A Love that Lasts

Chapter 4

I woke up the next day expecting a screaming mom downstairs, pero nagulat ako dahil tahimik ang buong bahay.

Ayokong makampante dahil kilala ko si mom. She will not back down without getting what she wanted.

Nag-ayos na ako ng sarili at nasulyapan ang hoodie. Umiling ako para mawala sa isip ko ang nangyare kagabi at dali-daling bumaba. Sumalubong sakin ang amoy ng niluluto ni manang.

"Sigrid anak, mag-almusal ka muna bago ka pumasok sa school." Salubong ni manang pagpasok ko ng dining area.

Si manang na ang nag-alaga sakin simula bata ako dahil busy palagi si mom and dad. But I was ok, atleast pinaramdam ni manang sakin how it feels like to have someone that will take care of me while I'm growing up.

She was the one who cooked me breakfast. Made packed lunches for school. Helped with school projects and many more things that my mother should be the one doing.

Don't get me wrong, I don't blame my mom. I understand her, even if it's hard. I know that she was devastated with what happened with her life. After all, I am an accident. But I always remind myself that I will never be like her. I will never abandon my child for another man.

I sat to eat the breakfast manang prepared for me. Napatitig ako sa pagkain, I got emotional. Kilalang kilala ako ni manang, she knows my comfort food, sopas.

And then I remembered I was around 7 years old, it was raining so hard outside and my mom and dad are both throwing words and things to each another. Hindi ko na kinaya ang sigawan nila at tumakbo ako palabas ng bahay. During that time, gusto ko nalang makawala. It is too much to handle lalo na at bata pa ako.

I ran and ran until it was so dark, I got afraid. Nakakita ako ng puno and hid under it. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin, I was so lost. Nag-antay lang ako dun habang umiiyak dahil sa sobrang takot at lamig.

But suddenly I heard someone calling me. Naghangad ako, akala ko si Mom. Pero it was manang, holding an umbrella and flashlight. Basa na ang pang-ibabang uniform at puno na din ng putik. I cried and ran to her.

Her eyes look so worried. "Ano ka ba naman bata ka, kanina pa kita hinahanap. Bakit ka tumakbo ang lakas lakas ng ulan. Magkakasakit ka niyan." I cried more and hugged manang.

She hurriedly took me home. Napansin ko na tahimik ang bahay. Manang told me na dad and mom left after their fight. I smiled bitterly and thought that they are too busy fighting with each other at hindi na nalaman pa ang nangyare sakin.

Manang then prepared a hot bath for me, and made sopas. At first, I was curious what it was. But when I tasted it, the warmth felt so good after a long time of being cold and it lingered. It was like an embrace that I've been longing to feel. Naalala ko padin kung paano pumatak ng pumatak ang luha ko habang inuubos ang niluto ni manang para sakin.

Nabalik ako sa realidad ng mag ring ang phone ko. Chloe is calling. Anong kailangan nito?