When we entered the guest room, I helped Ervine lie down on the bed, and Anita went out to fetch some drinks. The three of us were left inside the room. Aunt Lucy approached and sat beside Ervine, unaware that the baby she had left on the sidewalk all those years ago was right in front of her. Didn't she feel a surge of recognition?
"T-Tita, thank you very much for your kindness," I expressed my gratitude.
"You're welcome. Your friend seems unaccustomed to going out. He just needs some rest, and you'll be able to go home later," she replied.
Ervine's gaze averted, unable to meet Aunt Lucy's eyes. Aunt Lucy smiled and held Ervine's hand. We were surprised by her action, and she even closed her eyes before speaking.
"You know, when I saw you earlier, I couldn't understand why your face seemed familiar. It reminded me of my deceased child," Aunt Lucy shared sadly.
I knew she was referring to Ervine. But deceased? Didn't she know that her child was alive? I had so many questions that needed clarification now.
"Uhm, w-what happened to your son?" I cautiously asked.
"How did you know my child was a boy?" Aunt Lucy interjected.
I slipped in what I said. She hadn't mentioned whether her child was a boy or a girl.
Aunt Lucy stood up and briefly left the room. When she returned, she had a photo in her hands. She showed it to us—it was a picture of her when she was pregnant, with her husband by her side.
"I got pregnant with my ex-boyfriend. I found out on our wedding day that the child I was carrying wasn't his. I kept it a secret because I didn't want any trouble, but there are no secrets that remain hidden forever. When he found out that the child I was carrying wasn't his, he threatened to kill the baby once I gave birth. I couldn't do anything, so when I gave birth to my baby boy, I left him on the sidewalk, hoping that someone would find and take care of him, love him."
Tears welled up in Aunt Lucy's eyes, and she covered her mouth with her hand. I glanced at Ervine; he was lying on his side, covered by a blanket. I could sense the weight of everything he was hearing from his own mother. Aunt Lucy was completely unaware that her abandoned child was right beside her.
"A-Are you r-regretting it?" Ervine suddenly spoke, his voice trembling.
"Yes, of course! I deeply regret it! If I were given a chance, I would want to be with him right now. If only I were stronger back then..." I will fight for him so that we won't be separated! But I became weak! Until my husband left me and replaced me with someone else. Jaime, the father of my son, came back to me. We reunited and were blessed with a daughter."
Perhaps the man in Ervine's photo is his true father. Maybe when Aunt Lucy found them together, they reconciled, and now Ervine has a younger sister.
"Didn't you even try to find him?" Aunt Lucy glared at him.
She got up from the bed, her whole body trembling. I approached her and gently rubbed her back, trying to calm her down. I knew it would reach a point where she would become extremely emotional, which is why she brought me along, to restrain her.
"I tried to find him! But no one saw my child. I lost hope! I know what I did is unforgivable! If you only knew, there isn't a day that I didn't think about him. I get chills every time I remember my weakness back then!"
Aunt Lucy couldn't hold back any longer and burst into uncontrollable tears.
Anita returned and saw her aunt kneeling and crying. She quickly placed the drinks she was carrying and tried to calm her Aunt Lucy.
"Aunt, what happened to you?" Anita asked with concern.
"I-I'm okay, I'm sorry, I just got carried away with our conversation. It's better if I calm down in my room. I'll leave you for a while."
"Just a moment!" I was surprised when Ervine suddenly stopped Aunt Lucy from leaving.
"D-Do you need anything else?" Aunt Lucy paused and held Ervine's hand.
A young girl, around eight years old, suddenly entered the room. She hugged her mother's arm.
"Lea! You're home."
"We picked strawberries, Mom. I brought some for you."
"We have visitors!" A tall man suddenly entered.
"Uncle Jaime, this is Charlotte, and Ervine. Charlotte was my classmate in elementary," Anita introduced.
I noticed tears welling up in Ervine's eyes. Even I would be hurt if I saw my mom and dad in front of me, while I was...
"W-We should go home now. We've stayed here for too long." Ervine got up from the bed and held my hand.
"Are you leaving? Alright, I'll escort you to the gate with Anita."
"Brother, brother! Here, these are for you!" Lea happily handed a small basket full of strawberries.
"Thank you..." Ervine replied softly.
Anita escorted us to the front gate and bid us farewell. As we were about to leave their house, we heard a voice.
"Wait!!" Tita Lucy ran after us.
"This is for the two of you, take it." She gave us a small gift.
A pair of shawls? The fabric was beautiful, soft, and felt nice against the skin. I've always wanted to have a shawl like this around my neck.
"Uhm, Ervine, take this too." Aside from the shawl, she gave something to Ervine.
"I don't know why, but I really feel like your face is familiar. I can't help but think of my child when I look at you... I deserve punishment from heaven for what I've done! But if given the chance, I want to hold him tightly. I'll tell him how much I love him! Even if he rejects me, I'll still embrace him tightly and ask for forgiveness for all my sins against him." Tears once again filled Tita Lucy's eyes.
Ervine approached her and wiped the tears flowing down her cheeks. He handed her a handkerchief.
"Wherever he is, I'm sure he has already forgiven you! Don't worry... I'm certain he is happy wherever he is now because he feels your love..."
Tita Lucy embraced Ervine tightly, a scene that brought tears to my eyes. His mother placed a pocket watch in Ervine's hand. When he opened it, there was a picture inside, a picture of his mother, father, and sibling.