And our scars remind us that the past is real
I tear my heart open just to feel
--Scars by Papa Roach
--
Lena decided to finally tell her mom about her scars. Cyrus's mother made her realize that she didn't need to hide such thing to her own mom.
"Kung ako nga, hindi kita anak pero tanggap kita bilang ikaw, with all your scars, ano pa kaya ang mommy mo? Tell her. I'm sure she will understand," were her exact words.
She knew her mom would understand. That's what good moms do. They understand. Kahit hindi na dapat intindihin, pilit pa rin nilang iniintindi. That's not what she's worried about. Ang ikinatatakot lang naman niya ay baka sisihin nito ang sarili dahil sa mga pinaggagagawa niya sa sarili. She didn't want her mom to resent herself.
So she called her mom after she got home from the dinner and told her that she wanted to spend her whole Saturday with her. Kung mayroon mang naunang plano ang mommy niya ay hindi na nito sinabi sa kanya. She readily agreed, excited by her invitation.
"Bakit sya lang? What about me?" singit ng daddy niya.
"Dad, kami lang muna ni mommy please," sabi niya sa ama. "Girls only."
"I can be a girl," he joked.
"Magtigil ka nga!" saway ng mommy niya. "If you want to go out, then take Nikola and Logan with you."
"Pa'no si Kenna?"
"Kenna can manage with her books," she heard her mom say.
Pinatapos muna niyang magtalo ang mga magulang. She likes hearing them banter from time to time. Sa daddy nya lang kasi nagsusungit ang mommy niya. Sa iba, sa kanila, hindi. Her dad told her once that it's what sets him apart from other people.
The argument ended with a truce. The boys will go out with their dad habang sila naman ng mommy niya ang magkasama. Kenna will be left at the house with her books. Babawi na lamang daw ang mga ito sa kapatid niya sa isang linggo. They planned on taking Kenna out on a date, which, to her, sounded like they will just make her sister the third wheel.
"So, Lena, anong oras tayo bukas?"
"Can we go out in the morning? Baka po kasi may lakad kami ng hapon, e."
"All right. Susunduin ka na lamang namin dyan ng ten o'clock."
"Okay, Mom. Good night."
"Good night, Anak. See you tomorrow!"
--
Kinabukasan, maagang gumising si Lena para maghanda para sa lakad nilang mag-ina. It's probably the first time that she and her mom will go out together. Usually, kapag aalis sila, buong pamilya o sila lang magkakapatid. Hindi siya 'yong tipong lumalabas kasama ang magulang.
She decided to wear a simple shirt that says 'MERDE', and a pair of denim shorts. Nag-doble siya ng denim jacket para hindi makita ang braso niya. She may be ready to show her scars but not to everyone in her family yet.
Nang dumating ang mga ito ay agad niyang inihabilin si Bailey sa kapitbahay. The poor dog wanted to go with them, especially when he saw Nikola, but they had to leave him behind.
She climbed the backseat with Logan and Nikola. Todo yakap sa kanya ang bunsong kapatid. He told her that he misses her and Cyrus, and the cake. Kinulit siya nito nang kinulit na padalhan ito ng cake hanggang sa nainis siya ng konti. She mentioned Tammy to shut him up.
"Who's Tammy?" their mom asked.
"No one!" agad na sagot ng kapatid niya. Lumipat ito sa kabila ni Logan. With Logan in the middle, naging tahimik ang byahe. Naglalaro lamang kasi ito sa phone nito. Si Logan na yata ang pinaka-walang pakialam sa mundo sa kanilang magkakapatid.
