It was just a normal day. I woke up 7 in the morning, the usual time I wake up on Saturdays.
Inayos ko ang kama ko bago ako pumunta ng banyo para manghilamos. Pagbaba ko mula sa kwarto ko, dumiretso ako ng kusina para magtimpla ng kape. I saw my mom there, sitting on a bar stool.
"Ma," I said. Napalingon siya kaagad sa akin. Bumeso ako sa kanya pagkalapit ko. "Why are you here? No work for today?"
"I took a day off." She answered me.
"Day off?" I laughed at the thought. "You never take a day off. Are you sick?" Hinawakan ko ang noo niya.
Napangiti siya dahil sa ginawa ko. My mom is so beautiful especially when she smiles. But I can also see that she's getting really old. May puti na siyang buhok, ang gilid ng kanyang mga mata ay bahagya nang kumukulubot.
"I just want to rest for today, really." She said. There's weakness on her voice. She smiled, still. Maybe she's just tired. "Do you want some coffee?"
"Yes, please." Sagot ko, at naupo sa tabing bar stool na inuupuan niya.
She made me my coffee. I couldn't remember when was the last time, but I missed this kind of morning. Naupo lang kami sa kusina, nag-usap tungkol sa mga bagay-bagay.
The day started so well. Very well. That I wouldn't even think that its night would be a disaster.
Every Saturday, my friends and I go to this night club. It was a routine, more like a tradition. Because we attend different schools and it's the only time that we have to bond. My parents know about this routine. Honestly, my parents know everything about me. It's the greatest and the worst thing at the same time.
I wore my black glittering dress. Then, my stilettos. I looked to the mirror, fixed my long hair and my nude lipstick. I smiled back at my reflection.
"Ma, I'm gonna go now." Paalam ko sa Mama ko na nadatnan kong may binabasa sa sala while the TV is on. Napaangat ang tingin niya sa akin. She looked at me a little longer.
"You okay?" I asked.
"Yeah," she answered, then smiled. Her smile, there was something weird in it. Something unusual. "I'm okay. Ikaw? You okay?"
"Yeah?" I laughed. "You're very weird right now, Ma."
"I am?" She asked, laughed a little. "I'm just...just happy to see you. You've grown up a lot."
"Huh?"
"I love you, Khale." She said out of nowhere. She never says those words.
I got scared a little bit. Because they say, when someone does something she doesn't usually do, bad things may happen to her.
"I love you, too, Ma." Still, I answered back. Because I love you's should be answered back.
Lumakad ako palabas ng bahay. Kinakabahan ako. Hanggang sa sumakay na ako sa kotse na maghahatid sa akin. Habang nasa byahe, sumagi sa isip ko na 'wag na akong tumuloy.
I should've taken that as a sign. Dapat hindi na ako lumabas ng bahay noong gabing 'yon.
But I still went to see my friends.
Nakalimutan ko ang kaba ko nang makita ko ang mga kaibigan ko. They welcomed me with smiles on their faces. Looking at them, bad things would be impossible tonight.
"Ayaw mo na ba talagang makipagbalikan kay Asher?" Mond, one of my guy friends, asked me.
"No. Not at all." I answered back. Ininom ko ang margarita na hawak ko. "Really, we've broken up since I can't even remember. He's just bored, that's why he wants me to get back to him."
