The Virgin Mother ✔

Virginia Marie G. Romero

Virginia Marie Gonzales Romero, the most successful bachelorette at 25

Umagang-umaga, yan ang bumungad sa akin sa dyaryo. Complete name ko pa e, noh.
Ah, this is life. I have worked hard for this, and now, CEO na ako ng kumpanya ni daddy. He's near to 60, and now I'm giving him his dream retirement.

Nakabukod ako kay daddy. Ako, narito sa condo unit ko na konting lakad lang ay ang opisina ko na. It's convenient, hindi ko na kailangang mag-kotse. Si daddy naman, nandoon sa mansyon. It's a big house, walang ibang kasama si daddy doon kundi ang mga aso namin. 10 big dogs.

Iinom pa lang ako ng kape ng marinig kong mag-ring ang cellphone ko at sinagot iyon agad. "Hi, daddy!"

"Morning and I have seen you in the headline of a newspaper, little girl. I am so proud of you. You never failed me."

"Well daddy, ano pa at naging Romero ako kung papalpak ako? Well, thanks to you. You trained me to be a successful and independent lady. And please, hindi na ako little girl."

"But you are still my little girl and--"

"Fine, fine. Ano pa bang magagawa ko? Hahaha! What are you doing there?" Tanong ko.

"Well, I'm out of the mansion for my morning jog."

"Okay, gtg! Ayoko ma-late. Hehe."

"For pete's sake, Marie, the office is just walking distance from your unit. You know, it's fine with me if you're late, o pwede nga na wag ka nang pum--"

"Dad! Really, I love my job. You built this, ipagpapatuloy ko lang. I mean, that's the least I can do."

"Anak, you're in the right age already. You are so successful, you are forgetting to give me a grandchild! Or.. grandchildren. Bago naman ako mamatay, I want to see--"

"Daddy, wala pa po sa utak ko ang--"

"You always cut me, let me speak and give you teachings.. Daughter, marami ang nagkakandarapa sa iyo. They're eligible bachelors too. Why don't you.. date? Why don't you have fun and let loose? You know, you should be thankful, I'm letting you do things. But I think, you're overworked.. it's time to build a family of your own." Ito na naman eh. Last week lang nga, nangaral na naman si daddy ng ganito. Ganun niya na ba ko kagusto magkaroon ng anak? Well, ako ayoko pa kasi talaga. kaya kong bumuhay ng bata, but I can't be a mother yet.

Naaalala ko lang kasi na iniwan kami ni mama. It's still clear to me, it's vivid. I was just four, she left us for another man. I'm afraid, I might not be able to do that job. Kawawa ang bata. Masungit pa naman ako. I'm not much fond of kids.

"Dad, you are my family. And those 10 dogs. We are a big family. Bakit magdadagdag pa ako? I'm young, you know I'm partying too, going to museums, galleries, antique shops, shop in the malls. Those are my ways of having fun. Things just come. I don't rush." Paliwanag ko naman.

Narinig ko sa kabilang linya ang pagbuntong-hininga ni daddy. "Well then, I think I can't force you to that. Ikaw bahala anak. Just remember, I am here for you no matter what. I love you so much, my little girl."

Then suddenly, I become teary-eyed. Daddy naman eh! "I love you too, daddy! Don't wanna be late. Uwi ako sa saturday." A tear escaped from my eye and I wiped it immediately. Binaba ko na rin ang tawag.

Pumikit ako ng mariin at huminga ng malalim.

Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.

I drank my coffee and went straight to the bathroom para makaligo na ako.

Habang naliligo napag-isip isip ko.. Paano kaya kung makipag-date ako?

Tss, ayoko. Ayoko kasi base sa kwento nila Marnie at Cass, many men are jerks and losers. Natakot tuloy akong magkaroon ng boyfriend, o kahit anong attachment sa lalaki. But I do have a boy friend, Raymond. CEO rin siya sa isang partner company ng kumpanya namin. He's a handsome, fine man, and I think, hanggang kaibigan lang talaga turing namin sa isa't-isa. Isa pa yun sa nirereto ni daddy sa akin. Tss. Dad's playing cupid, almost always.

Paglabas ko ng condo, naglakad na ako. Nakatingin ako sa loob ng coffee shop kung ano ang menu na pwedeng kainin kaya di ko na namalayang may nabangga ako. "Oops, sorry. Sorry po talaga."

Nakabangga ako ng isang babaeng medyo may-edad na. Nahulog yung mga gulay na galing sa paper bag niya!

Agad naman akong tumulong para magpulot. "Nako, pasensiya na po talaga." Nagpupulot rin siya ng kamatis, talong, sigarilyas.

"Ayos lang hija, mahina na rin ang paningin ko eh. Pasensiya na rin."

"Ako po talaga dapat mag-sorry kasi di po ako tumingin sa daan. Hehe. Gusto niyo po bang palitan ko na lang yung mga gulay? Nalamog na po siguro iyan at nadumihan.. Baka po--"

"Hija, hindi na kailangan. Ayos lang." Nakangiti siya ng sabihin iyon. Lumapit sa akin yung babae at tinignan akong maigi. "Teka, parang pamilyar ka.. Ikaw ba yung.. anak ni Luigi Romero? si.. si Virginia? Ay nako, kabait mo palang bata. Ang ganda-ganda pa." I blushed a bit.

"Ah, ako nga po. Salamat po." Tumayo na ako tapos inalalayan naman siyang tumayo rin.

"Nako, salamat hija. Baka mahuli ka sa trabaho, sige at mauna ka na." There's always this aura that I like about being with grandmothers.. I feel warm around them. Wala eh, patay na kasi yung lolo at lola ko kay daddy. Lola Caridad died five years ago, then Lolo Fred died three years later.

"Hehe oo nga po. Sige ho, magiingat po kayo."

"Pagpalain ka ng Diyos, hija." Ngumiti kami sa isa't-isa, at mabilis na rin akong naglakad papuntang office.