Chocolate Kiss Moments

Last month my Mom and I had a little bonding moment… you see we were never really close. She was not that type of mother – the caring, over-protective kind who will fuss over you and ask you how you were or if you have eaten. More often than not, we were left to the care of yayas and she was well… busy with her work. Not that I have any reason to complain – we were all brought up well… all I’m really saying is that we never really got the chance to be with each other often, especially while I was growing up. Hence, our bonding moments as mother and daughter were really few and far between.

Our moment actually started out as still work-related… you see even after she has retired, she has not stopped working. She continues to work part-time as a researcher for AIM to add to her income as a professor and she took me in as one of her researchers for a writing project. And as part of the research, my study was reviewed by a UP professor. She joined me in hearing the comments/ suggestions made by the professor (which were many by the way!) And when it was over, we decided to eat lunch inside the campus. It was her treat – maybe her way of assuaging my prickly pride – what with all the revisions I have to undertake with my study! No but kidding aside I wasn’t really all that hurt with the comments. In fact, it was understandable since it was my first time to take on a research project of that magnitude and I really welcomed the suggestions she made so I can further improve the paper. I guess mama really just wanted to share with me her many blessings and have this chance to spend some time together.

I chose the place where we will eat – at first, I suggested the UPCAS cafeteria but it was lunchtime and expectedly packed. So off we went to Chocolate Kiss since I haven’t eaten there yet but I have already read many good reviews of the place. Mama has eaten there already –many times during her meetings with a former UP Alumni president (because the resto was situated in the 2nd floor of the UP Bahay ng Alumni) and she said the food was good.

The ambiance when we entered was quite charming – a perfect date place, not so quiet but neither boisterous as to disturb the diners. I heard they even play the piano on weekend nights... very nice indeed! As expected, the place was quite full, but we were lucky to get a table for two near the window which offered us a wee bit of privacy. We both ordered pasta – hers was pesto while mine was my all time favorite, carbonara and it tasted great! We also had iced tea which was served with some form of syrup as sweetener or maybe it was honey – I couldn’t really tell. But the coup de grace was their cakes – I wanted to taste them all but the prices were a bit steep so I made mama take her pick. I could not remember the name of the cake, all I can recall was how good it tasted – I think it was walnut something.

While we ate all the great food, we had fun chatting about the goings-on in her life and the house – now that my brother is back home, she had lots to say about his new shenanigans, but she’s not really complaining. She didn't harp all that much and there were less complaints in her stories. Admittedly, her aura seemed much better now.

Still, I am glad when she mentioned that she has ceased to dwell on the negative side of life, thanks to an inspirational CD that helped her a lot. I’m happy that she has found something to help her be happy or even a bit more positive about herself and her life. I’m happy too that she has her friends to always support her. I guess what she needs more right now (is not a new lover!) but to realize that her family, too, will be here for her. So here’s hoping we’ll have more bonding moments like these… just to let her know I’m here if she needs someone to talk to...