I'll be Home [On Going]

Chapter 10

Around seven o'clock in the morning when Lea slowly opened her eyes, her son was just in an indian sitting position on her side fully clothed while waiting for her to wake up. She frowned a little and took off the oxygen mask as she sits down slowly. Gabriel keep an eye on her every move and observing her whole body as if studying it. Lea deepened her frown and hold his son's left hand and she took a deep breath "Son, ¿qué es? (what is it?)" she asked but he remained staring.

Lea exhaled, "I'm feeling better now, don't worry. Lo siento tienes que verme en ese estado. (I'm sorry you have to see me in that state.)" she said while squeezing his hands in assurance. Gabriel looked at the oxygen mask then back at her, "Oh honey, I'm good, really. And thank you." Lea said and grabbed her son and kissed him gently on his temple. Gabriel was just quiet the whole time, and so Lea felt uncomfortable. She's not used with this gesture of her son. She stood up and put her right hand on her head when she felt a bit dizzy. Gabriel was quick to grab the glass of water on the side table, "Aqui. (Here.)" he offered.

Lea sat back again and smiled to him as she gladly took the water. She drank and closed her eyes tightly and opened again. She looked at her son and grabbed his hand then lead him outside with her.

Lea went out of the bathroom and her son, again was sitting on a chair just staring at her. She just threw him a glance before fixing herself. She can see her son from her vanity mirror while combing her hair, "¿Quieres decir algo? (Want to say someting?)" she can't stop herself to ask. Gabriel cleared his throat before he spoke, "¿Tuviste una pesadilla anoche? Estabas llamando a alguien. (Did you have a nightmare last night? You we're calling someone.)" His tone is undoubtedly serious.

Lea stopped for a moment before shifting her position to face him. "¿Quién? ¿A quién llamo? (Who? Who am I calling?) What are their na—" she cut herself when she realized she's already giving him information out of curiosity. She looked away and turned back again to continue combing her hair, "Olvídalo. (Forget about it.)" she said.

Gabriel went near her with questioning look. "Their? Who are they mom? What have you dreamt of?" he finally asked. Lea stopped "Son—honey, let's not talk about it for now." she said in equal seriousness. Gabriel walks away and did back and forth. "The nurse told me that you might have a terrifying nightmare, you experienced anxiety attack and it triggered your asthma. Mother, what is happening? How many times have you experienced it already? And you don't even have your inhaler with you." he said calmly but you can feel fear and annoyance in it. Lea stood up and held her son's shoulders "What's important now, is I'm alright. I'm alright, okay?" and caressed his face. "I'm going to ask—" Gabriel said and he was about to go when Lea stopped him. "No, you're not! You are not asking nor telling this to anyone. Not to your grand mother. She has a lot on her shoulders already, I don't want to add burden to her." she said with conviction. She was breathing heavily. Eventually she sighed and hold her son's hands tightly. "Please. Please my son... Please?" she asked kissing the back of his hands. He withdrew his hands and hugged his mother tightly, "But at least tell me please. I was terrified." That caught her offguard. He must have been frightened last night. She rubbed his back to comfort him. She never expected her son to react this way and her heart ached and warmed at the same time with his sweet words.

~~

Muhlach's Residence

Nana was preparing Hope's food when she heard footsteps walking down the stairs. It's Hope. "Oh anak. Naka-ready na ang baon mo, check mo na lang kung tama na ba yan sa'yo?" Hope looked at Nana before she went on the dining table to check her food. "Ano dagdagan natin?" Nana asked but Hope shook her head "Nope na. Ok na po 'to. Thanks Nana!" she said and smiled. She sat in front of the table and started eating breakfast, with her Nana alone.

It's almost on the third week since her senior high school has started. She's studying at the same school she graduated from junior high school, and so her friends Aya and Kelly. She is currently taking Digital Arts because she wants to prepare herself on her preferred course in college. She wants to be as good as she can in this field so it won't be difficult for her to take it in college. Well at least, she thinks. Though she can still be with her friends, they only have a little time now since Aya is taking business course while Kelly is in culinary and their schedule is obviously different. They just followed what their hearts truly desire.

When she got in her room, she quietly read her notes while waiting for their professor. Her everyday life in school goes in cycle. She would read in one corner waiting for their teacher, brings her own food in their cafeteria to eat during lunch time and directly goes home after school. She literally has few friends in BSM-Senior High, but not as closest as with Aya and Kelly. She seldom talks to anyone, that's why other girls her age call her nerd or geek, most of the time she focuses on her studies and yes she sometimes feels bored also. But she prefers that, she was never used of having more people around her that's why. She only has Nana, Aya, Kelly and her Dad all her life and for her, they are enough.

She's now on her way home and she feels so tired, she needed more sleep. One week had passed again and finally, she can take a long sleep because tomorrow is saturday. She smiled at that thought. She only ate dinner when she arrived home and readied herself for a goodnight sleep after almost an hour of reading some articles in social media — not about celebrities you see most of the time. She usually gets tired just by reading celebrity issues that's why she doesn't read nor watch about it. Though she loves art, showbiz is an exception. She loves singing, that's true, because it's natural for her to sing her heart out or whenever she feels so. She thinks that's one trait she probably got from her mother, well she just thinks so because obviously her dad was not and will never be really good at it.

~~

The next day, Nana helped Hope in a bookstore to buy art stuff for her scrapbook project. She went straight to the shelves where the colored papers were being displayed, she took two pack of each color she would like to combine.

"Hopie? Ano pa bang kailangan mo bukod sa mga 'to?" Nana asked on her way to Hope. She's carrying a basket with different art accessories, varieties of papers and coloring materials. Hope looked closely to the basket and checked, "I think, mag add na lang po kayo ng dalawa pa nitong black felt paper and patanggal nung red. Thanks po." she instructed and went back to other shelves searching for a hard bound that she will use for cover.

She helped Nana to prepare their food for lunch as soon as they got home. "Para saan pala yung mga binili mo? gagawa ka ba ng album? Album ba tawag don? Nakikita ko din ginagawa ng anak ko yan eh." Nana asked while frying the chickens. Hope looked at the chickens and to Nana "Ah, project po namin. Pinapagawan po kami ng scrapbook." she said.

"Ayun, scrapbook!" Nana said when she heard it. Hope laughed, "Yes po, scrapbook. First time ko po gagawa nito. Di naman po kasi ako nagkaro'n ng ganitong project before." she said. Nana stared at her and smiled "Gusto mo bang tulungan kita?" she asked. Hope looked at her for a moment, "Eh diba po dayoff nyo bukas? Ayos lang naman po kahit ako na lang. Don't worry." she smiled in assurance. Nana nodded in return "Ikaw bahala. Alam ko naman na yakang yaka mo 'yan! Artist ata tong alaga ko!" she beamed and hugged her on her side. "Thanks Nana." Hope said while laughing.

That afternoon, Nana instructed Hope to heat her food for dinner. She reminded her not to skip because she found out before that she forgets eating dinner when she's busy doing some home works or reviewing for exams. "Yes po Nana. Kakain po ako, ng madami!" Hope answered and laughed. Nana bid goodbye after.

When Nana is no longer on her sight, Hope took a shower and got herself a comfortable clothes. She wore a pair of beige top and pajamas before she took out all the art materials they bought earlier. She started browsing ideas on google and there she saw the same combination she has in mind. A medium sized scrapbook in mocha and dark brown with a little touch of black. She made the cover design first then each pages so she would just glue the pictures later on. She printed all the pictures she gathered the other night and cut them. She spread all the pictures on the table and arranged them in sequence of events. When she's done, she noticed something is missing, someone she reckons. She noticed that she has no at least one photo of the woman who carried her for nine months, the woman who gave her life and gave birth to her into this world - her mother.