This I Promise You

11

Affair

"Mamma, ringde du efter mig (Mamma, did you call for me)?" I said after I knocked at the door of my mother's home office.

Sa The Royal Palace ako dumiretso galing school dahil parehong nandoon sina Mamma at Pappa. Sasabay na kasi kami ni Blenda sa kanila sa pag-uwi sa Drottningholm Palace.

"Come here, Reve. Leon mailed me some photos of Evan from the military academy. Let's take a look at it together."

Lumapit ako kay Mamma para matignan ang sinasabi niya.

It's been months since Evander went back to the Philippines. Simula noon ay hindi na ulit kami nakapag-usap.

Mga nasa lima ang hawak na pictures ni Mamma. Tatlo doon ay solo shot ni Evan sa military academy, iyong isa naman ay magkasama sila ni Ezekiel at iyong huli ay silang tatlo ng mag-aama.

"This one is my favorite." Mamma said and handed me the close-up photo of Evan while he was wearing his full cadet uniform and the Philippine flag is behind him.

He looks so serious in this picture, but I can't deny that his uniform suits him so well.

"Sobrang gwapo talaga ng batang ito. Mabuti nalang at kay Venice nagmana." Untas ni Mamma sabay halakhak.

Sinabi lang iyon ni Mamma pero alam kong kahit siya ay hindi maikakaila na kahawig na kahawig ni general dela Cerna ang dalawang lalaking anak. I wonder what their sister looks like.

"Mamma..."

"Hmm?"

"Do you have a picture of Vientiane dela Cerna?"

Nilingon ako ni Mamma at saglit na tinitigan na tila may iniisip, then tumayo siya at lumapit sa mga shelves.

"Let me see if I still have it here..."

Isa isang kinuha ni Mamma ang mga photo albums mula sa shelves at nilapag ito sa kanyang office table. When she was satisfied with what she found, she started searching every photo album for Vientiane's picture.

"Oh, here, sweetheart..."

Nilabas ni Mamma galing album ang isang litrato at iniabot sa akin. Alam ko agad na ako iyong baby sa picture, pero karga ako ng isang hindi ko matandaan na batang babae.

"That was on your first birthday, and at that time, Vientiane really wanted to hold you the moment she laid her eyes on you...Cute na cute siya sayo niyan." Nangingiting kwento ni Mamma.

"Ilang taon po siya dito?"

"Eleven or twelve years old, maybe? Ang alam ko seven years ang agwat nila ni Evan, eh." Mamma explained.

So Evander was about five years old at this time.

May nahanap pang ibang litrato si Mamma na kasama si Vientiane at pinapaliwanag niya kung ano ang kwento sa likod nito habang tinitignan namin isa isa ang mga litrato.

"You know what? I realized while you were growing up that you were becoming like another version of Vientiane..."

Napabaling ako kay Mamma dahil sa sinambit niya.

"Vad menar du (What do you mean), Mamma?"

"Your Ate Vientiane is a courageous girl, but very compassionate too. She loves her family so much, just like you, my naughty princess." I giggled when Mamma slightly pressed my nose after saying that.