"How are you, Sandra?" Bungad ko nang makauwi ako.
"Thank you, Ate Eline. I'm still healing. My wounds are already healing. And... I do always play with Bianca and buy her favorites. I'm Spoiling her. She needs to enjoy her childhood. I am very sorry of what I did. I don't know why I have to do that. She's just a kid. A little sweet innocent kid..." A tear fell from her eye.
"S-she even understand me after all the things I did to her... She always asks me everyday, "Tita, how are you? Are you fine? If you are not feeling well, I can play with myself." She's too sweet."
Bianca is indeed a sweet girl. Siya ang favorite ng family namin, bukod sa pagiging sweet niya, she understand things easily.
Favorite cousin siya ni Erina. They play together a lot.
"Sandra, come here," I gave her a tight hug. She's also too young to experience these.
"Remember that Ate may not be here always, you can call me or message me if you need someone to lean on. I'm always free for you all."
"Of course, laging free. Ikaw 'yan Ate Eline, e."
"The fact that you're always free for all, always there for someone through their battles. But forgetting that you are also struggling with your own battles too."
"Sus, it's fine 'no. Besides, everyone really needs someone to lean on. 'Yung tipong kahit sabihin natin na "Hindi, kaya ko mag-isa" o 'di kaya'y tahimik lang, may part din naman na gusto natin na mayroong someone na pwede nating kausapin. Kahit hindi namin masabi lahat ng gusto natin, basta ba 'yong taong nasa tabi natin, just to distract yourself from the pain."
"But iba-iba naman ang mga tao."
Lumingon ako sa kanya at ngumiti.
"Is it hard, Ate?" She suddenly asked.
"Hard? What do you mean hard?"
"Living alone. Living your life. Staying somewhere far from your hometown, knowing na malayo ka sa pamilya mo. Having a Boyfriend. Striving a lot to satisfy yourself. Being independent woman. From Kinder to Senior High, consistent of having a very high grades. Standing on your own feet."
I sighed heavily.
"Honestly, yes. All of that are hard. Really, really hard."
"Then how can you still manage it po? Paano mo po nalalampasan lahat ng iyon? Paano mo po nalalampasan 'yong mga silent battles mo?"
Napaisip ako. Nalalampasan ko nga ba? Kinakaya ko pa ba?
"Accepting it? You can't do anything but to accept. You have to accept things. That's life. Sometimes, napapaisip na lang rin ako kung kaya ko ba? Kung paano ko ito malalampasan? Pero sinasabi ko sa sarili ko na wala naman akong ibang magagawa kundi tanggapin. Kasi nandito na ako, e. I always prepare myself. I have to be strong to face every challenges."
"Tulad nga no'ng pag s-stay ko sa malayo, knowing na malayo ako sa hometown ko, sa pamilya ko. Lagi ko na lang iniisip na para rin naman sa akin 'yon. Kasi do'n ako nag-aaral. Kaunting tiis at pagtitiyaga. Mga ilang taon na lang rin naman ay babalik na ako rito sa hometown ko."
"Malayo ka na, Ate," she smiled at me.
Dahan-dahan akong tumango. "Yep. Malayo na, prro malayo-layo pa rin ang tatahakin ko."
"Pasok na ikaw sa loob. Pahinga ka na muna, thank you for waitingz. Uuwi na si Ate, ha?" I hugged her.
"Thank you rin po for having a deep conversation with me. Pahinga ka na rin po, Ate. Ingat po."
Hinintay ko lang siya makapasok at umuwi na rin ako sa bahay namin. Lalakarin ko lang naman bahay namin, hindi naman kalayuan. Dito lang talaga ako dumiretso.
"Ate! Ate!" My little sister jumped.
Tumakbo siya papunta sa akin para salubungin ako ng yakap at ganoon din ang ginawa ko.
"Baby!" Lumuhod ako para makapantay siya at niyakap ko siya nang mahigpit.
"I missed you!" I kissed her cheek.
"Mish chu!" She kissed my cheek!
"Wowow! Candy!" She jumped with all excitement in her eyes.
"Oops, bago ko ito ibigay, nag-pa-pa ka na?"
"Yes, yes!"
"What about mamam?"
She nodded.
"Okay, here you go!"
"Where's Mama and Papa?" Hindi na siya nagsalita. 'Yong candy na lang niya ang pinagkakaabalahan niya.
"Anak, kumain ka na muna. Ito oh, pinaghanda kita ng paborito mong pagkain. Na-miss ka ni Mama sobra!" She hugged me tightly.
Nawala ang bigat sa nararamdaman ko, kaya yumakap ako sa kaniya.
"Kain na po tayo, Ma."
"Wait lang, ako'y babanyo muna. Masama ang timpla ko ngayon."
Tumango ako kay Mama at nag-handa ng mga plato.
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BINABASA MO ANG
Strive to Aim the Paradise(Arveans Series)
Teen Fiction[C O M P L E T E D] Eline Viera came from a simple family. She's known as consistent honor student. She's almost perfect. People expect too much from her. People look her up. Halos nasa kaniya na ang lahat, pero ang tingin niya sa kaniyang sarili a...
