The Second Bride on the List

Chapter 23

"Alyssa."

"Mama...?" she turned to look at where the voice was coming from.  She knows it's Mozzy's voice, but she is busy folding the clothes she has just retrieved from the hamper.

"Asan si Manang? Bakit ikaw gumagawa niyan?" Mozzy asked, offering her cheek to Alyssa for a kiss.  Alyssa stood up to greet her "mother-in-law".  "Nasa garden po, nagre-replant.  Pwede na po kase i-replant ang mga sunflowers," she said. "Nagmerienda na po ba kayo, Ma?" she carefully set aside the clothes, and stood up, "May dalang cake po si Kiefer kagabi. Ang laki po, and masarap po siya."

Mozzy followed Alyssa to the Kitchen and sat on the stool by the island table. She was observing her, watching how she took out the cake and sliced a piece for Mozzy.

She looks comfortable in her role, and Mozzy is starting to believe this marriage of convenience is for the best.

"Mag-iisang taon ka na dito sa amin, Hija, pero we never got to celebrate your birthday," Mozzy blurted out, while using a fork to slice the cake into.  Alyssa smiled and shook her head. "Mula po lumipat ako dito sa Manila, hindi na po ako nagse-celebrate ng birthday ko," she confided, "Tama na po sa akin na nakakapagsimba ako sa umaga ng birthday ko."

Mozzy nodded pensively, "Magpapasko na, wala pa kayong mga Christmas decors. Don't tell me hindi ka rin nagse-celebrate nito?"

Alyssa laughed and handed Mozzy a glass of water, "Siyempre po, nasi-celebrate din ako. Kaso po nakakahiya kase di naman ako yung may-ari bahay, at baka kung magdecorate ako, di po babagay sa gusto ninyo na ayos."

"Ano ba gusto mong design or idea ng pagdecorate ng pasko?" Mozzy asked, curious about what Alyssa has to say.

"Siyempre po may belen. At dapat maraming lights. Pero ang parol dapat ang pinakamalaki sa lahat. Kase yun ang magli-lead sa 3 Magi papunta kay Papa Jesus," she counted off on her fingers, "Kaso po ang laki ng bahay ni Kiefer, so di ko alam paano gagawin yun kung sakali." She laughed at the idea, and added, "E hindi ko po alam kung ano ang trip ni Kiefer. Santa Claus? Snownan?"

Mozzy looked at Alyssa tenderly, "Parol. Mahilig si Kiefer sa parol. At christmas tree. Kelangan maraming nakasabit na -"

She stopped herself short, and stared at Alyssa. Alyssa tucked her hair behind her ear self-consciously, when Mozzy added, "What if punta tayo sa interior decorator-"

"Naku po, Tita, gastos lang po 'yun! Ako na lang po maglalagay, i-donate na lang natin yung pambayad sa simbahan, o di kaya sa orphanage," she laughed, "ituro mo na lang po sa akin kung nasaan ang mga decors-"

"Magbihis ka," Mozzy said, "we'll shop for decorations."

"Ay," Alyssa was surprised, "Wala po kayong extra decors sa inyo?"

Mozzy shook her head, "This is your house, dapat may sari-"

Alyssa reached out to Mozzy's arm,"Tita, transient lang po ako dito." Her voice was so soft, and it almost broke Mozzy's heart. Mozzy swallowed and softly replied, "Alyssa, I don't care. You will always be family to us. Even more than Sarah, for all I care."

Alyssa looked at Mozzy, wishing it was real. And she saw honesty and sincerity in her eyes. "Salamat po. Napakaswerte po ni Sarah sa inyo," she replied, her voice full of humility. Mozzy dropped her head, trying to control the tears, and the longing, in her eyes.

Alyssa thought she was being dismissed, so she went upstairs and started to clean up and get dressed. Mozzy shook her head.  She is getting fond of Alyssa more and more, and even if they could still keep their lines open after this, she still wish and hope that things will be for the better, that Alyssa will get to stay.