Accompanied by my mother, we embarked on a trip to the mall in search of new items to decorate my room. Reflecting on Omar's words, I realized that it was time for me to move on. He was right-I was the one holding onto the pain, not Sam. Earlier that morning, I carefully packed away all the reminders of Sam, burying them in the past to truly embrace a fresh start. It's disheartening to realize that I needed to hurt someone dear to me in order to understand my own unreasonable behavior.
As my mother busily picked out a new curtain to liven up my room, I found myself browsing the cold aisles of the department store, selecting new clothes. Previously, much of my wardrobe was filled with items gifted to me by Sam.
Wandering through the chilly department store, a sense of emptiness enveloped me. This was the first time I shopped without Sam by my side. They were always there, guiding me on which colors and designs suited me best. I now have to learn to make choices on my own, feeling as if a part of me has been lost.
But I must move forward, learning to adjust to this new reality without Sam. I have to let go and begin anew.
"Hey, it's Sir Walter!" a young woman's voice suddenly called out.
I turned towards the high pitched voice and saw three young girls hurrying towards me. One by one, they greeted me with excitement.
"Sir, how are you? We missed you in class. Please come back," Jenny, a tall, thin girl with glasses, said.
I forced a smile and let out a sigh. "Did you genuinely miss me?" I asked.
"Oh yes, sir. We really missed you. Especially Christine, who had a crush on you," Jenny, the smallest among them, remarked. Christine blushed and playfully pushed her, embarrassed.
"It's not true, sir," Christine shyly denied, deflecting the blame onto Jenny.
"Well then, if you all truly missed me, I'll return on Monday," I said, amused by their enthusiasm.
Their faces instantly lit up with joy and excitement upon hearing my response.
"Really?" they exclaimed almost in unison. "Promise, sir?"
"Yes, I promise. I'll be back. My sick leave is over as well," I reassured them.
"Yes! Life will be happy again because the most handsome teacher in our school will be back," Christine exclaimed loudly, capturing the attention of onlookers in the department store.
I couldn't help but chuckle at the reactions of my students. They're going through the typical teenage phase, much like I did at their age.
"What brings you all here?" I inquired.
"Well, sir, since it's Saturday, we thought we'd take a break and have some fun before tackling our assignments," Christine responded.
"Oh, please. You hardly ever do your assignments," Jenny retorted.
"Come on, I do them. It's actually you who doesn't," Christine quickly fired back, teasing her friend.
Jorene, the quietest one of the three, suddenly spoke up, saying, "You only complete assignments for Sir's subject."
"Oh no! You're all ganging up on me. Is that how it is? Despite us being friends," Christine said, her face turning red, which didn't escape my notice.
"Alright, that's enough. I might just hear about this on Monday, and then it'll be the end of your friendship," I playfully said to my students.
"It's their fault, sir," Christine blamed, laughing along.
"Anyway, are you three the only ones exploring the mall?" I asked them.
"We're actually with Jenny's older sister," Christine quickly responded. "Actually she's here now," she added.
"Hey, ladies, have you finished shopping?" I heard a cold voice behind me say.
"Huh?" I turned around and was startled to see the familiar face of woman.
"So, what's next? Shall we grab something to eat?" she asked, looking at me. "Oh, hello?" she greeted me.
As I gazed on her, I noticed that she was about 25 years old, or maybe younger. She has a bright, expressive eyes and a joyful smile that never fades, her vivacious personality shines through her elegant, yet approachable appearance. She's effortlessly showcased her beauty in a casual dress that perfectly hugged her curves, radiating a sense of effortless style and confidence. Even though she may not possess towering height, her sheer elegance while gracefully striding in two-inch white high-heeled shoes is utterly captivating and impossible to overlook.
My heart began to race as she approached us. I could feel the warmth spreading across my face as I confirmed that she was indeed the singer from the bar.
"H-Hi," I managed to stutter out.
"Sis, this is our school adviser, Sir Walter John Pelayo," Christine introduced her sister. "Sir Walter, this is Thrisha, my stunning older sister," she added.
Thrishia looked at me and smiled. "Oh... he's the teacher you often talk about having a crush on, right?" She shifted her gazed on me. "How have you been?" She extended her hand towards me.
I felt an overwhelming embarrassment, as if I wanted to disappear into the ground because of what I had done at the bar. I stood there, speechless, unsure of what to say. I glanced at her outstretched hand but couldn't bring myself to reach out and accept it.
"Sir?" Jenny called out.
"I... I'm okay now, thanks." I finally managed to hold her hand, but I couldn't meet her gaze. I prayed that she wouldn't recognize me, especially after my inappropriate behavior towards her while she was performing at the bar.
Suddenly, her gaze locked with mine, prompting a quick reaction from my eyes. I sensed her fervently hoping not to recall my face and expose my embarrassing actions from that fateful night, fearing it would lead to a loss of respect from my students.
"Mr. Pelayo, right? We're heading for a snack. You're welcome to join us," she kindly invited.
"Sir, please come along so my sister has someone to talk to," Christine urged.
"Thank you, but I'm currently with my mother here at the mall, so I can't," I regretfully replied.
"That's a shame," Jenny expressed disappointment, her face revealing it all.
"Perhaps next time," Christine suggested with a hopeful tone.
"Sure, next time should work," I agreed, nodding in agreement. 
Thrisha smiled and held my gaze. "I apologize for these three teenagers if they bothered you, sir," she sincerely said.
"It's alright," I responded briefly, still unable to meet her eyes.
"Anyways, we must be going now, Sir Pelayo. It was nice seeing you again."
My heart sank as her words echoed. She definitely remembered me. I mustered a forced smile and nodded.
"Same here," I responded.
"Goodbye, Sir Walter. See you on Monday," Jenny bid me farewell.
"See yah, sir," Christine said, leaving a meaningful smile as they walked towards outside the department store.
I couldn't help but chuckle as they walked away. I really hope Trishia doesn't spill the embarrassing thing I did at the bar. It seems I really went too far that night, to the point where even my friend Omar couldn't bear my behavior. Speaking of Omar, I plan to visit him tomorrow after I tidy up my room. Then, I'll find someone to accompany my mom, taking over for Manang.
I turned around to continue selecting clothes that would suit me. Trisha, Christine's sister, is still lingering in my thoughts. She's actually quite beautiful. I just didn't notice it much that night, perhaps because I was too emotional. I also didn't realize she was the sibling of one of my students. What a small world, as what they said.
I spotted a cerulean blue polo shirt and decided to try it on. The fabric felt soft, and I thought it suited me well. I glanced at the price tag and hesitated when I saw how expensive it was. But I really liked it, so I decided to include it in my purchase.
After nearly an hour, I finished my shopping. I met Mama in front of her favorite restaurant. I suggested we dine there so we wouldn't have to cook dinner when we got home. We promptly entered the restaurant to enjoy our meal. It was also a good opportunity for Mama to rest, considering the heavy curtains she had bought.
Inside the restaurant, a cool breeze filled the air. The gentle glow of the light bulbs adorned in decorative fixtures on the wall created a perfect ambiance. The restaurant boasted a modern theme that harmonized with its milk-colored walls. The enchanting melodies of Johann Sebastian Bach could be heard playing softly in the background. As one of the waiters spotted us, he graciously ushered us to an available table. With promptness, he handed over the restaurant's menu book, allowing us to peruse the array of delectable options.
"I'll treat you, Mom. Just place your order," I offered.
"No need, son. Let me take care of it this time. I'm delighted to be your company for the evening and thrilled to see you happy," she replied. The joy in her eyes was evident during those precious moments.
"Mom, let me handle this as a way to make up for the days I made you worry and cry," I reasoned with her.
"Son, you didn't ask for what happened. It was just a natural reaction because you were hurt by the woman you love and genuinely cared for. So, there's no need to feel guilty about it. As your mother, I did what I had to do to support you," Mama explained to me.
I felt the urge to cry again. My mom knows that I can be quite dramatic, and it seems like she's trying to outdo me.
"Ma, let's drop the theatrics for now. I might end up locking myself in my room again," I joked with her.
I noticed her reaction on her face. She pulled my head towards hers and showered me with kisses, starting from my cheek, then my forehead, and all the way to the top of my head.
I started to feel slightly uncomfortable with my mom's actions. I realized that people around us were watching and even laughing.
"Mom, people are looking at us. They might think you're spoiling me too much or that you're my sugar mommy," I joked with her.
"You silly goose," she replied, laughing, and playfully pinched me.
"Ouch! That hurts, Mom!" I exclaimed, rubbing the spot on my face where she pinched me.
"Never mind them. I don't care what people think or say. What matters to me is that you're okay, and I'm happy because I'm your mother, and you'll always be my baby boy," she reassured me.
My train of thought was interrupted when I remembered that the waiter who had been assisting us was still standing behind us, patiently waiting for our order. It seemed that even my mom was momentarily taken aback by the presence of the waiter.
I scratched my head and glanced at the smiling waiter. It appeared that he was enjoying our mother-son interaction.
"I apologize," I said, seeking to make amends.
"It's alright, sir. Watching the bond between a mother and son like yours is heartwarming," he replied. He held a small piece of paper, likely an order slip, in his left hand, while the pen was tucked behind his ear.
"Oh, Mom, go ahead and order. Just don't object; I've got this," I assured her.
"Alright then. You're the one with the money!" she laughed, kissing my cheek playfully once again. "Sorry, I'm just so happy that my baby boy is back," she added, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Mama, truly," I wiped away her tears with my handkerchief. "But, thank you. Thank you for not giving up on me. Thank you for not abandoning me. And I'm sorry for making you cry and worry." This time, I kissed her wrinkled cheek and hugged her tightly.
"There, our mother-son melodrama is over. I'm famished, Walter. I'll be able to eat a lot since you're treating me," Mama said, her eyes turning red from crying.
"No problem, Mama. Even if you order everything on the menu, it's okay. As long as you enjoy it. I don't mind washing the dirty dishes here," I replied, laughing.
Fortunately, the waiter who had been assisting us exhibited patience. So, when we were ready to order, Mama instructed me to give him a slightly larger tip. She knows I can be frugal with money.
After placing our order, I excused myself and left Mama temporarily to use the restroom. The restaurant was quite chilly, which made frequent trips to the bathroom inevitable. As I approached the men's restroom, I made a glimpse of my Mom and noticed a certain woman leaving the restaurant. My attention was then drawn to her who seemed incredibly familiar.
"Sam?" I called out, hastening towards the entrance to catch up with her.
Mama noticed me and rose from her seat upon witnessing my sudden dash towards the restaurant door.
"Walter!" she exclaimed, her voice slightly louder than usual.
I glanced back at her. "Ma, it's Sam, she's here!" I responded, continuing towards the door without hesitation.
Stepping outside the restaurant, my eyes immediately scanned the area for Sam. However, she was nowhere to be found. I was confident that it was her, as I couldn't possibly mistake her. I knew her silhouette, her gait, and even her hairstyle and attire. My restlessness intensified, fueled by the certainty that it was indeed her.
"Sam..." I whispered her name once again. I swiftly retrieved my cellphone to call her, but just as I was about to dial her number, I heard a familiar voice from behind.
"Walter..."
Taking a deep breath, I turned off my cellphone. I then faced the woman who had never left my side, the woman who had never stopped loving me. My mother.
"Ma?" I said, as she stood by the doorway, gazing at me. I approached her, "Let's return to our table. I'm hungry too," I invited her.