The Virgin Mother ✔

Tragedy

I dropped off Angelo to school and went to the office.
I haven't spoken to daddy yet for almost a week.

As I turned the door knob, I was surprised by a demon's grin.

Joke.

"Oh, why are you here and what's with that.. smile?" Bungad ko kay Mon.

"Someone just got approved! Sobrang sobrang sobrang saya ko lang, gusto kong i-share agad sayo!" Raymond's like a kid who won a prize. He immediately hugged me.. tight.

"Well, congratulations! I can't celebrate with you yet. I still have too many papers on pending. I have to do approvals on--"

"Virginia Marie." He cut me off. I glanced at him.

"Mukha ba akong nagbibiro, Mon? I told you already.. I have too many things to do. I'm sorry. Honestly, wala rin akong masyadong social life ngayon. See? I can't even text you.. or even Marnie and Cass."

"Naging busy ka na nagkaroon ka lang ng boyfriend," He murmured but I heard it.
"Do you really think you'll end up with him? How if he's some bastard--"

Kinwelyuhan ko si Raymond. "Don't you ever.. ever badmouth him. You don't know he is." Nang kumalma ako, binitawan ko and kwelyo niya at inayos pa ang mga lukot.

"Woah woah! Calm down, tiger! I'm just.. kidding around. Okay? See, you're too--"

"Ano?!" I yelled.

"Virginia, meron ka ba ngayon?" He blatantly asked.

I had no choice but join him in lunch. I'm happy for him that his business proposal got approved and he was praised for his ideas.
But now.. my mind is preoccupied.

I texted Ivo and he immediately replied.

What are you doing?

Just reading a book. Have you eaten lunch?

I typed 'Yup. You?'

'Done. I finished the Mechado you cooked :)' He replied.

I went back to working. I feel exhausted, now that almost all of the resort and hotel branches had gone down by 3% in just a month compared to the rival resorts in nearby locations na bumababa lang ng 0.80%!
Paano ba ako hindi mapapalagay sa ganun?! What was happening?

I'm in a meeting right now and my mind flying somewhere. I suddenly felt a jolt of pain in my chest but it was immediately gone. I feel that my heartbeat's not in a normal state.

Napahawak ako sa kaliwang parte ng dibdib ko. "Ms. Romero? Are you feeling fine?" I nodded after someone asked.

I drank half of the water in the mug and I felt better.

5 in the afternoon, while scanning some documents for approval, my secretary picked up the telephone.

"Good afternoon! Romero Group of Hotels, Office of the CEO. May I know who's on the other line?"

"Yes, this is Ms.Marie Romero's office.. A-ano po?!"

Napalingon ako sa sekretarya kong hindi na maipinta ang ekspresyon ng mukha.

"O-okay.. Th-thank you." Binaba niya na ang telepono. Lumingon siya sa akin na para bang hind alam ang sasabihin.

"M-ma'am.. si.. si Sir Luigi po.. n-nasa ospital eh. Nasa ICU po siya."

"Ano?! Bakit? Saang ospital pupunta na ako!"

Nagmamadali akong nag-ayos ng sarili at diretsong lumabas ng kwarto nang marinig ang sinabi ni Jeena.

"Fuck! Anong nangyari kay daddy.." Nahahampas ko na ang manibela ng kotse at puro na ako busina dahil sa trapik sa daan.

I had to pick up Angelo before I go to the hospital where dad was confined. Buti na lang ay nasa waiting shed na siya nagaabang sa akin.
Napansin ko.. noong nag-overnight kami kanila Ivo, I wasn't paying too much attention to Angelo. It was already two weeks from that day! At hindi pa rin kami nagkikita ni Ivo. This is the longest time we haven't seen each other.

"Mommy!" His smile reached to his ears.

Nasa kabilang lane ang kotse at naka-hazard lang ako dun. Since school zone ito, may stoplight at pedestrian lane. Of course, there's a CCTV too.
Nakatingin lang ako kay Angelo na nakangiti. I missed him. I missed this kid. Sana patawarin niya ako dahil nawawalan na ako ng oras para sa kanya dahil nasusubsob na ako sa trabaho araw-araw.
On the other hand, he was still the same sweet little boy I love. He came to me by surprise but he is our bundle of joy.

Patawid na sana si Angelo ng mag-green ang stoplight pero may isang batang tumulak sa kanya para madapa siya at mapunta sa gitna ng daan.

May isang kotseng puro busina at humaharurot sa di kalayuan at patakbo na ako papunta kay Angelo na patayo sana pero huli na ako.