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2/2

by karzy_isis
Tags   drama   oneshot   original   sliceoflife   family   you   mother   | Report Content

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All day long, Young Jun and Ellen just looked at it one by one and read the letters that sends the mother into deepest regrets.
 
Ellen was overwhelmed and exhausted from all the things they have talked about all that she had fell asleep without preparing dinner for the family. Young Jun just then do all the task.
 
"Where's Mama?" the eldest one asked.
 
"She's at the bedroom having a rest."
 
"Why? What the two of you did without us here? Its her birthday. We should be celebrating it tonight."
 
"Papa, didn't you planned for her birthday?"
 
"Is Mama sad because we didn't gave her a party and the cake?"
 
Young Jun laughed, "Its not like that. Its just that she's overwhelmed with the gift she had had for her birthday."
 
"Overwhelmed with what? What did you give her for her birthday Papa?"
 
"We'll talk about it after dinner. But before that, you kids should promise me that you'll understand me and your Mama no matter what you will be hearing from us." the children just looked at each other wondering.
 
As he said, after dinner Young Jun showed the picture to the children. "Papa what is this? And who's the baby that's Mama was carrying?" the youngest asked.
 
"Its our eldest sister." the eldest one answered.
 
That surprised Young Jun, "You know?"
 
"I've seen the same picture from one of Mama's things. Just this spring. I saw it when she threw a box of letters.  It was the ones that she wrote for the same person, but she never did send it."
 
"Di- did you save it?" the father asked anxiously.
 
The girl sighed, "I don't why, but I did."
 
"Wait!" the second child said. "You know that much, but you didn't told us? Why!?"
 
"Because I don't want our family be bothered by it. I can see why Mama wanted to disposed those pictures and letters. Its because she doesn't want that thing to be opened up and broke us. Just like how I feel at first, Mama doesn't want Papa nor us to be driven apart just because of one person."
 
"I'm sorry." Young Jun said. "If I at least noticed it ahead, then it will never comes to this point where in we'll be troubled and so you kids about it. I understand your mother and so as you, but it still won't fix anything."
 
"Papa, I want to meet the baby on the picture." the youngest said that surprised the elders. He then smiled, "Can we meet her? You said she's our sister, won't it be better if we meet each other?"
 
"But its not that easy."
 
"Papa I think he's right. We have to show Mama that we are all willing to meet our sister. Papa, it will bother Mama more if, if we didn't showed her that we are open on meeting her first baby." by hearing that, all the other kids agreed to it that relieves Young Jun's worries.
 
The next day, when Ellen woke up, her family was around her and all smiled. She smiles back and then she sat up on the bed, "Hi, Good morning." she greeted.
 
"Good morning Mama!" the kids greeted and then they one by one bring the breakfast on their mother's bed. Young Jun was just watching his family having a good time.
 
"What's with all that?" Ellen asked.
 
"Since we didn't celebrated your birthday yesterday. So since we don't have classes today, we prepared the breakfast for you. Happy birthday Mama!" the eldest one said and then they all hugged her.
 
"Mama." the youngest called.
 
"Yes?"
 
"When can we meet her?" that surprised the mother and so as the others. They didn't planned to asked that question that early.
 
"What do you mean?"
 
"We..." he was cut by his sibling and so Young Jun sat down.
 
"I already told them the truth. About your daughter."
 
"Young Jun..."
 
"Mama, nothing change. Only, we wanted to meet her Mama. Can we meet her?"
 
And that decided everything. Young Jun and Ellen then proceeded on finding Madelle and they started at the cafe where she was working. "Sir, Ma'am!" the manager greeted. Ellen just rounds her eyes after nodding to him. "Are you looking for something, Ma'am?"
 
"Mr. Kim, do we have a staff here named Madelle?" Young Jun then just asked.
 
"Madelle? Uh, she already resigned three days ago. She said she'll be leaving and head back to the Philippines. Her father even acknowledge us on the day of her birthday."
 
"Her birthday? She celebrated her birthday here?" Ellen asked.
 
"Yes Ma'am. Her father rented the place for just us. Eventually, Madelle came late and seemed really tired and exhausted. But still we did enjoyed the party."
 
"Do you know when will she goes back to the Philippines?"
 
"Uhm, as far as I remember, they goes back to the Philippines the same night after the party." and that stops Ellen.
 
Inside the car, Young Jun can see how disappointed his wife was. She's trying to hold back her tears, but of course she can't. It's falling drops by drops. He then just hold her hand, "Hey, don't cry." Ellen just shed more tears on that words. "I know what you're thinking."
 
"She gave up. She already gave up on me, Young Jun. She already gave up." she sobs.
 
"No. Don't think like that. Stop thinking that way. You shouldn't be thinking that way."
 
"I've hurt her. I've sent her away. I ruined her. She came into to me on that day. That very day. On her birthday, but then I just sent her away. I sent her away!" Young Jung then stopped the car and embraced his wife to comfort it.
 
"I know what we should do. Lets go and see her in the Philippines. That way, she will see your sincerity."
 
"Young Jun...?"
 
"Lets do it okay? For the time being, its just the two of us to go. And when we receive her acceptance lets invite her back here and meet her other siblings. Everything will be settled by then. Lets not give up on her. If she gave up on you, then this time you should be the one, with me, to fetch her up and show her how you really love her."
 
And they did goes back to the Philippines. It was so urgent and so sudden that even Ellen's mother didn't get to prepared for the couple. "Ellena!" a surprised welcomed by the old woman. "Come in come in!" she then lead the two inside and help them to carry the luggage. At the living room, Young Jun just smiled at the old woman and greeted her in her language.
 
"How are you Nanay?" he asked awkwardly knowing that he is not that good in speaking it, but he understand quite. "Sorry if I didn't get to meet you sooner before our wedding and we didn't went home since then."
 
Quite amazed of how good the man was on speaking Tagalog she answered, "Its okay. Don't worry that much. I understand." she then turned to her daughter, "Ellena, why its so sudden? You didn't even called me that you're coming."
 
"'Nay, sorry for that, but we're really here for Madelle. Nay, I want to see her."
 
"Madelle? Why?"
 
"I met her in Korea, and I've made such mistake to her. I resent her. I want to apologize to her and make everything's clear. Nay, will you help me?"
 
The mother sighed, "Haven't I told you before you marry this man? I told you that you shouldn't forget what you have left in here because when the time comes, I don't even know what will I do to cover or to defend you."
 
"Nay, that's why we're here. I want to explain everything that I have done to her. Nay, help me please. Even just you call her here. I think by that I can have her listen to me."
 
"That would be impossible."
 
"What do you mean?" Young Jun then asked.
 
"Roman's mother came here few days ago and told me not to go see Madelle nor to call her. They even warned me that they can push a case against me or to you when that happens. I guess they had foreseen that you will come home anytime soon that's why they have barricade her now."
 
"But Nay! Nanay you know very well that it can't be! Madelle is my daughter!"
 
"The daughter that you abandoned. Now, maybe they have learned what you did to her in Korea. They even change their phone numbers."
 
"The address? Did they change the address?" the husband asked.
 
"I don't know. But if not, it won't be easy for the two of you to come in." the old woman stands up and then get a piece of paper on the drawer and gave it to the couple, "Here. That's the their new address. I got it from Lolit, Madelle's nanny."
 
"Manang Lolit was still Madelle's nanny?" Ellen asked with some brightness in her eyes. For some reason, she knows that Manang Lolit understands her situation.
 
"She said she still hopes that everything will work between our family and their."
 
"Haven't Madelle contacted you yet since she comesback here?"
 
"Not yet. Not even once. This is the first week that she didn't come nor she didn't call me asking how am I doing. She's was really brought up so well."
 
"And I didn't get to see that."
 
They didn't waste anymore moment and they proceed on the address that was given to them. Yes, they really had change the address. They really wanted to get Madelle away from Ellen or her family, and of course Ellen can't blame them. Hesitantly, they stands in front of the gate where in the same security was standing.
 
"So, her father is really wealthy?" Young Jun said as he looks at the big mansion from the outside.
 
"Ma'am Ellen, is that you?" he asked.
 
She smiled, "Yes, Manong Alfonso."
 
"Long time no see!"
 
"Yes. Its really been a long time. Uh, Manong, is Madelle- in there?" that silence the old man, "Manong Fonso? Please, can I see her or talk to her for even just a minute? Manong please. Please."
 
"Naku Ma'am, sorry. I can't grant your request. The madame will surely crunch me up if I do so."
 
"But Manong..."
 
"She's the mother of Madelle. Why can't she see her?"
 
"Uh? Who are you?"
 
"Manong, he's my husband."
 
"Ah. Then most of all you can't really see Ms. Madelle."
 
"What?"
 
"Madame warned us about you and your family. We can't let anyone of you get near her or this house."
 
"That's unfair! She's my daughter!"
 
"I'm sorry Ma'am. I'm really sorry. Sorry."
 
"Manong Fonso..." the big gate then comes opening. A car was on the trunk and going out, and then the driver then looked out the window, its Roman. "Roman!" she then run faster closer to the car and the man faced him while giving an eye for her husband.
 
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
 
"Madelle. I want to see Madelle."
 
"You can't."
 
"Roman please. I'm begging you. I'm begging you! Please let me see her even just this once."
 
"Do you ever know how much pain you gave her all these years? She waited for you to comeback everyday. E-ve-ry-day. But then you just flew out of the country without telling her and you never comesback. Even just a scratch of a letter you didn't even sent one. The worse, you even sent her away like an animal dirtying your ground. What kind of mother are you? What kind of mother are you?"
 
"Hey, don't talk to my wife like that. All she wanted was to see her daughter. What are you trying to create a fuss about?"
 
Roman smirked, "You don't really know what your wife had done to my daughter aren't you?"
 
"I know everything that she did. She told me the truth and I am here to help her make everything up to her daughter and apologized for any pain that I have cause to her."
 
"You don't have the right. You don't have the right to interfere or get into this trouble just because you're her man."
 
"Roman!" but that doesn't stopped Roman from confronting Young Jun.
 
"On the other hand, you should be ashamed for stealing a little girl's dream of having her mother beside her." he then turned at Ellen, "Just get out of here. Even if you cried tears of blood, you won't see Madelle. I won't let you get near my daughter ever again." and then he left Young Jun and Ellen disappointed and hurt.
 
Ellen's heart is broken into thousand pieces hearing those words. She wanted to see her daughter, but then the world seemed to cursed her up for what she had done. She dropped down on her knees crying her heart out and Young Jun just hold her more. Not a long moment later, Manage Lolit came out of the house.
 
"Ellena! Ellena!" she called walking faster to the couple. Ellen then stands up immediately.
 
"Manage Lolit... Manang Lolit!" she hugged the old woman the moment they have reach each other.
 
"What are you doing here?"
 
"Manang, please I am begging you, don't send me away again. All I want is to see my daughter. All I want is to see Madelle."
 
"Haven't you seen Roman?"
 
"He wouldn't want to let me."
 
"Ellen, I have to honest with you. I can't help you that much about Madelle. She's not here."
 
"Manang Lolit, don't tell me that. Please, Please I am begging you. Don't lie to me to this extent. Please. I just want to see my daughter. Please!"
 
"But I'm telling the truth!" Ellen calmed down for a second and she and Young Jun looked at each other, "She's not here. She's in the hospital. And she's been there the day after came back here in the Philippines."
 
"What do you mean by that?" Young Jun asked.
 
"She was diagnosed to have a contagious heart failure. She was indeed schedule to have a surgery this week, but then her body is somehow too weak to perform or to stand under the knife."
 
"Isn't she had an operation when she was still young? Th- That's why I left her here. Young Jun..."
 
"Its just this recently when after her graduation that she showed the symptoms." Manang Lolit explained.
 
The old woman then just gave the hospital name where the couple can visit Madelle. There, they saw Roman and his mother standing by the window of a room watching what's happening inside. Slowly, Ellen and Young Jun walked to reach their destination. They earned glares from the old woman, but Roman just controlled his mother from making any scene in the moment. There, Ellen saw her daughter, Madelle inside the room, lying on the bed all alone with all those hosts and apparatus beside her. That burst her emotions silently.
 
"She had collapsed the moment we had step on the ground of our house. She said its just a misunderstanding on our side for she was sicked, but then, she had a severe aches that lead her to this state." Roman stated. "It started since her birthday." Ellen looked at Roman ashamed and sorry when she hears it.
 
"We manage to keep her from all the things that could hurt her and make her feel ill. We manage to keep her away from being sad and lonely yet you did it for just one day." the old woman said, "You really hate your child aren't you? That just to get your dream you pushed her away? What kind of mother are you?"
 
"I'm sorry... I'm very sorry... I didn't know... I didn't know!" she sobs. Young Jun just embraced his wife looking at the mother and son at their side.
 
He then fires back to them talking in English, "You can't say that she was a bad woman or a mother. She's my children's mother and she had raised our kids very well. I saw every moment of her care and her love giving to them. Nobody will say th..."
 
"She did that while living like she has no responsibility to a child she had left here. She maybe a good mother to your children, but it doesn't clear the fact that she left an innocent child with her promise to comeback when she didn't even have a plan to do so." Roman said. "Tell me Mister, if Madelle hasn't come to Korea, would you even know that Ellen has a child that she abandoned just to fulfill her dreams? Or, will she still lives the same routine like nothing happens? Tell me Ellen, you didn't even consider her illness when you resent her, aren't you?"
 
"No! I didn't know she's..."
 
"Liar!" the old woman again said, "How could you say you didn't know when you were the one who begged for us to help you for her operation when she's still a little girl!? How could you deny and defend yourself!? You better go now. My granddaughter doesn't need a mother because we're already here. She doesn't need a mother like you!"
 
"Ma, Ma enough." Roman trying to stopped her mother.
 
"What for!?"
 
"Please..." Ellen then pleaded on her knees. "Please, I'm begging you. I'm begging you. Please let me be with my daughter. Please let me. Please let me." she asked as she was holding the old woman's hands.
 
It seems that it softened her a bit that she just jerk her hands off and says, "Stand up." Ellen looked at her, "I said stand up." and so she did as Young Jun was supporting her, "Though I send you away, it won't do any good and I don't want to do what you have done to her." that stabbed the woman. "You can go and visit her anytime you want. You can also go inside the room, but you cannot stay longer."
 
"Thank you. Thank you very much."
 
"It doesn't mean we are forgiving you for what you have done, but we're being considerate with your position as a mother so act on it well." Roman said.
 
Ellen didn't wasted any second and went inside the room. There she tearfully stepped closer to her daughter. She slowly holds Madelle's hand and caress it lovingly. "Bunso, bunso Nanay is here. I'm already here. I comeback for you. Madelle, anak I'm sorry. I'm very sorry for what I have done. Now that I'm here, Madelle please give Nanay one more chance please. Please... Please wake up anak. Please." she cries and cries until she got out of the unit she still cries.
 
Young Jun left Ellen for a while to get some food for them. Now, there is only Roman and her standing side to side watching their daughter sleeping in the deep and fighting for her life. "She told me everything."
 
"I know. I regret everything I said and do ever since that day. Its her birthday and yet, I sent her away. I sent her away just for my sake not allowing her to prove her love on me."
 
"She already proved her love to you ever since you left her. She's waiting. Waiting eagerly in vain. Sometimes, I thought how lucky you were for Madelle was waiting for you without redemption. Sometimes I get jealous for you can always makes her cry without doing anything, while me I'm doing everything to make her happy. You always win."
 
"I'm sorry."
 
"Ellen, would you be honest with me? Do you ever remembered Madelle even just one day in all of these years? Except for this one? Do you?" Ellen just looked at Roman and he then got the answer.
 
The truth was she didn't. And she refused to do so. Because she's afraid. She's afraid that by just one second that she think about Madelle, her family will be shaken or the worse it'll broken and she can't take it. Evading and forgetting one person for the sake of one family was better. That's how Ellen thinks about it. That's how she wanted to live quietly with her new family, but she's wrong. Because she underestimated her family about the matter and now, she's going to lost that chance. The chance to talk to Madelle. The chance to know her more and the chance to be forgiven by her. All the chances are waiting in edge of falling apart. She might lose her daughter, now!
 
"Roman, can you tell me more about Madelle? I want to know more about her."
 
Roman just smiled, "I think we had an exchange of places. Before, when we are standing like this, side by side,  I was the one who's asking you the same favor. Now its you."
 
Ellen smiled too, "Yes, I remember that. And now, how I wished I could turn back the time and I won't deny Madelle."
 
"When I heard Mama and you talking about being a good mother, I already understands why you have to do that. But then, I still can't deny how disappointed I am to you. You wanted to take her with you, but then you sent her away. Maybe its just like that. We are bound to make a decision and end up being selfish and leave things as it is."
 
"But its a mistake. Now, I'm hanging in vain waiting for her to wake up and forgive me. Roman, you have lost the first five years of her life, but you got the rest of it. Much longer than you have missed."
 
"Its just the way it is, but what's important was you were here now and you're sorry about what you did." and suddenly they had heard the beeping tone from the inside. Its the heartbeat. Madelle's heartbeat was going down and the doctors are raising to go inside. "Madelle...!"
 
"Roman! Roman my daughter!" Ellen exclaimed as she was now holding on Roman's shirt and the man was also holding her hand. There Young Jun came and witnessed what's happening and he then took a hold of his wife that embraced him tightly while watching the doctors nervously. "Young Jun... Young Jun..."
 
"Lets just pray that it will not be the end." her husband said.
 
But then, its not good enough. The doctors cannot save Madelle anymore. Her body gave up and that drastically stops Ellen's heart for a second. She cannot cry louder. She cannot move either. Her voice was lost in space. She can't shout her heart out. All she did was to walk into the room alone after the doctors had gone out and said their sorry's about what happened. Ellen was shaking upon reaching her hands to her daughter who was now breathing no air or do no response anymore. As she reach that hand, just the tip of her finger had landed and she takes it away fearfully. She then tried to hold it again and tightly captured the hand that was cold and had never been warmed. Like a magnet, Ellen was immediately drowned near the girl and there her tears falls rapidly. She touches the girl's face softly and lovingly while she puts its hand on her face trying to warmth it. She has her heart broken and regrets fills her head and so her soul. The two men of her life was silently watching from the outside, though Roman wanted and already been shedding his own tears upon his daughter's death.
 
Ellen's time had suddenly stops and all she sees was her daughter who will never said 'I forgive you.' 'I miss you.' 'Nanay, I love you'. That moment. That very moment was the extreme seconds of her life that she regret things that she had done. "Madelle... bunso... Nanay is here... Nanay was already here... Madelle... Madelle..." even she shouts it out loud, the owner of that name won't come alive. All she can do was to cry more than she can and to forgive her own self for what she had did.
 
"She loves her." Young Jun said as he stands outside the room watching his wife beside Roman.
 
"I know. I always know."
 
"I don't know what to say to a father who had lost his child, but I am sorry for what happened. I am sorry for making your daughter wait for her mother."
 
"Hearing you saying that and seeing Ellen being down and miserable right in front of me is enough to know that at least, Madelle was never forgotten. That my daughter's waiting had already paid off."
 
Sometimes, somewhere, we do things that we didn't really want to, but still we do. Because we want to protect something. Because we want to be happy. But somehow, leaving a broken glass to where it falls will hurt other. Maybe its hard to forgive yourself when you know the damage has been done and the person had already pass, but being apologetic from the deepest of your heart can numb the pain somehow.
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