to.
"Go back here, Loreen."
My hand halted from picking up a plate dahil sa sinabi ni Mommy.
Slowly, I spun to face her.
Her head was slightly bowed down and was hesitating whatever she was gonna say next.
"I-I...we need you." Her voice broke a little but she quickly fixed it.
Me on the other hand remained silent and observing.
She took a deep breath to loosen up before she continued and said, "I can't handle all of this, anak. Kailangan kong magtrabaho. Bata pa ang mga kapatid mo, walang mag aalaga sa kanila sa tuwing nasa hospital ako."
Pausing for a second, she waited for my reaction but I didn't show any kaya napabuntong hininga ulit siya.
"Ikaw ang panganay, Loreen, at ikaw lang ang maaasahan ko ngayon." She took a step closer to me and held my hand. "I know you understand because you always do. Please, anak."
Her eyes were so hopeful and I knew she really needed me so I nodded.
"I'll think about it." I backed away a little until she let go of me.
I didn't give her a direct answer but she smiled and thanked me.
After, she left, while I resumed doing the dishes until it was finished and I called the family driver to take my sisters to school.
I held their hands while we wait outside the house hanggang sa makasakay sila sa loob ng sasakyan.
"Thank you, Kuya. Ingat po kayo," I told the driver and smiled a little.
I waved to my sisters and watched the car disappear bago ako bumalik sa loob ng bahay.
Nagpreprepare na rin si Mommy for her duty kaya umakyat nalang muna ako sa bedroom ko para icheck si Wren.
"Okay ka lang, love?" he asked at the moment I stepped inside the room.
I shook my head—telling him the truth. "I'm tired."
