Chapter 30 – Formal and cold.

"Mama," tawag niya sa atensyon ng inang nakatayo malapit sa glass wall ng kanyang opisina.

Lumingon si Andrea Montenegro at tipid ang malamig nitong ngiti sa kanya. Sometimes, he wondered if his mother ever knew how to be a mother.

Wala man lang warmth ang kanyang ina.

"What brought you here?" he asked.

"Is that how you welcome your mother, son?"

Gusto niyang paikutin ang mga mata niya. Ito nga ang wala man lang emosyon pagkakita sa kanya eh.

"I'm just asking, Ma." He approached Andrea and kissed her cheek.

And that simple gesture surprised his mother. Bagamat saglit lang nag-iba ang ekspresyon sa mga mata nito.

"Well, I felt obliged to pay you a visit," Andrea took a seat without breaking eye contact with him. "A Director raised a concern that you're always unreachable. What is going on, Ethan?"

"Tinatanong mo ba ako, Mama, dahil hindi mo pa alam? O kailangan mo ng kumpirmasyon?" Knowing her, alam niyang alam na nito kung bakit at sino ang pinagkakaabalahan niya.

"Why are you not listening to your mother?" Andrea gave it away. "You always let your heart rule you. I've told you a hundred times that Allison would be your downfall. You never listened."

Huminga siya nang malalim. Ayaw niyang makipag-away sa ina. Not about Allison. Tapos na siya sa stage ng buhay niya na ganoon siya. He didn't become a successful Billionaire at his age kung tama ang kanyang ina na puso lang lagi ang pinapairal niya.

"Mama, Ally is not doing well," malumanay niyang sagot.

"Exactly my point, Ethan. If Allison does not make it, what would happen to you?" Andrea might have failed to sound concerned.

But her tone that was below her usual, made Ethan feel that she was worried about him. Napangiti siya sa loob niya. Hindi niya inaasahan iyon.

"If Ally doesn't live, I will be fine, Mama. Just please, don't tell me to stop being beside her at this time. She needs me."

He would be fine. Yes. Masakit. But if he can't do anything anymore, wala naman siyang choice, 'di ba? And he knew Ally would want him to continue without her.

But until then, the fight is not yet over. Hangga't buhay pa ito, hindi siya mawawalan ng pag-asang gagaling ito.

"I don't understand you. There are lots of women out there! But you keep going back to her. Whatever happened to that opportunist girlfriend of yours?" tukoy nito kay Felicity.

"We broke up. I cannot keep leading her on, Mama. Besides, didn't you always disapprove of my relationship with her? And Siti has changed. Do not call her like that."

Andrea rolled her eyes. "I don't know what to do with you anymore!"

"I just need you to support me, Mama. Give me this time with Ally. Like you said, she might not make it any longer," mahina niyang pakiusap.

Parang nilalamukos ang puso niya at the mere thought of losing Ally forever.

"Isa pa, hindi pa ba napatunayan sa 'yo ni Ally na hindi pera ang habol niya sa akin? You did not lose your twenty million to her. And she tried to leave me when she got ill instead of fighting it with me because she didn't want to lead me to the ruin you always say…" aniya pa.

Hindi sumagot si Andrea. Siguro, dahil nakita nito ang paghihirap sa mga mata niya.

"Let me be with Ally, Mama," he added. Hindi naman niya kailangang makiusap sa ina. Matanda na siya. Hindi niya kailangan ang basbas nito.

But out of pure respect for this woman who bore him, he was willing to drop his pride. Besides, nakakasawa na rin ang laging makipagbangayan sa sarili niyang ina.

"Looks like I can no longer do anything. You've already decided." Tumayo na si Andrea. Hanggang sa huli, mukhang hindi nito nais isatinig ang pagpayag sa kagustuhan niya.

But actually, her saying that was like an agreement to him all the same. At pwedeng-pwede na kay Ethan iyon.

"I'm leaving," Andrea moved to give him a quick hug that barely left a warmth.

"Do you want to have dinner with me, Mama?" he asked before his mother could completely turn her back on him.

"What, are you asking me out to eat?" she asked like she couldn't believe it.

"May I?" nakangiti niyang tanong pabalik.

"I'll talk to Mr. Zaragosa first, let's just meet where you want us to have dinner," Andrea answered, still suppressing her smile na para bang bawal ngumiti sa harapan ng anak nito.

"Where are you going to meet him?" tukoy niya sa isang bigtime client nila na kakausapin nito. "I'm free for the rest of the day, Ma. I'll just drive for you."

"You're free because you've been neglecting your job!" bahagya siya nitong pinandilatan pero hindi naman totally na galit.

"You know that I am still doing my job well. Otherwise, kanina mo pa ako pinagalitan," sabi niyang kaagapay na ang ina papunta sa elevator lobby.

They never talked like that in the past. Paano kasi, lagi rin siyang naka-angil agad sa kanyang ina.

Now, he realized that tomorrow is not guaranteed to anybody. Just like what Ally said. Pwedeng malakas ngayon, wala na bukas. Ally's condition made him realize a lot of things.

Kasama roon ang magbigay ng pagmamahal sa mga taong kasama pa niya. Habang may oras pa. His parents included. Kahit malamig pa sa yelo ang relasyon nila sa isa't isa, hindi naman ibig sabihin noon na kapag nagparamdam siya ng init ng pagmamahal at respeto ay hindi matutunaw iyon.

Being their son, hindi masamang siya na ang maunang magpakumbaba.

Ipinagmaneho ni Ethan ang kanyang ina. Habang nasa daan, marami silang napag-usapan. At sa tingin ng binata, iyon na ang pinakamatagal na nagkausap sila sa tanang buhay niya.

Siguro kaya hindi marunong maging ina si Andrea sa kanya ay dahil hindi niya ito binigyan ng pagkakataong maging ina. But it's never too late to start a good relationship with her.

Nagulat din si Mr. Zaragosa na makita siyang kasama ng kanyang ina. Because his mother insisted that he join them. Bilang isa sa pinakamalalaki at pinakamatagal na kliyente ng kanilang kompanya, idagdag pa na Ninong niya ito, the man knew their relationship as mother and son was just like business, formal and cold.

"I'm so happy to see the two of you together," Mr. Zaragosa couldn't help but tell them.

"My son insisted on being my driver," sagot ni Andrea na may himig ng pagbibiro.

"Is he hired?"

"A little bit over speeding, but could be tolerated. I guess I will hire him, under probation."

"Oh please, Mama, sinabi mong bilisan ko," sabat niya matapos magbigay galang sa matandang lalaking kausap nila.

Tumawa ang kanyang ina. Ethan realized it was the first time he heard his mother laugh heartily like that.

Pakiramdam niya ay may kamay na humaplos sa puso niya.