Babies“Kumusta si Mommy?” bungad kong tanong kay Nelia pagpasok sa kuwarto.“Ate, nagpaalala ang doctor na humihina ang resistensya niya. Kapag nagkataon baka hindi makayanan ang dosage ng gamot.”Natango ako kay Nelia at sunod na nilapitan si Mommy na nakahiga. Tulog.Simula nang mailibing si daddy, nanatiling malamig sa akin si Mommy. At hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin ako kinakausap.Hinaplos ko ang ulo niya at hinawakan ang kamay.“Magpagaling ka na Mom. Nandito lang ako…”I stayed at her side for the whole day. Pero kahit nang nagising na siya ay wala pa rin siyang imik kahit na pilit akong lumilikha ng usapan.Pilit kong hinahagilap kung may iba pang dahilan, pero wala naman akong makita kundi ang nangyaring trahedya.Alam kong nasasaktan si Mommy. Pero paano naman ako? Hindi rin naman ako maayos pero pinipilit ko para sa kaniya.“Stay here tonight,” aniya na kinagulat ko.“M-Mom?”“I said, stay here tonight…” malamig pa rin niyang sabi.Napalunok ako at malakas na tumambol ang di

PerfectFlowers, chocolates, stuffed toys, and a lot of things I always received every time I go home from school. But those kinds of stuff have no name. But some of them are coming from Trevious. Maybe the reason why I started liking him it’s because he knows what I like.And seems like I started falling in love with whoever sent me this all.“Fiona, you have another gift from Trevious. Look baby, kit’s cute,” ani Mommy kaya nilapitan ko siya diretsong tiningnan ang inabot niyang stuffed toy.I saw the small note written there with Trevious name. Pero arang mandalas kong mapansin na sticky notes lang iyon at parang minsan ko nang nakita iyon sa kuwarto ni Mommy.Nangunot ang noo ko at nilingon siya.“Why does he always give me these? He just often shows up,” takang tanong ko.“He’s busy Fiona. He is already handling their business. But can’t you appreciate it? He always remembers you…”Ang daming naglalarong katanungan sa isip ko pero hindi ko na inusisa pa. I’m still grateful about

Mood“Mom, you can stay with us. Wala namang problema kay Liam. Kailangan pa kitang obserbahan,” pangungulit ko.“Fiona, you already took care of me and I appreciate it so much. Despite what I have done, you never left me. And I am already happy with it.”I stared at her intently. “Mommy…”“I’ll stay here in New York. If you want to go back to the Philippines there’s no problem with me. Basta kumustahin n’yo pa rin ako ah?”“Puwede ka naman sumama sa amin, Mom. Mas maganda ‘yon para mabantayan kita,” pangungumbinsi ko ngunit patuloy ang pagtanggi niya sa amin.“Buhay n’yong mag-asawa iyan, Fiona. Labas na ako sa buhay ninyo. Pero kung kailangan n’yo ako, anytime puwede ninyo akong tawagan,” buong loob na sinabi niya.“Tita, you can come with us. Isn’t that good if you’ll be with your daughter?” Liam's voice tried to convince my mother. “She’s pregnant and needs her mother’s assistance.”“You can do it, Liam. Alam kong hindi mo papabayaan ang anak ko.”“Mommy…”Mahina siyang tumawa at

RevelationHabang nakatanaw sa harapan sa dalawang taong kinakasal, all my attention is on Krizza. Since the day I met her, hindi na ako nilubayan ng ganitong pakiramdam.Yes, hindi lang kami magkahawig dahil magkamukhang-magkamukha kami kahit hindi namin kilala at isa’t-isa.Kung walang kulay ang buhok ko, mapagkakamalan talaga na iisa lang kami. My heartfelt heavy yet happy. I don’t know what’s on me but it feels like I found something missing in the half part of my existence.My eyes travelled to his brother, Gino. He looks like a hard man in physical appearance and he has a tan skin. Hindi ko maisip na kambal siya ni Krizza dahil sa kulay ng balat palang ay magkaiba na.“You okay?” puna ni Liam.Nang lingunin ko siya ay doon ko lang namalayan na halos dumiin na ang pagkakahawak ko sa kaniya.“W-What do you think about me and Krizza?” tanong ko sa kaniya.His brows furrowed.“Well, you guys maybe really look alike but still different,” he chuckled. “Mas maganda ka pa rin sa mga mat

Peace“We didn't grow up with our real mother's side. Iba rin ang kinilala at kinalakihan naming magulang ni Gino. At kagaya mo hindi rin namin lubos maisip na hindi kami tunay na anak dahil hindi naman nagkulang si Mommy Vienna sa pag-aalaga sa amin,” pagsisimula niya sa kuwento.Pareho kaming nakadungaw sa ataol nang namapayapa naming tunay na ama. A-Ama… it was so painful that I didn't have a chance to talk to him even just a second. To hug him, kiss him for the last moment of his life.The only memories I have for him were that he wanted to reach out of my hands yet… It's too late.My chest is in pain right now and my heart shattered into tiny pieces and felt regretful. I felt useless as well.“Pero mas masuwerte pa rin kami kasi ilang taon naming nakasama si Daddy. He may not be the perfect example of father but he was trying his best to fulfill all his outcomings,” pagpapatuloy niya habang patuloy akong nakikinig.Palipat-lipat ang tingin ko sa ataol at kay Krizza. Magkatabi kam