“Anak, biglaan yata ang uwi mo?” Mrs. Chiu’s voice echoed from Kim’s phone early Sunday evening.
“Opo Ma, may aasikasuhin lang. At saka miss ko na kayo… bale Thursday morning andyan na ‘ko tapos balik ako dito Sunday night.”, Kim explained as she sat on her bed.
“Okay lang ba sa boss mo, two days ang leave mo?”
“Ay Ma, holiday dito sa Friday…bale one day lang leave ko. At saka sasamantalahin ko habang magaan ang trabaho.”
Mrs. Chiu hesitated. “Eh anak, magkikita ba kayo ni Xian?” She knew about their breakup.
Kim stood up and started to pace back and forth. “Ma, hindi naman kami nag-uusap at saka malamang nasa Batangas siya.”
“Hmm, eh anak, wala na bang pag-asang magkabalikan kayo?” Mrs. Chiu sighed.
“Naku Ma, hindi ko alam… komplikado eh.” Kim stopped pacing and sat in front of her dresser mirror, watching her own reflection.
“Sayang kasi, anak… mukhang mabait naman siya.”
“Oo nga Ma… kaso marami pa siyang issues sa buhay.” Kim grimaced at her own reflection.
“Sana magkabalikan kayo anak…. Sayang din ang lahi niya.” Mrs. Chiu teased.
“Ma!?” Kim was both shocked and amused at her mom’s latent sense of humor.
Mrs. Chiu laughed faintly. “Binibiro lang kita, anak. Masyado kang seryoso kasi mula nung naghiwalay kayo. O sige na’t magluluto pa ako. Ingat ka diyan at ingat sa byahe.”
Kim smiled. “Sige Ma, ingat din kayo.”
“Pero Kim, seryoso ako.” Her mom wasn’t done yet.
“Saan Ma?”
“Sayang ang lahi niya.” And they both laughed.
Mrs. Lim was pleasantly surprised when Xian popped into her office on Monday morning at their main branch in Lipa. He looked well-rested, clean-shaven, and neat in his black checkered shirt and charcoal gray slacks. She gazed at him, marvelling at how she and her husband could have produced such a fine specimen of a man, bias aside.
“Anak! What brings you here? May lakad ka?” She smiled at her son as he seated himself on the chair across her.
“Wala naman Ma. You need help here?” Xian propped his elbow on the table.
Mrs. Lim regarded him for a minute. “Hmm, actually I do need help. Dumadami na ang branches natin. I could use a computerized accounting system.”
“Sige Ma, ako bahala. Marami namang package na mabibili sa tabi-tabi. Okay lang ba Ma, if I stay here?”
She nodded. “Oo naman.” With that, Xian pulled out his laptop from his bag and settled himself on the couch.
Mrs. Lim watched her son at work. She sensed a certain change in him – more optimism perhaps. Whatever it was, it certainly was a good sign.
Soon, it was time for lunch. Xian folded his laptop and set it aside. “Ma, let’s have lunch. Gusto mo sa Max’s? Sagot ko.”
Mrs. Lim happily accepted his offer. She always looked forward to these ‘dates’ with her grown-up kids. Xian led her to his car and they were on their way.
