That One Summer

04

I stood in front of the mirror. My eyes tracing the outline of my face, trying to recognize the person staring back at me. But the more I looked, the more disconnected I felt.

I watched those kids laugh, share food, and tell stories like life was just a series of happy moments.

As I observed them earlier, a heaviness settled in my chest. I was smiling on the outside, but something inside me broke. A part of me—no, the child in me—ached with a sadness so deep I couldn't put it into words.

I couldn't help but think of everything I missed, everything that was taken from me.

While other kids were learning how to ride bikes or happily playing outside, I was learning how to pose for the camera. How to smile just right, even when I didn't feel like smiling. How to stay quiet when all I wanted to do was scream.

I grew up in front of cameras, being told what to wear, how to act, how to smile. Every part of me was molded into something else, something that wasn't me.

My childhood had always felt like it was something stolen from me, replaced with photoshoots and cold, calculated glances from adults who only saw me as a tool.

Gia and Greg never let me be a child. They never cared about what I wanted, about what I needed. To them, I was just another way to make money, a puppet they could use to get what they wanted from the world.

I had to grow up too fast, to act like an adult before I even understood what being a child meant.

I am someone who's been through so much but never really had the chance to live.

"Maam, bakit niyo po ni-lock ang pinto?" Dahan-dahan akong napalingon sa pintuan at nasilayan ang isang staff ng restaurant na may hawak na susi at sa kanyang tabi, isang babaeng costumer.

I tried to remain calm while searching for the right answer to her question. Hindi ko pwedeng sabihin ang totoo na sinadya ko itong isara.

"Oh! I must have locked it unconsciously. I'm sorry." Ibinalandra ko ang isang malapad na ngiti bago ako umalis sa ladies' room.

Naninibago pa rin ako sa pakikipagpalitan ng salita sa mga tao.

"Ate Demi, ba't ang tagal mo?" Cara inquired as I sat beside her. "Akala namin iniwan mo na kami. May bill nga po pala na iniwan ang waiter sa atin."

Kinuha ko ang bill at matapos makita ang kabuuan ng aming babayaran, naglabas ako ng sapat na pera na pambayad.

"Cara, ang hina mo! Bakit naman tayo iiwan ni Ate Demi kung iniwan niya rin sa atin ang mga gamit niya?" saad ni Liam.

"Huwag nga kayong mag-away," sabat ni Martin sabay lingon sa akin. "Ganyan po 'yang dalawa, Ate Demi, parang aso't pusa."

"E, ikaw Martin? Daga?" sarkastikong sambit ni Cara.

Nakatakas ang mahina kong pagngisi kasabay ng paglapag ko sa pera kasama ang bill sa mesa. "Huwag na kayong mag-bangayan. Hindi ko naman kayo iiwan, pupunta pa kaya tayo sa Summit Square na sinasabi niyo."

"Tayo na, Ate!" sabay na pahayag nina Bryan at Lucas.

"Teka! Ngayon na po tayo pupunta, Ate? Nakapang-bahay lang po kasi—" Naningkit ang mga mata ni Cara habang nakamasid sa labas. "Teka, nanay mo ba 'yon, Bryan?"

I saw Bryan's face go pale and his eyes widen in surprise after hearing what Cara said.

"Si Aling Jona nga!" Lucas confirmed.

"Mukhang may dalang pamalo ang nanay mo!" Martin added.

Bryan stood up. "Ate Demi, salamat po sa libre. Mauna na po ako." Kasing bilis ng kanyang pagpapaalam ang pag-alis niya sa puwesto namin.