Aila's downcast gaze reflected her clouded realization about Yhuan's ghosting stunt… It was because of another woman. The walk towards the hospital wing for women felt like a lifetime for Aila, knowing that she is about to meet another woman in Yhuan's life.
When he opened the door, Aila saw the poor condition in the room, it was a female ward where there were six other patients; curtains were the only means to separate the patients beds and to have a little privacy.
Yhuan held her hand and brought her beside the bed of a woman who's probably around forty five years old. She was pretty but the signs of aging already had caught up with her. She also does not look too well, she might be in pain, but the way she gazed at her and Yhuan was inexplicably calm.
"Mom, she's Aila, the one I told you about"
Aila walked closer and bowed, she extended her hand and politely introduced herself.
"My name is Susan, I am Yhuan's mom, I have never thought I'll get to see you in person." She folded her hands in her lap, as she asked Aila to sit closer to her. Aila gladly obliged and inched closer to Susan.
"Son, you are right, Aila is beautiful, kind and polite; you chose well."
Yhuan coughed and laughed when he heard his mom; he scratched his head feeling embarrassed to Aila. He left the two women to talk amongst them; he then moved his attention in fixing his mom's things.
Susan caressed Aila's hair and affectionately asked her a very clear-cut question.
"When are you going to choose my son Aila? He is sincere and very kind, most of all he adores you deeply."
Aila's cheeks tuned pink hearing what Susan said, it's as if she was trying to be a bridge for them. Susan noticed Aila was left speechless with her sudden matchmaking.
"Don't be shy, you can call me Aunt; I apologize if it seems like I'm rushing you; you know when you have a son that you love dearly, you want the best for him…"
Susan cackled and held Aila's hand, she squeezed it softly and in a low voice she said;
"So my soul can rest in peace when my time comes."
Aila's felt the agonizing pain from a mother who is uncertain of her health. She glimpsed at Yhuan who was busy fixing his mother's things. He was oblivious of his mother's predicament, perhaps it was better that way, maybe it relieves some anguish in his mother's heart.
"Please be strong for him, he still needs you Aunt Susan." Aila was fighting back her tears; her heart is overwhelmed by emotions.
"Why is it that… my heart aches for him." She can't fully comprehend the reason behind her feelings.
While they were sharing stories about Yhuan, the doctor came in with the update regarding Susan's health status.
Yhuan came to her mother's side, his mom grabbed his arm preparing herself to the news they are about to hear.
"Good evening Ms Susan. We have the result of the biopsy; the tumor is indeed spreading faster than what we had expected; our aggressive response to this treatment is what we call a total abdominal hysterectomy bilateral salpingo oophorectomy or to simply put, we have to remove your uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes and cervix. This is to prevent the cancer cells from spreading to different organs."
"Do what you must doctor, please save my mom." Yhuan was determined to comply to everything just to save his mother.
"Son, this might cost a lot; we can't afford it." Tears ran down Susan's cheeks as she hugged her son's arm. Yhuan affectionately caressed his mom's hands.
"Don't worry about the cost mom, I will find ways, what you must do is focus on getting better."
"If that's the case then please prepare for the surgery tomorrow evening." The doctor left and gave the nurse the instructions to prepare for tomorrow's surgery.
Aila was there simply observing this small but lovely family, she was not able to fight back her tears anymore, tears shimmered in her eyes but she readily wiped it unwilling to show this mother and son tandem a hint of her weakness.
"Mom, I'll bring Aila to her house first." Yhuan kissed his mom goodbye and then opened the door for Aila.
"Aunt, I will go ahead, please don't be too weighed down for tomorrow's surgery. I will pray for you."
Aila's smile and her words were enough for Susan to feel at ease, her son indeed chose well.
Yhuan and Aila were already at the parking lot when Aila insisted that he should just walk her to the bus stop instead of bringing her back all the way to her home. Yhuan agreed thinking of his mom who just got shocking news.
While they were walking, Yhuan cleared his throat and gathered his courage to apologize to Aila.
"I'm sorry, I was not able to go to you these past weeks; I took two part time jobs to help my mom with the medical bills. Then I still try my best to attend my classes in the morning then run back to mom to check on her. I was hesitating to call you since I don't want you to worry about my current situation."
Aila nodded and understood Yhuan, she appreciates his priorities and she respects him more because of it.
"I was a jerk too, I did not even check on you… what kind of a friend am I?"
Yhuan's mood lightened, "hahaha, isn't that girl's rule no.1? To make sure you are not the first one texting or calling."
"We're here, you don't have to wait for the bus, please run back to your mom and take good care of her." Aila lifted up Yhuan's sprits, he had enough energy to go back to his mom with a smile on his face.
When Yhuan was out of sight, a black executive car that is heavily tinted stopped in front of Aila. A man in black uniform opened the door for her.
"Reese, you're here." Aila was surprised to see her friend waiting for her.
"Crazy girl, you sent the whole department in chaos this afternoon."
Aila rubbed her temple, "Please send my apologies to everyone, I assure you, this won't happen again."
"It is our job; you don't have to worry about it, but I think I should sleep over tonight, you have so much stories to tell me girlfriend." Reese hugged her friend.
Aila leaned her head against, Reese's head. "Yeah I need some wisdom and I would also appreciate some reality check from you hahaha."
"Don't tell me you've fallen for him!" Reese pinched Aila's nose
Aila "…" she simply did not know how to respond.
"What the… seriously?" Reese's brows drew together and gave Aila a once-over.