"MOTHERHOOD"
"WHAT am I going to do M-Mama?" Lana suppresses her emotion as she uttered those words.
"Who is the child's father?" instead her aunt questioned her.
Lana felt resentment and not anger in her Mama Cecille's voice. And that is the reason why all the tears that the young lady had been holding back have finally come out.
"M-Mama p-please," she protested, bursting into tears.
"Does he already have a family?" Mama Cecille said staring straight into her eyes.
Lana shook her head.
“Why don't you tell him the truth if he doesn't have a family? Will you let that child grow up without knowing his own father? Like your heartless mother did to you?” now her Mama Cecille is angry.
"Who is the child's father? What is his name?" again her aunt asked after a while.
Lana's head remained bowed as she continued to cry.
"Answer me, Lana!" Cecille's voice was louder so intense guilt engulfed the young lady's heart even more.
"It's A-Andrew, Mama!" she replied between tears.
Her aunt's eyes widened.
“A-Andrew? The actor?” shocked or disbelieving.
Neither of the two really could describe the kind of emotion registered on her Mama Cecille’s face.
“I-In P-Palawan? Did you meet in Palawan?”
Lana met her aunt's eyes with tears.
"F-Forgive me, Mama," she cried again then weakly buried her face in her own palms.
Her aunt did not answer. Instead, a moment later she pulls her and then hugs her tightly.
"I'm sorry Mama, I'm so sorry," she continued crying like a child as her face sank into her aunt's stomach that she hugs tightly now.
"Hush now, it won't be good for my grandchild when you're stressed," Cecille sniffed and then gently stroked her hair.
From what she heard, it was as if Lana felt a bird's wing caress her heart. So instead of settling down, she cried even more.
"Thank you, Mama, thank you," she said, hugging her aunt even tighter.
For a few moments, Mama Cecille let her in that order. When she stopped crying, she gave her water to drink and then calmly talked to her. That's when she started telling her everything.
"Why don't you let Andrew know about your baby?" she asked her.
A bitter smile tore from Lana's lips.
“If I would do that Mama, he might just deny the baby. We might have an issue, and I don't want that to happen to you and especially to my child,” she explained in a low tone.
“I can support my child even without him. You have given me all the love and care that I need, that can happen to my own child,” she said with a smile and caressed her flat stomach. "She's going to have Mommy and Grandma," suddenly, all the fear and pain she had felt a while ago was replaced by a strange kind of happiness she couldn't name.
Her Mama Cecille nodded.
"I understand you, sweetheart," she said with a smile. "Do what you know is best for you and my grandchild. I'm only here next to you when you need my help,” she said holding her hand and then squeezing it slightly.
Lana smiled. “Yes. But Mama, when someone asks you, just say you don't know,” Lana said.
Her aunt sighed because of that. "What if we sell this house?"
“What?” Lana's startling question.
Her Mama Cecille shrugged.
"I'm just avoiding any bad words that the people here in this village can say to you. I don't want you to experience what your mother went through. The people here judged her. Although the truth is here we were both born and raised. Just like you,” Lana felt the concern in her aunt's voice so she understood what she said.
"Are you sure?" she assured by asking that question. "Because, in fact, this house and land can be sold at a good price, Mama. If I would estimate we can buy a new house with three bedrooms and two bathrooms in the Mercedes Estate," she continued.
With a bright aura on her face, Mama Cecille nodded smiling.
“It's up to you, I want you to take care of this matter, Lana. After all, it will eventually be yours, in case I die,” at the last thing that her aunt said, Lana was stunned.
"Mama, please don't. I'm not ready to lose you yet," she said.
Her aunt laughed softly then got up and entered her room. It was only a moment and she also came out with a brown envelope that she handed to her. Lana opened it and then took out whatever is inside.
"Land Title?" the young lady asked her aunt with a frown.
Mama Cecille just nodded and then opened her mouth again to speak.
"I'm just telling the truth. So it’s better to sell it while I’m still alive. I want to experience living in your house," she said meaningfully.
Lana's eyes widened as she got what her aunt meant.
"D-Does this mean?" she said in a broken voice.
“I want to give this house and land to you, Lana. After all, your mother didn't come back to us either. I'm old, it's only right that I give it to you. You sell it, buy a new one and start a new life with your child,” her aunt explained to her with a smile.
Then Lana cried again. She stood up then tightly embraced the only person who was able to sacrifice everything, even her own happiness just for her.
“Thank you very much, Mama. Thank you very much,” she said wiping away her tears afterward.
"I remember what I told you before," Cecille said, staring at her with admiration.
Lana's eyebrows met slightly at what her aunt had said. "Told?"
Mama Cecille laughed softly as she then spoke. “That you and Andrew Scott look good together. And if he is the one you can marry, my grandchild will definitely be beautiful or handsome,” she reminded.
Lana's heart split with joy and sadness at what she heard. Then she remembered that scene her aunt was referring to as she was thrilled while watching the handsome actor on TV.
“But he just got me pregnant, Ma. I didn't marry him,” she had to admit that she had a slight pain in her heart as a result of all her fantasies about Andrew.
Lana smiled. “How about you Mama, when my mother left me with you. How did you feel? ”
“I was scared,” was her quick reply.
"Huh?"
“Yes, I thought I might not be able to give you everything you need. It's not just financial. I'm even more afraid if I can raise you properly? What can I teach you? And I hope I can guide you,” she told her.
Lana felt guilt at everything she heard. She opened her mouth to speak but her aunt was still ahead of her so the other things she wanted to say were cut off.
“This happened for a good reason. Babies are a blessing in life. So you should be happier because you are going to be a mother. And I will be Grandma,” Cecille said enthusiastically, which somehow helped her to feel better.
*****
Four Months Later
BECAUSE Lana used her connection in real estate, their house and lot were quickly sold. Then they bought a three-bedroom house in Mercedes Estate in Quezon City as well.
"What is the name of the person who bought our old house again?"
Lana shrugged her shoulders. "Tina Silverio, I guess, Mama,” she said.
They are currently arranging things in the kitchen such as plates and so on.
“What a beautiful name and sounded more like a rich person,” Cecille told her.
Lana smiled. "If I'm not mistaken Mama, she's Andrew's manager," the young lady said.
Her aunt was stuck there. "Did I hear you right?"
“Yes, Mama,” Lana agreed.
"What a coincidence," commented her aunt.
Lana did not speak to that statement. It's true, but she doesn't want to give it another meaning and instead thinks it's just a coincidence.
*****
"I LOVE it, Aunt Tina, for sure Andrew will like it too," Samantha said the day her aunt Tina Silverio took her to her new house. “Just a little renovation. Classic is still beautiful,” Samantha continued.
Tina smiled. “Thank—,”
The woman couldn't keep up with what she wanted to say when she caught sight of a large photograph of Andrew framed and hanging on the wall of one of the two bedrooms.
"Look, it looks like the one who used to be in the room here was my brother's fan," Samantha said amused.
"Yeah, since it's his photo, please bring it home to him," Tina said and then took the photo from the wall
"I love you so much Andrew, forever and always, L.A.M," she said reading what was written on the back of the frame then smiled. "Fans are the sweetest persons in the world," Samantha added with a shudder afterward.
