MARAHUYO

M- 16

1 Peter 5:5
Clothe yourself with humility.

*

To: Unique-lo
I miss you, anak.

And she swears, upon hitting the send button, tears streamed down her face. She misses her son so much that it hurts her soul. She badly misses seeing him every morning, kissing her forehead goodbye, his smiles, his voice, his presence even his silence. She misses her son so much.

The last photo Unique posted on his instagram account was a black and white photo of a dove. And Unique, being himself, she knows that the picture he posted is not only for instagram purposes. He does everything with meaning. The dove might mean freedom.

She scrolled through the comment section and saw few comments saying Unique might have gotten his freedom from which they do not know.

She could only sigh.

There goes her inner self scolding her again, saying she hasn't become a good mother she promised herself to be. Because if she has been a good one, Unique wouldn't move out. He would've stayed and let their conflict be resolved.

It has been a week and she couldn't say she is getting used to this setting because she will never be. She would always want her son to be with her. For the rest of her life.

"Hindi ka ba kakain?" her mom, Joy, asked her as she saw her all dressed, ready to leave the house.

"Hindi na, ma. Aalis na ako," she replied and wore her shoes.

"Lea, anak," Joy softly called her, "Baka naman nagtatampo ka rin sa akin dahil hinayaan kong umalis si Koi?"

She only gave her a sly smile.

Joy walked near her and held her cheek, "Anak, I only did what I think is best for the both of you. Malaki na si Koi. He has to make decisions on his own. Huwag mo palaging dinedepende ang anak mo sa'yo. Paano 'pag wala ka na? Tapos nasanay siyang nagd-desisyon para at dahil sa'yo? Paano siya? You have to let Unique learn. And besides, 'yang tampuhan niyo, it needed space. Maghintay kayong mag-heal kayo pareho hanggang sa magkaroon kayo ng reflection. Anak, Unique will always come back to you. Tandaan mo 'yan."

She smiled and gave her mom a tight hug, "Thank you, ma. I'm sorry."

"Huwag mong masyadong sisihin 'yong sarili mo sa nangyari. Instead of blaming yourself, mag-reflect ka. And be better for the both of you."

"I miss him, ma. Miss na miss na miss ko na siya," she finally confessed and the tears she's been compressing since this morning started to continually stream down her cheeks, "Ma, ang hirap."

Joy faced her and wiped the tears on her cheeks, "I know. And I know he does, too."

"Hindi ko na kaya, ma. Gusto ko na siyang bumalik dito."

Joy stared at her and saw pain in her eyes. It has been a while since she last saw pain in her eyes and it hurts to see her daughter in pain again, "Try talking to him."

And then she found herself knocking on the door of Kenneth's condo unit that night. Since her mom gave her a go signal already, and also upon getting the same from Aga and her friends, she hurriedly went there after finishing all of her errands.

On the fourth knock, the door opened revealing a shocked Kenneth, "L-lea."

"Si Koi?" she immediately asked, "Pwede ko ba siyang makausap?"

"Pasok ka muna," he invited her inside.

She roamed her eyes around the unit and was surprised to see that it was all neat and organized. Except that there were a few mess atop the table.