"Brother Jun, can you make me a sandwich? I'm hungry." I smiled a little and kissed her on the cheeks, I put her back down and started making food. As I cook, I see the telephone on the counter.
"Do I have to call her? Mom, maybe will think that she has to update me, if something is up. Or call me to see if we are safe and sound back at the house." Then I remembered the man in the suit, her attendant.
"He must have updated her already…" I looked at the clock and saw the time that it was almost noon.
"That's why Chuna's already hungry." I felt a little hungry too. I thought of starting to make a heavier meal and making a portion for everybody. But when I opened the fridge, I saw the cake. I stood back for a second, reminiscing about the morning I had when I woke up yesterday.
I saw everybody singing Happy Birthday and every one of us was happy and Grandpa was still with us. Now, I don't know how I will spend my day today. But I have work later. It's the weekend. I don't have classes, but I have a shift later at the video store.
After, I made a meal and asked Chuna to come eat with me at the table. I called my manager to tell her that I would be taking a leave for a week.
The funeral and cremation passed. It was overwhelming, and I was surprised by how many people that Grandpa knew in his lifetime. These are people who not just became acquaintances of his but also became friends, rivals, old lovers, businessmen, clients, and old friends of Grandma and Grandpa.
I heard that the crowd was not even half of it, some died earlier than him, some were out of the country, and some didn't get the message. Every day I have been warned that the room is at full capacity we rented for Grandpa and I sometimes stay at the door to accommodate people that are waiting outside.
The hallway was full of funeral flowers, some of which I asked to be delivered at home. Grandma just stood and stared at the handsome picture of Grandpa, sometimes crying, sometimes laughing, sometimes praying, then sleeping beside him. I just can't imagine how maxed out her energy is and how she handles the mixed emotions. I'm proud of her for how strong she is and has continued to stay strong for us.
Whenever our eyes meet, she asks for a hug from me. I bring Chuna with us every day after her class. I didn't let her stay in the funeral homes all day. Not because we're too busy, but I just don't want her to see too much sadness at her age. Though that was the case, I'm thankful to everybody around us for being so considerate to bring condolences in their own way to us. Grandma is the head mourner; she gets greeted countless times every day, but she doesn't care much most of the time. She just stayed silent and staring at grandpa like she was talking to him. Sometimes I take her place just to greet the visitors.
Mom comes every other night. However, she has not presented herself all the time. She managed the funeral homes, the fees, reservations, the cremation process, and all the paperwork behind all of this. And she stayed the whole day on Grandpa's last day.
I'm 17, and I'm almost legal age, but I'm still afraid that Mom will bring up taking Chuna away from me again. And the day came just as expected, a few weeks after Grandpa's funeral. She walked into the front yard again, knocking on our front door.
This time Chuna was at school and I stayed home for grandma's check-up and mom happened to catch us up before we left.
"Mom, I've come to take you to the hospital" Mom is talking in a way with command and period again instead of asking.
"You don't really have to, dear; I have Jun here with me," Grandma said in a polite manner.
"I never wanted to be a burden…" Then Mom looked my way, and she held Grandma's hands to continue what she was saying.
"Mom, I want to take Chuna and Jun with me. I'll hire you a full-time caregiver", Mom said in just one breath.
"And here we go…" I sighed a heavy breath.
"I really don't want to talk, but I'm confident that grandma would not want that, so I just let her speak" Grandma laughed at her last statement. Then, she let go of grandma's hands.
"Then, I'll just take the kids" Mom is pushing herself towards us now.
"I just wanted you to live a comfortable life" Mom's last sentence triggered something within her and mine, but I was about to blurt for defense, and Grandma took the floor.
"Stella, my dear. I thank you for all you have given us, especially the materialistic things for us to live comfortably. I remember when you insisted on giving us a car and a driver to drive Jun from and to school, but you know that we could manage that. Since you started entrusting us with our grandkids, we have a car too. You know that. Also, because of that, you and your dad almost had a heated argument about that because of your insisting…"
"Oh, I didn't know that…" I thought.
"… Jun is not a boy anymore, Stella. He's a young man now before you make a decision. Please, ask others first for their side or opinions on the matter." Then Grandma looked my way.
"Do you want what your mom is asking? Jun" I shook my head.
"Never. I can take care of you, grandma; I can manage to stay and support you. I promised to myself that I would love you back and continue to be grateful. As the day goes by when I get to live with you, we experience the true meaning of care and love. I thank you for the lessons that you give me and Chuna. I also promised that I could and would definitely support Chuna. I don't want her to experience what I had before I got to know you all, my family" I sensed Mom was staring at me as I talked, but I kept looking at Grandma and appreciating her facial expression of being touched by what I was saying.
"… But I love you all too…" Mom said.