MINSAN.

M-28

“My Mom wants to finally meet you and talk to you.” Nicole uttered to her fiance while she is doing her paperwork.

“I thought she hated me?” Andres uttered.


“She didn’t. She just needs time kaya Mom didn’t want to talk to anybody. But now, she’s getting back on her track. So I assume that we should gather a dinner along with my Ninangs.”


“Have I met your Ninangs na ba, Hon?”


“You already did. Sila Tita Dawn, Tita Reg and Tito Vice? And their spouses.”


“Ahh, yeah. Oo nga pala, sabi pa nga ni Tito Vice, ang guwapo ko daw.” He giggles.


“Ang hangin hangin naman. So, okay lang ba sa’yo if Mom will talk to you soon?”


“Yes, hon. I gotta go, I’ll catch up with you later.” He bid a goodbye and he kissed her fiance.


“Ang sweet naman. Sana, all!” Marimel uttered at kinagulat naman ni Nicole.


“What are you doing here?” Sabi naman niya while she was busy doing her paperwork.


“Well, remember Jhyleanne?”


“‘Yung alaga ng Mommy ko dati?” And she nodded. “Yes, I remember her. What’s the matter?”


“She asked me to ask you if your Mom can be a guest on her first ever talk show.” Nicole finally stopped what she was doing.

“You’re kidding!” Nicole exclaimed.


“I’m not.” She looked at her phone so that she could show the exchange messages between her and Jhyleanne.


“Ohmygosh. This is it! Mom is getting back to showbiz.” She exclaimed.


“Okay lang ba kay Ms. Lea?”


“It is. For sure! She couldn’t say no to Jhyleanne. And I do hope that this is the start of her second career on the showbiz.”


“Yeah, we missed her a lot.”


“That’s what I’m talking about. Kaso, ayaw naman maniwala sa akin ni Mama na there are still people who was waiting for her.”


“Well, you can’t blame her.” She sits beside Nicole.


“I know we can’t blame her. But it has been years gusto ko lang naman bumalik siya sa dati niyang ginagawa, eh.”

“Again, Nics. We can’t force her. Healing is a long way process. All we have to do is to patiently wait for a miracle to happen.” They both giggled. “Nga pala, any news from Team Martes?” she continued.

Nicole heaved a sigh. “Well, unfortunately, it’s still the same thing. Ate KZ doesn’t want to see my Mom. I understand that they don’t want to go back to the past. But, ako ‘yung nasasaktan sa Mommy ko. As if she did that on purpose.” Nicole shed a tear but she wiped it immediately.


“Let them cope up, Nicole. Hindi din naman kasi biro ang pinagdaanan nila. I understand your point of view, your Mom’s point of view. But I understand them as well. Lahat kayo nasaktan sa nangyari, you were all shocked and unprepared.” Marimel explained. “Alam mo ba, may nabasa ako.” Nicole looked at her and was currently waiting for the next statement that Marimel would possibly say. “Hindi ka naman masasaktan kung hindi mo minahal or mahal ang isang tao.” She smiled and rubbed Nicole’s back which made Nicole feel better.


“I know. And sabi nga ni Ate Moira, kung mahirap magpaalam? Mas mahirap magpatawad.” She leaned on Marimel’s shoulder.


“This will pass. All you have to do is to be more understanding. Lahat sila, lahat kayo, nasaktan sa nangyari. Walang dapat sisihin.” She added.


Meanwhile Autumn was currently at the mall buying some stuff that she needs for her work. And she saw a 6 years old girl that was lost at the mall and she approached her.


“Hi, babygirl. Are you lost?” She asked the girl that she bumped to.


“Y-yes. I c-couldn’t find my Mom.” The girl answered her immediately.


“Okay, sweetie. I want you to calm down and tell your name. May I know what your name is?”


“H-hael. Hael Magalona, po.” She answered back and Autumn was in shocked when she knew the name of the child. She is familiar with the child, she knows who the parents are of the child.


“Okay, we’ll go to the service center where they can announce your name and that’ll give attention to everyone. Alright?” She was about to walk but the girl was hesitated to go with her.


“Mama said don’t talk to strangers.” She rebutted.

“I understand that you're following your Mother’s rule. I know your Mom, I’ve seen her on the TV a long time ago. It’s just that I don’t have contact with her anymore. That is why we needed to go to the service center where they can possibly find where your mother is.” She calmly explained. But it seems like Hael was stubborn to follow her.


“Okay, okay. I’m not gonna force you.” She looked around and thankfully they found a guard.


“Sir, excuse me!” Autumn called the attention of the guard and the guard followed that voice.


“What can I do to help, Ma’am?” Autumn didn’t say anything yet and she looked at Hael’s face that was looking at her.


“Did you recognize that man? She is a guard. An officer of the mall. So, can you trust him to go to the service center?” Finally Hael was able to trust Autumn and she started explaining what happened.

When they reached the service center, the woman started calling the name of Hael so that Julie could have their attention and hindi nga sila nagkamali. Julie immediately went and follow the voice na kung sino man ang nag-a-announce ng pangalan ng anak niya.

“Oh my gosh, baby, where have you been?!” Sabi naman ni Julie at sabay karga sa kanyang anak.


“I’m sorry, Mommy.” Hael hugged her mother back.


“It’s okay, Baby. I was just worried.” Hinalikan niya ang baby niya and she looked around kung sino man ang nakatagpo sa anak niya.


“Thank you, Ms. And, Sir. Thank you so much for bringing back my baby.” Sabi naman ni Julie na halos mangiyak-iyak.


“You’re welcome, Ms. Julie.” Julie was shocked when the woman knew her name. And Autumn knew that look already. “I’m a Lea fan. I know that you somehow connected to her. May I invite you for a coffee? For saving your daughter’s life?” Sa sobrang kaba ni Julie Anne, she just nodded and almost shed a tear. Everytime na lang na ma mame-mention si Lea, or maririnig niya ang pangalan nito, she gets very emotional and it makes her remember the past. The past where it should be forgotten and left behind.


Iniwan na siya ng mga ito. But for her, there’s still a chance that they would see each other. It’s a matter of fate.