Euphoria: Dosage of Rhapsodies

Chapter 51

“Buong akala ko talaga ay hahayaan mo na akong mag-Pasko ngayong taon nang mag-isa, e,” said my father despite him getting busy cooking one of his specialty; Kalderetang Manok na may pinya.

As planned, kinaumagahan din ngayong araw ng Pasko ay bumalik kaming Manila para makasama ang kani-kaniya naming pamilya. 

“Hindi ako papayag, pa.” Tumawa ako nang bahagya habang tinutulungan siyang maghiwa ng mga ingredients na kakailanganin niya. 

The reason why we’re cooking is that later this evening, we’re expecting to have visitors---Eli’s family are whom I am talking about. Gusto kaming makasama raw ni Tita Lea ngayong Pasko---kami ni Papa. So, to return the gratitude, kami na ni Papa ang sagot sa pagkain at dito sa bahay namin ang venue. 

"Halika nga rito, Irene. Tikman mo kung okay na ang lasa nito."

"E, hindi mo pa po nailalagay itong mga pineapples-"

"For garnish lang 'yan, hija." At muli akong sinenyasan ni Papa na lumapit sa kanya. 

So, that's what I did. Lumapit ako at tinikman kung okay na ba ang lasa ng kanina pa niluluto ni Papa-

"Are you even real? This… is delicious, pa!" At muli akong sumandok gamit ang kutsara para tikman ulit. 

Ang sarap kasi kaya hindi na ako magtataka kung bakit nahulog si Mama sa kanya. Maski ako ay mahuhulog talaga lalo sa isang taong magaling magluto. However, Eli doesn't possess one of my ideals in a man… but it's okay. Bawing-bawi naman si Eli sa iba pang standards na hinahanap ko sa isang lalaki, e.

"Tigilan mo ang pambobola sa akin, Irene. Malaki ka na, 'di mo na kailangan ng pamasko," he said, chuckling. As if my father already had a hint about my intention of giving praise to his cooking.

"Aside from that…"

Dahil tuluyan na akong nangawit sa kalahating oras kong pagtayo rito sa kusina, naupo ako sa may upuan sa may kitchen counter tiyaka ako humalukipkip while watching my father preparing the dishes.

"Masarap kasi talaga ang pagkakaluto mo, pa. And I might say, Tita Lea and Ate Ali will definitely love the food later. I will never be surprised if before they leave our house, they will ask for a container para mag-uwi ng leftover." 

"Nako, Irene! Basta talaga sa pambobola ay magaling na magaling ka!" Even though there's nothing to laugh about the content of my dialogue, my father filled the entire kitchen with his loud laugh. 

"Pero alam mo, anak…" Mula sa pagiging abala ni Papa sa plating, he stopped from doing that to give me his attention. "During this special occasion, bigla kong nami-miss ang mama mo."

"Nor did I." I giggled. "Who wouldn't miss her? We usually celebrate Christmas with her… namamasyal, nanonood ng sine, kumakain nang magkakasama. Since she was gone, ni hindi ko na nga po alam kung paano maging masaya tuwing sasapit ang gan'tong okasyon… na nakasanayan po natin na kasama siya." 

"Exactly my point, anak," he answered. "It is the people sometimes we miss… but the life we could have had with them is something we always missed."

"In case na ma-misinterpret mo ako, Irene… wala na akong galit sa mama mo. Even before she died, I already forgave her for all the mistakes she had left with me while she's still alive. Because on the day of our wedding, nanumpa ako sa Panginoon… for all the sins she commits, I shall always give her my forgiveness."

"For all humans couldn't prevent commiting a mistake, shall I have considered that as I accept your mother to be my wife, I have sworn to the Lord not to plant resentments in my heart… and I will always love your mother, always giving her the love that I promised to her even before our wedding… and to continue loving her despite all the mistakes she have done… and I will always continue loving her even in afterlife."