“What is happening here? Ms. Lucy? Candace?”
They both look back at me while helping mom on the bed. I see mom is having difficulty breathing.
“Mommy, I’m here.” I walk over to mom’s bed and sit on the edge of it.
“I already gave her the medicine Angel. Athena will be fine in a few minutes.” Candace says.
“Thank you guys, but you should have told me earlier.”
Mom holds my arm. “Angel…” Mom says between breathing heavily. “I told them not to…” She pauses for another heavy breath. 'I’ll be fine, don’t worry.” It’s hard for mom to utter a sentence.
“Mom, just don’t speak. Stay calm, I’m here, I’m not leaving you. We can talk when you feel better and can breathe easily.”
Mom nods in response.
“Candace, Ms. Lucy, I got this. You may leave and prepare for bed if you want. I’ll call you both when I need help here. Besides, mom is getting better now. Thank you, guys.”
“Don’t hesitate to call us if you need help, Angel.”
“Thank you, Ms. Lucy.”
I stay on my mom’s side quietly observing her breathing. Half an hour later, mom is no longer having difficulty breathing.
“I’m feeling better now,” Mom says, holding her chest. “It was tough.”
“I know mommy, but you’re fine now. Be mindful to eat healthy foods and take your medicine on time.”
“I’m trying Angel but most of the time I don’t have an appetite and it’s the reason I skip my medicine sometimes.”
“Your appetite earlier, was it because dad was with us for dinner?”
“Angel…” Mom glares at me but she blushes at the same. Mom can't lie to me. It was true, she feels better-having Angelo beside her.
“Come on, mommy, I know you,” I say, teasing her.
“Tell me. How was your talk with Angelo? I bet it turns out good. You’re calling him daddy now.” Mom asks, obviously diverting the topic.
“It did turn out great. We reconciled and it was such a relief that I had officially forgiven him. Angelo loves to be called dad. He wants me to call him dad and I feel the same way. Mommy, you know that right? I always wanted to have a father figure beside me and it did come true. I'm so happy." My voice breaks saying the latter.
I can still feel daddy's embrace, his arms wrap around me warmly, I feel loved. A fatherly love that I have never felt in my entire life.
Mommy's eyes are in tears as her hands reach for me. I hold mom's arms and then hug her, letting my tears escape. Mom cries too. We are both emotional and I completely understand why. Angelo is my father and the man that my mom loves. I've come to realize the sacrifices that they had to do before I was born.
"Angel, how was Maddox?"
Mom's question shocks me. I wipe my tears and fix my hair, trying to think of anything good to say. Any excuse that will do to hide the truth. "Mommy, let's not talk about Maddox, I'm sure he is fine in the Philippines. For now, I only want to talk about you and dad. Care to share your love story?"
Mom smiles widely, she blushes again. "Well, you know that I work as her secretary, right? What else do you want to know?"
"Mommy, did you ever regret falling in love or choosing to have a relationship with dad? I mean, you know that it was unlikely you'll end up together, given that he was from the elite."
Mom heaves a sigh and a bittersweet smile. "Angel, I didn't even notice I was falling for your dad and I think when it is pure, it happens naturally. Your dad is a good person even from the start, he didn't treat me bad as his secretary. When he started taking me out, I took it like a boss-employee relationship. Like when we are on our way to a meeting or on a trip abroad for business, he would take time to treat me for dinner."
"Until one day he confessed to me and I couldn't help but confess my feelings as well. We are both shocked knowing our feelings are mutual. We did our best to hide our relationship but no secrets lasted for Angelo's parents. And then we were left with no choice when his parents gave the ultimatum of breaking us up."
"When I think about it even now. I don't have any regrets. I love and cherish every moment I had with your dad because I know it was genuine. We are both in love with each other. Madly in love and you are the fruit of it, sweetheart. Angelo and I love you so much." Moms says with tears in her eyes.
I feel guilty about breaking up with Maddox. I was weak and selfish for doing it. "I love you, mommy. I am so proud of you and dad for fighting for your love. You both are brave." I embrace mom for the second time.
“Enough with crying. By the way, where's your dad? Is he asleep now?”
“Dad told me he needs to talk to his secretary for business. Do you want me to call him?”
“Angel, I want to talk to your dad but I can wait until he is free. Let’s just wait.”
“Dad may be free now, we’ve been talking for almost an hour already. I’ll take a peek and see if dad is not working anymore.”
Mom nods in agreement.
I knock on dad’s door. “It’s me, dad. Can I come in?”
“Sure, come on in.”
Dad’s room is huge just like what mom and I have. The left corner is where his mini office is.
“Dad, are you busy? I’m sorry to disturb you.”
“No. I’ve talked to my secretary and passed some work to him. I am free now. Do you need something?”
“Not me, it’s mom. She asked me to come here to check if you are free to talk to her.”
Dad immediately stands up from his swivel chair. “Of course, let’s go, sweetheart, your mom probably needs us.”
“Wait. By the way, I told mom what we talked about earlier and she was happy to know we have reconciled. It put a smile on her face after she had difficulty breathing.”
“That’s good to know. But why did your mom have difficulty breathing? You should have told me, Angel.”
“Yeah, it happens from time to time. I know it’s one of chemotherapy’s side effects. I chose not to disturb you as you have told me you’ll be here for business. You don’t have to worry, mom has recovered, she is still weak though.”
“Yes, the side effects are making your mom unable to sleep.”
“I carried mom early in the morning when I helped her sit in her bed, she was light. Mom lost too much weight, her face is sagging and the dark circles in her eyes are getting bigger.”
“Oh, sweetheart, we have to figure out a way to help your mom.”
“Then you should talk to her. Mom might listen.”
"I will surely do that. Let's go."
Ms. Lucy and Candace are with mom when Dad and I walk in, in mom's room. They are helping mommy sit in the bed comfortably.
"Athena, I'm here," Dad says as he kisses mom on the cheek and then sits on the bed. It certainly brightens mom's face. "Angel told me you wanted to talk."
"Yes. Candace, Lucy, can you please leave us for a while?"
"Yes, we will be outside. Angel, call us if you need help." Candace says.
It's just the three of us left in the room. Angelo and I are waiting for mom to speak. "Angelo, I only have one request left."
"Athena, what is it? Just say it."
"I want to go home. I want to spend time with you and Angel."
"Mommy? Why?"
"Angel, please... Let's go home."