ELLIE'S POV
4 years have passed and I have learned to move on. I blocked Ate Lorreine's social media accounts and nag-private na rin ako ng sa akin dahil alam kong gagawa sya ng ways para ma-contact ako. Mama and I lived peacefully here sa London and I just graduated kahapon. Pauwi kami ngayon ng Philippines dahil gusto ni Lala na doon kami mag-celebrate.
"Hi Mama, excited to go home?" I asked her while taking her luggage from her hands.
"Nako sobra! 4 years akong di nakauwi noh! Miss ko na sila Mommy saka mga kapatid ko, lalo na yung mommy mo!" Tuloy-tuloy nyang sabi.
I just smiled and napansin nya naman yun.
"Ay sorry." She apologized. Alam niya kasing hindi ko gustong napapag-usapan namin si Mommy. Pero kagaya nga ng sabi ko, I have moved on.
That day na pumunta si Mommy dito para sunduin ako, Mama was declared to be in a coma. Then nagkaroon ng complication sa heart nya kaya need nila i-surgery. Risky daw sabi ng doctor pero wala kaming ibang choice. They proceeded with the operation and habang nasa kalagitnaan sila, may irregular responses na na-detect sa brain ni Mama. They were able to fix it naman and naging successful yung process but in return nagkaron si Mama ng temporary amnesia.
Nag-hire kami ng personal nurse niya dahil nags-school ako and hindi ko sya palagi mababantayan but I tried my best naman to spend most of my time with her. Nitong year lang din na to bumalik dahan dahan yung memory ni Mommy kaya nag-aya rin sya umuwi ng Philippines and timing naman sa graduation.
"Tara na po Ma. We're gonna be late sa flight." Sinabi ko na lang and dumiretso na kami ng Airport. Bababa lang kami ng MIA then transfer na kaagad ng plane papuntang Laoag.
Maayos ang naging byahe namin and wala namang kahit anong naging abnormalities.
"Ellie!" Kuya Simon shouted from afar.
"Kuya Si! I missed you!" I hugged him.
"Tita Imee." He made beso to Mama.
"Tara na po, hinihintay na tayo nila Lala sa bahay." He led us to the car then nagbyahe na pauwi.
"Lala!" I shouted kaagad pagkapasok ko sa bahay.
"Apo! How are you? I missed you!" Sinalubong ako ni Lala ng mahigpit na yakap.
"Very well Lala." I kissed her cheeks then dumiretso na kila Tito Bong, Tita Liza at sa mga pinsan ko para bumati.
"Ikaw Imee anak kumusta? Ang puso mo?" I heard Lala asked.
"Okay na Mommy. Fully healed. Magaling ang doctor ko." She pointed at me.
"Ma'am nakahanda na po ang lunch sa garden." A maid told us. Hindi ko na kilala ang ibang maids dito dahil parang bago lang sila. Nagpunta naman kami lahat sa garden.
"Hindi ba natin hihintayin si Irene? Sya na lang naman ang kulang saka si Greggy." Tito Bong asked.
Kinabahan ako bigla. I don't know how to react.
"I thought sa dinner party pa sya dadating?" Tita Liza answered.
"Ay oo nga pala. Sige let's eat na." He motioned for us to eat.
Natapos ang lunch na puno ng kwentuhan about what happened to us in London and about politics. Lahat kami ang nakaka-relate sa usapan kaya sobrang smooth lang ng naging flow ng lunch namin. We are now heading sa venue ng dinner party prepared by Lala.
"Nag-text si Irene, nasa venue na daw sila." Tito Bong announced.
"We're here na Dad." Kuya Vinny parked the van.
Isa-isa nang bumaba ang mga kasama ko but I can't get myself to go down.
"Huy, the party is about you dude. Tara na." Tita Aimee said. Inalalayan naman niya ako pababa ng van then pumasok na kami sa venue.
Ang daming tao pero isa lang hinahanap ng mata ko. Hinahanap ko sya dahil ayaw kong magpakita. It's weird yes, pero kailangan kong malaman if need ko na bang umiwas.
"Looking for someone?" Mama spoke behind me.
"Ma nakakagulat po!" I held my chest.
"Ayun oh, lapitan mo na." She pointed at Mommy's direction.
"I still don't know how to face her Ma. Nahihiya po ako." I looked down.
"Just be chill. Go na, nandoon din si Ate Lorreine mo." Inakbayan niya naman ako.
I saw ate Lorreine sat beside mom. She showed her car keys, galing siguro sya sa pag park.
"May we call now here in front the reason for this celebration. Our future politician right here, Miss Joshiah Ellie Marcos!" The MC called my name. Marcos na ang pinagamit na surname sakin ni Mama dahil hindi naman na daw makakapirma sa documents yung tatay ko.
The crowd applauded as I walked in front. The MC handed me the microphone.
Kailangan ba talaga ng speech? I wasn't prepared.
"Hi, thank you for coming here tonight. To my family who has always been supportive, thank you for celebrating my graduation. And to my Mama, thank you for birthing me. You are the reason why I'm here tonight in more ways than one. To everyone, thank you again." Mabilis pero diretso kong sabi dahil kinakabahan na talaga ako.
I looked around and saw Mama smiling. She motioned for me na lumapit sa kanya so I did.
"You forgot to thank your Mom and Dad." She whispered.
Shoot.
"Congrats Ellie." I froze when I heard the voice. My tears started forming in my eyes kaya pinunasan ko yun agad.
"T-thank you po Tita." I slowly looked at her. She's smiling.
I looked behind her to look for Dad pero hindi ko sya nakita. Then lumapit si Ate Lorreine.
"Where's Tito po?" I asked.
"Hi Ellie, it has been a while. Congratulations." Ate Lorreine greeted.
"Thank you. Where's Tito?" I asked again.
"Ellie apo, come here I'll introduce you to some friends." Tawag sakin ni Lala.
The party continued and maraming pinakilala si Lala na family friends and government officials. Nakauwi na kami ngayon and hindi ko parin nakikita si Dad. Hindi ko pa rin alam kung bakit wala sya dito.
"Go to your respective rooms na and sleep. Goodnight." Lala ordered us and we obeyed.
"You'll sleep sa room ko or guest room?" I heard Mommy ask Ate Lorreine.
"Yours na lang po Ta para may kasama ka." Ate Lorreine answered and they proceeded to Mom's room. Pumasok na rin ako sa kwarto namin ni Mama.
Where's Dad?
ESTÁS LEYENDO
Losing Her
Historia CortaShe was her everything, all her dream come true. But how will she lose someone that was never really hers?
