CHAPTER 6: A NEW LIFE

Deandra's POV She looked at me and she also shifted her gaze to the 500-peso bill that I am giving her. "I don't mind if you will spend it on something that makes you happy." I said in a cheerful manner. I saw her swallowed. She looked at the money that I am offering her. She's like having second thoughts to accept it. "Do you still have your allowance?" She said in a cracked voice. I noticed her lips were dry and her eyes looked gloomy. "Yes, mom. Don't worry about me too much." "If you offer it to me willingly, I will accept this. Thank you Deandra." She slowly got the bill from my hand and put it inside the pocket of her loose dress right away. "Please eat after we're done if that's what you want." I stood up from beside her bed. She stayed motionless, her gaze still follows me even if I am stepping out of her room already. When I went back to the table, my sisters were almost starting their meal. However, I noticed that they were talking to one another as if discussing an interesting topic. They lean their heads near each other as they giggled. "Oh my! I thought you're all done eating." I said as I sat down beside Dina. Dee lost her smile as she noticed me without mom. "Dear sister, Dee said we need to wait for you because mother might eat with us." Dahlia confessed. I saw Dee cleared her throat as she raised one of her eyebrows. "I never said that," She turned her gaze at the other direction. "She's tired. She said she wanted to rest for a while." "See, I told you..." Dina frowned as she looked down. I noticed that she's playing with her spoon. She used it to mix her bowl of meat as if she had lost her appetite already. "Dina, don't play with the food. Let us eat now. Please finish your food because not everyone can eat something as delicious as that one." I held her hand to prevent her as she continued what she's doing. Her sisters nodded as they were holding their spoons and fork. "She's always like that. We should never wait for her." Dina muttered while trying to eat now. "Dina, stop it. Finish your meal and we will talk." I looked at her with a serious expression. Dee and Dahlia looked at them as they paused eating. "Let's eat. Let mother rest for a while." Deandra is looking at Dina who is concentrating in eating her meal. When we're done eating, I let Dee and Dahlia play in the living room while I let Dina stay with me. She looked down as she faced me. "Dina, why do you say those things?" "Mother is not keeping her promise. I do not like her anymore." "Please do not hate our mother, dear." "Why not?" She can't even look at me because she's still disappointed because our mother didn't join us for lunch. "Because she loves us so much." "Love? Really? Are you sure about that?" "Dina, love comes in many forms. It so happened that we can't easily see it from her now." "Can we see it soon, then? I nodded and hugged my twelve-year-old sister. Her small arms hugged me back and I can feel that she's sobbing. I simply wiped my tears with my hands that's streaming down my cheeks. It's a bit sad but I don't want my younger sisters to see that I am also feeling weak. As the eldest sister, I must be tough for all of them. I let her go and let out a sigh of relief. I am forced to smile in front of her as she looks at me in the eyes. "You can play with Dee and Dahlia now. They are waiting for you." "Will I tell them about what you said, dear Deandra?" She smiled as I cupped both of her cheeks. "Yes. Please tell them if they will ask you what we talked about." "Okay dear sister." She went to the living room right away after what I told her. I looked at mom's room again. The door opened slowly and she went outside even without acknowledging my presence. I followed her and as she sat in one of the chairs, I got her a plate and rice in a bowl. I also got her a bowl of meat. "Did you eat with your sister?" I shook my head as I met her gaze. She got up and went to the cupboard again to get a spoon and fork, as well as an extra plate and a glass of water. She put it all in front of me as I lifted my chin to look at her facial expression. We ate in silence but I glanced at her and what she's doing. In my peripheral vision, she's focusing on eating the food and nothing else. She looked at the meat and chewed it like a hungry horse. "Mom, I'll be adding another part-time job tomorrow." She looked serious as she faced me. "You already have three. Can you still handle it?" "I guess." She put her utensils and held my arm, when I relaxed my limbs when I ate, she touched my arm and caressed it lightly. "I'm so sorry..." She started to droop her shoulders and I could hear her sniffing her nose. Was she crying? I also put down my utensils and held her hands that were holding my arm. "I will do my best for you to be prouder of me." A smile curved her lips. "Whatever makes you happy dear, I will support you." I could see the heads of my three sisters peeping from the door, looking really curious as they looked at each other. They just observed silently from afar. "Dina, Dee and Dahlia, come here." They nodded as they heard the voice of mom calling them to come near her. She smiled as she tapped their heads as they stood in front of her. "Have you all been doing good to your sister Deandra?" "Yes, mom. We are being nice to our dear sister." They all chorused in a cheerful voice that I can't help but chuckle. Dahlia came near me as she showed a cute smile. I held her and let her sit on my lap. "Mommy, please eat with us starting today, please? Please?" Dina said as she tugged her shirt. She even hugged mom that mom couldn't help but laugh. She nodded that made the three jump for joy. I am hopeful that mom will change for the better this time. She will really make my siblings happy. If I will search for another job, I am confident that she will take good care of them.