The Rank - Series II

Chapter 8

At nakalis si Olivia. 

Samantalang katatapos ko lang maligo dahil aalis ako para i meet si Margaret. Magkikita kami sa coffee shop malapit sa school. 

Nagtatampo na kasi ang best friend ko. 

Kaya kikitain ko na bago nya pa ako isumpa. Especially kapag nalaman nya about my bonding sa Rank Girls. For sure uusok ang ilong nya sa galit. 

I'm brushing my hair nang may kumatok sa kwarto ko. 

"Hey, kiddo." Si Mama Mara. 

"Ma." Nakangiti ko na sabi. 

Pumasok si Mama sa kwarto ko, bitbit ang ilang paper bags. "For you Anak." 

Nagtataka man ay kinuha ko amg mga ito. "Hindi ko naman po birthday ah." 

"Pagbirthday mo lang ba pwede kami magbigay sayo?" Natatawang tanong ni Mama. 

"Of course not." At binuksan ko isa isa ang mga paper bags. Mga bagong damit, short at jeans. "Wow - ang dami nito." 

Naupo si Mama Mara sa tabi ko. "Para may magamit ka bukas for La Union." 

Then i stop and look at her. "Is Mommy Elise upset?" 

I mean, she hasn't talk to me since Olivia left. Hindi ko alam kung galit ba sya at napilitan lang na pumayag?

Mama Mara tuck the lose hair behind my ear. "I assure you she isn't." But i still worry. "You Mommy is only worried dahil ngayon ka lang magbabyahe ng mag-isa, na hindi kami kasama."

"I understand Ma." 

"Besides, she was the one who asked me to buy you some clothes for tomorrow." 

My heart's melt. "Talaga po?"

"Yes Clover." 

"I want to talk to Mom." 

"Go ahead." Tumatangong sabi ni Mama. "She's in the kitchen." 

At pinuntahan ko nga si Mommy Elise sa kusina pero wala sya - but i find her in the garden. Just sitting there while looking in her laptop. 

"Mom?" Pagtawag ko sa atensyon nya. 

She looks at me. "Oh Anak? Do you need anything?

"Can we talk?" 

"Sure." At sinara ni Mommy ang laptop nya. 

Naupo ako sa tabi nya. "Mm Mommy?" Tinitigan ko sya. "Are you mad?" 

"At you?" She asked me back. "No." Hinawakan nya ang kamay ko. "Why would I get mad? Kasi aalis ka with Olivia?" Tumango ako. "I'm not mad at you or anything but only worried." Niyakap ako ni Mommy. "You are my first born Clover and i love you with all of my heart." I hug her back. "I'm only strict because I'm protecting you." 

"I know Mommy."

"But I trust Olivia." Pagpapatuloy nya. 

Yeah me too. 

She let me go. "Anyway." At may kinuha sya sa bag nya nakapatong sa lamesa. "Take this." Napatingin ako sa hawak nya. "My credit card." 

I can't believe it. "But I have my own — "

"Just in case you need it Clover." Sagot ni Mommy. "It's limitless." Hindi na ako nakasagot. "And call me anytime, anywhere whenever you need me okay?" 

At niyakap ko si Mommy. "Thank you Mommy."

"I love you." She kisses the top of my head. "So much."