The Letters of Paris

Chapter 03

Tinitigan ko ang sarili kong repleksyon bago simulan ang paglagay ng concealer sa mga sugat at pasa. Thank God it's wash day. I wore a checkered long sleeve over a loose shirt I didn't know I had in my closet. I chose to wear skinny jeans para matakpan din ang sugat sa binti ko. Kuya already hired a dermatologist to check if there would be scars, kaya hindi ko na kailangan mag-alala pa.

Sa pagbaba ko, napansin ko agad ang pagdami ng tao sa bahay. Unfamiliar people walking in different directions annoyed me. My eyes caught two bulky men standing on the way to the basement where the cars are parked. What's all this about?

Dumiretso ako sa kusina at nadatnan ang isang babaeng pormal na nakaupo, nagbabasa ng dyaryo.

"Tita Valkyrie?" hindi siguradong tawag ko nang bahagyang tumagilid ito. Lumingon ang babae at agad na rumehistro sa mukha niya ang saya.

"Paris!" She pulled a chair next to her, gesturing that I should sit and eat beside her. Lumapit ako sa kaniya pero hindi ako umupo.

"Have you seen Kuya Carson?" Luminga-linga ako, but there's no trace of him anywhere. Did he sleep at a hotel? We didn't even talk after he left me.

Her face crumpled. "You don't miss your Tita?"

"What are you doing here, Valkyrie Jersey?"

Sabay kaming napalingon at nakita ko si Mama na naglalakad papalapit sa 'min.

Tita Val veered her eyes again to the newspaper. "Ate Hypatia," tipid niyang bati.

"Good morning, Mom." I smiled as if nothing happened between us, pero hindi niya 'ko sinulyapan kaya hiyang iniwas ko ang paningin ko kay Tita Val nang magkatinginan kaming dalawa.

I heard a rustle of paper.

"You're too strict."

Napatangad ako nang marinig ko ang inis sa pananalita ng tiya ko. She was now glaring at Mom like a predator.

"It's not your job to meddle in how I raise my child." maanghang na sagot ni Mama.

Tita Valkyrie disdainfully scoffed and then drank her wine straight, like water. "Ate, please. It's morning."

"Anong ginagawa mo rito, Valkyrie?" ulit na tanong ni Mama habang pinanliitan ang pinsan niya ng mata.

Umismid ang tiya ko. "You paid me to be here."

Mom's brows furrowed. She rubbed her temples na parang sumasakit na ang ulo niya sa usapan nila.

"Since you're here, you tell her." Mom turned to me, eyed me from head to toe before walking away with her assistant. Tell me what?

"Fucking bitch."

Napaawang ang bibig ko nang marinig ko ang mapanuyang bulong niya. Marahas na binuksan niya ang dyaryo at saglit na sumulyap pa sa 'kin bago ipinatuloy ang pagbabasa. She grabbed a piece of bread, then took a small bite.

"It hurts, does it?"

Napahawak ako sa pisngi ko dahil sa sinambit niya. I didn't respond and just sat where she wanted me a few minutes ago. Kumuha lamang ako ng cereal at gatas. I should put more concealer later.

"Well, pain is what makes you feel alive." ngmunguyang sambit niya at patuloy sa pagbasa.

Saglit akong napahinto pero agad din ipinatuloy ang pagkain. That's what mom used to tell us when we were young. And here I am, still breathing and sick of it.

Nanahimik na ito hanggang sa makatapos kaming kumain. I'm starting to get curious why she's still beside me. I know she's a busy woman. In fact, she's more occupied than my mom. Nasasabi ko 'to dahil nabibilang sa kamay ko ang pagkikita namin. I wouldn't be surprised if this is actually our sixth time meeting.