It is nearly dusk as my mom and I leave the mall, our shopping bags filled with items for my room makeover. I realize that it's the perfect opportunity to visit Omar's place and apologize for the hurtful words I said to him last night, although I haven't mentioned this plan to my mom.
As we park the car in front of Omar's house, I notice that it is dark and there are no lights on. My mom also remarks on the absence of any activity inside. Worried, I take out my cell phone and try calling him, hoping for a response. However, Omar doesn't answer, further fueling my concern. He has always been there for me, patiently listening to my frustrations, and absorbing my anger. Perhaps I have finally pushed him too far.
"Maybe his family went out of town," my mom suggests, trying to provide a reasonable explanation.
"Just hold on, mom. Let me try calling him again," I respond, not wanting to give up just yet.
I persist in trying to reach Omar, dialing his number multiple times, but to no avail. Finally, I decided that I would have to speak to him at school to understand why he hasn't been responding. It's unusual for him to ignore my calls, and I can't help but wonder if he's still angry with me or if something else is going on in his life causing his silence.
Putting my phone down, I signal to my mom that it's time for us to go home and rest. She gets in the car while I take one last glance at Omar's darkened house. The worry for my friend intensifies, knowing he hasn't reached out since last night. Just as I'm about to climb into the car, my cell phone suddenly rings. However, the caller is displayed as an unknown number, leaving me curious about who it could be. I answered the call immediately, eager to find out who it might be.
"Hello?" I greeted, waiting to hear a response. However, there was silence on the other end. 
"Hello? May I know who is calling, please?" I inquired once more, yet still no answer.
I pulled the cell phone away from my ear and examined the screen. The number displayed was unfamiliar to me, adding to the mystery.
"Could it be Omar, son?" Mama asked, seeking clarification.
"I'm not sure, Mom. He isn't responding," I informed her. "And I don't recognize the number," I added.
Placing the phone back to my ear, I desperately wanted to know who was calling. Suddenly, Sam crossed my mind, and I recalled the incident at the restaurant earlier.
"Sam?" I called out, hoping for a response.
After uttering that name, the caller abruptly ended the call. I knew it had to be Sam who had called. Our shared experiences meant that he wouldn't easily forget me.
I caught Mama's gaze, unsure if she had heard me mention Sam's name. Attempting to convey a sense of normalcy, I mustered a smile in her direction. Slipping my cell phone into my pocket, I climbed into the car.
"I'll just talk to Omar on Monday. Maybe he went back to his in-laws," I informed Mama, who remained fixated on me.
"I don't think he knows you're planning to come here today," Mama remarked.
"That's why I was hoping they would be here, especially since their house is conveniently close to the mall," I responded as I started the car. "I had planned to visit their place tomorrow, but since we're already here, it would be better to take a break tomorrow."
"Perhaps you can try calling him again once we're back home," Mama suggested.
"Yes, that's exactly what I'll do when we get home," I agreed, commencing our drive.
After a twenty-minute drive, we arrived at our house. The lights were already on, indicating that my sisters had made it home before us. I parked the car in the garage, and Mama helped me unload the items we bought from the mall.
Kyla, my youngest sister, greeted us enthusiastically and offered to lend a hand with the shopping. "Wow, it looks like you brought the entire mall home, big brother," she playfully remarked.
"If it's possible, why not?" I replied.
"Mama, let me handle these," she said, taking the curtains from Mama's hands.
"Mama, please go inside and take a rest. Kyla and I will take care of everything here," I suggested. Knowing she was tired from the shopping, I didn't want her to strain herself further by carrying the items.
"Alright, I'll head to my room for a while to rest," she said, stretching her back. "Aging does take its toll, doesn't it?" she added with a smile.
"Mama, age is just a number. You're as strong as ever, and you look like you're only twenty years old," Kyla chimed in, entering the house with the curtains in her hands.
"Kyla, Mama is even stronger than a buffalo! People mistake her for my girlfriend. One of my male classmates even asked for her number when we were at the mall," I shared.
"Oh goodness, you two always find a way to tease me," Mama laughed, enjoying our playful banter.
"Well, that's why we've decided not to take Mama with us to the mall anymore. Everyone thinks she's the youngest among us," Kyla continued, joking about our mother.
"Really? Mama still has that irresistible charm. No wonder Dad never looked at anyone else," I chuckled.
"Oh dear, if your dad ever tries to be foolish, he won't have a family to return to," Mama teased when I mentioned our dad.
"But Papa has always been loyal to you. With your beauty, he would never even consider looking at anyone else," Kyla reassured.
"Okay, enough teasing. It's always the two of you targeting me," Mama said, entering the house.
All I can say is that my siblings and I are incredibly fortunate to have Mama. She is loving and supportive, especially to me as the youngest. Though she may have a special place in her heart for me, she loves all of us equally. Since the incident when I almost drowned in the river, she has become extremely protective of me. My siblings understand and there hasn't been any issue between us. We appreciate her care and the strong bond we share as a family.
Mama Loreta was 62 years old and possessed a timeless beauty that emanated from within. Her silver-streaked hair cascaded softly around her shoulders, framing a face adorned with kind, sparkling eyes that mirrored the depth of her compassion. The gentle lines etched upon her face revealed a life rich with experiences and a heart that overflowed with love. Her warm and welcoming smile could instantly put anyone at ease, and her graceful presence exuded an aura of comfort and motherly care. Well, she was one of a kind to be considered and I was considered lucky to be her son.
When we entered the house, Fae was busy preparing her famous Leche Flan for sale. She had received another order from her friends. As soon as she caught sight of our mom, she warmly hugged her with a respectful "mano" gesture. Fae, being the third among us siblings, also worked as a college instructor in a private school.
"Looks like you bought a lot, huh, big brother? Is the moving-on process finally in full swing?" she playfully remarked.
"Yes. I've had enough of being a hermit in my smelly room," I jokingly responded.
"Oh, I love your answer, big brother. I fully support your moving on, just promise me you won't shed another tear for that Sam," she said with a knowing smile.
Fae possesses a sharp tongue. She's fearless when speaking her mind, even if it may hurt others. However, more often than not, she turns out to be correct. Though she doesn't participate in conversations frequently, when she does speak up, you can trust that it will make sense. Surprisingly, she has never had a boyfriend in her entire life. That's why Kyla often teases her as a "man-hater." In my opinion, that's far from the truth. But when it comes to her secrets, she only entrusts them to me. Among all my siblings, she's the most open with me. So, even though her bluntness sometimes hits me hard, it's okay because Fae is one of the most genuine people I know.
"Later, I'll let you taste my new recipe. I know when it comes to taste, you're the most accurate judge," she proudly declared, returning to her work in the kitchen.
"Sure thing. Just make sure that new recipe of yours is delicious," I replied, heading downstairs with my shopping bags.
"No problem, big brother. Once you give it your seal of approval, I'm confident it'll be a hit with my friends," she said with pride.
"Alright, I'll head up to my room to put away my groceries," I informed her. My room and my older brother's room are located on the second floor of our house. Kyla and Fae shared a room on the ground floor of our house. Next to them is our parent's room.
I noticed Mom entering her room, accompanied by Kyla. She must have been tired from our shopping trip to the mall. At least, it provided me with an opportunity to apologize to her and bond together as a mother and son.
Stepping into my room, a sense of strangeness overwhelmed me. No curtains were adorning the windows, allowing a clear view of the rambutan tree's branches outside. The once sky-blue wallpaper that adorned my room had been removed. In one corner, large boxes contained clothes, curtains, perfumes, decorations, and everything associated with Sam. Mom had suggested donating them to the foundations instead of disposing or burning them, as they would be of use to those in need. I told her she could decide what she wanted to do with my old belongings.
Letting out a sigh, I placed the paper bags containing my new clothes on the bed. As I did, I reflected upon the events that unfolded earlier at the restaurant and the mysterious phone call we received when Mom and I attempted to visit Omar.
Pulling out my cell phone from my pocket, I examined the call history. My gaze was fixated on the contact number of the person who had called earlier. Judging from the area code, it was apparent that the call originated from the Philippines. I contemplated calling that number. Perhaps it was Sam, and she hadn't left yet. Maybe she had hesitated to answer her call.
At that moment, my heart and mind engaged in a battle over whether or not to make that call. My heart yearned to know if it was Sam who had reached out, but my mind reminded me of the pain I had already endured. What if Sam wanted to come back? What if the person I saw at the restaurant wasn't her, and she had already departed the country for good? I remained in a state of confusion and overwhelm. Why was it so difficult to let her go from my heart and release the pain she had caused in my life? Admittedly, I still felt the pain, but it was no longer as intense as before.
I placed my cell phone on the bed and stretched out on the soft mattress. Closing my eyes, I attempted to shift my thoughts away from Sam. I needed to embrace a life without her and embark on the healing process that she had set in motion within my heart.
I almost jumped out of bed as my cell phone suddenly rang, prompting me to quickly grab it from the mattress and answer the call.
"Hello?" I greeted, waiting for the person on the other end to respond.
"Hey bro, it's Omar. Sorry if I disturbed you. Our neighbor mentioned that you and Auntie dropped by our place. But we ended up going on a family outing in Batangas, so we're just returning now," Omar explained.
"No worries, bro. My mom and I wanted to visit last night, especially since she accompanied me to buy some new stuff at the City Mall near you," I replied.
"Good to hear that you had time with your mom. Sorry for not responding to your messages, I left my cell phone at home."
"It's all good, bro. Besides, I'm not used to us parting ways after that not-so-pleasant night at the bar. I apologize if I said anything that upset you. I was being stupid and didn't treat you well," I awkwardly conveyed my apologies to Omar. Apologizing over the phone was a bit out of my comfort zone.
"Bro, I'm the one who should be embarrassed about what I did last night. Instead of being supportive and understanding, I walked out. I was stressed from schoolwork that day, so my patience was short. I'm sincerely sorry, bro. If you want, we can go back to the bar later, my treat," Omar responded, causing me to almost choke on his words.
"No need, bro. Just rest, especially since you just got home," I reasoned.
"Bro, I insist. It's the only way I can make amends for what happened that night," he said sincerely. If only he knew the shame I felt after he left.
"Bro, to be honest, I don't enjoy going to that bar anymore," I confessed.
"What?" He chuckled. "From what I remember, it used to be your favorite place to unwind. Now suddenly, you don't want to go there?"
"Just trust me, bro. I'll explain when we meet at school on Monday."
"Alright then. It seems like you're ready to return to school on Monday, huh? That's great to hear, bro. As a welcome celebration for the most famous teacher at Saint Therese of Liseux Academy, I'll treat you to unlimited pizza and ice cream at the faculty," he playfully replied to my statement.
"You goofball, go ahead and do that. I won't speak to you for a month," I jokingly responded.
His laughter echoed through the phone. "Oh, come on, don't you want me to throw a welcome-back party for you?"
"You always do that anyway. Can't you just be happy that I'll be returning to school on Monday?"
"That's why I want to treat you unlimited pizza and ice cream. I'm thrilled that my best friend is going back to work. Everything will be okay again, and our partnership at school will be restored," he said, this time with a serious tone in his voice.
I let out a sigh of relief. Thankfully, I have a friend like Omar, who's like a brother to me.
"Alright, fine. I'll go along with whatever you want, bro. Also, thank you for being a true friend. Your kindness is beyond words. See you on Monday, bro. I got a bit tired earlier from shopping for the things I needed here in my room," I expressed my gratitude to him.
"Sure thing, bro. Rest up as well. I'm glad you're doing better. I'll see you on Monday at school," Omar replied.
"Okay. Good night, bro," I bid him farewell as I ended the call. At that moment, I let out a sigh of relief, feeling some of my worries fade away because Omar and I were now on good terms.
I relaxed on my soft bed, shutting my eyes. Before I knew it, I had succumbed to sleep.