I CONTINUED visiting Evo at the hospital every day, and I never got to see Cash again – not that I wished to see him. But I just feel bad about what happened the last time we met. Hindi ko naman sinasadyang hampasin iyong kamay niya. I just got scared... and it's normal to feel scared, right?

I'm scared that they'll do something to me or to the people I care about.

My phone starts ringing after getting dressed. It was a FaceTime call from my mom. I immediately picked up my phone and answered her call.

"Hi, mom!" I cheerfully greeted her, but the smile on my face changed into a concerned look when I saw my mom lying on a bed.

"Mom, are you okay?"

She forced a smile. "I'm fine, Sera," she replied, but her voice sounded so weak. I almost didn't recognize her because of the sudden loss of weight on her face. Her eyes were sunken as well.

"You don't look fine to me. What happened? Are you sick, mom? Where's Bryan?" sunod-sunod na tanong ko. Konti nalang ipasok ko na iyong ulo ko sa screen ng cellphone ko dahil sa sobrang pag-aalala.

Mom chuckled, but that just made her cough. She put her cellphone down for a second, and I saw her grabbing a glass of water from her bedside table. She got her phone back after she drank some water.

"Hindi kita tinawagan para pag-alalahanin sa'kin. I told you, I'm really okay, anak." I sighed. "I miss you, anak."

"I miss you too, mom," I replied. My eyes started to water, and my vision became blurry.

"Sorry if I'm making you worry, anak. Okay lang talaga ako."

"How's the business? Hindi pa rin ba naaayos? Is Bryan even helping you with anything?" I asked. I pursed her lips in a thin line before shaking her head slowly.

I exhale. I miss her so much and it worries me a lot seeing her like this through the screen of my phone, knowing that I couldn't do anything to help her. I'm sure she's just saying that she's okay, but I could clearly see through her eyes the exhaustion.

"I'll come home. I'll take care of you,"

"No, Sera!" Mom exclaimed. She started coughing again.

"How do you expect me to not worry about you when I know you're sick!"

"I can take care of myself, anak. Just focus on your work. Bryan's here with me, so you don't have to worry." My lips curled downward, tears streaming down my cheeks.

"If Bryan's really taking care of you, then why did you become really sick?" I wiped my tears away. Bryan's my stepdad, but I've never seen him take care of Mom properly. Palaging gusto niya siya lang ang inaasikaso at inaalagaan and that angers me that mom just let him treats her like that!

"Serenity Rose," Mom said in a warning tone. "You don't speak to your stepdad like that. Hindi kita pinalaki nang ganyan."

"But—"

"No more buts. Just do what I say and stay in Manila. I did not send you back there for no reason. Para sayo rin yang ginawa ko."

I tried to persuade Mom, but to no avail. Namana ko rin siguro kay mom iyong pagiging matigas ang ulo. Kapag kasi sinabi niya iyon ang masusunod. Nagpaalam na rin si mom pagkatapos dahil may kailangan pa raw siyang asikasuhin.

#

Even though Mom told me repeatedly that I shouldn't worry about her, I still couldn't help it. Ilang araw na akong tumitingin ng plane ticket papuntang LA. I just want to go and see her to make sure she's really fine.

"Kuya,"

"Yes?"

"I'm really worried about Mom. I want to see her." I exhaled.

Kuya Baker paused for a second while chopping the green onions before looking at me. I went to his place after work and told him about Mom's condition because I felt like mababaliw na talaga ako sa pag-aalala! I haven't seen him in a while either, and I miss spending time with him. And now, he's cooking some food to cheer me up, but that didn't lessen the anxiety that I'm feeling.

"I know you're worried about Auntie, but I don't think disobeying her will help," he replied before returning to chopping vegetables.

"I know kaya I will ask you sana if you can come with me?"

"To LA?" I nodded my head.

He sighed before briefly closing his eyes.

"As much as I want to accompany you, Sera, I can't... I'm scared of Aunt Rosita." His face looked so serious, and that made me chuckle.

"Really ba kuya? You're scared of Mom?"

"Who wouldn't? Aunt Rosita is like the scariest person when she's mad." I laugh so loud na talaga after kuya said that. Which is true naman kasi! Mom's nice, but she's really scary when she's mad! And even I, her daughter, am terrified of her!

Kuya and I ate the food he cooked while watching The Office. And in some ways, sandaling nawala iyong pag-aalala ko kay mom.

"How are you and Cash?" I almost choked on my food. Kuya handed me a glass of water.

"Thanks," I said, drinking some water. Akala ko hindi na siya magtatanong pa, but then I saw him eyeing me, waiting for my answer.

I averted my gaze, but he called me.

"Uhm..." I trailed off. I answered with a sigh, "I'm not seeing him anymore."

Kuya didn't ask any more questions – sigh of relief – and I quickly switched the subject to the girl he's seeing nalang. I've been seeing his posts on Instagram, but I was too busy with a lot of things that I forgot to talk to him about it. He immediately blushed as soon as I mentioned his girl. I think Kuya's really in love na talaga!

I left Kuya's place after he promised to introduce me to his girl. He even told me stories about his trips! Although, I don't know if iniinggit lang niya ako because it's working! I feel like I need a getaway, somewhere far away, just to relax.

#

After I went to Kuya's place, I went to visit Evo at night. Tia messaged me kanina that Evo would be discharged in a couple of days. Everything looks okay na raw, but they still need to monitor him.

Pagdating ko sa room ni Evo, Cash is in there too. Our eyes meet as soon as I open the door to Evo's room. I pursed my lips together in a thin line. Cash is sitting beside Tia while she's peeling some apples, and it looks like they're laughing about something, dahil may bakas pa ng ngiti sa labi nilang dalawa.

"Tita Sera Ganda!" Evo beamed, breaking the awkward stare between me and Cash.

"Did you miss Tita?" I asked, acting naturally. Evo nodded immediately.

"Hi." I smiled at Tia.

"Ginabi ka yata ng dalaw ngayon." sabi niya.

"Yeah. I went to my cousin's place pa kanina, e. How's Evo?"

"Okay na okay na halatang-halata naman oh," natatawangs sagot ni Tia. Napalingon ako kay Evo na mukhang okay na nga dahil bumalik na rin iyong malusog na pangangatawan niya.

Tia got up from her seat. "Ikukuha lang kita ng makakain." sabi niya at mabilis na umalis bago ko pa siya pigilan. I was left with Cash and Evo.

Evo was playing with his toys while Cash and I were both silent. I sat on the other side of Evo's bed and played with him, but Cash's stares made me really conscious.

"May gusto ka bang sabihin?" I arched one brow.

"Nothing," he replies, with an amused grin on his lips. My brows creased.

"Stop staring." I hissed.

"I am watching Evo, not you."

"Really ba?" mataray na sagot ko. I rolled my eyes at him and he just chuckled. He looks amused that I'm getting irritated with him. Mabuti nalang Evo's really absorbed with his toys.

Tia came back carrying a tray with lots of snacks and sliced fruits. Cash immediately stood from his seat and took the tray from Tia.

"Salamat," nakangiting sabi ni Tia kay Cash. Cash smiles back before he places the tray on the table.

I know it's wrong to feel this way, but I feel a small pang in my chest right now.

And I shouldn't feel envious of Tia, but I can't help it...

Is it wrong if I feel a teeny tiny bit of dislike towards Tia because she still hasn't told Cash the truth? Is she doing this on purpose so Cash will stick around here?

I immediately shook all those thoughts away.

No. Of course not! Ano ba 'tong mga iniisip ko? I'm really going insane for thinking something like that towards Tia!

Pinilit ko nalang na huwag tignan si Tia at Cash every time they talk or laugh at each other. I keep on averting my gaze away from Cash because I don't want him to see the agonizing pain through my eyes.

We finished all the fruits that Tia prepared, and she was about to take the empty tray when Cash held her arm.

"I'll do the cleaning. Just stay here and rest, okay?"

"Pero pagod ka pa galing trabaho."

"I'm fine, Cynthia. I want you to rest." I saw how Cash gently squeezed her arm and smiled at her as if she was the only person that he could see right now.

"Aalis ka na?" Tia asked when I quickly got off my seat, holding my bag.

I bit the inside of my cheeks so hard to stop the tears from rolling down.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and said, "Yes." My voice almost broke. I plastered a fake smile on my lips.

Agad kong nilapitan si Evo at hinalikan sa noo bago ako nagsimulang maglakad papunta sa pinto para sana umalis nang hawakan ni Cash iyong braso ko. I turned around and faced him.

"May sasabihin ka ba?" I asked, but he remained quiet. His deep, dark eyes were piercing into mine. His lips were open multiple times in an attempt to say something.

I slowly pulled my arm back from his grip. "Thought so," I said before I finally walked out.

W H A T Y A S E Y