Tú Eres Mi Sol

LII

Rose was feeling great by lunch time that she accepted a dinner invitation from one of her amigas who was visiting San Francisco, all of them were invited.

Richard didn't want to go. He was planning to spend the day with Dei, although he hasn't figured out how he was going to do it.

"Richard, Dei, Lia. Sama kayo."

"Mom, kailangan ba talaga? Baka hindi naman. Itatawag na lang kita ng car service" Lia answered

"Mom, Dei and I are going for a run later. We're thinking of joining a marathon." Richard said

"We are?" Dei replied, Richard looked at her and she continued, "Oh yeah! We are running later. I'm need to do some stretching soon"

Rose sat down, she placed her hand on her forehead, shaking her head."Hay, what have I done? I have given birth to children who do not even have time to accompany their mother."

She sighs and continues,"Dapat sinabi ko kay Ricardo, isa pang anak baka yun sasamahan ang kawawang nanay nila.  My kids, who I carried for nine months, may mga araw dati, bedrest ako dahil ang sakit ng tiyan o ng likod ko pero tiniis ko lahat yun. My own kids do not want to do anything with me. I'll just call Ricardo. He's the only person who really loves me." She starts to sniff.

Richard walks to his mother and says, "Alright, Mom, we'll go." 

Rose looks at Lia and she nods.

"Even Dei?" Rose asks

"Yes, Auntie. I will go with you."

Rose stands up and walks briskly. "Alright. Go dress up, we're leaving in half an hour. Bakit pa kayo nakaupo dyan? Bilis, Bilisan niyo na!" She flickers her hands to tell them to go faster.

***

"Amiga!" a well-dressed lady opens the door.

"Aurora. Kumusta?" The two ladies exchange pleasantries

"Come in, Come in!"

"Aurora, These are my children, Lia, Richard and Dei."

The other woman looked confused,"Rose, I thought you only had one daughter?"

"Ah, no, no. Dei is almost a daughter to me."

The young ones hand the older lady a bottle of wine and a cake from the best patisserie shop in San Francisco. They all walk to the living room.

Another older lady was sitting in the living room.

"Rose, kilala mo naman si Teresa, right?"

"Yes, Kumusta, Teresa?"

The rest of the introductions and exchange of pleasantries were made.

Aurora: Rose, your kids are good-looking and very magalang, too.

Rose: They all took after me.

*the older ladies laugh*

Aurora: Richard, Hijo, are you seeing someone?

Richard (looking confused): ....

Rose: Bakit mo naman natanong?

Aurora: You know, amiga, Teresa and I were talking earlier. Her daughter, Valerie, you know Valerie right? She's having some problems medically and the doctors say na the only solution is pregnancy. We were thinking, since she already likes your son, maybe they can go on a date or something.

Teresa nods in agreement.

Rose was annoyed at what was happening, it felt like it was a set-up

Aurora excused herself to check on the food and Teresa to make a video call to her husband.