Lea comes to us in mom’s room. Lucy is on the left side of the bed as she was trying to help mom make it comfortable and probably breathe easily. Mommy is like running out of breath which is worse than usual.
“Mommy…” I hop on the right side of the bed.
Mom only moves her teary eyes. She looks at me, her lips parting like she wants to speak up but is unable to because of the shortness of breath.
“Mom it's okay, I’m here. You don’t have to say anything, mommy.”
“Angel, is Aunt Athena normally like this when she wakes up?” Lea asks, her voice trembling in fear.
“No Lea, this is the worst one but mom will be fine later on, you’ll see.” I don’t know why it seems my words don't sound convincing to me. I don’t know why I fear for mom’s life seeing her in the worst condition.
“Angel…” Mom says as she reaches for my hand. Her hands are cold as eyes. I hold mom by the wrist to help her find strength in what she has to say.
“Mommy, don’t speak. You need to earn your strength, we can talk later when you’re already fine.”
Mom shakes her head in disagreement. “Angelo…”
“Dad…? Do you want to see dad?”
Mom nods slowly in agreement. I get it immediately so I ask Lea to replace me in taking care of mom as I call dad. Dad answers the call immediately and agrees to come right away.
I don’t know how he made it. Ten minutes later, dad is ringing the doorbell.
“Dad, you’re too fast,” I say as I open the door for him.
“Angel, I don’t understand everything you said but I was worried for your mom. I took my Ferrari to get here as fast as possible. Where’s your mom?”
“In the master’s bedroom.” Dad follows me, we are like jogging to mom’s room; eager to see her.
Still in the same situation when we enter the room, mom is having a hard time breathing. Mom’s eyes light up as she sees dad with me. Lea moves out of the bed to give way for dad.
“Athena, I’m here,” Dad sits on the other side of the bed and then he kisses mom’s forehead.
They look at each other without a word coming out of their mouth. Dad holds mom’s hand and he touches mom’s face on the other hand.
“Athena, I love you. I still love you. I want you to know that you are the only woman that I love.”
Mom’s tears stream down her cheeks as she hears dad confess his love. Mom is unable to speak clearly, only a hiss of air comes out of her mouth.
“Athena, it’s okay. I know you love me too. You don’t have to say anything. It’s been a long time but you still look beautiful as you were the first day I met you." Dad trails his fingers on mom's cheek. "It’s funny how this life played us but despite that, we met again. Athena, we are family, we have Angel, our daughter. The blessing of our life."
Mom nods in response, tears keep streaming on her cheeks. My eyes are in tears as I sit on the other side of the bed. I hold mom’s hand, trying to ease her pain.
Mom and dad still hold gazes like teenagers so much in love with each other. A moment that feels like an eternity. I don't want this to last. Having mom and dad beside me.
But I feel pain despite the love screaming in the air. Mom is in pain, probably the worst pain yet she shows so much love in her eyes.
Mom closed her eyes with a smile on her lips. It scares me to death seeing mom not breathing anymore. “Mommy… Mommy?” I hold mom’s face to wake her up but no response from her. She breathed her last.
"No... mommy, no," I said, weeping like a child. I wrap my arms around mom's neck. "Don't leave me yet, mommy."
Dad strokes my back while crying in silence. “Angel, your mom is gone, sweetheart. Let her rest, your mom is tired.”
I stay still, hugging mom tightly. Dad transfers to my side, trying to soothe my pain.
"Let your mom rest, Angel. Your mom was gone with so much love from us both. She's happy knowing we are on good terms before she left us. Sweetheart, remember, you are not alone. I am here for you."
I slowly unwrap my arms around mom and hug daddy tightly. We cry on each other's shoulders. We feel the same pain for losing mom.
Dad slowly unwraps his arms around me and then caresses my hair. "Angel, I need to lay your mom in the bed properly. You sit on the couch with your friend."
I nod in response. Daddy wipes my tears using his handkerchief and then he gives it to me. I wipe his tears as well. After all, we only have each other this time. No one in this world knows how painful it is to lose my mom.
Dad gently lays mom in her bed and then covers her with a blanket. “I have to go and start arranging for your mom’s funeral." Dad walks over to the couch and sits beside me.
"You can stay here with your friend."
"Ahm, daddy, this is Lea my best friend."
"Hello, Mr. Park," Lea, raises a hand in greetings.
"Nice to meet you. Thanks for staying with Angel now. I hope we can get to know each other the next time we meet."
"Sure." Lea's short reply.
"Lucy and Candace, please stay with Angel and Lea while I prepare the funeral."
"We will," Lucy answered.
"You don’t have to worry, I will take care of everything, Angel. We will give your mom a decent funeral until she will be laid in her grave. You got me here, sweetheart. Remember what I told you, you are not alone.” Daddy pats my hair.
“Thank you, dad. I don’t know what to do without you.” I say as I wrap my arms around him again. I sob like a child and can’t help it. I feel bad for how I treated dad before. He is my savior now.
“I love you, daddy.”
“It’s gonna be alright. I love you too, Angel.”
Daddy walks out of the room, my head is full of questions about why everything turned out as it did.
“Angel, I’m sorry about your mom,” Lea says crying, she hugs me tightly. I sob in her chest again.
Dad takes care of everything from taking mom to the funeral and preparing her for the vigil in the chapel. I don’t have the strength to move and watch mom being put inside the coffin.
Even though I am here in the chapel now, everything still feels surreal. Lea and Glenn come with me to the chapel. They are my strength.
“Angel, I hope you’re not mad. I told our friends about what happened. They might be here anytime now.” Lea says as she sits beside me. Glenn sits beside Lea after they take a look at mom in her coffin.
“I don’t mind. I felt bad not letting them know, I’m so occupied with so many questions in my head. Everything hasn’t sunk in my system yet.”
Lea lays her hand on my back as she seems to notice my voice break. I’m able to hold my tears this time.
“Angel, you won’t believe my eyes,” Lea says with a trace of shock and annoyance at the same time.
“Lea, what is it?”
“See for yourself.”
I turn back immediately. Cassandra and her minions are standing at the doorway, smirking proudly with their heads up high.