Chapter Text
"Pupunta ka ha?" Mary held her phone to her face, squinting slightly to see her son Max calling to greet her a happy birthday in advance.
"Di ako mawawala, ma. Promise," assured Max.
"Aasahan ko yan. Yung kapatid mo, di rin makakapunta eh," Mary replied with a hint of disappointment.
"Darating ako ma. Don't worry. Sige na, matulog ka na. Past your bedtime na diba?" Max's voice was comforting over the phone. "Love you, ma."
"Love you, anak," Mary murmured softly as she put her phone down and removed her glasses.
Her house was unusually quiet that day. Normally bustling with assistants, maids, and makeup artists, today Mary found herself alone. Her maids had taken the day off, her assistant had an emergency, and there was no shoot requiring a makeup artist.
Mary was a tv host. Not just any TV host; she was a revered figure in the industry. Her journey began at 16, as an assistant to the renowned variety show host Eddie Ilarde. Recognizing her talent, Eddie gave her the chance to co-host when his regular partner went on maternity leave. Eddie became a father figure to Mary, filling a void left by her absent father. From a young age, Mary shouldered the responsibility of providing for her six siblings, often collecting recyclables to make ends meet at the ripe age of 9. College was a brief dream interrupted by a job opportunity at a prestigious news station, where she knew her earnings could support her struggling family.
Years blurred by in a whirlwind of relentless work. Mary poured herself into her career, sacrificing personal milestones and relationships along the way. “No regrets," she would always say. “I got two sons out of it. They're my life now” - a common line in her interviews.
At 2 am, reality struck as Mary woke to a flood of "happy birthday" messages on her phone. She turned sixty that day, preferring a quiet acknowledgment over any grand celebration. With a resigned sigh, she acknowledged her age. "Ang tanda mo na, Mary," she murmured to herself before getting up to use the bathroom. Catching her reflection in the mirror, she mused, "Pwede pa” in a tone that people always described as “pa-baklang babae”.
She considered returning to sleep; after all, it was only 2 am. Mary always prioritized her eight hours of rest, attributing her youthful appearance to her regimen. But that night, despite tossing and turning for an hour, sleep eluded her. "Putang ina, ngayon mo pa ako papupuyatin," she muttered bitterly into the darkness.
Just then, her phone buzzed softly on the nightstand. She picked it up, blinking back tears, and saw a message from Max. Her heart skipped a beat as she opened it, hoping for the comforting words she needed. But as she read his message, her heart sank.
"Ma, pinapapunta ako ni boss sa Singapore. May urgent meet up with a high profile client. Hindi ko ho mahindi-an. Pasensya na ma..pag uwi ko, dadaan kaagad ako sa’yo. Di na ako tumawag kasi alam kong tulog ka pa sa mga oras na’to. Happy birthday, Ma. Love you." she sighed as she tried to cover her eyes with a pillow.
“Oh wag kang iiyak, matanda kana para jan. Itulog mo yan, Mary. Wag OA.” she said, finding humor in the situation.
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