Cliche (Candy Stories #5)

Chapter 10 part 2

TCWDM: I was tired and really sleepy but couldn't sleep so I wrote really, really fast. However, di ko pa to na-edit so sorry sa mga typo and errors. Will check on this in the morning. Labyu ~

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"Mommy?" tawag ko agad nang makapasok sa loob ng bahay. Nobody's in the living room, kaya dumeretso ako sa kusina. She wasn't there, too. "Mom?" Nagtuloy ako sa kuwarto nila ni Daddy at mahinang kumatok. "I'm home po."

I heard the door locked kaya nangunot ang noo ko. Parang nasa loob si Mommy pero bakit nag-lock? Hindi niya ba narinig ang katok o ang sinabi ko? My voice was too soft sometimes.

Before I could return to the living room, bumukas ang pinto ng kuwarto at lumabas siya. Kahihilamos lang ni Mommy. Suot din niya ang salamin niya sa mata, na bibihira na niyang suotin.

"Why do you wear glasses po? Are you trying to read something?" Pinakatitigan ko siya. I was worried that she wouldn't look okay. And true enough, napalunok ako dahil parang namumula ang mga mata niya. "Uhm... Did you cry po?" mahinang tanong ko.

Ngumiti siya na siguradong para alisin ang pag-aalala ko. But she really looked like she cried. "Silly. Bakit ako iiyak? I was reading something mula kanina. Sumakit lang ang mata ko, kaya siguro namumula..." Hinawakan niya 'ko sa braso at iginiya papunta sa kusina. "Are you hungry? Bakit maaga kang umuwi?"

Stuffy ang boses ni Mommy. Namumula rin nang kaunti ang ilong niya. And if she was indeed reading something earlier... why would she wash her face? She always told me not to do it right after watching TV, using my laptop or phone, or reading, because it might affect my eyesight. But she's changing the topic that I couldn't probe.

"Ano... Okay naman po ang result ng check up n'yo?" I managed to ask softly.

Iniupo niya 'ko sa mesa sa kusina habang dumeretso naman siya sa ref. I couldn't tell her that I was still full. Baka kasi sabihin niyang magpahinga na lang ako. Nagwo-worry ako sa kanya.

Kumuha siya ng buko salad sa ref at naglagay ng serving sa clear bowl. Tig-isa kami.

"Do you want a sandwich, too? I can make them for you, Princess," sabi niya na sasandaling lumingon sa 'kin.

I might have been looking too intently, because she smiled and pinched my cheek. "Mommy!"

"You looked like a scared little cat," aniya.

I pouted. "I don't want a sandwich po." I remember Maxwell sa tuwing may sandwich. Gusto ko nang mag-ban ng sandwich sa buong buhay ko. But I can't. Like Maxwell, I like sandwiches. Hindi lang ako maggi-give in kapag kaya ko. Pero most of the time, I would give in. I'm sure. "Upo ka na po."

Naupo si Mommy sa tapat ko matapos akong bigyan ng kubyertos.

"How's your check up?" mahinang tanong ko.

"It's okay, siyempre. Usual headaches lang daw. I have to observe a few days more para malaman kung ito ay migraine. May iniresetang gamot sa akin ang doctor, kapag hindi ko kaya ang kirot," she said casually.

I was getting suspicious with all her sweet smile. Parang may mali. I have a bad feeling in my gut and I don't like it. "Hindi mo po ba kaya minsan ang headache mo? Baka you need more rest?"

"I'm okay. Don't worry about me too much."

Natahimik ako.

"Bakit maaga kang umuwi? Problem at school?"

Ako naman ang alanganing ngumiti. May problem ako sa school mula pa first year. Nababawasan lang noon dahil kay Calyx. Lumala lately dahil kay Maxwell. So, if that's the question, then the answer would be: lately, I have constant problems at school. But I couldn't tell her that. Lagi na ngang may masakit kay Mommy, dadagdagan ko pa ang worries niya.