Agad napalingon si Nanay Myrna saakin. Nakitaan ko siya nang bahagyang gulat nang makita ako. Pero nang makabawi, nag-aalala itong lumapit saakin."Hija, saan ka ba nanggaling?"Napakurap ako, "Sa kwarto po ni Aki.""Bakit ka pumasok duon? Sabi ko sa'yo kalimutan mo na si Aki."Lumunok ako para mawala ang nakabarang bukol sa lalamunan ko sa pagbabadyang pag-iyak dahil sa sinabi ni Nanay Myrna."Hindi naman ganun kadaling kalimutan si Aki, 'Nay. At bakit ko siya kakalimutan? Anak ko po 'yon. Kahit wala na po siya, habang buhay siyang mananatili sa puso't isip ko."Umiling si Nanay Myrna saka pinalis ang isang butil ng luhang lumandas sa pisngi ko, "Hindi, hija. Hindi iyon ang ibig kong sabihin. Ang hindi ko lang gusto mangyari ay baka ma-depress ka na naman kapag patuloy kang lalabas-masok sa kwarto niya lalo na't hindi ka pa maayos sa pagkawala niya."Napatango na lang ako sa sinabi ni Nanay Myrna. Dahil naalala ko ang nangyari noong huli akong na-depress sa pagkawala ni Aki.Ipinilig
"Nothing, really.""Are you sure?""Hmm, nanood lang ako ng movie kagabi.""Still into Jackie Chan movie, hon?" Natawa siya sa'kin. "Looks like you still have the hobby, huh?""Pareho kayo ng papa mo. Hindi na kayo nagsawa at halos 'yon na ang pinapanood niyo gabi-gabi."Actually, wala lang ako pagpipilian kagabi dahil puro romance movie and dramas and collection ng CD sa drawer. And our internet's connection is very slow at night.I never really think about it as my hobby. Ni hindi ko nga naramdaman ang pamilyar na pakiramdam nang nanood ako. Is she lying again?"I guess so."*****Tulala ako buong umaga, mabuti na lang walang nakapansin sa kanila. Busy silang lahat sa kani-kanilang trabaho sa bahay kaya napagpasyahan kong lumabas na muna ng bahay.Papalapit na ako sa pinto nang makasalubong ko si Maxrime. Sandali kaming nagkatingin pero kalaunan ay umiwas siya at nilagpasan ako ng walang sinasabi. Ni hindi man lang niya ako binati o kinamusta.*Sighs*"Christian, nandito ka ba?"Pin
Kaagad naman siyang napalingon saakin, "Oh siya. Ay sandali lang."May kinuha siya saka niya inilahad iyon saakin. Isang nakabalot na mukhang alam ko na ang laman."Ito. Dalhin mo 'to."Nakangiti kong kinuha iyon, "Salamat po. Alis na po ako.""Oh sige, hija. Mag-iingat ka sa biyahe, ha?"Nakangiti akong tumango saka ko ikinaway ang kamay ko at tumalima na.Napawi lang ang ngiti ko dahil saktong pagdating ko sa salas ng bahay ay siya ring pagbaba ni Khalid sa hagdanan. Mag-isa lang siya at mukhang papasok na rin sa trabaho. Pareho kaming napatigil nang magtagpo ang mga mata namin. Pero tumikhim ako at ako ang unang nag-iwas ng tingin saaming dalawa dahil hindi ko pa rin kayang tagalan ang mga mata niyang walang emosyon."A-aalis na ako."Hindi ko na siya hinintay na magsalita dahil hindi ko naman ini-expect na sasagot siya. Kung sasagot man siya, alam ko namang kasing walang emosyon ng ekspresyon ng mukha niya ang boses niya.Tinalikuran ko na siya at lumakad palabas ng bahay dahil hi
Dahil kapag nalaman iyon ng pamilya ko, natatakot ako na baka pilitin nilang hiwalayan ko si Khalid na ayaw kong mangyari. Bukod sa mahal na mahal ko pa rin siya hanggang ngayon, ayaw kong baliin ang mga pinangako ko sa kanya at sa anak ko. Gagawin ko pa rin ang lahat para mabalik kami sa dati kahit na mukhang mahihirapan akong gawin iyon dahil may mahal na siyang iba at magkakaanak pa sila.Alam ko kasing kahit gaano nila kagusto si Khalid saakin, kapag nalaman nilang nasasaktan ako dahil sa kanya, pipilitin nila akong hiwalayan siya."Anak, okay ka lang?"Napakurap lang ako nang pukawin ni Daddy ang diwa ko mula sa malalim na pag-iisip.Ngumiti ako nang tipid at tumango, "O-okay lang naman po sa asawa ko na magtrabaho na ako."He smiled, "Kung ganun, papayag na rin ako. Magpapatawag din ako bukas ng meeting sa pagbabalik mo. Sabihin mo lang kung naninibago ka, ha? Don't force yourself."I smiled and nodded.Matapos kong makausap si Dad, tumungo na ako sa opisina ko. Nang makapasok a
.Dinala kami ni Uncle Joey sa isang Japanese Restaurant after nung game. I'm sure he brought us there since alam ni Uncle na mahilig sa Japanese food si Math.Upon getting our orders, Uncle started talking. "O bakit ganyan parin yang mukha mo? Wag ka nang malungkot!" sabi nito kay Math.Mathieu forced a smile. "Pasensya na po...""Eto o, sayo nalang tong Salmon Sushi ko." he put his sushi on Math's plate.Mathieu ate it quietly. No choice tuloy si Uncle kundi ako yung kausapin. "By the way, something came up. I will be flying back to States this evening."Sabay kaming napa-tingin ni Math sa kanya dahil dun. "Why so sudden?" I asked."Well... you know, business. Na-finalize ko na rin naman yung resort sa Cebu kaya okay na bumalik na ako." paliwanag nito."But... Uncle..." I can't help but to say. "That would only mean..."Uncle's expression saddened. "I know... This might really be the last time that I would see you both in person...""Ano pong ibig niyong sabihin?" biglang tanong ni M
"That's... sad, Uncle."He nodded while smiling still. "I know. Up to this day, iniisip ko parin, paano kung hindi ako nag-doubt? Paano kung hindi ako nag-overthink masyado noon? Masaya na siguro kaming dalawa... Anyway, the point is, you both are still young... Take everything easy and try enjoying things first. But always remember not to doubt yourself, Elle. When you started questioning yourself, everything would surely start to crumble down. If ever you and Math ended up together, then that would make me the happiest uncle in the world."Those words made me smile. "Thanks...""But again, studies first, okay? High school palang kayo! Wag mo munang masyadong isipin yang mga ganyang bagay!" natatawang paalala pa niya do this because I could not earn for them.My in-laws arrive not. What's happening to them?Three, I bought Hanna's milk and diapers and our viands. Good thing is I have earned today.Four, Gie texted me and asked what we need to be bought, because my salary was given to
Our lunch was one-pack of instant noodles with a few left-over rice. Since, I was thankful for it, it satisfied me. I did not fret.I was hoping for 'ukay-ukay' buyers, but no one comes in to buy. I was so sad the whole day.I did not compute the recommended 8-hour sleep though I had managed to make pancakes for our breakfast. I was hoping for God's blessings today.Nine, Rose visited Baby Zildjian. She and Mj bonded through Zj and the former's baby girl. They had serious talk as if theywere close already. In fact, it was their first time to converse. It gladdens me for Mj. Later, she gave us boiled cassava.Afternoon, we still have no 'ukay-ukay' sales. It makes me fret.In the middle of my 'fretting', Sarah hands me down a plastic bag of smoked fish. It was given by Papay Benson and carried by Yoyi. It was a double blessing. First, we would have viand this night. Second, I surmised that Auntie Belen has been there. It means money for all of us. That's what we were all waiting for. I
Past three, Ate Diyang came in. We talked about what bad luck, from a man who made her pregnant, she gets. She shreds tears due to my kind, consoling words. She plans to go home in Bulan. I second the motion. I advised her to escape and hide, for her partner -irresponsible partner, is not willing to support her and their child. A poor girl, she's perplexed to date. She doesn't know yet where to go, what to do and whom to lean on. However, I saw a positive outlook-in-life on her. She's now willing to give her baby a proper care and unconditional love. She has already decided to give her child to someone else..Very early at 9, April came in. We talked about Rodea and Christian. We both disagree and think that Dea was still hoping for her reconciliation with the man who demoralized her badly, through text messages. We also talk about Josephine's invitation to her daughter's first birthday celebration on April 5, 2007.Lunch time, Rose gave us 'cocido'. It's such a blessing for us, since