Homecoming MADGE GENELE RESURRECCION
Jojo wandered around the neighborhood he grew up in the same way he did at the age of fourteen. But this time was different. The strong wind pushed his feet to take a step towards his home. He felt like his ankles were shackled, slowly pulling him towards the direction he feared. There was a whisper carried by the wind, tickling his ear, urging him to move. Jojo was now thirty years old and knew that recklessness came with a price. He remembered being in the bathroom, the heavy weight on his chest, the world spinning in his sight, and the light getting smaller and smaller before he closed his eyes. When he opened them, there was a sense of lightness in his body and a nagging feeling in his heart. It took him moments to realize what happened before allowing his feet to take him where he should’ve gone a long time ago. Jojo was pulled back to the present. The wind whistling in Jojo’s ear was firm and unfazed by his reluctance. He swallowed a lump in his throat and stared at the rusty white gate, the empty garage, and the door painted in yellow before getting inside. Jojo would have never admitted it aloud, but fear kept him from coming back. Was it fear of rejection or disappointment? Jojo didn’t allow himself to ponder on it then, and he didn’t have a chance to do it now. He
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ALPAS Issue 5
stood by the door, realizing how much time has passed as he stared at the yellow paint on it peeling off. It had been fourteen years since he last saw his mother. Jojo’s gaze shifted to the side of the door where a rusty red bike stood. The tire was flat, and the seat was covered in dust. He reached out to hold it but could not grasp it in his hand. Reality struck him and he let his arm fall to his side, his hand clenching. The memories buried in the depth of Jojo’s heart hit him at once, and finally, he allowed himself to remember. It was his grade school graduation, young Jojo was fidgeting in his seat as he looked around the auditorium, scanning the faces of the women sitting at the back. A bead of sweat on his temple threatened to spill over as he fiddled with his fingers. His mother promised she would attend his graduation ceremony. She promised she would leave work early to see him go up on the stage and receive his diploma. Jojo heard their class adviser asking them to line up already, but his mother was still nowhere to be found. Then, an excited shout was clearly heard in the crowd. “Jojo! Jojo!” It was a woman’s voice with a soothing and melodic ring to it. Jojo scanned the crowd for a moment before his gaze finally landed on her. He felt his face breaking into a smile as she gave him two thumbs-up and clapped her hands excitedly, motioning
