True Colors

II

I didn't how long I've been staring into Phana's photo from the school paper, all I know is that I suddenly felt a hand on my forearm -- soothingly rubbing circles, another covering my own and an arm wrapped around mine. I smelt her first before I could lift my eyes up and turn to her. She leaned her head against my shoulder and I can feel her smile against my skin.

"I didn't know your class ended early." I said, kissing her hair.

"Yeah, the professor didn't come in after 15 minutes of waiting so we all knew it's a bust."

I couldn't help the fond smile that broke on my face as I shook my head fondly at her. Apple never changed throughout the years we've been together since I came to their home.

"Uhm, hello, guys? I'm still here? Stop being so lovey-dovey."

I made sure to smack Wayo hard enough with the now rolled up school paper just to knock some sense out of him.

"Here's your order, Sir."

I stilled my movements as he placed the drinks on our table. I could feel the air get caught between my lungs.

"I, uh..."

"We didn't order that." Apple finished for me. She knows the story. She knows I don't drink black iced americano anymore.

"Oh, I did." Wayo chimed in. "I asked P'Sing if he wants iced americano and--"

"Did he said yes?" Apple asked, to other people she might've sounded like she was just genuinely asking. But Wayo and I know better and I can see how he curled in on himself.

"Well..." Wayo struggled to look for words to explain what he did without accidentally triggering more of Apple's wrath. "He didn't say... no?"

Apple turned back to the server with a sweet smile and told him to change it to iced latte instead and while he's at it, to get her some kiwi juice as well. The server just turned around, taking the drink with him and that's the only time I could feel myself breathing again.

"Just because he didn't say no doesn't mean it's a yes, Yo." Apple blurted out, the barely concealed anger flowing through her words. "Don't let me see you being an insensitive ass again and I swear to everything that's holy, I will kill you."

At that, I held onto Apple's hand rubbing my fingers against her skin just the way I know that would calm her down. It was visible how immediate her anger deflated but just to be sure, I added in the sweetest voice I could muster and know that will make her smile, "Ohooo, milady, don't be mad at Yo anymore. I wasn't paying attention earlier too so it's partly my fault. I'm sure he wouldn't do it again, right?"

I glared at Wayo who took the hint. "Of course, Princess. I'm so sorry it won't happen again."

Apple glared at him before she threw the school paper on his face. "Throw that away while you're at it. Didn't I already told you that I hate his motherfucking face?"

"Hey!" Wayo protested but Apple's raised eyebrow had him putting the school paper in his bag.

"I swear to god, Yo. At the rate you kept on bringing his face, I'd be skin and bones by the end of the year just by how much appetite I lose."

"I really don't understand you two." Wayo pouted like the child that he is. "I don't get why you're so mad at him. I haven't even seen him so much as swat a fly."

"That's because he's done a lot worst."

I squeezed Apple's hands from under the table. Yo doesn't have a clue about anything.

"Huh?" He breathed. "What did he do?"

"He was born with that face, that's what." Apple rolled her eyes. "Can we stop talking about him? I can feel my appetite slipping through me."

Wayo just rolled his eyes as he helped the server in putting our lunch on the table.

---

So remember the boy in the story I'm telling you and how he never went back to his old school? Well he's in his junior year studying CommArts now, majoring in Photography just like his mother wished.

He also never have to be lonely in the condo unit his mother bought for him because A'Ngoon and P'Jeng thought that it'd do their daughter good to be taught of responsibility and that's where the boy comes in.

It's been four years since his mother died and the string of awful events that followed happened.

It might've been at the expense of his own mother but he's happy with the family that he's been entrusted with.

A'Ngoon and P'Jeng were 10 years younger than my mother but it was clear that they were both adored by my mother and vice versa. All of their pictures together speaks volumes though it saddens me that I only ever got to see my mother smiling that bright on a printed paper.

When I asked why A'Ngoon and P'Jeng never visited us once and why I never saw them at the funeral, they only confirmed what I already know.

My father forbade them to come to our house and visit my mother. The security guarding our house were ordered to call the police at the sight of the two of them. So instead it was my mother who came to them.

They were there when my mother tested for breast cancer. A'Ngoon held her hand as the doctor told them the results. P'Jeng apologized to me for not checking up on my mother again when she said she's going to get herself treated. It was hard after all, my mother lied and told them she's getting treated at home.

"We owe it all to P'Fah." A'Ngoon said, crying softly. "If she didn't help us find a good clinic for surrogacy, we never would have Apple."

"I knew that motherfucker was heartless but I never expected him to be this kind of a monster." P'Jeng rumbled, his wife held onto him tightly as his knuckles turned white from holding her back. It was clear where Apple got her temper.

I was just honestly grateful that my mother wasn't alone when she received that bad news.

Looking back, maybe this is why my mother didn't want to get treated anymore. Because she knows Chayapol would remarry the second she dies and that is evidence enough of what kind of a husband and father he is and how he is unfit to be my guardian.

I may be forever grateful for what she's done but I still wish she didn't left me so soon. However, when I think of what and how she's suffered in her loveless marriage, I feel like I owe it all to her to let her go.

I just hope she's happy wherever she is right now.

I'll make you proud, Mae. I promise you that.