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by karzy_isis
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She's finally here. She finally step on the groun near to where her mother was. Its been so many years since the last time Madelle had saw her mother. Now that she's already going to be 20 year old young lady, she wanted to see her, even if means it will be the last time.
She was born knowing she doesn't have a father. Natural has a weak body, Madelle's mother, Ellen has to work harder than the usual. She's just 17 when she had met Roman, Madelle's father, and fell in love. Ellen had runaway from him for she thought Roman can't take a stand for her and defend her to his own family. She then gave birth to Madelle in their province far from the city where Roman was living. But then fate wasn't really always on her side. Madelle at the age of 6 had to undergone heart surgery and they needed money.
They needed such big amount of money for that kind of operation, and Roman was the only person they know can help them about it. Even its hard for her, Ellen had to asked for it and even beg for that help, that Roman didn't refused to give. Madelle had survived, but then Ellen wanted her child alone by herself, and there Roman didn't agreed. He search for them everywhere, now that he finally found them, he can never let go.
"How can you expect me to let my daughter and so as you be away from me again? Ellen, didn't you know how much a father wanted his child to be near him? And you, I love you so no, I won't let you go!"
"No. I'll never comeback to you Roman. I won't." Ellen decided to go and leave her daughter to Roman since the Madelle isn't good enough to go yet. "Baby..."
"Nanay, why are you crying?" (Nanay is a term for mother in Filipino) she then wiped her mother's tears.
"Nanay will just find a job and earn some money for us. You have to be brave and be healthy as Nanay will be away for sometime, ha, bunso?" she said tearfully. (Bunso means youngest. Referring to baby of the family or the youngest among the siblings. Mostly used to call a child as term of endearment.)
"When will you be back?"
"As soon as Nanay had enough money to get you out of this bed of this hospital, anak (Anak means child). I promise you. I will comeback for you Madelle. I will." she then kissed the little girl on her forehead and hug it crying as if she never wants to let go.
For Madelle, those words and promises means a lot. She loves her mother so much and she believes in her. Time to time, day to day, until she came out of the hospital, Madelle will looked at the front door or even wait there for her mother to come. "Tatay (Is a term for fatgers), is Nanay alright?"
Lost in what he should say, "Of course. Of course she is baby."
"Then why isn't she coming even just to visit me? Tatay, can we be the one to visit her instead? Maybe she's always tired after her long day of work. Its weekend tomorrow, maybe she'll be home?"
"Alright Madelle. We'll visit your mother tomorrow." saying those words though he knows that it might only hurt Madelle, he brought his daughter to where her mother and grandmother resides.
"You shouldn't have brought her here." the old woman, Ellen's mother said as she and Roman was watching Madelle waiting in vain for her mother at the terrace.
"But what can I do? She really wants to see Ellen. She's her mother."
"I know that you already knew that Ellen wasn't here anymore. She had to go out of the country and work there just to get the money that she will pay to you."
"I can't believe this. How could she just flew away far from her child just to get off her pride? I am not asking her to pay me."
"With what had happened to you and Ellen, how would you expect her to trust you? And besides, its her dream to go out of the country and fulfill her dreams. Can't you just let her be?"
"What about Madelle? She promised to my daughter that she'll be back."
"She'll be back. Its just, not now. Not so soon. So, better tell her the truth." and they both sighed.
Roman told Madelle about her mother's whereabouts. Madelle had understand and as she waits, she eagerly makes her body healthy as she grows. Everyday, she still visits her grandmother and asked about her mother. Everyday, her father's family gets worried about her being stressed, that she always denied. Years has passed, yet Ellen hasn't call her daughter. Until one day, she heard her grandma (in her mother's side) talking over the phone.
"What? You're not going home again?" she said irritably. "Oi Ellen, remember you also have your daughter here and she's always waiting for you to come home. What? Then just make up some lies and call let your daughter see you for one time. You can't just abandoned her just like that. I know that you already have your new family, but even just a call, give it to your daughter. Ai! Whatever!? I didn't raised you to be irresponsible as this! I'm telling you. When Madelle learns that you abandoned her just because of your new family their, I can't cover you or fight for you anymore. Always remember Ellena, Madelle was your daughter."
With what she had heard, Madelle then just goes back home unheard. She's just biting her lip and controls her tears. Her mother will comeback for her, that's what she keeps repeating to herself. She'll comeback because that's what she promised her. Years goes by and now, Madelle was going to be twenty year old and she wanted to see her mother. Roman had help her to find her mother in Korea which was her grandmother hid from her from the start. Now, she's under the same sky where her Ellen was, "I'm going to see Nanay!" she said happily.
"Are you ready? To see her?" her father asked.
"Uhm, Tatay, I would like to stay here for more weeks and see if she could recognized me. Nanay will surely be surprised if she sees me all grown up!"
"Surely she will. But always remember be careful and always take your medicine in right time. When you're feeling tired or you're feeling something wrong with your body stop and call me ahead. I will be just with my friends and colleagues here."
"I will Tatay."
Madelle studied Korean language for preparation in her planned stay in Korea. She really wanted to be as close as possible with her mother without getting Ellen in trouble. She doesn't want to break the silence of the family that her mother had been with for years. The investigators gave them all the information that she will be needing. She applied at the cafe that Ellen's husband owned. There Ellen always stops by and sit while reading some magazines or books. She married a rich man, his name was Bae Young Jun.
He was a bachelor when he met Ellen, but Ellen didn't confessed about Madelle and her past when she married Young Jun that made her really welcomed by the family of the groom. Ellen was ashamed about the fact that she was a single mother for someone like Young Jun and his family wouldn't like that either. She loves Young Jun and she doesn't want anything bad to happened most of all when it comes about Madelle. They were married for more than ten years now and have three children. At least, Madelle knows that much. And that's why she doesn't want to make it complicated for her own mother.
Madelle was easily accepted at the cafe. She had a degree on business marketing and its even from a known university in Asia, at least, she has that brain and beauty. Though the standing manager of the cafe was wondering why she wanted to be a staff in a kind of place, he willingly accepted the girl and teach her everything she needed to know. There at the first day of her duty, she saw her mother. She was still radiant and pretty.
"Hey. Stop looking at her." a staff said.
"Uh?Uh, sorry. I just can't help. She's very pretty."
"Uhm, yeah. Many customer was saying that whenever she's around. But her husband was a little concerned about it. Because lately, there were men sending flowers at their house. That's kinda awkward." she then looked at Madelle, "You know what? If you closely, you looked like her."
"What? What are you talking about?"
"Yeah. Looked. You and madame had the same shape of nose. Your eyes are also like hers. And the shape of your face.."
"Ya! Stop it. We better go back to our works. I ddon't want to be fired immediately." gladly she was the one who was assigned to serve the orders to Ellen. She didn't make any more eye contact for she doesn't want to be found out just so soon.
"Thank you." Ellen said without looking at Madelle.
"Pleasure ma'am. If you have anything else that you want, feel free to ask for our service."
"That's good." she then looked at Madelle who immediately evaded her by looking at the door who where new customers are coming in.
"Excuse me Ma'am." she bid and go.
Ellen was somehow wondering with Madelle antics, but she's happy to see her employees being good to customers. She then waved at the manager, "Is she new here?"
"Yes Madame. She was a Filipino like you."
"Really? Wow! That's refreshing to know. I'm glad that somehow we can help my fellow citizen from the Philippines."
"Actually Madame, she has such great background that makes me wonder, she's over qualified for the job as a staff."
"Why? What's with her educational background?" and the manager told her everything about Madelle and there she learns that the girl was her daughter. She then never comesback at the cafe. Instead she just chooses to stay at home or just gone out with her children.
"So, how's the work?" Roman asked as Madelle sits down on the couch.
"She never comesback since the manager told her about me."
"I told you. It won't be easy for you. She already knew that you are here. For sure she'll do everything to evade you."
"Tatay, does Nanay forgot her promise?" she asked as her tears falls down her face and she then lie down on her seat. "Tatay, I miss Nanay so much. I want to hug her tight just like before. Tatay. Tatay." Roman just embraced his daughter.
At night, when Madelle was already sleeping, Roman used to call back at the Philippines as directed by his mother. Madelle was loved by the whole family and they wanted to protect her that much. "Yes she's fine Ma."
"Roman, bring her back immediately. Its not good for her to be hurt that much. Now that Ellen knows that she was there, she wouldn't showed herself to Madelle."
"But Mama, Madelle wanted to at least celebrate her birthday with her mother even just for once. Its been more than ten years since they fell apart. Mama, please, let's let my daughter do her own thing. For some reason, I must blame myself for this. She goes out in here to earn money just to get back Madelle from us."
"But its not a good reason for her to get a new man and forget her own daughter. Just bring Madelle back in here, Roman. Just get my granddaughter back in here."
"I will Ma, I will."
Madelle then just resigned from her work at the cafe and decided to goes back in the Philippines. But still, before she do that, she'll try and ask her mother for one last time. Hoping Ellen will accept her request knowing that's its Madelle's birthday. She then went to the address where her mother lives. A high walled house. Yes, its a big one. It portrayed that the owner of the house and the people living in that house belonged to a high class one.
Now, Madelle was standing in front of that big gate. She was nervous. It will be the first time for her to talked to her mother after so many years. She's hopeful. She's hoping. Wishing that her mother Ellen will grant her request. She then push the door bell button. Twice. Twice until she heard her mother's voice and opens the entrance gate. They are both surprised. Ellen was nervous and can be seen scared of the fact that Madelle was already in front of her. Madelle, who smiled awkwardly and nervous because she's facing Ellen, her mother.
"Who... what are you doing here?" the mother asked.
"Nanay..."
"Don't call me that." she then looked around. "Just go."
"Nanay please. Please, please just hear me. Please just listen to me for a while. I promise I won't bother you and your family."
"Then why are you here?"
"Nanay, I just want to- to ask something."
"What?"
"Can you at least celebrate with me for my birthday? Today?"
Ellen seemed to remember the day. Of course she will. She gave birth to Madelle at the middle of the night without nothing to hold on to, but the pillow under her head. But, Ellen seems to denied it, "I can't, you can go now."
"Nanay..." she then stopped the closing of the gate, "Nanay please. Please even just for a while. Just this once. After this, I promise you. I promise you I won't bother you anymore. I won't look for you anymore. Just this once please. Just this once. Nanay." Madelle plead as she's holding back her tears.
"No. I won't come with you. I won't."
"Nanay, please. Even just for an hour. Just for an hour. Nanay I won't take all of your time. Just give me this one chance. Lets just celebrate my birthday even just for an hour. Nanay, please. Please come with me. Please give me this chance to be your daughter. Even just for once. I promise you, I promise you I won't for more. Just give me this day. Even just for one hour."
"My children will arrive anytime soon. Please, I am the one begging you, please just go and don't ever comeback."
"Nanay..." as she was holding Ellen's hand to forbid it from walking away, she slide down and kneeled down and her tears just flowed down her face. Something that she can't hold back anymore.
"Madelle!"
Madelle looked up at her smiled tearfully, "Nanay, I'm begging you. Even just for this once. I, it was my first time to come to you and asked you to celebrate my birthday with me even just for an hour. I won't ask for any gift. I won't ask for anything at all. Just spend this one hour with me. Your children will have the rest of the day with you so maybe its just fine for you to spend just even one hour with me. Nanay, Nanay please!" she then embraced her mother's hand
Though it really breaks her heart, knowing that her daughter has to begged for her love like that, Ellen just pulled out her hands and wiped her tears pretending to be unmoved. "Stand up." Madelle looked at her very hurt, "I said stand up. You can Leave now. You better leave now."
Being so broken and flustered with pain, Madelle tried to stand with all her strength if there's still any of it inside her. She looked straight to her mother and smirked sadly after she left out a heavy air from her chest and then she turned around and heard the gate closed behind her. There she can't hold back anymore. She burst out crying dissolving her sobs into the air. Everything that she's trying to hold back are all now being poured at once. 'She forget about it. She forgot about her promise. But why? Am I not that worthy to remember? Even just this once? Nanay... I love you... I miss you.' Madelle came kneeled down again in pain. Her chest is physically aching now due to excessive crying.
Almost ten minutes after, she decided to wiped again her tears and stands up. When she walks a step or two, she noticed the mail box beside the wall. She then remembered that she has something to give to her mother. Its a gift that she treasured all these years. A gift that she hid to her heart for the hope that she'll be once again reunited to her mother. Its in a white box. She put it in the mail box after writing a note in a photograph's back. As she was writing that note, her tears was still falling from her eyes. 'Maybe with this, you'll be able to remember me. Nanay.'
A car suddenly comes and stopped by the house's front. Madelle wiped dry her eyes and looked at who came. The man who owns the car was her mother's husband, Bae Young Jun. The man looks at her and so she did. The man step closer to her, but Madelle seemed so fine with it, "How may I help you?" he talks in Korean.
And Madelle answered her in the same language, "I'm sorry. I think I was just lost here at your neighborhood. Can you tell me where's the address xxx?"
"Its in the next block."
"Uh! Okay. Thank you." she then turned her back and then turns around to face the man again.
"Yes? Anything else?"
Madelle smiled before she speaks in Tagalog just thinking about protecting her mother's interest, "Please take care of my Nanay. She loves you so much. And if I may not be here anymore, please tell her that I never forget her promise and also, happy birthday to her. I left my gift on the mailbox. Please do tell her I love her, so much." Young Jun has no reaction and just looked at the girl curiously.
"Excuse me?"
She then talks back in Korean again, "Thank you! Thank you very much!" she then goes on her own never to looked back at the man nor to the house again.
As Madelle was fading away from the street walking, Young Jun then checked the mailbox where he saw Madelle put a box. As he pulled it out, the photo that's left on the top of the box fell down the ground that he picked it up immediately. There Young Jun saw his wife carrying a child on her arms smiling happily. He wonders who was it until he saw the date on its back written on the side. "20 years ago? Its been so long." he then read the note and there he already knows why did Madelle told him all that things in Tagalog thinking that he can never understands it. Of course he can. He and Ellen was already married for more than ten years and along with that, he promised that he will be as one to his wife and so he learns a lot about the cultures and most of all the language.
When he came into the house, Ellen was practically distracted although she was at the kitchen preparing food for the family. He hid the box on his bag and goes straight on their bedroom. At the table during dinner, Young Jun was silent and so as Ellen. The children were the only ones who talks and telling stories about their schools as usual. Inside their bedroom, Young Jun can see how lame his wife is. She's distracted, most of all her eyes were swelling and sad.
Young Jun then leaned on the bed wall and looked straight at the woman who was sitting in front of the study table and reading. All he can see was her back, but he feel how heavy her breathe was weaving inside her, "What are your plans?"
"Uh? What do you mean?" she then turned to him closing her book.
"Its your birthday tomorrow. What are your plans? I already emptied my schedules for that day."
"But the kids have school, so it won't be fun."
"That's why I'm asking you. What are your plans? You always have plans ahead of it right?"
Ellen then stands up and crawl on the top of the bed to sits down beside her husband and embraced it on the waist. "Since you'll be here tomorrow, lets just think about it according to the weather. Lets just have a rest for now." she then kissed the man on its cheek and lie down under the sheet.
When the morning comes, Ellen prepared the breakfast and send the children to schools. She and Young Jun was now left alone in the house. Young Jun then just proceeds to his study room and looked at the gift box and so as the picture that told him the whole story. He then called his wife and they both sit down on the living room.
"Is there a problem?" Ellen asked.
"Its your birthday today."
"And?"
"I remembered when you were still an employee of our company. Its my first time to celebrate your birthday with me. When I hold out a cake for you, you sliced it after you whispered your wish into it and blow the candle. The first slice, I remembered, you saved it." that stiffened Ellen, "I asked you why? You said you will be saving it for someone who's so important to you who just celebrated her birthday one day before you. You even said that, that person was the greatest gift you've got on your own birthday."
"Yo- Young Jun, just what is this about?"
Young Jun smiled, "You said, no you promised me you wouldn't hide anything from me, but until now, until now, I was wondering, who that person who you saved that slice of cake for?"
"Young Jun, that is. That is someone that I already..."
"Forgotten?"
"Young Jun. Why are you picking up about this so suddenly?"
"Just tell me the truth Ellen. Who's the person you're saving your wishes for?"
"She... she is..."
"She is?"
Ellen cried as she answered, "My daughter. My daughter, Madelle. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I lied. I'm sorry." she then kneeled down in shame as she holds her husband's hands who was still in his sit who just tolerated the pain of being deceived by his own wife.
"Why did you lied to me Ellen? Why did you hid your own daughter?"
"Because I love you so much. I love you so much that I don't want to let anything to break us apart. When your family shows how they disliked me for you, I know that revealing such a past will only worsen my situation, our situation. Young Jun, but it doesn't mean that I lied because want to deceived you."
"Where is she?"
"She's at her father. I left her at her father's care."
"I want to meet her." that stops Ellen from crying and then looked up at her husband, "I want to meet her. My parents aren't now. They passed away years ago. They won't barge in to us anymore. Let me meet her."
"But Young Jun..."
Young Jun touches his wife's face and smiled a little, "I owe her a lot. I owe her because I steal you away from her. Because of me, she lost you. You left her. She grows up without her mother. I owed it to her. I at least owe her an apology about all these years. I want to tell her how hard you work before I came and how much you wishes for her everytime you come to celebrate your birthday. I at least need to tell her that."
"Young Jun..." she smiled.
"By the way. I got this gift for you." he then gets the gift box that was on the coffee table all along and gave it to Ellen, "Here."
Ellen takes it and opened it immediately and surprised to its stuffs inside. And most of all, the photo that she quickly recognizes, the photograph of her and Madelle when she was born. She looked at Young Jun and he just nods smiling at the woman who was sitting on the floor. Ellen reads the note at the back of the picture;
To Nanay,
Happy Birthday! I Love You so much! Always remember that. I will always love you and wait for you until you comesback as you promised me. I love you Nanay. I love you.
Madelle
"Young Jun!" she cried as she holds the picture into her heart. "Where did you...?"
"I saw her at the front of our gate yesterday. She left that at the mailbox and so I get it. When I saw the photo, I understands what she was saying."
"She talks to you?"
"At first she lied that she was lost to where she was going to, but then she turns back to me and told me something in Tagalog."
"Huh?"
"Maybe she thought that I don't understands your language that's why she told me that."
"W- what did she told you?"
"That she loves you so much. She also told me that she never forgets your promise and that I should take care of you." that tears Ellen more knowing what she had given her very own daughter for her birthday. Young Jun then just slide down beside her and embraced his wife warmly. "I can see that she was brought up so well. She never forget about you and she never want to deny you." he then just averted her attention on the box. "What else was in the box? Let us see?" and there Ellen did open the box again and put out what's inside one by one.
The first picture was the graduation picture from kindergarten. Madelle was just a small girl wearing that white graduation gown carrying a bouquet of flowers that seemed to be bigger than she is. "The flowers looks bigger than her in that picture." Young Jun said and they bought laugh.
"I miss this one. I thought I would be the one to climb the stage with her. Look. She has a lot of medals and certificates."
"She's intelligent. Just like you."
The next picture was Madelle's birthday. At the back of the picture says 'Nanay, I always wish for you to comeback. I love you po!' (Po or Opo is a respective terms for elders or to superiors) The box seemed to be a time machine that Madelle put up for her mother.
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