Set in the 1990s, 19-year-old outgoing beauty, Tin Escalante, has always had the most cliché dream ever--to live a better life.
Growing up unprivileged, she is ready to do whatever it takes to lift herself and her family out of poverty, even if she...
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I used to feel estranged from Ate Lileth before for two reasons.
First, her resemblance to our mother is uncanny. Ate Lileth looks exactly like the young version of the woman who gave birth to us. I was always reminded by the woman who left us whenever I stared at her face.
Second, she was so much like our mother. She was so into money and wealth. She likes men, flirting and the likes. She's bold and tactless. According to the people I grew up with, my mother was exactly like that.
But among my three siblings, Ate Lileth is the closest to my heart. Because unlike Kuya Ruben and Ate Susan, who started their own families very early, my Ate Lileth, at 18, courageously flew to Japan.
She hoped for a better life not only for herself, but also for us, her family. She had been through a lot, but she remained stalwart. And for that, I found myself secretly looking up to her. She may not have succeeded with her aspirations before, but her will and determination still serve as one of my inspirations.
So, it's beyond painful to see her in this situation.
"Buntis si Manang Lileth."
Iyon ang bungad sa akin ni Ate Susan na kalalabas lang ng ward kung nasaan si Ate Lileth. Mababakasan ang kasiyahan sa mukha niya pero may bahid ng pag-aalala.
"Ano sabi, 'nang? Ayos naman daw ba 'yung baby?"
Dinugo si Ate Lileth kaninang umaga. Natagpuan namin siyang walang malay sa banyo kaya gano'n na lang ang pagkataranta namin ni Ate Susan. Mabuti na lang at sumaklolo agad ang mga tanod at kapitan sa barangay kaya nadala namin sa malapit na maliit na pampublikong ospital.
"Ayos naman..."
Bahagya akong nakahinga nang napakaluwag.
"Pero sensitibo raw ang pagbubuntis kaya dapat mag-ingat."
Hindi pa man nakukumpirma ay may hinuha na akong buntis si Ate Lileth. Pero kahit ngayong kumpirmado na ng doktor ay hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala.
"Hindi naman talaga baog si manang. Hirap lang siyang makabuo dahil sa kondisyon niya…"
At Lileth was diagnosed with PCOS after she was deported from Japan, so it was hard for her to get pregnant. That was her biggest insecurity as a woman. She mentioned before that her, being unable to bear children, is usually the main reason why she ended up separating with her past live-in partners.
"May himala, Tinang..."
Malawak akong napangiti sa magandang balita kaya naman ay pumasok na ako ng ward kung saan nagpapahinga si Ate Lileth. Samantala ay umuwi naman si Ate Susan at nangakong babalik mamaya para mabisita ko naman si tatang.
Nadatnan ko siyang nakaupo sa kama at nakatanaw sa bukas na bintana.
"'Nang..."
Sinalubong ko siya ng ngiti at yakap na ibinalik niya rin pero tila kalahati ang katumbas—kalahating ngisi at tipid na lakas.
