Eren Pierce Salazar

Kabanata 5

''Anak, we're going there later. I miss you''

''I miss you, Ma'' I said and sighed.

My parents will be here later to visit me and they're going to talk to Eren's family. May project kase si Dad for this City. Magpapagawa yata sila ng panibagong Public Hospital para sa mga tao. Eren and his father will be the engineers for that project.

''You sound so tired, anak. Are you okay there? Anong gusto mong dalhin ko? May gusto ka bang kainin? Your Ate also wants to visit there but she's busy in the company.''

Napangiti ako. Sapat na iyong malaman ko na hindi pa pala nila ako nakakalimutan. Pero minsan pinapangarap ko nalang na makalimutan nila ako para hindi ko madagdagan ang puot sa puso nila. Lalo na si Dad, I can see the pain and anger inside his eyes.

Of course, he lost his child because of my real mother. Bunso pa naman nila iyon.

''It's okay, Ma. Ate can take her time. I'll always be here''

''She told me that you didn't contact her after you moved out. She tried to contact you but you are not answering, daw, anak. Your Ate must be worried, thinking you are mad at us''

I bit my lower lip. I've never thought of being mad at them or even feeling it. Never. Kase sila lang iyong meron ako.

''I was busy, Ma. There's a lot to do at school. I'll contact Ate later'' aniko.

Tinignan ko ang wrist watch ko. It's already 9 in the morning. I need to get up and take a bath at baka ma late pa ako. 11 AM ang klase ko ngayon at kailangan kong dumating ng 10 dahil meron pa akong ipapasa.

''Alright. May gusto ka bang pasalubong anak?'' tanong ni Mama ulit.

Napailing ako. ''Wala, Ma. Sapat ng makita kita ulit'' I hold my cracked voice.

Ma...

''Asus! Ang dalaga ko naglalambing na naman'' My hand started to shake as I held my tears.

''Mama naman! I miss you, Ma. Punta ka na agad dito ha? I'll meet you after our class. Hindi nalang muna ako papasok sa trabaho para makapag usap tayo ng matagal, Ma''

''Are you still working there, Maria?'' My mother's voice changed.

''Yes, Ma...''

''And Eren let you work?''

I breathe deeply. This will be a headache.

''I'm okay, Ma. Eren told me to stop but I cannot. This is for Daddy''

''But, anak. You are not alone in your body anymore. You're pregnant''

I smiled. Ni minsan hindi ako sinisi ni Mama na nabuntis ako o napagalitan. Sila lang ni Ate Veronica, ang hindi ako sinabihan ng malandi sa pamilya namin. I assume—No, I am sure that my Tita's and Tito's call me a bitch, and that's okay. Kaya ko iyon. Ang hindi ko lang makaya is that my Dad and Kuya also call me bitch.

Baka talagang ganu'n talaga ako. I already accepted the fact that I am really a bitch.

I touched my belly. ''Okay lang kami ni Baby, Ma. We're okay'' I assured her.

I heard my Mama sigh. ''Alright, just be careful. Let your Father make his name good on the ears of the people''

''But Daddy is kind, Ma''

I wouldn't deny that my Father is a kind person. He's kind to others, to everyone, except to me.

Natahimik sa kabilang linya kaya nagsalita ulit ako.

''Ma?''

''Anak, I'm sorry for what your father said to you that morning. He's just too mad because you got pregnant. Unica hija ka niya''