Maybe

Chapter 38

The next day was a busy work day for both of them. Rachel was the only one who made it home before dinner so it was the three of them again. Just like how it was during those five long years.

"Ma, may hindi ba kayo sinasabi saamin ni Paul?"

She looked up, "H-ha?"

Louise looked at her straight in her eyes, "I talked to Lola earlier. So you're actually going back to NY with us? Or actually, only us three are going back. Ganu'n ba, Ma?"

"Anak, sasa-"

"I can't believe this." She hurried to finish her almost empty plate and quickly made her way to her room.

Rachel and Paul exchanged glares. Paul sighed and continued eating.
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Later on in the evening, Rachel went to Louise's room and knocked on the door. "Anak? Anak, talk to Mama naman, please?"

A few moments passed and still nothing. She was about to turn around when Louise said, "Come in."

Rachel opened the door. It wasn't locked after all. Louise was on her bed, with her Macbook on the pillow that was resting on her lap. She sat down beside her, "Anak, sasabihin ko naman talaga 'yun sainyo, e. I was going to talk about it with you guys pa nga.."

"Okay, " Louise turns back to her laptop.

"Anak, talk to me naman." She sighed. "I talked to the airline weeks back, nu'ng birthday ko? Kasi, you know, I started to question going back to NYC that night."

Louise looked at her. "If you still want to, wala naman kaming magagawa. Sayang lang."

"Hay, you're such tough cookie talaga, 'no? Wait, I'll just get something. I have to talk to you and your brother." Louise's eyes followed her as she made her way out.

Paul's door was halfway open. "Anak? Paul? Can you please go to Ate's room? I just have to talk to you guys sandali. May kukunin lang ako."

Rachel gets the brown envelope sitting on her nightstand then goes back to Louise's room.

She sighs as she takes a seat on the bed, "Ate.. talk na, please?"

Louise sighed. "I just don't get the fact why you're coming with us. I mean, don't get me wrong, having you by our sides all the time is always a delight but, Ma.. from what I've been seeing? I expected you take this chance. To take it and to let yourself be happy."

"But I am happy, Anak."

Paul speaks, "Ayun na nga, Ma, e. You said it yourself. We want you to stay happy."

Louise cuts him off, "We're not forcing you to stay, but it's the fact that when you're with Papa, the way that your eyes sparkle in happiness is just so sincere. I haven't seen you that happy in five long years."

Paul continues. "During those five years, we've seen you cry a bunch of times. And whenever we see you cry, masakit. It's not easy to know that all we could do was to give you a hug, hoping that it would be enough as an assurance. Hindi naman kami si Papa na isang yakap lang, okay na."

Rachel wipes the small tears beside her eyes, "Pinapaiyak niyo naman ako, e."

"It's okay to cry, Mama." Louise reaches for her palm, "Don't worry about us, Ma. One year lang 'yun. After that, graduate na 'to. College na. Ako in two years, I'm ready to go na din. If it'll make you happy, I'm even willing to take my master's classes here. Tsaka Lola's there naman."