To Love and To Be Loved

Imperfect Past

Serena's POV

Ngayon ang ikalawang kaarawan ni baby Zee, gusto ko mang ipaghanda s'ya ng bongga pero kailangan kong maghigpit sa pagpalabas ng pera. Officially, I am now a single parent. Paul dumped me for his ex-wife. Yes, ex-wife.

Nakilala ko si Paul when I was 18 and on my third-year in college. Nadestino s'ya nun sa Marawi City.

He was the camp commander of their unit back then. Nagkaroon ng community activity nun kung saan isa sila sa nag-sponsor at college naman namin ang nag-host. Naging magkakilala at 'di naglaon, naging kami.

He was my first man, isinuko ko sa kaniya ang aking bataan. He was 10 years older than me. Tinutulungan n'ya ako sa mga finances ko. Academic Scholar student ako, pero may mga pagkakataon na kinakapos talaga. I'm an orphaned. So, malaking tulong din yung bigay ni Paul.

I graduated Cum Laude at the age of 20. And just few months after graduation, I got pregnant. Malungkot na masaya ako noon. Malungkot kasi daming job opportunities na kailangan i-turn down. Masaya kasi kahit papaano magkakaanak ako kay Paul.

Nine-months later, I delivered a baby boy. Ang saya-saya ko kasi sa wakas may pamilya na akong maituturing.

Hanggang sa dumating ang araw na naging single parent ako. "Serena, I still love her. She wants us to be together again", iyan ang kaniyang linya nung nakipagkalas siya sa akin. Booom, parang granada lang ha? Isang bagsakan lang. So, that was it. Isang buwan akong tulala. 'Di ko alam paano at saan magsisimula. I was so down that I thought of dying but I remembered my son. I have to stand up and face the world for him.

In fairness to Paul, nag-iwan naman siya ng pera para raw sa bata - 20k. Saan ba aabot ang 20k? Kailangan ko kumayod bago pa maubos tong 20k. I hired a nanny to look for my son. Eventually, nakahanap din ako ng work. At sa lumipas ang mga araw, buwan at taon...