#2: Strumming the Pain

Strumming 28

I don't know who has the upper hand in my life, is it me or the fate? It sounds silly, I know. My mind went blank the moment I got the answers I have been looking for. My mind couldn't process everything, and my heart was confused on what to feel. How should I react after hearing those words from her? I don't really know.

After hearing the confirmation that she's indeed my mother, I don't know what to say anymore. I am now inside their house, sitting in front of her, not saying anything. She was smiling widely, and looking at me lovingly, like how Mommy looked at me before.

"Oo, anak, ako nga ang mama mo."

When I heard those words from her, my heart felt happy yet sad. Happy because I finally found her, and sad because all my life... she wasn't there. I heaved a sigh, my gaze landed on the door, her children were there, peeking through the door.

"Ah, oo nga pala. Ang mga kapatid mo," sabi niya sa 'kin nang mapansin silang nakasilip sa amin. "Khaisia... Pwede ba kitang tawaging Khaisia?" tanong naman niya sa 'kin.

"Uh..." I didn't really know what to say so I just nodded my head.

"Ang ganda ng binigay na pangalan sa 'yo ni Erah, bagay na bagay sa 'yo." sagot naman niya habang nakangiti pa rin at hindi naman ako sumagot. "Kline, Josh, Loine, lumapit kayo rito! Mag-hello kayo sa Ate Khaisia niyo." sabi naman niya.

Kaagad silang lumapit sa amin, the little girl was so cheerful while the other two looks so confused. Maybe because I just suddenly popped out of nowhere. Bigla na lang akong lumitaw mula kung saan at ngayon sinasabi ng Mama nila na kapatid nila ako.

"Hello po, Ate Khaisia!" the little girl named Kline greeted me cheerfully. "Ang ganda-ganda niyo po. Sana po ganyan din ako kaganda paglaki ko."

"Kline, anak, maganda ka rin tulad ng Ate Khaisia mo." natutuwang sagot naman niya sa anak.

"Hello po," sabay na bati naman sa 'kin ng dalawang lalaki. Pilit naman akong ngumiti dahil hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko.

"Paano mo naging Mama ang Mama namin? Ngayon ka lang namin nakita," sabi naman ng isa na kaagad sinuway ng Mama niya.

"Ano ka ba, Josh? Mamaya na 'yan. Huwag ka munang makisali sa usapan namin, ipapaliwanag ko rin sa 'yo kapag tapos na kaming nag-usap ng Ate mo."

"Sorry po, Mama." nakayukong sabi naman nito.

Nagpaalam na rin naman sila na maglalaro sa labas kaya naiwan ulit kaming dalawa. Nakangiti ito nang malawak sa 'kin... like she's so glad to meet me. I still have a lot of question for her, but I don't know what to say. I don't know where to start...

"Kumain ka na ba? Saan ka nakatira ngayon? Hindi ka ba napagod sa biyahe?" sunod-sunod na tanong nito sa 'kin. "Mainit pa naman ang panahon... May gusto ka bang kainin? Magpapabili ako ng meryenda."

"A-ayos lang po," sagot ko naman sa kanya habang nakayuko.