01: The Story of You and Me (Part 1)

"Oh no, Justin and his mother, it's heartbreaking!" 

"No, why did his father do that?" 

"Bad person, bad!" 

The comments of the children erupted as soon as Justin said the introduction of the story. 

"I know, class. But, everybody has a reason for anything that they do. Even if it is wrong for someone's eye, some perspective might say that they are walking the right path. Class, let me remind you this: do not judge the person who is wronged and walking the unethical path. Because, at some point, the end of that road, is the judge of our life."

***

THE YEAR 1999

A baby is crying in his rib. The white clothes ruffled across his body, and his cry erupted through the pediatric ward of the hospital. His mother, Jane Ramos, struggled to get up in her hospital bed as she heard the weeping of the baby. 

His father almost jumped out of the couch as soon as he heard the loud cry. 

Jane sighed and looked at the crib. Stan stood up from the couch and soothed Jane's back.

"I will deal with it. Just go back to sleep," Stan said softly. He walked towards the crib and placed his hands around the baby. He picked up gently, swayed slowly as if he was dancing, and the baby started to calm down. 

Jane smiled and said, "Justin looks like you." 

Stan looked up and grinned at his wife. He approached her bed and looked at his son. Jane stroked Stan's arms and kissed his cheek. She lays down her head on his shoulders while they are observing Justin's face. 

The cheek is as cute as a button, his small hands, his eyes that are deep in slumber, and he cuckooed his body towards Stan. 

"Our little son, he is the most beautiful thing that happened in my life," Stan said softly. Jane's tears brimmed in her eyes and looked at Stan dearly. 

"I love you, my husband," Jane said and stared longingly at Stan. 

"I love you, my wife," Stan said and inches his face a little closer. He pecked her lips as Jane blushed in her hospital gown. 

"You still look damn beautiful in a hospital gown," Stan whispered. Jane giggled and slapped Stan's back slightly. Stan laughed at that. 

Jane's wavy brown hair ends loose at her shoulders, her dark brown eyes, her prominent nose, and her heart-shaped lips make Stan drive crazy whenever he sees his wife. She is so beautiful to him, even in her hospital gown. 

Whereas Stan also has the looks. He always wears his laid-back hair that is straightened at the sides, his hazel eyes, the prominent nose, and his pouty lips that are very rare for Filipino men. He got a chiseled jawline which made his face looks perfectly aligned based on his features. Whenever Jane would look at him, she is on cloud nine for a very handsome husband.

"Don't joke on me," Jane said and giggled. 

"I am not joking. You are so beautiful, Jane," Stan said while grinning. 

"Shh. You might wake Justin up," Jane put her pointing finger at her lips while shushing Stan not to be noisy. 

"I am not," Stan said and shifted his eyes. 

He sighed and said, "Justin took after you. He is so handsome."

"No, it's you," Jane retorted. 

"No, it's you, my wife," Stan said. And their quarrel continues as they argue who is Justin's look alike. 

                                                           ***

"When Justin turned into a 1-year-old boy, the relationship between Jane and Stan became a bittersweet one they didn't expect," Justin told the class.

                                                          ***

                                                   THE YEAR 2000

"Justin, do not crawl over there!" Jane cried out as she went out of the kitchen and hustled Justin over his crib. Justin cried loudly as he wanted to roam the whole room. Jane sighed and looked at the dishes in the sink, the laundry that is piled over the basket in the corner, and the toys that are scattered around the living room. 

"Justin, do you want some milk?" Jane said softly. Justin just cried, and Jane sighed. She picked up the bottle and gave it to the kid. Justin stopped crying and lay down on the crib. Jane exhaled and started to pick up the toys that are on the floor. She placed it in a basket as Justin drank quietly on his bottle. 

Jane looked at the clock at the wall and sulked her shoulders down. It's 08:00 in the evening and her husband is not home yet. The hot steam of the food she cooked earlier vanishes. 

"He should be here by seven in the evening, but he is not home yet," Jane said to herself. She sighed and picked up the remaining toys. She peeked at Justin and saw that he closed his eyes and went to sleep. Jane smiled and observed his baby face. 

"Sleep well, my little angel," Jane soothed Justin's back. She got a smooth blanket from the bedroom and placed it over Justin. She stroked Justin's baby hair and kissed his forehead. She went to the kitchen and did the dishes. 

The house that Jane and Stan bought together is 40 square meters wide, has two bedrooms upstairs, and a large living room. The whole house is painted in ivory color, giving the lights time to shine when it is nighttime. The chandelier that hangs in the living room gives a shimmering color that makes the ambiance relaxing.

The diner table is placed beside the kitchen counter, has only 4 seats, made of vigorous wood and a yellow, fluffy cushion is placed on the chairs. The kitchen counter is made of marble and the electric stove is on as Jane placed a kettle filled with water above one burner. 

She went back to the dishes as the doorbell rang. She smiled and walked hurriedly towards the door. She opened it and was astonished by what she saw. One friend of Stan is carrying him while his head is stooping down. 

"Jane," Miguel said and sighed.

Jane widened her eyes and said, "What happened to him?" 

"He is wasted drunk. He drank so much alcohol," Miguel said. Jane furrowed her eyebrows and grabbed a hold of Stan's left arm. 

"C'mon. Let us bring him on the couch," Jane said while putting Stan's arms on her shoulders. She wrinkled her nose as she smelled the rink of the alcohol. Miguel and Jane bought him onto the couch and placed him gently there. He slurred and lay down suddenly. 

Jane exhaled angrily and held her forehead. She faced Miguel and asked, "Why did he drink?" 

"He just invited me, Jane. I really don't know, but I think he didn't get to work today," Miguel said as he shifted her eyes towards Stan who is snoring. 

"What? He didn't get to work today?" Jane blurted out. 

"Yeah. He didn't check in today in the office," Miguel said. Jane closed her eyes and bit her lip. 

"By the way, thank you, Miguel. For bringing him here," Jane said. 

Miguel nodded and said, "I'll be off now. Ask Stan why he didn't get to work when he is sober enough." 

Jane nodded as she guided Miguel to the door and waved at him as he left. She closed the door and placed her hands on her waist. She fumed and took a seat beside her husband.

Stan's snoring is getting louder that she shook her husband's shoulders and said, "Hey, wake up." 

It didn't budge so she shook it more aggressively and called out much louder. 

"Hey, wake up!" Jane yelled and Stan jumped from his place. He stood upright as his eyes were drooping down. He grimaced as he heard Jane's loud cry and scratched his head. 

"What is it?" Stan slurred as he closed his eyes while sitting down uptight. 

"Why are you drunk?" Jane asked him while he is still on the verge of the alcohol he's been taken. Stan tilted his head and opened his eyes slightly. He slapped his face and opened his eyes wide again. 

Jane didn't budge in her seat as she is still fuming at Stan.

"Jane," Stan said softly as he looked at Jane.

“Why did you get home drunk?” Jane asked while lowering down her voice. Stan just chuckled and lay down his head. A few moments later, he said, “Why do you care?”

“What? What did you just say?” Jane said, raising her voice. Justin shifted in his sleep, but it didn’t budge and continued to slumber.

“Shh. Justin is sleeping,” Stan placed his finger on his lips and shushed. Jane creased her eyebrows and hit Stan hard on his back. Stan exclaimed and looked at Jane.

"What did you do?" Stan asked angrily and stood up, balancing himself.

"Stan, why are you drunk?" Jane asked again, the patience is overpowered by her rage. Anytime now, she would explode.

"You don't care, right? Why do you even ask that?" Stan said, raising his voice. Jane widened her eyes and stepped back.

"Why are you raising your voice, huh?" Jane said furiously.

"Jane, please mind your own business," Stan said, calming down while scratching his head. Jane widened her eyes and took a step back.

“What?! What did you say?! You are my husband, what is it with your business?” Jane asked furiously. 

“Jane, please---” Stan was cut off with what he had to say as Jane yelled.

“Oh, c’mon, Stan! Why the hell do I care?!” Jane yelled. At that time, Justin woke up and started to cry as he heard her mother’s loud voice. She looked at Stan furiously before turning her back and approached Justin’s crib.

She picked up and carried Justin in her arms gently. She started to hum a tune and swayed slowly.

“Jane,” Stan called her as he started to become sober.

“Get out,” Jane said simply as tears dripped down her cheeks and looked the other way.

“What?” Stan asked while furrowing his eyebrows.

“Get out!” Jane yelled and glared at him. Justin started crying again. Stan looked at her longingly as he saw the tears in Jane’s eyes. He wants to wipe his wife’s grief, but it is in a rage with him.

He turned his back and went out of the house. He didn’t close the door and left it ajar. Jane wiped the tears and swayed slowly. She hummed Justin’s favorite song and he started to calm down.

She observed Justin’s face as it started to sleep again, cuckooing his head into her mother’s head, and inhaling the sweet scent of his mother.

When Jane knew that Justin was asleep again, she placed the kid back gently inside his crib and put a blanket around him. She observed her little angel for a moment and went to the kitchen. She turned off the stove and started to think about why her husband started to act out like that.

She just shook her head, clearing her mind, and went back to doing the dishes.

                                                      ***

“I hope my former days won’t fade away

When I was a young child in my mom’s arms

I want my Beloved Mother’s song to repeat

A song of love while I was in the cradle.”

Justin sang a calming and relaxing tune in front of his class. The class swayed as the beautiful voice of Justin is the only sound they heard.

“Class, do you know the meaning of the song?” Justin asked them. Half of the class nodded, but half of it shook their heads.

“The song is entitled ‘The Sway of the Baby Hammock.’ It was composed by a Filipino composer and teacher, Lucio San Pedro. The tune he made is out of his childhood memory. Simply said, the song is about a child longing for his mother. Maybe, his mother is gone for a long time, it can make you cry, really. Because of the deep meaning, the song has,” Justin explained. The class nodded, unable to move because of the melancholy indication of the song.

“Why do I have to say it to you? Because it’s part of the story. Justin always heard her mother sing that song, and every time he cried, it was the one who always calmed him down,” Justin continued to tell the story.