Thorns and Roses

CHAPTER SIX

Arlene's Point of View

“Mommy, I hate boys po.”

Tumingin sa 'kin si Ate Irene na parang nagtatanong kung anong nangyari sa anak niya. I just shrugged my shoulders. Nag-squat si Ate Irene sa harap ng anak niya para magpantay ang mukha nila.

“Why naman baby Stella?”

“Basta po Mommy, they're thorns po.”

I furtively chortled. Looks like little Stella and I will get along. Tumayo na si Ate Irene at hinawakan ang kaliwang kamay ni Stella. Tumingin sa 'kin si Stella at hinawakan ang kamay ko. I smiled and winked at her.

We continued walking towards the exit. Nagpunta kami sa kotse ni Ate Irene. Finally! It's time to go home. When I was about to bid my goodbye, Ate Irene stopped me.

“Teka, where are you going Arlene?” she asked.

“Home?”

“Sama ka po sa 'min Tita ganda, please.” Little Stella begged with a puppy eyes.

I instantly nodded when I saw her face. Magsusulat pa dapat ako ng story pero dahil sa puppy eyes niya ay nakumbinsi agad ako.

“Puntahan natin ang mga lugar na napuntahan natin dati kasama si Daddy.” Ate Irene whispered before we entered the car.

- - -

“Mommy! There's a baby tiger po! kasama niya po siguro ang mom niya,” little Stella said.

I thought Ate Irene is joking. Hindi pala siya nagbibiro. Now we're at a zoo at mukha akong pokpok sa suot ko. Karamihan nang nakakasalubong namin ay family. Like a typical one mom one dad and a child.

Napapatingin pa sa 'kin ang mga lalaki kahit kasama nila ang asawa nila. I'm just smirking at them. I don't want to flirt with a married man.

Flirting is my thing, but flirting with guys who has a family is definitely not my thing.

Stella is enjoying the zoo. Habang ako naman ay nag-oobserba lang. Busy sina Ate Irene at Denver dahil nasa gitna nila si Stella at kinakausap nila. Nasa likod lang ako, nagmumukha pa 'kong sabit.

This is the first time that I followed Noreen's advice and I'm not regretting it. I think I made the right choice.

Thank you, Noreen.

Unti-unting nagbabalik ang mga alaala ko sa aking kabataan. It's a good thing that Ate Irene and her family brought me to this place and accompanying me. Hindi man bumalik lahat ng alaala ko pero ng dahil sa lugar na 'to, may mga naaalala ako.

Malaki na ang pinagbago ng lugar na 'to. No'ng huli akong napunta rito ay kasama ko si Daddy at Ate Irene. We bought some hats, fed the animals, and took a lot of pictures.

But there is one thing that I'm curious. I'm slowly regaining my memory about my childhood but something is bothering me.

Where is my mom?

Bakit kahit kaunting alaala na andun siya ay wala. Wala ba 'kong ina? Kami lang ba nina Ate Irene at Daddy ang pamilya?

Naputol ang aking pag-iisip dahil sa biglang pagtawag sa 'kin ni Stella.

“Tita ganda! look po! there's a butterfly po Tita and similar po sa tattoo niyo po!” Stella said, she even held my hand and pulled me close to her. She pointed the butterfly.

I stared at it. She's right, it's similar to my big butterfly tattoo at my upper right thigh. I got this tattoo the day I decided that I want to become a writer.