I woke up with no Andrei beside me. When I looked around, wala na rin siya sa kwarto. It's officially his birthday and everybody in the house is so excited for it. Toy story is the theme of the party. Andrei specifically asked for it. He already knows what he wants and what he doesn't want, and just thinking about it kind of makes me well up with tears. He's really growing up. Gustuhin ko mang pigilan, but I know it's impossible. Gusto ko lang sana that he will remain this bubbly kid that he is. I wanted to protect him from this world's cruelty. Parang ayaw ko siyang lumaki at maranasan ang problema ng mga adult. I slowly stood up and went to the bathroom to clean myself up. Mamaya pa namang 3 pm iyong simula ng party kaya marami pa akong oras mag-prepare. I really took a leave from work para lang maka-attend. I also requested for Janine to close the shop para naman maka-attend din siya. Some of my staffs who are not busy are also invited. I also heard from Zandrey that he will ta
"Be good, okay?" I said to Andrei. Medyo may sakit ako at nasa duty si Zandrey kaya pinahatid ko muna siya sa driver. "Okay, Mommy," he replied. He hugged me before I closed the door sa backseat ng kotse. "Kuya, mag-ingat sa pag-drive ha?" Baling ko sa driver and he smiled at me and assured me nothing bad will happen. I remained standing near the gate as I watched the car run. Nang mawala na ito sa paningin ko ay pumasok na ako sa loob ng gate. "Okay ka lang, Nay?" I asked Nanay Gina. She looked so pale while running towards me. "Si Ma'am Miranda po iyak nang iyak. Masakit daw po ang tiyan niya," she said. "What?" "Nasa kwarto po siya," she grumbled. Nagmadali akong umakyat sa taas at pumunta sa kwarto. Doon ay naabutan ko si Mommy Miranda na nakaupo na sa sahig. "What happened?" I questioned. Lumapit ako kay Mommy at nakita ko kung gaano siya namimilipit sa sakit. "Dalhin na natin siya sa ospital," Nanay Gina said. Naramdaman ko ang panginginig ng buong katawan ko. I never
I still feel so sick. Ramdam ng katawan ko iyong pagod at sakit pero parang wala lang ‘yon sa akin. A lot has happened. Sunod-sunod ang lahat at hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin. Para bang naging isang bagsakan ang lahat. Sobrang bigat. Sobrang hirap. Kinabukasan, when I got to the hospital, naabutan ko si Dad na natutulog habang nakaupo. "Dad.." He woke up and looked up to me and flashed his sad smile. "Umuwi ka siguro muna sa bahay, Dad. Mukhang ikaw naman ang kailangang magpahinga," I said but he shook his head. Alam kong ayaw niyang umalis sa tabi ni Mommy Miranda. Kahit ako ay ayaw kong iwan siya kahit sandali kasi natatakot ako sa pwedeng mangyari. Pero hindi pwedeng hindi siya magpahinga. Ayokong pati siya ay magkasakit. "Dad, ayaw ni Mommy na pinapagod mo ang sarili mo. Susunod si Nanay Gina dito kaya wala ka nang dapat ipag-alala," I added. It took me a lot of convincing bago siya napapayag na umuwi para magpahinga. Kita ko iyong pagod sa mukha niya but he said he’ll j
I tried to calm myself first bago bumalik sa kwarto ni Mommy Miranda. Even if I already feel so tired, hindi ko kayang ipakita iyon sa kanya. I don’t want her to worry about us. It should be us worrying about her. Wala siyang dapat na iba pang isipin kung ‘di ang magpagaling. Because we can’t afford to lose her.Pagkapasok ko ay nadatnan kong gising si Mommy Miranda na gising na and so I smiled at her. She’s still lying on the bed.I really wish I could do something for her."How are you feeling po?" I asked saka dahan-dahang naupo sa upuan sa tabi ng hospital bed.She smiled at me. But there was something different in her smile."You should give Emily another chance," she said. She's in pain but she still thinks of other people. Hindi ko alam kung paano niya nagagawa 'yon."We already talked," I replied. She nodded with a smile on her face. Nakangiti siya, but seeing that smile is hurting me. Hindi ko mapigilang maluha nang makita iyong ngiti niyang 'yon.She made my life bearable th
Ilang araw akong pabalik-balik sa ospital. I would go to work but my mind always wonders, kaya pagkatapos ng trabaho ay sa ospital ako dumidiretso. My mind’s really in chaos when I don’t get to visit Mommy Miranda and Daisy. Hangga’t hindi ko nakikitang okay sila, hindi ako napapanatag. It has become a part of my routine to visit them every time I have the chance. Nauna kong dinalaw si Daisy. Dom texted me earlier that she’ll be discharged tomorrow. I knocked on the door before opening it. Sumilip muna ako, then I saw Dominic sitting beside Daisy who’s currently sleeping. “How is she?” I asked when I entered the room. Mahina lang iyong boses ko dahil ayaw kong magising siya. “Still not as talkative, but she’s eating now,” Dominic replied. He’s looking at Daisy with worries in his eyes. Kita ko rin iyong pagod sa mukha niya. Both of them aren’t themselves the past days at naiintindihan ko ‘yon. They’ve been through a lot and I’m not expecting them to be alright immediately. It will
I didn’t know what to say. What he said really caught me off guard. Kung bakit basta-basta na lang kasi akong binibigla?I stayed silent simply because I am lost for words. Para pa kaming mga tanga na nakatayo lang dito sa harap ng pinto ng kwarto ni Mommy Miranda. People would be weirded out if they see us here.“You know what, never mind,” he said. Hindi ko na tuloy alam kung ano ang tumatakbo sa isip niya ngayon.Binuksan niya ang pinto kaya napilitan akong itago sa kailaliman ng utak ko iyong mga sinabi niya kanina.When we entered the room, both Mom and dad were looking at us. And Mommy Miranda’s smile as usual looks like she’s teasing us.They might have noticed too that Zandrey and I are getting better. Madalas rin kasi nila kaming nakikita na magkasama and everytime, Mommy Miranda has that weird smile on her face. Alam ko ano iyong iniisip niya. A part of me wants to stop her from thinking that way but I still ended up letting her think whatever. Para sa ikasasaya niya, hahay
We were a little quiet during dinner. Not that I don’t want to talk, but because I was enjoying the food. Nag-uusap naman kami. Zandrey would start the talk but it would immediately die down. Pareho kasi ata kaming gutom kasi parehong sa pagkain napupunta ang atensyon namin.But I liked it better that way. Hindi naman ganoon ka-awkward unlike before. I could really say I’m slowly getting comfortable again.When we finished eating, I felt like there’s something else I want to do more. It’s Friday and I’ve never been out for so long. Na-miss ko iyong gumala at uminom kapag Friday. Sadly, that rarely happens these days. Una, kasi wala akong kasama kasi hindi pa rin lumalabas si Daisy. Pangalawa, I’m swamped with work. Pangatlo, do I even have the energy left? I don’t think so.“Gusto mo nang umuwi?” Zandrey asked after paying the bill.I asked myself, do I want to go home already?Napatingin ako sa labas. The street lights made outside looked magical. Ganoon na siguro ako katagal na hind
Silence enveloped us after he said those words. I don’t know how to react. He totally caught me off guard. Maging siya ay hindi rin nakapagsalita matapos sabihin iyong mga salitang ‘yon. Because of the silence, I felt the need to do something- anything that can distract me from the words he just said. Kaya iyong beer ang napagdiskitahan ko. I was supposed to stop drinking, but I took the glass to my mouth and drank the remaining beer in it. Ramdam ko ang tingin ni Zandrey sa akin. “Hindi ka pa ba uuwi?” Basag niya sa katahimikan. Ramdam ko na ang panginginit ng pisngi ko, which means I’m quite drunk now pero hindi naman iyong tipong lasing na lasing. Just drunk enough to be shameless. “Do you wanna go home now?” I asked back. I tried to stare back at him. Pareho ngayon kaming nakatingin lang sa isa’t-isa, like no one wants to lose the staring game. “Only if you want to,” he replied. “Hindi naman kasi pwedeng iwanan kita. Nakainom ka so you can’t drive,” he added. I nodded. Some