Angel Celestine Gregorie

Music Festival

Elaine Celestine Jade POV

Today, Tita Irene will be back to Lowell to work again. God! I miss her so much. I didn't see her for almost a month. Earlier, I saw her standing near my classroom. She was talking to Miss Tasha. She's wearing a white button down shirt and a red skirt. Her silver hair is so bagay to her. She was smiling at Miss Tasha and she'll look sweetly at me. I saw my real Dad with Mama. As I look at them, I got to say that I got my skin complexion from my Dad and my features from my Mama. I don't want them to know that I already knew that they're my real parents. I'll keep it to myself about it.

'What does it feel to be love by my real parents?' I ask myself. Someone who will wake me up in the morning and hug and kiss me. Bring me to school and fetch me from school and ask me about what did I do to school.

I was daydreaming when I felt a hands on my shoulders.

"Hey." Tita Irene said and smiled a little to me.

"Mama!" I said and hugged her. And it was too late for me to realize what I just said to her. She froze when she heard that. But seconds after, she hugged me tightly and kissed me in my forehead.

'Shit! I say it out loud! You're so stupid, Jade!' I said to myself. I remain looking down to cover my shyness. But I felt Mama's thumb, holding my chin, and slowly lifting my head. I can't look at her face right now. After what I called her, baka nagtataka siyang bakit tinawag ko siyang 'Mama'.

"Why are you not looking at me, Jade? I'm back. You didn't miss me, Love?" Tita Irene said and smiled at me.

"I-I'm sorry if I called you 'Mama' awhile ago, Tita-" I didn't even finish what I'm supposed to say when she cut me off.

"You can call me Mama, Love. And it's okay with me. I'll be happy if you call me by that, Love." She said and held my hand. "How are you? I miss you, Anak." Tita Irene said.

'Anak'. Oh! I felt my heart throbbing hard when Tita called me that. It's making me happy. I didn't feel this way before. This is all new to me.

"I miss you too, Tita. I'm fine po. Busy with studies po." I said and looked away. I don't want to see her beautiful face. I feel like I'm going to drown when I look into her chinky eyes like mine. God! She's so fine. My Mama is so beautiful in her simple but elegant clothes. She's the classic example of classic and elegant.

She sat beside me and started caressing my hair. "Your hair is so long, Love. I didn't see you for almost a month, and your hair is long already na." Tita Irene said still caressing my hair.

I immediately looked at my hair, and Tita Irene is right, my hair is getting long again.

"I'm planning to cut my hair by next week, Tita. Thank you for reminding me po." I said and smiled at her.

She nodded at me and pinched my nose a little. "Do you know that the school is organizing a Music Festival, Love?" Tita Irene asked.

"Yes, Miss. The school announced it last week, Miss." I answered when I saw Alli standing next to Tita Irene. I don't want Alli to know that I know Tita Irene.

"You're here lang pala, Mimi! I was looking for you at your room po. Oh! You've met Jade na pala, Mimi." Alli continue to say. But Tita Irene is looking at me intently. She never leave her eyes on me.

"Yes. I've met her already, Alessandra. Jade is one of my student in Music and Arts Club." Tita Irene who is still looking at me.

"You're in my Mimi's clubs?! Wow! You must be very good that you passed to the two of the most sought after clubs in Lowell, Jade. Lucky you." Alli said in sad tone.