Who Do You Love?

TRES

CHAPTER 3

HECTOR FELIPE

" Henri Damian! Where the hell are you!?!! " , I am talking with my brother on the phone. Kararating lang namin dito sa bahay. Imagine, Amar is here, habang iyong magaling kong kapatid hindi alam kung nasaan. Sino ba ang anak ng nanay namin?! " Oh cut the crap Henri! Umuwi ka dito at ikaw ang dapat na nandito! " I ended the phone call and was about to enter my mom's room when I saw Amar standing at the door.

" Kuy--Hex pinapatawag ka lang ni Tita H. " She smiled at me. Narinig ba niya ako?

" Amar, uhmm... Did you hear our convo? Baka iba ang maisip mo ha. I didn't mean it that way. " Inunahan ko na.

" Ayy hindi, naiintindihan ko iyon. " I couldn't help but stare at her beautiful face. Kailan pa siya naging ganito kaganda? Marunong na siyang mag-ayos o magaling mag-alaga si Henri?

" Amar, I don't want to sound rude, I don't want you offended either, but why is it that you don't know where Henri is? " Huminga lang siya ng malalim at saka ngumiti. " Girlfriend ka, dapat may initiative siya na magsabi. "

" Ganoon lang po tlaga siya. Uhhmm... Tawag ka na ng mommy mo. " I sighed. Ayaw siguro niyang pag-usapan. Pumasok na ako sa room while Amar went the other way.

I walked inside and sat beside my mom. She's pale and very weak. Wala siyang nurse pero may caregiver na nag-aalaga. I felt so much guilt. Too many years of my life I have spent away from my family. Hinintay ko pa na may magkasakit bago ako umuwi. Well, I went home last year, sadly, when Dad died. Pero bumalik kaagad ako ng US.

" Ma... " I held her hand and kissed her palm. " Please be well. Henri and I need you. " She sobbed, probably she missed her sons so much.

" I--i-m j-ust happy y-ou are h-home. " I smiled at my mom. I kept on massaging her hand.

" Ma, don't force yourself to talk. Just relax. " She smiled weakly at me.

" H-Hector, p-please anak. Take o-over Sandejas Group. Hindi ko na k-kaya anak. " I heaved a sigh. Naisip ko nang dadating nga ito, mukhang kailangan ko nang gawin ang responsibilidad ko bilang firstborn.

" I'll see Ma. I'll try. " She just smiled a little. My mom took over Dad's position when he died, because she doesn't have a choice. Hindi pang ganoon kabigat na responsibilidad ang nakasanayang trabaho ng nanay namin. It must have been hard on her. I was actually being trained to be the next in line before I moved to Cebu. Mas lalo na akong hindi nakapagpatuloy sa dapat kong position sa company noong nag-decide ako na mag stay sa America.

The door of mom's room opened after three knocks. Then Amar came inside with a tray of food. I stood up to help her. Ipinatong ko ang tray sa side table. My mom was looking at her and then tapped the space of the bed beside her, so Amar sat there. While I sat adjacent to the latter.

" Tita H, sakto na po iyong luto ko sa puto bibigka. " She happily informed my mom. Amar helped my Mom sit down and then get some food in the tray. Then she helped my mom eat. All the while I was just looking at them. They look lovely. Glorienne has never been like this with my mother. Pero ang girlfriend ni Henri parang tunay na anak. Hindi ko masisisi si Mama, mukhang malambing si Amar.

" Amar put on some more salted egg please. " Habang pinapakain ni Amar ay nag request pa ang nanay ko.

" Ma, bawal sa'yo ang too much salty! " Napatitig naman sila sa akin. Binalingan ko ang katabi. " Amar, don't. Bawal sa kaniya iyon. Ako ang sundin mo. " Tapos ay silang dalawa ang nagkatinginan.