Around 11 in the morning when mom wakes up. Mom’s eyes look tired, the dark circles have been getting bigger and bigger for the past few days.
“Angel?” Mom smiles lazily as she looks at me.
I smile back at her as I walk over to the bed. “Mommy, I’ll help you sit on the bed.”
Mom is so light that I think I could carry her like a baby. She loses too much weight while battling cancer. I sit mom in the bed and put a pillow at her back to make it comfortable.
“Mom, what do you wanna have for breakfast? I’ll cook it for you.”
“Angel, what’s wrong?”

I look at mom in confusion. She stares at my eyes in concern and I slowly get what she’s trying to ask about. “Nothing mom, my eyes were itchy earlier that I had to scratch them a little hard.” I smile forcefully, hoping mom will believe my lies.
Mom heaves a sigh. "You have to take care of yourself, sweetheart.” Mom reaches out my cheek and softly rubs it with her fingers. Her hands are cold like ice.
“Mommy, I can take care of myself. I’m a big girl now; I’m no longer your little girl.”
“You’ll always be my baby girl, in my eyes you are my only baby.”
I hug mom tightly, trying to hold the urge of crying as mom wraps her arms around me as well. Mom is weak as she barely presses her arms around my body.
“Now, what do you want for breakfast? I’ll cook it for you.” I ask again as I unwrap my arms around her. I can no longer hold my tears if I continue hugging mom, so I choose to pull away.
“I’m not hungry, Angel. Maybe, later.”
“Mom, you have to eat a little so that we can go to your new doctor for a check-up.”
I watch how mom’s face turns dull. She heaves a sigh afterward. “Angel, let’s not get another doctor’s opinion. I don’t want to see doctors anymore.”
Mom’s admission shocks me. “Mommy, why?” I ask worriedly. I hold mom’s hands, trying to meet her eyes. I see fear and worries in them.
“You have to tell Angelo if he could make time for us to have dinner tonight. That’s the only thing I ask now. Forget about the doctor, I want us to have time like a family should.”
I have no choice but to agree. “I will talk to Angelo about this right away. In one condition...”
Mom smiles like she expected what I just said. “What is it?”
“You have to eat something for brunch, even just porridge.”
“Alright then.”
“Good, I’ll make it super yummy just for you,” I say, winking at mom.

As expected, Angelo agrees to mom's dinner request for the three of us. I help mom dress up for a very special night. I bought her a royal blue knee-length dress paired with baby blue flat shoes. Lucy and Candace help me fix mom’s hair and put a little make-up on her face.
I’m wearing a bright pink knee-length dress for our special dinner as a family. I push mom’s wheelchair to the dining area where Angelo is already waiting for us.
The table for three looks romantic, with a set of flowers and dinnerware used.
"Athena, you are stunning," Angelo says with sincerity in his eyes.
"Angelo, come on, I'm old. My face has changed and everything about my body has changed."
"That's not true and I think Angel would agree with me," Angelo says as he winks at me, like asking for my approval.
"Of course, in my eyes, my mom is the most beautiful."
Mom laughs a little. "Alright, you two win."
We laugh with her as well. Angelo helps mom sit on her chair, and then he sits opposite mom. The look in their eyes tells me how much they love each other. Angelo holds mom gently, making sure she’s comfortable in her chair. It's wonderful to watch this way.
I choose to sit beside mom so that I can help with her food.
“Thank you for your time Angelo and for this beautiful dinner set-up.”
“No, Athena it’s me who needs to thank you both. You have no idea how much I’ve waited to have an intimate dinner and talk with you and Angel. This is a dream come true. Come on, let’s eat while the food is hot.”
We are having dinner silently, savoring the delectable food while I help mom with her food when I see she’s struggling. Mom is still weak but she has an appetite now compared to when I feed her porridge. It's probably because of Angelo again.
“How's the food?" Angelo asks, breaking the silence.
"Good, mouth-watering."
"Mom was right, I think the food is giving her an appetite to eat. When I gave her porridge for brunch she only ate a few spoons. And it probably helps that you're here with us, mom gets a good appetite when she sees you..."
"Angel, what are you talking about?" Mom cut me off quickly.
Angelo giggles like a child and mom can't help but blush like a teenager. I love watching them like a love team in a movie.
Mom shakes her head as she looks at me. "Enough with this Angel," Mom says, but she doesn't sound irritated; it was more like embarrassment.
I raise my hands in surrender.
"By the way, I have a favor to ask."
"What is it, mom?"
Mom can't seem to find the right words to say as she pauses and looks at me and Angelo back and forth.
“Angel, I only have one thing to ask of you. And that is to give your father a chance. I know that you are not a little girl anymore, you understand what is happening and what happened before you were born.” Mom pauses as she reaches for my hand.
“Angel, your father just did what he has to. We cannot change the past, what we have now is the opportunity to correct the past mistakes.”
“I know, mommy. You don’t have to stress yourself about me. I will talk to Angelo.”
“Sweetheart, he is your father. Don’t call him by his name.”
“Mom, I don’t even know if I can call him daddy…”
“You may, I would love to hear it from you, Angel,” Angelo cut me off.
I look at him in shock, not even sure if I heard him right.
“Mommy, how about you go to your room first. It's better if we talk alone.”
“Alright then, make sure you give Angelo a chance to hear his side. I love you, sweetheart.”
I nod and kiss mom on the forehead. Candace and Lucy help mom get to her room.
Angelo and I move to the balcony, a better place to talk with a beautiful atmosphere and scenery at night. I inhale deeply, feeling the fresh breeze of the air.
"I'm sorry that I had to leave you, Angel. No day had passed that I didn't long to be with you and your mom but the circumstances won't allow me. I am a prisoner until now." I see the sadness in Angelo's eyes. I feel sorry for him.
"I know. I'm also sorry for being mean to you since the day we first met. But you can't blame me. I long to have a complete family. I waited for you to come and save me so that students will no longer bully me for not having a father. But you didn't come. I got tired so instead of waiting, I taught myself how to defend myself, to never get bullied again. Instead of fantasizing about having a father, I learned to despise you."
Angelo wipes the tears cascading on my face that I don't even notice. "I understand, you have all the right to hate me. I wasn't a father to you all your life. And again, I ask for your forgiveness."
“Angel, I love you just like I love your mom until now. There is no other woman in my life, only Athena. I hope you’ll give me a second chance in treating you as my daughter. I know it's obvious but I want you to know that I asked Athena to name you after me. I thought it's a way of showing my love for you, that at least in your name we have a special bond."
"Yes, I thought I was named after you. It's cute, though. And yes, I think I have forgiven you." I say trying to smile even when my face is messy. My make-up is already melting.
"Thank you, Angel. Can you call me daddy?"
I wipe my tears as I look at him. "Daddy?" I say it slowly.
Daddy's creases on his forehead are visible as she smiles widely. I wrap my arms around my dad and hug him tightly like it's the first time I meet him. For a very long time, I longed to be loved and cared for by my father and it came true tonight. I feel complete for having mom and dad with me.
"I love you, sweetheart. Thank you for this second chance."
Dad continues stroking my back which feels comforting as tears keep streaming down my face. I refuse to answer, letting myself savor the moment with him.
I'm excited to talk to mom after reconciling with dad but what I see when I open the door wasn't what I expected.