Behind Her Shadow

Prologue

Maria Adelaida's POV

Are women born with an innate desire to care for children or is it taught? Was it motherly instinct?

Because growing up, I never experienced getting tied my hair up by my mom. It was always me to do my hair. I learned to do it by my own back when I was seven.

I was always jealous at my classmates because their hair was always clean and neat. I was jealous because I witnessed how their mothers did their hairs while I do my own.

I would go to school and see my classmates having pretty hairstyles, the ones with clips and colorful hair ties. Some even has ribbons.

While mine was a simple high ponytail because that's the only thing I could do at the age of 7.

Their uniforms were ironed while mine was not. I would go to school with wrinkled uniform.

They had their own lunch box while I had fifty pesos with me—not even enough to buy myself a full meal.

I can see my classmates asking about each other's final grades while I don't even know what's mine because I had no one to go and get my report card. Gustuhin ko mang ako na lang ang kumuha ay hindi pwede dahil kailangan ay parent o guardian.

In short, I lived an independent life since before. I grew up raising myself, that's why I think having to take care of children is a choice... because if my Mom really cared for me, why would she leave me like that?

The young and naive Adelaida... I don't think no child deserves to be left hanging like that. Hindi masayang maiwan. Hindi masayang mamuhay sa isiping kailangan kong itaguyod ang sarili ko dahil iniwan ako ng nanay ko.

Pero may choice ba ako? Wala naman.

Wala akong choice kung hindi ang sumunod sa agos ng buhay. Wala naman tayong magagawa, e. Pero kahit gano'n, thankful pa rin ako kasi nandiyan ang Tita ko para umalalay.

"C.R lang ako, Rina..." paalam ko sa pinsan kong kasalukuyang naglalagay ng kolorete sa mukha niya.

"No, Addy... don't say that! You're more than just a C.R. Everytime na naiisip mo na "C.R lang ako," no... You're a wonderful person, and we appreciate you so much. Hindi biro maging C.R lang. It must have been tough, pero you did it. You're so strong kaya sobrang proud kami sa'yo." madamdaming litanya na. Napakunot naman ang noo ko sa mahabang diologue niya.

"Para ka namang tanga, Katarina! Kaka-social media mo 'yan! Kita mo nagagawa ng social media sa utak mo? Tanga, malala ka na, tol." umiling-iling ako sa kaniya habang papalabas pero tinawanan niya lang ako.

Bakit ba ganito ang mga pinsan ko? Wala namang komplikasyon nang pinagbubuntis sila? Baka nakainom ng alak sina Tita nung buntis sa kanila? Medyo buang, e. Feeling ko talaga malala na 'yan.

"Hoy, Princesa! Nakikita mong may warning na huwag iinumin ang choc-o ko pero ininom mo pa rin?! 'Di ka marunong magbasa, te?" reklamo naman ngayon ni Zhen kay Cesa.

Pambihira, napalibutan pa ng mga siraulong pinsan. Kung minamalas ka nga naman talaga.

"E 'di sana bumili ka ng sarili mong ref kung ayaw mong may uminom ng chocolate drink mo." sinungitan naman siya ni Cesa.

Amputa...

"Ang ingay niyo naman! Kelan ba matatahimik mga bibig niyo?! Ang aga-aga pa! Ganiyan ba kayo mag-bonding sa mga bahay niyo? Pwes, uwi!" nakaririndi ang naging sigaw ni Ate Gica kaya naman bago pa man ako makapagbanyo ay nabingi na ako sa kanila.

'Di, joke lang.

"Siya kasi, Ate Gica! Nakakatanga kausap! May nakalagay huwag iinumin pero ininom pa rin! Kasalanan niya lahat, Ate!" ani Zhen nang maharap kay Ate Gica. Nanduro pa siya, akala mo talaga pinagnakawan, e.