Broken To Make Wishes

Chapter 13

Kuya Karsten, Tita Isadora's son and an older cousin, opened the car trunk's door to put Mama's baggages inside. Uuwi na pabalik sa Maynila si Mama ngayon. I would miss her. Akala ko ay sasakay lamang siya ng bus but when Kuya Karsten called to tell us that he's stopping by, sa kaniya na lang sasakay si Mama.

"Eirian Astraea, 'wag kang kape ng kape dahil ang bata-bata mo pa. Eirlys Sitara, mag-aral kang mabuti at tumawag ka sa 'kin kung may kailangan, ha? Tulungan niyo ang Lola at Lolo niyo, huwag kayong umakto na parang mga prinsesa," paalala ulit ni Mama. Nakapamaywang siya habang kaharap kami.

Eirian frowned. "I'm not bata-bata pa! I'm eight na kaya! I'm old enough to drink coffee na, Mama!"

"Okay, Lola Eyang."

Napahalakhak ako sa naging sagot ni Mama na nagpagalit pa lalo kay Eirian. Lumapit ako kay Mama at niyakap siya. She hugged me back, kissed my cheeks and then my forehead.

"You're almost in college. Wala akong ibang hinihiling kundi ang maka-graduate ka, Eirlys. Kaya... unahin mo ang sarili mo, ang mga pangarap mo, bago ang ibang bagay."

I bit my lower lip and looked up at her.

"Ma, bakit hindi ka po naghanap ng iba kahit wala na si Papa?"

She bitterly smiled. "Napapagod din kakahanap ang ina mo, anak. I was in love with your father... until he decided to choose his next family than us. And now, I'm saving my heart for someone who truly deserves it. Kaya kayo muna, Eirlys. Kayo muna."

Ngumiti ako at mas humigpit ang yakap sa kaniya. Eirian also hugged us two. Nagtawanan kami when she complained that her arms couldn't hug us wholly. Nakita ko pa ang patagong pagpunas ni Mama sa luha niya.

My Papa cheated when I was six. Mama said she'd forgive Papa as long as he would stay with us but then, he left and chose his next family. I was seven when Mama knelt and begged him to never leave yet he still did.

May kapatid ako na lalaki kay Papa. Kilala ko rin ang kinakasama niya ngayon. Naging bantay kasi ako minsan ng kapatid ko noong nandoon pa kami dahil na rin sa pagkamahiligin ko sa mga bata. I hid my wrath for my father because at the end of the day, he's still my father. He acted like one not until I transferred here. It pained me so much because I never changed my number but he had no time to call and ask me if I was fine.

Because of my father, I realized that cheaters deserves to feel the same pain they had caused to someone for cheating. And when I realized that, I started to question my father's love to us. Because... if my father really loves us, as he professed, then he wouldn't cheat and tell Mama that he's not contented.

Then years after, Eirian came to our life. She's the daughter of Constantine Vazquez, the son of the owner of Vazquez & Wine Co. The father couldn't take responsibility of Eirian because my mother didn't tell him the truth. My mother hid Eirian from the Vazquezes. Tumayo siyang ina at ama naming dalawa.

My mother was always on our side even though we're wrong. Her hands looked rough from working but they were soft everytime they wiped our tears. I was proud to say that a strong woman raised us. She's the most beautiful gift that we received from God. I couldn't ask for more. Sapat na siya.

The corner of Placido's eyes narrowed and my smiles widened at that. Nasa loob kami ng coffee shop across the court. There's a game and he's one of the players. As much as I wanted to support him and his plays, I hated basketball and the noise inside. Hindi naman niya akong pinilit na sumama.

Kakatapos lang ng finals. Ang birthday niya ay sumabay sa finals kaya halos pagbati ng happy birthday at yakap lang ang nagawa ko. That when he asked me to go with him in the court because they'd play basketball, sumama ako para bumawi. With my books, of course, kasi magpapaiwan ako sa shop para mag-advance study hanggang sa matapos siya sa laro.