Kaia
Kasal na ako, kalmado na ang nanay ni Ben at bwisit na bwisit na sa akin si Ben kaya naman oras na para maghanap naman ako ng tunay na trabaho. Madali kong nalusutan ang gulong ito kasi wala si Daddy pero dahil babalik na sya next week, kailangan kong makahanap ng work real quick.
"Kaia?"
"Hi, Mama."
"Oh, bakit ka nagpunta dito? Bored ka na ba sa bahay?"
I smiled. Hindi ako mabobored sa pagtulog! Just that I badly need to work. Kung pwede nga lang akong bayaran sa pagtulog ko! Ikakayaman ko talaga yun. All I do is make sure my mother-in-law takes her medicine on time. Nasamahan ko na rin sya sa doctor, and the doctor said Mama's showing progress even without chemo. If this goes consistently, walang isang taon, makakabalik na ako sa dati kong buhay.
"Mama, magpapaalam po sana ako."
"Shopping?"
"Hindi po."
"Tour?"
"Hindi po."
"Eh ano?"
"Babalik na po ako sa Manila."
"Ha???? Anak, Bakit? Is there something wrong? May ginagawa bang masama si Ben? Why? You just got married! Ayaw mo na ba akong alagaan?"
"Ma, hindi po, wala pong may ginawang mali. Babalik na po kasi si Daddy, remember, I told him I will come here for a job? Diba po yun yung reason ko? Kaya sure po na hahanapan po ako ng Daddy ko ng employment contract."
"And?"
"Mukhang kailangan ko na pong magmadali sa paghahanap ng work, or else, kay Daddy po ako magtatrabaho and I'll need to go back to our house."
"You don't need to work anak, Ben can provide."
"Mama, alam nyo naman po na hindi ko pwedeng sabihin yun sa Daddy ko, he spent fortunes sending me abroad to finish so I could at least try landing in a good job. He'd be disappointed if he knew I am depending so much on my husband."
"If that's the case, why don't you work here?"
"Ma, okay lang naman po. I would help you here, you don't need to employ me for my help."
"No Kaia, gusto ko andito ka lang sa farm. How would you take care of your husband if you'll work somewhere else? I thought you also promise to look after me."
I sighed.
"Ma,.."
"We could have an employment contract, I can draft one, be a regular employee here, be our operations manager, or marketing head, or whatever you may just be here."
"Ma, sobra sobra na po ang naitulong nyo."
"Anak, ako naman ang namilit sa'yo, ako naman ang humiling nito, hayaan mong tulungan kita, wag ka ng umalis dito, be here, we need your help and of course in exchange, we'll pay for your salary."
"Ma!"
"If you go and work for your father, he'll pay your salary too. What's the difference now?"
I sighed. Hindi pwedeng maging magkakampi si Nana at itong biyenan ko, nobody could win to them. Wala naman na akong magagawa kundi ang pumayag hindi ba?
Mama drafted an employment contract I could bring home to showcase. Kaya lang...
"Ma? Parang hindi po ata pwedeng ito ang ipakita ko?"
"Ha? May mali ba?"
I smiled awkwardly.
Ma. Kaia Aristelle S. Santiago
