𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍:
Mother of mine
(1972)

THERE'S FAMILIARITY IN THE LAND HER FEET LANDED ON, yet she couldn't help but feel like a stranger in another foreign land. The cool air gently brushed her cheeks, soothingly combing through her hair. The familiar scent of the salty ocean breeze and the sun's blazing heat coaxed her body. The beautifully unfamiliar sights her gaze landed on triggered her anxiousness.

Yet, a hand intertwined with hers, and suddenly, she isn't feeling so anxious anymore. She blinks rapidly, not noticing that she went completely out of touch for a minute. She looks at the man beside her, who is already looking at her with worry in his topaz eyes, but it's the complete opposite of what he says, "It'll be alright," Jasper assures. His voice is the familiar tone of gentleness and softness. Corazon couldn't muster an answer, so the answer she could manage was to squeeze his hand, a silent gesture that I hope it would be.

Her motherland. Her inang bayan. That Corazon thought she'd never step foot in when she left so many years ago. But when Alice had a vision of her mother, there was not any sort of discussion about whether she'd be going home or not because, for her mother, she'll break the rules of their kind to get the opportunity to say goodbye one last time.

"Are y'all ready?" Zane asks as he follows them. He's Carlisle's friend who manages their transportation when crossing countries. He has many connections around the globe and prides himself in being a traveler. Zane is tall, lean yet muscular, and has an interesting taste in fashion. The vibrant colors of his clothing complement his rich umber skin. His ruby-red eyes glanced between Corazon and Jasper. He met Carlisle in the mid-19th century. Carlisle was looking for a new residence somewhere in England, and along the way, he met Zane, who was fixing properties and acquiring land for vampires that wanted to have a discreet life amongst the humans. One of his businesses also includes transportation for vampires hidden as a trading ship.

As a vampire who loves to travel, Zane was not in favor of using their speed and strength to use it as a mode of transportation and also ruining his clothes by swimming in the vast and rough seas like the Atlantic Ocean because how could they ever manage to hold onto their baggage while also battling with the ominous waves? Carlisle helped him establish the business by loaning Zane the money he needed. Ever since then, they have been great friends. Zane was the one who suggested to Carlisle the property on the tropical island off the coast of Rio de Janeiro that Carlisle gifted Esme and is called Isle Esme.

Carlisle suggested that Corazon contact Zane, which would help them make their way to the Philippines. After one phone call, Zane was more than happy to help and accommodate their stay, which was for two weeks. Just enough for the five-day wake and the funeral. After the funeral for nine days, Corazon will pray the novena with the belief that her mother's soul is leaving the world and will be at peace in the afterlife. She'll continue to pray the rosary for the next 40 days, but they'll be back in Alaska by then.

"Yes," Corazon tentatively answers. So much has changed since she was last here. While she changed as her own person to leave the horror and pain of the past, it looks like the Philippines has changed either for better or worse. She doesn't really know. She stopped following the news years ago, stopped writing letters to her mother, and vice versa. So much has changed, yet so little at the same time.

Zane gave her recent newspaper articles, and she's not happy to learn that there's been no development in handling the barrelling down economy and state of the Filipino citizens since the war—it only worsened in every presidential reign, though the late President Ramon Magsaysay exceeded her expectation when she was still reading the news in the Philippines back in the '50s, Ramon's rule was considered corruption free, ended the Hukbalahap rebellion, and navigated the contentious reparations between Philippines and Japan. All presidents have their legacies, good and bad. There are no best, but it's their determination and good intention to govern a country to flourish and the people to be served justly, but it looks like it won't be happening any time soon.

Corazon is quiet, quieter than usual. Jasper couldn't help but worriedly glance at her at every second. He knew that she didn't like it, but he couldn't stop himself. He felt an emotion that he hadn't felt for a long time.

Grief.

She's already grieving, even if it hasn't happened yet. Grief is heavy and weighing, an otherworldly emotion that disconnects one from the reality of the truth and the denial of loss. It's a heartbreaking emotion that makes it hard to accept the fading presence and fleeting life of a loved one.

Zane drove them to Corazon's childhood home. As far as she knows, her parents moved to a much smaller house because they couldn't manage their way into the wood staircase anymore because of old age. After compelling the ground's keeper, Corazon couldn't help but stare at the house constructed with sturdy hardwood beams and intricately carved wooden panels. Its steeply pitched roof is adorned with terracotta tiles as it stands tall amidst a lush garden as it bathes in the afternoon glow of the sun.

Jasper was the one who led Corazon towards the grand wooden front doors. The interior is a marvel of intricate woodwork. The furniture is covered with white cloth. High ceilings adorned with elaborate moldings soar overhead while gleaming hardwood floors. After all these years, it's just like what she remembered. It's well-maintained and restored. Corazon is glad that her family didn't decide to sell their home. Moving through the house, she stopped by the familiar hall with lined-up wooden doors. Hesitancy is in her features as she stands before a familiar door with a carved initial of her name.

She felt a presence behind her; it was strong and assuring just what she needed. When she opened the bedroom, her bedroom, she removed the white cloth that covered the furniture with dust particles floating around. She swayed her hands in the air. Her breath hitched, still the same as she remembered, and she releases a shaky breath. Jasper wrapped an arm around her shoulder, gently pulling her in his arms as she leaned in his embrace, her head against his chest.

They stayed for that for a mere moment, soaking everything in as the memories of the past flooded in her mind like a film. In this bedroom is where her siblings all bundle themselves every night, filled with giggles and waves of laughter as if they didn't have their own bedrooms. It's where her mother told her stories of folk tales, and it's where her father told her that if she could put her mind on something, he was sure that she could conquer anything and everything that her heart desires.

Corazon opens the wood bedside table, and she releases a laugh. Jasper crouches down beside her as he looks at the items inside the drawer, "You've got treasures here have you?" Jasper's voice is filled with amusement as Corazon picks up the box, and her hands skim through the caricatures she collected as a kid.

Caricatures are often found in newspapers, magazines, and political cartoons, and she always made sure to cut them out and collect them. Her father, who had a ritual of reading the morning paper, made sure to give his eldest daughter the newspaper section with caricatures.

Artists utilized exaggerated facial expressions and body language to mock politicians and public figures, shedding light on issues of corruption, colonialism, and social inequality. Not only did she collect caricatures, but inside the drawer were some letters that aged with tarnished edges along with pennies, rocks that she thought were pretty at the time, and many random items stored safely inside the drawer.

Corazon's mother always scolded her to throw away her anik-anik, as she called it, but Corazon couldn't get rid of it, and she is glad that she didn't because she has something to look back to now.

"We're bringing these back with us," Corazon hums, and Jasper raises an eyebrow with a teasing grin, "Even the rocks?"

"Maybe not the rocks," Corazon chuckles. Then her mood suddenly dropped when she saw the darkness and quietness of the night that it all felt solemn. Jasper followed the shifts of her emotions as Corazon looked at him with a flat smile, "We should go. It's getting dark out,"

"If you're ready,"

"Inang doesn't have much time,"

With that, Jasper stood up from his position, lending him her hand as Corazon took it dutifully with a gentle squeeze of assurance. They went out along the familiar streets, passing a few houses until they arrived at the last house in the block. The house is simple, quaint, and exudes warmth. A light on the porch was the only thing that illuminated the front of the house. Corazon and Jasper made their way towards the backyard. The open window is her way of entrance to her mother's bedroom, where she lay on the bed, frail and sick with the fading fluttering sounds of her heart, the same slowness of how the candlelight flickered throughout the room.

Corazon's heart broke at the sight. She always remembered her mother as the strongest person in her life, but this her mother is fighting for her last breath, and Corazon knows that her mother is waiting for her. So Corazon approached her mother by the bed sporting a brave face because she needed to be strong for the both of them.

She sat at the bed's edge, Jasper remaining behind the shadows. Corazon gingerly took her mother's frail hand, eyes observant as she looked at her mother closely. Age has finally caught up to her. Tiredness is visible. Corazon's mother opened her eyes. She didn't seem surprised to see her. More like an expectant smile made its way to her lips.

"Anak," She says with a hoarse voice, eyes filled with joy.

"Inang," Corazon breathed out with a smile of her own. Corazon gently took her mother's hand, brushing the back of her hand on her forehead. "Mano po." Her mother hums.

Then her mother asks in Tagalog. "When did you arrive here?"

"Just this morning," She responds in her mother tongue.

"I'm glad you're here beside me and to see you one last time,"

"Inang," Corazon lightly scolded with a subtle shake of her head. "It won't be, you'll be alright,"

Denying the inevitable. Ignoring what's foretold.

Her mother clicks her tongue at the roof of her mouth, pursing her lips in dismissal. "Our life is only lent to us by god. I have lived my life, and I don't regret anything. It's time to move on."

Corazon only nods, not knowing how to respond. She looks over her shoulder and beckons Jasper. "I'd like you to meet someone," Jasper, with his arms crossed over his chest, standing broad and tall, walks towards them with precision and grace. A polite expression on his handsome face. Jasper stopped in front of her, and Corazon took his hand.

"This is Jasper, he's my—"

"Husband?" Her mother cuts Corazon off.

Jasper muses, "Not yet, but soon," He understands Tagalog a bit easier over the last year since Corazon has tutored him.

Corazon bumps him lightly with her shoulder as her mother watches the small interaction with adoration.

"He's also been with me since I moved to America," Corazon informs her, and her mother looks at Jasper with nothing but gratitude shining in her weak eyes.

"Thank you, Jasper."

"I wouldn't have it either way," Jasper responds, and her mother coughs roughly as her fists ball towards her mouth to cover her coughs. Corazon immediately helps her sit up, "I'll get you a glass of water," Corazon shares a look with Jasper that he needs to stay with her for a moment. While Corazon exited the bedroom, Corazon's mother instructed Jasper to open the bedside drawer with a silent gesture of her frail and bony hand. Jasper was confused but followed nonetheless.

There was a lone velvet box in the corner of the drawer, and with the urgency from Corazon's mother, Jasper opened the box. Seeing the ring, he closed it as he heard Corazon's footsteps and tucked it inside his vest. All confusion that he felt was diminished in a second, and all he could think about was that he had just received Corazon's mother's blessing for marriage.

Corazon sits at the edge of the bed again as she assists her mother in taking a sip of water, and her mother lays down the bed as Corazon fluffs her pillows and arranges the blanket over her.

Jasper could feel it, the fading emotion and Corazon could hear it, the fainting beat of her mother's heart. Corazon knows that her mother used all of her energy for her; she isn't ready to let go, but her mother is, and she has to accept it.

"I'm okay, I'm happy, and I'm better than before. You can rest knowing that I'm okay. I know I'm the one that's hindering you from letting go, but I don't want you to suffer anymore, Inang. Rest." Corazon assured as she held her mother's hand.

"Mahal na mahal kita, anak," Her mother whispers in response as her eyelids flutter shut. Corazon feels it again with the heavy weight in her chest, and this is the last time, their last moment, and their last hello and goodbye.

"Te quiero mucho, madre."