Mending Hearts (MaiChard)

i.

Because of my love for Aldub, I try to publish this little shitty adaptation of mine. Hope you will like it!

xoxo, Poutylipschinita

P.S. Blame my HS self for creating that pen name. HAHAHA

P. S. S. The setting of this story is not like the futuristic 2031 or something, it's still the normal, slightly-advanced setting of the world. HAHAHA

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NUVALI, LAGUNA 2023

"Lolo?" My 4-year-old self asked one morning.

"Oh baby? Why are you up so early dear? It's only 6:10." My grandfather said while scoping me up.

"I dreamt about Mom again." I yawned.

"Your Mom? What does she look like?" My grandfather asked, looking so interested even I mentioned her so many times before. I don't know why I kept dreaming a faceless mom. Every dream I have with her, she would always sing me to sleep and kept reminding me that she loves me but every time I tried to touch her, I always wake up.

"I don't know, her face is still blurry Lolo. Lo, I thought Daddy will spend his Sundays with me?"

"And he will, maybe something just happened. You're a smart kid Rio, I know you understand you Daddy's job, right?" I nodded while rubbing my right eye which my grandfather stopped.

"Don't worry, today is their last shooting day for his movie, remember?" He touched my nose and I giggled, it's always ticklish when someone touches my nose.

And just in time, we heard a click and the door opened revealing my Dad.

"Daddy!" I exclaimed and tried to get away from my Lolo as much as possible.

"Princess? How come you're awake already? " He was surprised and he hurriedly gathered me in his arms.

"It was because of mom."

"You're M-Mom?" He stuttered. I only tell Lolo Richard about my dreams since he's always the one who's with me.

"Opo. Daddy? I don't know if you'll get mad if I ask you this but where's mommy?" He looked at Lolo. At that time, I couldn't understand the look in his eyes but now, I do. He was asking my Lolo for help, how could he tell his 4 year old that her mom left her?

He then looked at back at me, before he said anything I continued.

" How come I only have you, Lolo, Auntie, Uncle and Manang Bebeng?"

"W-Well, aren't we enough for you? C'mon would like to help Daddy makes some pancakes? I'll let you have an extra drop of strawberry syrup for today. You're reward since I heard you've been a good girl to your Lolo and Manang Bebeng." He tried to convince me. Smooth move Daddy, he knows I can't say no to strawberries!

"Really? Let me down, let me down!" I said. I landed on the ground and rushed to the kitchen.

"Hurry up Dad! I want to have pancakes already! And we have to catch the 7:30 mass!!" I shouted.

That was my first attempt to ask my Dad about mom and every succeeding attempts I did boils down to the same result--silence, none, na-da. I wonder what really happened to my Mom. Is she still alive? How come I don't see any family pictures? Did she really loved us? Why did she left us? Anyone without a mother would ask a lot of things but I already stopped after I heard my Dad cry one night. It wasn't just any other night, it was the midnight of my birthday and I know something was wrong. It wasn't the first time I saw him though, I saw him break down in front of me when he was drunk when I was still six. It was July 16th. Is mom the reason why Dad is miserable like this? Then if it is, I wouldn't rather see her at all if she only brings pain to him.

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Bolton Landing, NY 2031

"Hey Channy!" Someone greeted me.

"Hey!"

"Hey Channy! Great weather we're having." Another one said.

"Yeah, it is. We should definitely have another cliff diving adventure Fred!"

"Oh no, no, no! Your mom would kill me! Right, she's looking for you right now." Fred, one of the resort's waiter told me.

"Thanks Fred!" I turned to my right to go to the LakeHouse, where my mom is currently working as one of the Sous-chef. She is the kind of sous-chef where she can be assigned at different kitchens. The whole Sagamore Resort is my playground. I grew up with these people.

"Knock knock!" I said to catch the attention of all the employees.

"Hey Channy!" They all greeted me. They're my family. All of the staff in this resort is my family. I feel so loved whenever I am here in the LakeHouse kitchen.

"Channy, your mom is in the pantry, trying to help with the preparations for lunch." Angie, one of the station chef for the soup, said to me.

"Thanks Angie."

"You're welcome sweetheart."

I went to my mom and found her trying to reach something in the top shelf.

"Mom, you should try a ladder rather than a chair." She quickly grabbed the shelf to prevent herself from falling.

"Maicha Ann Capili Mendoza, what did I tell about trying to surprise me at dangerous times?" My mom starting again with her lecture.

"Okay, I know. You don't have to say my whole name." I smiled. I just love to surprise my mom all the time, her face is priceless.

"Where's my po and opo? I told you, you should start learning your tagalog na anak. Yes, you're able to understand it but iba pa rin pag marunong kang magsalita nito." She grabbed something and faced me.

"Ginagawa ko po ang lahat ang aking makakaya Nay. Does it sound alright?" I think I'm doing great at it.

"Yes, you're improving my dear. I don't know how will I able to let you go for a month." She went down from her stool and hugged me.

" Do you really have to go? I-I could tell your Tita-Ninang Coleen to cancel everything and just try it next month, what do you think?" She's being paranoid, again. I can't blame her though, it will be my first time flying alone, not across states but across the globe, I'm going to my home land, Philippines.

"Mom, you know it's my one big opportunity. I want to know the Philippines. I don't know the reason why you don't want to go back there anymore but let me have this chance to know the country you once loved." And maybe this will be my chance to search for my father too.

She's always teary-eyed whenever I ask about him and she will have the excuse that she's napuwing, I don't even know what that means. And whenever I leave her, I always find her crying in the side of the lake acting as if no one can hear her. I don't want to see her cry, it just breaks my heart. I know she's missing Dad and I would do whatever I can to find him. I look forward to the day where I can finally see my mom be genuinely happy.