The Virgin Mother ✔

Strength

Today.. was the most devastating day for Ivo.

I've seen him cry for almost a million times before tita Loren will be cremated. And today, is that day.

I realized.. life is too short to have regrets. In an instant, our life might be taken away, be it an accident, or not.

First, dad fired Ivo. Second, Tita Loren died. What's next? I think that's too much. I tried too many times convincing dad to let Ivo back in his position, but he isn't changing his mind.

"Ang sakit, Marie. Sobrang sakit." I heard him say while I'm leaning on his shoulder.

Napaangat ako ng tingin sa kanya at pinunasan niya ang luhang tumulo sa pisngi. Nakayakap ang braso ko sa tiyan niya. "But no.. this isn't the end. You have me. You have Angelo, too. We're here." Sabi ko at ngumiti sa kanya.

He smiled. "Alam ko. Iyon rin ang sabi ni mama bago siya bawian ng buhay. She trusts you so much, nanghihinayang siyang hindi niya makikita na ikasal tayo at masundan si Angelo." I still see pain in his eyes but damn, he's too strong.

Kung ako mawalan ng trabaho at mawalan ng.. mahal sa buhay? Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko. Baka ikabaliw ko pa, pag nagkataon. I can't afford losing anyone.

In times like this.. I believe, and I have to be his strength.

For days, he refused to talk to anyone, and even me. To the point that I can't even fully focus on my work because I was thinking of him.. To the point na kahit si Angelo ay tinatanong kung nasaan ang daddy niya at kung pwede ba ay puntahan namin siya sa bahay.

"Mommy.. pwede po bang puntahan na natin si daddy? Please po?" And this is the 9th time he requested.. limang araw ko na ring hindi nakikita si Ivo, mula ng araw na ma-cremate si Tita Loren.

I sighed. "Fine.. magbihis tayo at pumunta sa bahay niya."

Ngumiti ang bata at dali-daling tumakbo papunta sa kwarto at naghanap ng damit pang-alis.

We drove our way to his house. I called his name from outside their gate but he didn't answer.

Impatient, I opened the gate and held Angelo's hand to follow me. "Ivo? Nandito kami ni Angelo. Where are you?"

Still.. no answer.

I got nervous. My heart was pounding like crazy.. negative possibilities started popping into my mind but I shrugged them off.

I pushed the screen door and it opened. "Love? Are you here?"

"Mommy, nasaan po si daddy?"

"I don't know yet, stay here and sit on the sofa." Angelo nodded and sat.

Una akong pumunta sa kwarto ni Tita Loren. I looked around and the room was already tidy. The room smells like her. Nagbigay ako ng regalo sa kanya noong Christmas at itong pabango.. ito ang naaamoy ko. "I miss you too, tita." I whispered before I left the room and closed the door.

I walked a few steps and turned to Ivo's door. I knocked, but nobody answered. I turned the knob and opened the door.

I sighed because of relief.

Ivo is lying down on his bed sleeping with music blasting in his earphones.

He looked calm but sad. For how many days is he like this? Three? Four?

Medyo naririnig ko pa ang music na pinatutugtog ni Ivo dahil medyo malakas ito, dahilan king bakit wala siyang naririnig o nararamdaman noong pumasok kami dito. Nakakainis lang, hindi naman naka-lock ang pinto niya maging ang gate ng bahay.. paano kung may manloob dito?!

"Love.. Ivo, wake up." I still hear his soft snore. His calm breathing caused his chest to go up and down heavily. Hayy, such a heavy sleeper!

Niyugyog ko na ang balikat niya. "Love, wake up! Have you eaten? Nandito si Angelo! Ivo!"

His eyes slowly opened. Kinusot pa niya ang mata niya bago tuluyang ibukas ito. Pinalo ko siya ng mahina sa braso. "The gate wasn't locked, even the door too. What will happen if--" He pulled me into a hug. I can feel the heat of his body, as well as smell his faint musky, manly scent.

"I missed you. I missed you so much, I'm sorry." He murmured.

"I missed you too, and even Angelo was worried what were you doing.. bakit raw hindi ka nakakadalaw sa amin." Mahinahon kong sagot.

"Yeah, just took off time for myself. Rested to restore.. Maybe I'm fine now. Nakita na kita eh."

I rolled my eyes. Kumalas ako sa pagkakayakap sa kanya.. "Have you been eating? Bakit parang pumayat ka naman agad?!" I touched his face and arms.

"Yes, but not much, love. I don't have too much appetite to eat.. but I think I'm okay. Been coping up pretty well." His smile beamed.

"Mommyy! Oh, nandito pala si daddy. Hello po!" There entered the loud, little boy.

"Hey there, young lad, how are you? I missed you." Ivo smiled at him.

Napayakap si Angelo sa kanya agad. Umusod lang ako palayo ng kaunti at napangiti sa kanilang dalawa.

"Ikaw ang kumusta, daddy!! Bakit hindi mo na kami pinupuntahan ni mommy? Hindi mo na kami mahal? Ayaw mo na sa amin? Daddy, kung ano man po ang pinagdadaanan mo, alam ko po malakas ka.. alam ko po hindi ka basta-bastang bumibitaw. Kahit wala po si Mama Loren, nandito pa rin naman kami ni mommy.."

Ivo and I seemed to be a bit taken aback by Angelo's words.. nagkatinginan kami sa sinabi niya at napangiti na lang.

This young boy knows his way of words.
Ivo patted his head. "I know, Angelo. That's why I still feel blessed.. How do you know I'm strong? Because of my arm muscles?" Ivo flexed his arms and Angelo laughed.

The two boys bonded over playing video games while I check emails and respond to them one by one, and we ended up spending the night at Ivo's house because Angelo was fast asleep while playing.
Good thing, Angelo and I had spare clothes in the car so we can get changed.

Binuhat ni Ivo si Angelo sa kwarto ni Tita Loren para doon na siya matulog. Nagising bahagya si Angelo at sinabi sa akin na tabihan ko siya kaya um-'oo' na rin ako.

Pumunta ako sa salas at naglalaro pa rin si Ivo. Napalingon siya ng tumabi ako sa kanya. "You want to play too?" Tanong niya habang naka-focus naman ang mata sa TV.

"No.. I was about to sleep beside Angelo, too. Nabusog ka ba sa kinain natin kanina?"

"Of course. You cooked the best Mechado, same as mama's." He quickly glanced at me then smiled and went his focus back on gaming.