"Hi sweety, kumain ka na ba?"
The moment I entered the door, mom and her question welcomed me. Agad na sumulyap sa paningin ko si Ally na tulog na tulog sa sofa. Mom gave me a smile nang muli ko siyang hinarap at agad kinuha ang suot-suot kong bag.
"May pagkain sa mesa. Just tell me if you're hungry ipag-iinit kita," she asked again.
"Hindi pa po ako kumakain but I'm not yet hungry. Maybe I'll go to sleep--"
"Hindi pwede 'yan, Abie. Kumain ka kahit kaunti lang," putol niya sa sinasabi ko. I was about to deny again nang muli siyang magsalita. "Come on, kumain ka kahit kaunti lang." She already started walking up to our kitchen kaya wala na akong nagawa kun'di sumunod sa kaniya.
Isa-isa niyang nilagay sa mesa ang mga ulam at kanin mula sa kabilang mesa at huling nilagay ang plato sa harap ko. Sunod ay umupo siya sa harapan ko.
"How's your group activity?" she asked in the middle ng paglalagay ko ng pagkain sa plato. I gave her a look bago muling itinuon ang paningin sa platong may pagkain. Napalunok nalang ako nang magsimula akong nakaramdam ng kaba.
"Mom, actually, we don't do group--"
"Teka! Sandali! I remember, I have something for you." Para akong nabunutan ng tinik nang putulin niya ang sinasabi ko.
Mabilis siyang tumayo at patakbong naglakad papunta sa sala, nang makabalik ay may dala-dala na itong maliit na kahon.
"For you." Nakangiti niyang inabot sa akin ang kahon at muling umupo sa kaharap na upuan ko. I faced her smiling and based on her facial expression na-excite ako bigla sa binigay niya.
Wala na akong salita pang binigkas. I excitedly opened the box. Nakangiti ko itong ginawa but my smile widen more nang makita ang laman nito.
"Hope you like it," she said the moment I saw what's inside of it. My tears started forming on my eyes as I look at her. I saw nothing but her sweet smile.
"Thank you mommy!"
"Hindi man 'yan 'yong matagal mo ng sinasabi sa aking pangarap mong cellphone. At least it's much better than your old one." I sighed softly bago siya sinagot.
"Okay na 'to mom. Kahit nga hindi mo na ako binilhan I can still manage on my old phone. But thank you for this. Aalagaan ko 'to promise." My lips can't stop on smiling. I continued eating with my eyes still on the phone I'm holding.
"How's your group activity again? Sorry?" she asked again that made me now stopped from smiling. Humigpit ang aking hawak sa kutsara at cellphone before facing her. Nag-uunahang bumalik ang kaba na nawala kanina sa akin. Pakiramdam na nanlalamig na ako with that simple question.
"Ayos naman po. Masaya. But we're not yet done. We will have again tomorrow," I lied. My first time lying to mom. I shouldn't doing this but I have to.
"So this means hindi nanaman tayo sabay uuwi bukas?" she asked worried. Sadness is present on her face and it made me sad too.
"Sorry, mom," tanging naisagot ko nalang. But suddenly smile showed on her face. Dahilan para bahagya akong magtaka.
"You don't have to say sorry. It's okay, I understand," she said now smiling. Hindi man ganun kalawak ang ngiti niya but I still find it true and sincere. "Para naman ito sa grade mo so I won't say anything about it. I'll support you."
Biglang namuo ang lungkot at guilt on my heart. I know it's bad, dahil iyon ang itinuro sa amin nila, na masamang magsinungaling, but I have nothing to do but lie. I shouldn't be lying to them but I have to especially that I know na maganda ang bunga nito after. Kailangan kong magtiis in order for me to help my mom.
KAKAIBANG umaga ang bumungad sa akin kinaumagahan. The unusual morning happened nang magising akong  not because mom wake me up. Nagising akong medyo madilim pa sa labas, I tried to sleep again but I just failed. Kaya naman I decided to just go down to the kitchen where I am sure that mom is where now. I find her busy cooking with phone on her ear. Hindi niya  napansin ang pagbaba ko dahil nakatalikod ito sa akin.
"I just want to give the needs of our daughter. You don't have to shout on me."
"I told you right ? Abby and Ally are not a kid anymore. So don't you dare talk to me like you saw them grow."
"If you don't want to sopport  them financially it's fine! I can do it for them but remember this ... if you stop giving them financial support, forget you have daughther named Ally and Abie."
After their long conversation na sa tingin ko ay hindi magandang usapan, mom continued mixing the sinangag she's cooking. Sumisinghot nitong nilipat sa malaking lagayan pagkatapos, there I started walking palapit sa  kaniya. I hugged her mula sa likiran dahilan para bahagya siyang magulat.
"Good morning mom!" I greated her happily.
Agad namang napalitan ng ngiti ang gulat niya. "Good morning, sweety! Ang aga mo atang nagising." I kissed her on her checks bago pinutol ang pagkakayakap sa kaniya at hinarap siya.
"Nag-away ba kayo ni daddy?" I asked her the moment I faced her dahilan para bahagya pa siyang magulat. Sinasabayan niya ang mga titig ko pero hindi niya kinaya kalaunan. She heaved a deep sigh bago itinuon ang paningin sa sandok na hawak niya.
"Your dad is sick, Abie. Hindi na niya kayo kayang suportahan financially," sagot niya. Wala akong naisagot kaya binigyan ko lang siya ng ngiti para mapagaan ang loob niya. "He called me just to say that his money ay nakalaan na sa pagpapagamot niya. I don't think kakayanin ko 'tong mag-isa," she added sadly. She's about to cry nang kunin ko ang kamay niya at tiningnan ng diretso sa mata.
I think it is the reason why I woke up early. "Hindi ka naman mag-isa eh. I am here, Ally is here. Makatutulong kami," I answered trying to smile. But It didn't make her smile. Mukhang problemadong-problemado talaga siya. She looked at me worried bago ako sinagot.
"No. Kayong dalawa ni Ally must focus on your studies. Ako nang bahala rito."
"No mom, let us help you."
"Sabing hindi eh. You're too young to problem things like this. Halika na rito at kumain ka na." Wala na akong naisagot pa sa sinabi niya. She left me unspoken nang maglakad siya papunta sa mesa. Agad ko siyang nilingon and I caught her rubbing her tears falling down from her eyes. Biglang kumirot ang puso ko. Seeing my mom crying hurts me but seeing her na patagong umiiyak breaks my heart.
"Kung nagbago ang isip mo, you can freely come back here. Just consult Ella or me." Then I remembered what Max told me kanina bago ako umuwi.
Wala na akong pagpipilian pa... Kailangan ko na talagang ituloy ang nasimulan ko na.