When the movie ended, Ayisha stretched, arms lifting over her head. Sunny shifted on her lap, huffing softly.
"That was a good movie," she chuckled.
She reached for her phone and froze.
Missed calls. Messages. All from her sister.
She silenced it yesterday.
Before she could read them, the phone rang.
"Ate," she answered immediately. "What is it, Samantha?"
"Ate—si Mama." Samantha's voice trembled.
Ayisha stood so fast Sunny startled and jumped down. "What happened?"
"Nasa ospital kami ngayon."
Her chest tightened. "Ano? Saan? Send mo sa'kin yung address." She ended the call without waiting for a reply.
"I have to go," she said, already moving.
"Where?" Simon asked, standing.
"Hospital."
"Okay." He grabbed his keys and the helmets. No hesitation. "I'll drive."
He knelt briefly in front of Sunny. "Stay here. Behave."
---
Ayisha tore the helmet off the moment they stopped, clutching it as she rushed inside the hospital. Simon followed close behind.
The smell of antiseptic hit her first.
Then the noise.
Then the fear.
Her eyes darted everywhere white walls, harsh lights, nurses moving too fast, voices overlapping. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears.
"Excuse me," she said to the nearest nurse, voice strained. "My mother. De Leon. She was brought in earlier."
The nurse checked a clipboard. "Room 214. Second floor."
Ayisha didn't wait. She turned toward the stairs, nearly colliding with someone on the way up. Simon stayed close, one hand hovering near her back not touching, but ready.
By the time they reached the second floor, her legs felt weak.
Room 214.
She pushed the door open.
Her mother lay on the bed, smaller than Ayisha remembered. Her chest rose unevenly. Tubes ran from her arm, the steady beep of a monitor filling the room. Samantha stood beside the bed, eyes red. Natalie sat in the corner, face buried in her hands.
"Ma," Ayisha whispered.
Her mother turned her head slightly, eyes fluttering open. When she saw Ayisha, she tried to smile.
"Nak…"
Ayisha swallowed hard and took her hand, careful of the IV. Her fingers trembled. "I'm here," she said quickly. "I'm here."
---
A few minutes later, Ayisha stepped out of the room with her sisters. Simon lingered a few steps behind.
"Anong nangyari kay Mama?" Ayisha asked.
Samantha lowered her gaze. "Himatay siya kagabi… habang nagsisigawan sila ni ate Natalie."
Ayisha turned sharply and slapped Natalie.
The sound echoed down the hallway.
"Siraulo ka talaga," Ayisha snapped. "Alam mong may sakit sa puso si Mama, tapos makikipag-away ka pa sa kanya?"
Everyone froze.
Natalie stayed silent.
"Sumagot ka," Ayisha demanded.
A hand touched her shoulder. "Ayisha," Simon said quietly. "Relax."
Natalie scoffed. "Kaya pala di ka matawagan kagabi. Lumalandi ka."
Ayisha slapped her again harder this time.
"Kapal ng mukha mo."
Samantha grabbed Ayisha's arm. "Ate, tama na…"
People nearby had started watching.
"Ayisha, please," Simon whispered. "Calm down."
"Relax?" Ayisha laughed bitterly. She turned back to Natalie. "Lumayas ka sa bahay. At huwag na huwag kang magpapakita sa'kin."
"Ate—" Samantha tried.
Natalie stormed off.
"De Leon?"
They turned.
A doctor stood a few steps away.
Ayisha inhaled deeply, forcing herself to steady her voice. "Kamusta po si Mama, Doc?"
"Her condition has worsened. She needs to be confined," he said gently. He gave a brief nod and walked away.
Ayisha turned to Samantha. "Umuwi ka muna. Ako na ang bahala kay Mama. Pumasok ka sa school."
"Pero ate—"
"Ngayon na," Ayisha said firmly. She pulled money from her wallet and pressed it into Samantha's hand.
Samantha hesitated, worry etched across her face, then nodded and left.
The hallway fell quiet.
Only Simon remained.
"You should go home—" Ayisha started.
He stepped forward and hugged her.
She flinched but didn't pull away.
The exhaustion finally caught up to her. Her chest tightened, breath breaking, and before she realized it, tears were spilling down her face.
She cried into his chest, silent and shaking.
And for the first time that day, she let herself fall apart.