"WHAT? A SARDINES AGAIN? DAMN THIS LIFE, AND YOU TOO!" I heard a young man shouting next to our house. I am sure that it was his mother, Amelia, that he was yelling at.
"I a-apologize, my son. I-if I get a decent job, mama w-will give you whatever you want." His mother stammered.
"YOU KEEP SAYING THAT PROMISE OVER AND OVER AGAIN! HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU SAID THAT? I CAN'T EVEN COUNT ON MY FINGERS." Jayler yelled. The son of Amelia.
"I-i really p-promise my son... that when I get money, I will give you everything you want." The woman said while sobbing.
"What! Let me go! Didn't I tell you that I did not want your skin to touch me? A frustrated tone could be read in the young man's vocabulary, and he seemed to physically harm his mother.
"I just want to get out of this worthless house. Why did you become my mother? What a shame." It continued and then left the house while slamming the door shut.
The young man's mother is old. If I estimate correctly, it is probably 59 years old. I always wanted to help her, but I couldn't since her son was always threatening me every time I got close to his mother.
"I love you so much, my son. Please come home; I am worried about you."
"I will give you everything you want, but please don't leave me."
"I don't know what to do when you're gone from me."
There was only a wooden wall between our home and hers, so I could hear every word and sob that the young man's mother uttered. The noise it makes every midnight doesn't made me mad; instead, I feel sorry for her, and what I see every night touches my heart.
—
"Ma'am! Sir! P-please buy this product of mine just for m-my son." An old woman begs people passing by on the street to buy her products.
"I'm sorry Ma'am but we still have that at home." One of those who passed by apologized.
"I will lower the price—"
"I'm really sorry. Maybe next time." He interrupted what the old woman was saying.
Before the man could completely leave, there were muscular men running. There were three of them, and they all wore the same black clothes. They soon surrounded the woman and stole his goods and money. The man tried to help the woman, but the three men merely battered him.
"P-please don't take t-that a-away from me. That's for my son. Please, I-I'm b-begging you all." The tears falling slowly from she eyes.
"DON'T CRY THERE! JUST TRY TO FIGHT, AND YOU WILL FIND WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR." A man surrounding the old woman pointed the gun he was holding.
The woman did nothing but go home in tears. Just as she got home, her son was leaning against the door and seemed to be waiting for her to return.
"Why are you crying? Where is the money you earned from selling? Don't say you haven't sold anything; you don't have any merchandise left. The products are sold out, right?" He said, and he then laughed hysterically.
"I'm sorry, my son. I was robbed while selling on the road." Amelia replied to his son while crying.
"Don't call me son, you're not ny mother!" He shouted.
Jayler patted her mother from top to bottom and said, "I know you're lying. Five me your money if you don't want me to beat you again."
"I'm not lying, Jayler. I-I am telling t-the truth." Jayler pushed her mother as she let out those words.
"My friends are laughing at me because of you. They are right. I should leave you because I have nothing to gain from you." He gathers all his things and puts them in a bag.
"J-jayler, p-please don't leave me. Please, son, you are the only person I have left and the one from whom I draw strength."
Her whole body was shaking, and she was trying to hold her son. She tried to hug him, but her son just pushed her away again.
"I WISH YOU WERE DEAD! HOW COME YOU GAVE BIRTH TO ME BUT DIDN'T GIVE ME EVERYTHING I WANTED IN LIFE? YOU'RE THE WORST MOM EVER!" Jayler yelled and then completely left the house carrying his belongings.
A week has passed, but Jayler still hasn't come back. Amelia looks for her son every day and night while selling her merchandise, hoping to see him, but there is no sign of Jayler's shadow.
—
"Jayler, my son, look, mama is saving up for your upcoming birthday."
"Go home, son; I am preparing for your upcoming 21st birthday. You will surely be glad."
"Jayler, I love you and I always will."
It was like a knife stabbing my heart with every word she said. the pain to think that she did nothing but love her son and do everything just to fill his needs and wants in life.
—
The day that Amelia has been waiting for has arrived, and it is the 21st birthday of her only child, Jayler.
"Bro, it's your birthday today, right? What are you planning to do? Let's have a drink." Said one of Jayler's friends.
Before Jayler could even speak, they saw one of their friends hurrying, panting, and sweating.
He patted Jayler's shoulder and said, "You're so cruel, brad. It's like we're not friends, huh? You didn't even say that there was a grand celebration going on at your house."
"What are you saying? Are you out of your mind?" Jayler replied. He seemed to be irritated and confused.
"Right, what are you talking about? His mother can't even afford to buy a proper dish; how come she can prepare a big celebration for Jayler's birthday?" Ethan chuckled loudly.
"Let's see if you can swallow your saliva when you witness it yourself." Nicollo said and smirked.
Jayler went to their house with his friends. Jayler's face is inexplicable because he is confused by what he sees. There are so many people, and the design of their house is beautiful. It looks like a rich person prepared it.
"Sir, are you Jayler Pangalinan? And they are your friends, right?
"Yes, that's us." His two friends said.
"Please put on this longsleeve and coat and get in the car."
The three immediately put on the clothes given to them and got into the car.
"You're amazing, mom. Did you win the lottery, and now you have this kind of event, huh? I thought you were useless. You have a secret that you're not telling me, huh?" The three laughed at the same time
They went to the main venue where Jayler's birthday was held. The design is so beautiful, and you can really tell it's been well thought out. made Jayler come to the front and then gave him the cake. He pulled the top off the cake, and blue bills came out of it.
In the middle of the event, he asked the staff at the venue.
"Where is mama? Why she isn't here?"
"We're sorry, but we can't tell you."
He didn't even bother to think about his mother. The only thing on his mind at that time was his birthday, and he should have fun with his friends.
"Before we end this event, please come forward, Mr. Jayler." An MC said who is currently on stage.
Jayler went to the front and then took the gift from his mother. There was a gift, but his mother herself was not at that event.
Jayler was about to open the gift, but the MC stopped him. "Ooppss! Don't be too excited. Your mom said to open it at your house."
The event is over, but his mother still doesn't show up. Jayler doesn't think about it anymore because, for him, the happiness of himself and his friends is more important than his mother.
"Your birthday was amazing, Jayler. It's really fun. We have done everything we want since no parent will stop us." Ethan said.
"What? Are we going home? You have yet to open a present! Do you want us to help you? It looks like you're going to get rich." Nicollo laughed as he spoke.
"Tsk. I can do it by myself. Just wait for your turn, my bros." Jayler replied arrogantly, but in a joking way.
Jayler quickly went home to their house because he was excited to open the gift his mother gave him. When he opened it, there was a small note on it, "HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAY, JAYLER! I know you will surely love my present."
Jayler saw a cellphone whose brand was iPhone. This is the latest cell phone today, so he is very happy. When he opened his cell phone, he wondered why it immediately went to the recording app, and there was already a recording on it, so he listened to it.
"Hi, Jayler, my son! I'm sorry if I messed with your cellphone, hmm? I just want to pass on my message to you here. Happy birthday, my son! Do you know I'm always looking for you? I'm also working hard to save up to give you everything you want, but Mom can't really afford it. But look, I was able to prepare you for your birthday. The time flies so fast, son. I used to be a burden to you, but now you are a full-fledged young man. It's just sad that I won't be able to witness your birthday or your formal wear. I'm happy for you, Jayler. Just seeing you happy makes me happy too. Don't let yourself down, huh? Mom loves you very much. I hope you don't do to your future wife or child what you did to me, because that's really hurt me. I only endure all of it because I love you; you are my child. I won't add more because I know you don't like my drama and you almost rejected me as your mother. Oh, you already rejected me HAHAHA kidding! Happy, happy birthday, son. I hope you like my gift to you, and now that I'm gone, I'm sure you're happy. There is no reason for your friends to laugh at you."
Jayler felt as if hot water had been poured over what he heard. I can see his tears dripping on her cheeks.
I came to him and said, "Don't worry, I will forever keep and take care of your mother's heart."
"W-what are you talking about?" W-where's m-my mom? Tell me!" He said this while still crying.
Right, his mother donated her heart to me just to give her son what he wants in life, which is material things, and for her to be dead.
"Your mom is gone. Isn't that what you want? Be happy because your mom is gone! Wasn't that what you wanted before you left that night with your things?" I said to him.
"N-no mom! W-where are y-you?... I will change mom, just come back. P-please forgive me." He regretted everything he had done to his mother.
They are right, regret is always at the end.
A lone warrior in her battle, fighting for the freedom of her incarcerated soul and emotions. Magandang araw! The author's name is Calypso and she is currently in 11th grade. She's a STEM student and an architect wannabe. She lives in Bacoor City, Philippines and is a proud Filipino. She enjoys a variety of activities, but her favorite pastimes include writing, playing online games, and listening to music, especially the music of her favorite K-pop band.
Calypso is a 16-year-old girl, uses her writing as a way to express herself and her feelings and to go into the depths of her heart. A small thread connecting her mind and heart agreed to take the path of writing which helps her make sense of the world by exploring her own written ones. Typically, this user creates short stories about love, tragedies, retaliation, odd occurrences, pasts, and wonders.
Photos from this blog are taken from @primiily on Instagram.