When He Loved Me

Ch. 1 - I'm Home

"Ugh!" I spit out my soggy cereals, tasting the sour milk.

"What's wrong?" asked my Mama who was twelve timezones away from me in New York.

"I think the milk is spoiled, Mama." I said, staring at the box and looking at the expiration date. "It's not yet expired, though". I said, as I attempted to salvage my breakfast from the bowl of sour soy milk.

"Well, couldn't you just buy a new box?", my mom inquired.

"You know I can't. Where do you think I can buy a box of soy milk in the whole of Verde Island?" I asked my mother rhetorically. "I actually brought this from Manila, 'coz I know they don't have it here."

I sighed. "Maybe it got bad because it was out of the refrigerator for so long. Well, I guess no breakfast for me then." I declared, crossing my arms over my chest and looking at the screen in front of me where my mother appears to be in her pajamas and ready for bed.

"Are you sure, dear? Maybe you should try to eat something else," my mother, pressed on.

"I'm ok, Ma. I don't have anything else with me and I don't want to go outside to buy something from the sari-sari store."

"Well, you could go out to your Tita's house and ask them if they have food there. Maybe even have breakfast with them. It's your chance to get to bond with them, maybe bond with your cousins, even."

"Mama, my cousins are 7 and 5, it's more like baby sitting, not bonding, don't you think? And besides, I've troubled Tita Lyn plenty enough. I don't want to impose anymore than I need to. Plus, I have to get ready, anyway. The program starts at 10, and it's already 8:30, I haven't even taken a shower yet."

"Ok, but I'm just worried about you. You know, you haven't been back there since you left after high school, maybe you should take this opportunity to see your family there."

"I'm fine, Ma. I'm staying here until tomorrow, maybe I'll bond with them then." I smiled at the tiny camera, trying to convince my mother.

"Ok, bye for now. You go on and get ready," my mother said. I gave her a tiny wave and clicked the end call button.

I sighed, looking around at the tiny house that I grew up in. I haven't been back to this house in almost 12 years and I forgot how small the place is.

Well, it's not as tiny as my quaint apartment in New York, with it's exposed brick walls and the very nice view of the wall of the building next door. But it's just that I don't remember it being this compact. In my memory, it was wider.

I thought, it's funny how when people are younger things appear to be much bigger than they actually are.

Sigh.

I stood up from my chair and started to clear the table. I walked to the kitchen and dumped the soggy cereal into the sink.

I grabbed my towel and toiletries from my overnight bag and moved to the bathroom. I stare at the tabo and timba and smiled. I realized I haven't taken a bath in the traditional way for quite sometime. Condo living made me so used to using the shower.

I took off my clothes and prepared myself for the shock of the first splash of cold water. I grabbed my shampoo and as I started lathering my hair, I thought about my reason for coming back.

Well, you're invited to be the guest speaker for the graduating class, you dummy! I thought, contemplating if I made the right decision to accept, especially considering that I'm just back here in the Philippines for a few days and is due to fly back to New York in three days.

I finished my bath and prepared my self. After drying my hair and putting on a bit of light make up, I checked myself out in the mirror and found myself ready.

I'm in a barong dress, made from piña-jusi fabric. It's so simple but it's the only Filipiniana dress that I managed to fit in my overnight bag. And my entire wardrobe of Filipiniana dresses are in New York, so there's that trouble, as well. It isn't like me to spend thousands of pesos to buy a new dress for this one occasion. And it isn't like I'm trying to impress anyone here, right?

I glanced at my phone, checking the time. 9:30, my driver should be near.

I walked out of our house and walked towards Tita Lyn's house.

"Tao po," I called, and a middle aged woman appeared. "Tita Lyn, I'll go to the school now. I'll be back after the program."

"Hi, Liza. Oh, you're on way? Kumain ka na ga?" Tita Lyn inquired.

"Yes, I've eaten", I said, thinking of my cereal bowl which I left unwashed in the sink. I ought to clean that out later.

"How are you going to the school, will you walk?" Tita Lyn asked.

"No, they arranged a ride for me. Someone will pick me up from here", I replied

BEEEEEP!

"I think that's my ride, actually." I smiled at Tita Lyn and glanced out to the gate. A young man in a motorcycle parked along side our gate.

Oh shit! I totally forgot how backward this place is. How stupid of me to assume that they'll send a car for me?! Of course, I'll ride a motorcycle! All while I'm in this tiny barong dress and stilletos!"

"Magandang umaga po!" Greeted the boy brightly. "Kayo po si Atty. Liza?"

"Yup, that's me," I replied brightly, preparing myself for the ride.

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