The Heart That Belongs To Both (SSPG)

CHAPTER 3:

MHIARA CASTANIEDA’S POV

I left the office earlier than usual.

Not because my work was done, but because I couldn’t focus anymore.

The papers in front of me blurred into meaningless numbers, the words repeating without sinking in. No matter how much I forced myself to concentrate, one image kept forcing its way back into my mind.

His face.

That man had the audacity to show up.

After everything.

After years of silence.

After leaving us like we were nothing.

My grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly as I drove.

I exhaled sharply.

Focus.

I found myself pulling over in front of a small café I usually passed by but never really paid attention to.

Maybe I needed a break.

Or maybe…

I just didn’t want to go home yet with my head like this.

I stepped out of the car and walked inside.

The soft chime of the door greeted me, followed by the warm scent of coffee and freshly baked pastries. The place was quiet. Cozy. Nothing like the controlled elegance of the spaces I usually worked in.

“Good afternoon, ma’am,” bati ng cashier.

I gave a small nod and glanced at the display.

Cakes. Bread. Pastries.

I remembered Mama.

Her soft smile last night. The way she brushed my hair like I was still a child.

“…What do you recommend?” I asked.

“Best-seller po namin yung cheesecake and chocolate cake, ma’am," nakangiting saad nito.

I hummed lightly.

“Then... I’ll take both," wika ko at saka muling nag-angat ng tingin sa kanya.

“Noted po.”

While waiting, I pulled out my phone, scrolling mindlessly.. not really reading anything.

Just… distracting myself.

At ilang sandali pa ay nag-ring ito at biglang lumitaw ang pangalan ni Mama sa screen.

I answered.

“Ma?” bungad ko.

“Anak…” her voice came through the line... lighter than usual.

Almost… excited.

That alone made me pause.

“Bakit po?” tanong ko, already stepping aside to give space to other customers.

“Ah, ano kasi…” she hesitated for a second, then continued, “Pwede ba… kung may madadaanan ka, bili ka ng custard pie?”

I blinked.

Custard pie?

That was… unexpected.

Hindi kasi siya iyong tipo na tatawagan ako upang magpabili ng kung ano-ano. And there was something in her tone that didn’t quite sit right.

Or maybe... it was just unfamiliar.

“Sure,” I answered after a brief pause. “I’ll buy one.”

“Talaga? Sige, sige… ingat ka, ha.”

She sounded happy.

The call ended.

I stared at my phone for a second longer than necessary.

Then I slipped it back into my bag.

“…Ma’am, your order po.”

I looked up. “Thank you.”

I paid, took the box, and walked out of the café.

As I got back inside my car, I placed the cakes carefully on the passenger seat.

Then I started the engine.

Custard pie.

I glanced at the road ahead.

Mama doesn’t usually ask for anything.

And yet today... she did.

Something in my chest felt… off.

Still, I pressed the gas and drove forward.

~~~~~

The drive home felt longer than usual.

Or maybe…

I was just thinking too much.

The boxes beside me shifted slightly every time I turned.. cakes, pastries… and the custard pie Mama asked for.

Custard pie.

I still couldn’t shake the feeling.

But I ignored it.

Like I always do.

When something doesn’t make sense... I don’t dwell on it. I deal with it when it’s in front of me.

I parked the car and stepped out, carefully carrying the boxes in my hands. The night air was calm, quiet… too quiet.

I walked toward the door, my steps steady, but there was a faint anticipation building in my chest.

Mama sounded happy earlier.

Excited.

And for some reason…

I wanted to see that.

I pushed the door open slowly.

“Mama—”

I stopped.

My voice cut off before I could even finish the word.

My eyes landed straight ahead..m on the long dining table.

At doon ay nakita ko ang masaya kong mga kapatid. Sa tapat naman nila ay nakaupo si Mama...at mga tingin nila ay nakapako sa isang tao.

His back was facing me.

But I didn’t need to see his face.

I already knew.

My grip on the boxes tightened.

My smile... the one I didn’t even realize I had on my face, slowly disappeared.

Parang may humila pababa sa sulok ng labi ko.

My chest tightened. Hard. For a second, I couldn’t move.

Couldn’t breathe.

That familiar broad back.

That posture.

That presence I had already erased in my life... was sitting comfortably inside our home.

Like he never left.

Like he still belonged here.

My jaw clenched.

So this is why.

Custard pie.

Excitement.

That tone in Mama’s voice.

Everything fell into place.

And I hated it.

My fingers curled slightly against the box I was holding.

The room felt smaller.

Ilang sandali pa ay nakita ko ang unti-unting paggalaw nito. Na para bang nararamdaman niya ang presensya ko sa kanyang likuran.

At nang tuluyan na siyang nakaharap sa akin ay umangat ang kanyang labi. Nakangiti na ito, dahilan para makuha niyon ang atensyon ni Mama at ng maa kapatid ko.

Something inside me snapped.

Not loudly.

Not violently.

But enough.

Enough to remind me of everything I buried.

Years.

Silence.

Abandonment.

Pain my mother never spoke about.

Pain I had to grow up with.

My lips parted slightly, but no words came out.

Because I didn’t trust what would.

The air between us grew heavy.

He looked at me like… he had the right.

I swallowed hard.

Forcing my voice to work.

“…Ma,” I called instead.

My eyes didn’t leave his face... but my voice was for my mother.

“What is this?”

TO BE CONTINUED