Nasa playground kami ng facility, sitting on a swing. The cold midnight sends chills on me, but it's relieving.
"Masakit ba?"
"Obvious naman! Nagkabukol nga eh, huhuhu..."
I sigh before handing her the cold compress. Mabuti at nakita na namin ang mom niya.
"Salamat ah. Pasensiya na rin sa istorbo." Anya.
"Mabuti at alam mong nakaistorbo ka." I shortly replied. Tsk, what's with that statement.
"Salbahe ka talaga kahit kaila---"
"You're welcome."
"Che!"
Pareho kaming natahimik habang nakatitig sa mga bituin sa langit. I don't have anything to say, that's why I remain quiet, though there's something I wanna know, but it's just an unreasonable curiosity.
"Nawala sa sarili si mama noong 5 years old pa lang ako." I didn't expect her voluntary confession, yet it's a good thing because I won't feel the hassle of asking it directly.
"My relatives said before na nadepress siya noong hindi natupad ni papa yung promise niya na susunod sa amin dito sa Pilipinas."
Promises are true strong to the point that it'll ruin someone who'll hold onto it. I wonder how mom felt when the promise I made broke...
"Where is your father?" I asked.
"Sabi nila, taga-England daw papa ko. Ibig sabihin, may half ako."
"That's already given, silly..."
"Manahimik ka na lang at makinig, okay? Nambabara ka eh hindi naman ako lababo..."
I just grimace at her, making her roll her eyes on me.
"Ang kwento rin nila sa akin noon na hindi kami tanggap ng family ni papa at ang gusto raw nila para kay papa ay yung anak ng kasosyo nila sa negosyo." I just hum and keep all ears on her.
Her mom came back with a broken heart, but before departing, nangako ang dad niya na susunod ito. Little did they know that she was in her womb already.
After giving birth, they lived normally. Hindi naman daw sila nahirapan dahil sa mga naipundar ng mom niya, however, the longing for her love kept on growing, still holding on to the promise.
"Lumipas ang limang taon, tapos may mail na natanggap si mama galing kay papa. Sabi roon, wag na siyang maghintay kasi huli na. Naipakasal na raw siya sa iba kahit labag sa kalooban niya..." And she sighed deeply, then looked at me with a sad smile.
"Ang sad ng love story nila ano? Sana naman yung sa'kin hindi..."
"Huwag mong isingit ang sa'yo. Nasa kwento tayo ng mga magulang mo." Pambabara ko ulit na ikinasimangot niya.
"Mom got depressed at hindi na niya ako naasikaso, maging ang mga ari-arian namin kaya mga kamag-anak na namin ang humawak."
She continued to tell her story. Her relatives took advantage of the little wealth they had at pinamunuan na iyung lahat. She said that she's lucky enough because some of her mother's blood and sweat were secured on her name kaya't hindi ito nagalaw ng mga kamag-anak niya.
"Hindi maganda ang treatment nila sa amin ni mama kaya't ng tumungtong na ako sa tamang edad, humiwalay na kami and I sent mom to the facility. I'm hoping until now na gagaling pa siya..."
"If she's in the facility, bakit siya nakaalis?" Nalilitong tanong ko.
"Two weeks ago, kinuha ko na si mama. Mauubos na kasi ang pinundar niya, wala na akong kakayahang makapagbayad. Tsaka kaunting tiis na lang, makakapagtapos na ako kaya't babawi ako..."
BINABASA MO ANG
𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐯𝐚𝐬✓
Fiksi Remaja[Soon to be Published] BLURB Eve I. Meneses, a principled fourth year Architecture student and an artist who started hating people after what happened two years ago which changed his outlooks in life. The loathing in his heart created an overwhelm...
