Love, Pearl

LOVE, PEARL 5

"Hello po, Ma'am..." magalang na bati ng anak kong si Ciella sa mag-asawa.

Ngumiti nang taos-puso si Tita Liezel at Tito Gian. "Pwede mo akong tawaging Lola, Ciella," sagot ni Tita Liezel.

Tumingin siya sa akin at ngumiti. "Pearl..." bulong niya at niyakap ako.

It was so comforting that I found myself closing my eyes and leaning into it, feeling a sense of peace I hadn't felt in a long time.

"Dito na kayo mag-dinner. Magluluto kami ni Tito Gian mo. Kaldereta," she said, carrying Ciella as we walked towards the living room.

Paborito namin 'yon ni Ciella. Ang dami-daming alaala niyang Kaldereta.

Naalala ko pa no'ng pinagbubuntis ko pa si Ciella, ito ang nililihian ko, kaldereta. May mga gabing gutom na gutom ako e ayoko namang guluhin si Lola kaya lumabas ako ng gabi at nagmalimos sa isang karinderia.

But they were so cruel, nilagay nila sa plastik 'yung mga tira-tira at sinabi pa sakin na ubusin ko raw para hindi na ibigay sa aso.

While Iyana, Ciella, and Tita Liezel played together, I stood up and wandered around the room, drawn to the array of picture frames displayed on the shelves.

My eyes were immediately drawn to the photos on the altar, each one telling a story of joy.

Baby pictures filled the frames, capturing short moments of innocence and happiness.

Then one particular photo caught my attention. The little girl in the picture was smiling widely, wearing a pink headband adorned with pearls.

The pearls...

A chill ran down my spine.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see Tita Liezel standing beside me, her eyes fixed on the same photograph.

"She's our daughter... nawawala siya 6 years old palang siya nun," she said, her voice trembling as a tear escaped her eye.

"N-nasaan na po siya?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

"We don't know... but we're doing our best. The authorities are helping us. 'Yung iba naman sabi wala na siyang buhay pero hindi kami naniniwala dahil ramdam namin buhay siya," she explained, gently caressing my back.

Her pain was palpable, and I felt a deep sorrow for her loss.

"Ano po ba ang nangyari? Pwede po bang..." I hesitated, not wanting to intrude on her grief.

"Nawala siya, naging pabaya ako noon. Masaya kaming nasa mall, bumibili ng pearls nang bigla siyang nawala sa tabi ko... Nasa 30s na siya ngayon..." umiyak siya.

"Nagulat nga ako dahil pareho kayo ng gusto. Pareho kayong mahilig sa pearls. Tama ba ako?" humikbi siya. Tumango ako.

"S-Sana ay... makita na namin siya..." she sobbed more, her shoulders shaking with the intensity of her grief. I wrapped my arms around her, gently caressing her back in an attempt to comfort her.

I understood her pain because the thought of losing Ciella was a fear that haunted me every day.

"Mahahanap niyo po siya..." I whispered, my voice full of a hope I desperately wanted to believe in. She nodded against my shoulder, her tears soaking through my shirt.

Lumayo siya, "Sorry, Pearl. Nabasa tuloy ang damit mo..."

Napatawa ako dahil sa reaksyon niya. "Okay lang po."

But why did I feel such a strong connection to this missing child? The pink headband with pearls, the familiar warmth in Tita Liezel's hug—it all felt like pieces of a puzzle I couldn't quite fit together.