CHAPTER THREE

"Didn't I tell you to go and watch your cousin carefully? Look what you have done, Lexi... your cousin is now missing. How did you manage to calm down, huh? You know that she is new here and yet you let her enroll and go home alone?" I heard Aunt Marina yell at Lexi.

I stopped walking and looked into the living room where Auntie was scolding Lexi. Lexi was bent over while Auntie was scolding her daughter.

I was about to speak but was immediately stopped. I wanted to say that I'm here and stop scolding Lexi. It's not her fault, It was my fault. It's just that I was a little lost earlier and someone helped me. Actually he is also from here in the village where Tita's house is located.

Raegan Monteverde helped me to go home. I don't know how he found out about Tita's house and what village. I just told him that I was missing and I also told him auntie Marina's name and then boom he knew right away.

He is a kind person, slim and most of all handsome.

"What else are you angry about, Mom? She's already here oh?!" Lexi said while pointing at me. I was so shocked that my body didn't react.

I just looked at the two of them, Auntie and Lexi. My cousin looked at me badly while Auntie could see the worry on her face.

"Stop scolding me because it won't help. She came home alone, didn't she? Oh there's your best nephew! Gosh! Why am I even here," she sarcastically said and rolled her eyes.

"Lexi, watch your words!" Auntie Marina scolded her. 

"It's true. I wasn't really here in the first place..." She stood up and picked up her bag from the couch. "If you hadn't insisted on sending me home, Daddy would still be with me and we would both be happy. Because you don't know anything."

After she said that she turned his back on us. Auntie Marina was about to pull Lexi's hand but I stopped her.

"Auntie, don't! Stop!. Let her go. She's still coping up."

Aunt Marina let out a deep sigh. "I just want to be with her for the rest of my life."

What is she saying?

"What do you mean by that, Aunt?" I asked with a worried tone and expression. 

Heck no! She can't be sick.

She sat on the sofa and sighed. I walked towards the living room and sat next to her. I held her hand and asked again.

"Don't tell me, Aunt, you are sick?"

She looked at me and gave me a bitter smile. "I hope that I wasn't sick, Amaris."

I couldn't stop myself from feeling sad about what I found out about Auntie Marina's situation. She was sick and had no intention of telling Lexi. I know! She wants to hide it but until when?

"Aunt..."

"Promise me, Amaris, that you won't tell her. Promise me! I don't want her to know that I'm sick. I just want to be with her and I'm okay with that. I just want to be with my daughter and that's my one and only wish before I leave this world." She begged while holding my hand.

"Lexi, need to know it. She needs to know that you're sick," I said weakly.

Aunt shook her head. "No! She can't. I don't want her to pity me. My daughter never treated me as her mother though. She loathes me the most."

"Of course! Lexi loves you, Aunt. She can't even show it to you but she loves you very much by action. There is no child that doesn't love its mother... the mother that gave birth to us in this world." I couldn't stop myself from crying.

Aunt Marina doesn't deserve this. She felt unwanted by her daughter and I really hate it. She can't feel that she's not with Lexi just because of her illness.

"Sshh! Don't cry okay? I will fight it. I will fight my cancer," she said with a smile while comforting me.

"Aunt, how can you be like that? How can you smile even when you are sick?" I asked her sadly.

She smiled again and looked away. "I don't want to cage myself in sadness, Amaris. My illness won't go away if I'm always sad, right? Besides, I don't want to show Lexi that I was sick. My doctor told me that I should tell my daughter that I have breast cancer but I don't want her to be sad and I don't want her to feel pity on me. I just see her and she's here by my side and I'm happy...I'm happy also that you are here."

"Does Mama know about your illness, Aunt?" I asked her again but in a low voice.

She shook her head. "No! She didn't know. Please! Don't let this come out to others. I don't want them to know that I'm sick. I don't want them to feel sorry for me. I hope you understand me, Amaris."

I nodded in response. Even though I was against what she wanted, I just nodded my head. I don't want her to be disappointed in me.

"But promise me, Aunt, that we will treat you, right? We will cure your cancer," I uttered and gave her an assurance smile. "I will join you in your battles, aunt. I'm always here for you."

I will accompany Auntie in her battle. I will not leave her because I am the only one who knows her secret. I can't leave her alone and she can't be alone at this time. Having breast cancer is not easy. She will be encountering some depression and anxiety and she needs someone who can help her to survive. She must survive and she will survive.

After we talked. I took her to her room and let her rest. I told the maid to give her water before I went into my room to change into my house clothes.

Aunt didn't deserve to feel unwanted.

Aunt deserves to be loved and the happiness.

Shall I talk to Lexi about the treatment of Auntie? Lexi should love and make aunt's happy before it's too late. But I promise that I will keep her secret to her daughter.

I took a deep breath. I sat on the edge of my bed and took out my cell phone to call Mama. I already missed her. I miss Mama so much... I miss her so much.

[hello, why did you get called?] asked Mama from the other line.

[I just missed you, Ma. I'm not used to not having you by my side but I have to endure it for my dream.] A sad smile formed on my lips when I remembered Tita's illness and Lexi's treatment for her.

[I love you so much, Mama.] I added in a sad voice.

[What did you eat and you're so sweet, darling? Do you have a problem?] she asked me with concern in her voice.

[Can't I just miss you, Ma?] I laughed softly but it was fake. [Be careful there. Take care of yourself and say hi to Justin.]

[okay! OK! Don't worry I'll take care of myself. Remember we have maids here and they can help me. So just study there hard and don't be hard headed to your Aunt. Love and take care of her too.] She reminds me.

Even if you don't say it, Mom, I will do it. She is like a second mother to me and I will not let her disappear too soon.

Mom and I had just finished talking when my cellphone went off. I took a deep breath and smiled brightly. I took a charger from the drawer and plugged it into a nearby outlet on the bedside table.

I stood up and walked out of my room. I need to talk to Lexi. I won't tell her that her mother is sick but I will just tell her to love her mommy before it's too late for her. I don't want her to regret that she wasn't kind and that she didn't show her care and love to Auntie. 

I knocked on the door of Lexi's room. In less than two minutes she opened it. She raised an eyebrow at me. "What do you need?"

I took a deep breath. "Can we talk? Just quickly talk."

"What are we going to talk about? We're not close enough to talk and most of all why would I talk to you?" She asked in a not so good manner.

I closed my eyes tightly at her answer. Calm down, Amaris. Don't lose it, calm down!

I opened my eyes and took another deep breath. "Let's talk about it inside of your room."

She hissed and rolled her eyes. She opened the door for me so I entered her room and I couldn't stop myself from being amazed because her room was so beautiful and clean. Neat and clean.

"Spill it. I'm not a fortune teller to guess inside of your brain," he said, annoyed and sat on her bed.

"Can you treat your Mommy as your own mother? She doesn't deserve to feel unwanted, Lexi. Auntie loves you so much and she doesn't deserve your hate," I said without coaxing.

"You don't know anything, Amaris, so don't dictate me. Don't interfere with how I treat Mommy," she answered me coldly. She stood up and went to her bedside table to get some water. She poured water into her glass and drank it straight away.

"Lex, I just don't want you to regret it la— in the future."

"Why should I regret it? I don't feel any regrets, Amaris. She deserves the way I treat her and what do you care about?" The question that irritated me even more.

But instead of bursting out my anger with her, I just let out a heaved sigh and calm down

Her eyes narrowed. "I really do hate her and I will never forgive her."

I shook my head. "Please! Don't say that, Lex. She's still your mother and she doesn't deserve that... she doesn't deserve your treatment."

"If that's all you say... you can leave. I don't want to listen to whatever you say about her. Again, I will never forgive her."

I took a deep sigh. Maybe she will never forgive aunt now but maybe soon. But I hope it's not too late for her to be with Auntie.

"I hope it's not too late, Lex. Life is too short. So, forgive and forget. Don't lock yourself in anger and hatred for the past. I told you this because I don't want you to regret what happened in the end it's your decision. Your Mommy loves you very much and I hope you give her another chance to prove that to you." After saying that, I opened the door myself and walked out.

I didn't realize that the tears were falling from my eyes. Lexi already changed. She has changed and her behavior is very bad. She was able to hate mother that much. If the time will come when she will change and her love for her mother will return. But she hated Auntie very much. I don't know what to do just to make sure Auntie won't be sad anymore and she can fight her illness without sadness.

Lexi, I hope you don't regret it in the end.