Unfinished Yesterday

First Encounter

(Paula's P.O.V.)

"Mama I want to go the mall today" Panggigising sa akin ng anak ko na nakasuot ng white na pajama. Unlike other kids ,she doesn't like colorful dress. Black,white and grey ang choices of color niya.Pahirapan pa bago mo siya mapagsusuot ng damit na may ibang kulay.

"Yulen where is your manner?" Sabi ko in a motherly tone pero gamit naman ang palayaw ." Could you repeat that?

She hugs and kisses me "Ma will you please take me to the mall?" She said in her sweetest tone with puppy eyes.

"Hmm let me think about it." Kunwari nag-iisip ako."As far as I remember yesterday you talked to no one except me and you snobbed nanay."

She rolled her eyes " Ma remember what you taught me? You told me to not to talk to strangers. I didn't know them." Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay "Yet" kaya mabilis niya yung idinugtong. "Please po mama ganda, I want to see the city and buy new swim wear and swim gears and surfing board and....."

I raise my hand " Wait a minute did I say yes?"

She pouted. "Not yet but I still have an hour to convince you po. I want to eat breakfast ma, let's eat?" She smiles with a twinkling eyes. Alam ko na may pinaplano siya to get my 'Yes'. Nagmana siya sa akin na gagawin ang lahat to get what she wants.

"Go downstairs first,I need to fix myself before breakfast. Give me 30 minutes okey? but​ if you are hungry already , don't wait for me."

"Take your time mama" she said while running.

"Pauline no running on the stairs." I shouted and later on, I heard a walking footsteps already. I smiled. My daughter knew when I am serious.

It only took me 25 minutes to do my morning routine. When I came down, I smelled pancakes in the dining area.

"Look mama, I cooked pancakes for you." She beamed.

I kissed her on the cheeks and sat on the chair around the table." For me only?So it's only mine?" I joked.

"Yes that's for you but you said sharing is loving and you love me so you'll share it with me."She wisely said while putting syrup on my pancakes.

Natawa nalang ako sa pilosopiya ng anak ko."Who helped you in the kitchen?" Tanong ko habang nagdedesign siya ng heart sa pancakes gamit ang chocolate syrup.

Saka na siya sumagot nang matapos na niya ang ginagawa niya."The old granny helped me."

"Yulen?" Mataas na boses na sabi ko. Kahapon ko pa siya tinuturuan na nanay itawag niya nay Maming.

She looked at me innocently. "What? She's old and you said she was a mother to you. You won't like me calling her by her name right?" She then ate her pancakes.

I sighed. My daughter has a mind of her own.For a 6 years old she is so intelligent that we always had a bickering like this.

"Pauline that old granny took care of me since I was young. Would that be hard for you to show your gratefulness​ by calling her nanay? I said softly.

She kept silent and still eating. She then drank her milk and sliced her pancakes. "You called her nanay and if I called her nanay it is just like we're sisters,right? "

"Does it matter to you if people assumed that we're sisters?" I asked carefully.

It was the first time that she opened her feelings on what others assumed about our relationship. Lagi kasi kaming napagkakamalan na magkapatid.

"Yes. Ma I already don't have a papa and if you became my sister then I don't have a mama also." She said carefully.

I felt the pain in my heart upon hearing that. I stood up and carried her on my lap, smelling her"You are my baby okey. Whatever you heard from others,it didn't matter because we knew the truth. I am your mama and papa." I felt her nod.