The knocks on the door woke me up Saturday morning.
"Alyssa, door please."
I heard a sleepy groan. Mas lalo siyang yumakap saakin kaya napasimangot ako.
"Next time hindi ka na pwedeng matulog dito." I whispered under my breathe. "Hindi naman kita nauutusan eh! Hindi ka din naglilinis, mas makalat ka pa saakin."
Bago ako makaalis sa kama ay hinila ako pabalik ni Alyssa.
"Good morning, Den. Grumpy mo na naman."
"I'm still sleepy." I pouted.
Alyssa was about to kiss me, but the knocks on the door continued.
Pumunta ako sa pintuan and opened it in annoyance.
"God, a normal person knocks three times! Not a million times." Inis kong sabi at nanlaki kaagad ang mga mata ko ng makita ko ang mommy. "Mom?"
"Den..."
Hindi ko siya pinatapos. Kaagad kong isinarado ang pintuan at tinulak si Alyssa sa kama.
I shushed her before she could even protest. Binigay ko ang damit niya, bago mag bihis.
"Under the bed!" I whispered.
Inaantok pa talaga siya! Humiga siya sa sahig at dahan-dahang nag padausdos sa ilalim ng kama.
After fixing everything in my room ay mabilis akong bumalik sa pintuan.
"Mommy!" I hugged mom. "Wow! You are so early! I missed you!"
"I missed you, too! And hun, it's already 11. Late na."
"Oh."
Pumasok ang mommy sa kwarto. She was looking around, checking everything, even after she was sitting on my bed.
"What have you been up to, Dennise?"
"I... the usual mom, studying."
"Really? Are you lying?"
I shook my head. "No, mommy."
She nod her head thoughtfully. Umupo ako sa tabi niya at yumakap. A sigh of relief came from my lips and nose. I didn't know I have been looking for this comfort, and it's making me more emotional.
Napakagat labi ako. I don't really want to cry.
"Anak, what's wrong? Hmm?"
"Nothing, mom. I just missed you. And I just realized how hard it is to be far away from you."
She wiped my tears. "Anak, you've been away from me for how many years. Hindi ka pa ba nasanay?"
"Pero after that 18 years sinanay mo din akong kasama ka. Your love fulfilled that 18 years na wala ka. Now, I don't want to be away from you, at least," not now that I really wanted your comfort. "Just for a bit."
My mother hugged me once again. We stayed in that position until I calmed down.
"How is my baby?"
"I'm fine, mommy." I smiled. "Louis and I broke up."
"Huh?"
I expected this reaction from mom. "I can't really give the things that he wanted. I am not ready to fulfill his needs."
"How did he take it?"
Inayos ng mommy ang buhok ko. Tumitig ako sa mukha niya, habang nakangiti pa din. I looked away as I tried to look for the right words to tell her.
