Remember (MaiDen Fanfiction) | Wattys 2019 Winner

Chapter XXVI

Toronto, Canada

"Where do you want to go?" Mamita asked.

Meng squared her shoulders. "I don't know. I just want to rest and relax." She sipped on her newly brewed coffee. She really love its smell. She'll never get tired of it for sure.

They were eating breakfast at the nearest coffee shop. It has been a week since she arrived in Toronto. Ni wala pa nga din siyang halos nagagawa. She just want to stay at home and sleep. That's all that she's doing. Nothing productive at all.

"When you mean rest and relax, you'll just stay in your room and sleep. Is that it?" Mamita knew her too well. Alam na alam nito kung paano tumatakbo ang isip niya.

"Mamita..." She called, the way to stop her abuela from speaking her truths.

Ito kasi ang madalas na magsabi sa kanya nang kung anumang nararamdaman niya. The old woman can read her like an open book. Kaya hangga't maaari ay gusto niyang iwasan ang mga bagay na sasabihin nito. Alam kasi niya sa sarili na tama ito sa lahat.

"I have an idea," masiglang wika nito. Ni hindi pinansin ang pagpigil niya. "Let's have a birthday party for you. We'll invite some friends. Don't worry, hija, Pinoy din naman sila." Mamita smiled widely at her. She really look excited. Expectant ang mga mata nito habang hinihintay ang sagot niya.

"We already celebrated my birthday, Mamita," paalala niya rito. "It has been a week passed my birthday. No need to celebrate it again." She started eating her banana pancakes while looking outside the busy street.

Manila is also a busy place, but it is different here. Parang hindi magkakalahi ang mga ito. Walang pakialam sa mga tao sa paligid. Nagmamadali ang bawat kilos at walang sinasayang na sandali. They all look serious in the morning.

"It's okay," turan ni Mamita. "Para may makilala ka naman na mga Pinoy dito. There are men your age range. Baka sakaling maging ka-close mo sila."

Kumunot ang noo niya dahil sa sinabi nito. "Mamita, I am not here for any romance. Tinakbuhan ko nga 'yung nangyari noon, e."

Tumango ito. "I know. I just want you to mingle. I am not saying that you should get involve with anyone romantically. I just want you to try to be friends with them somehow. There's nothing wrong with friendship. It can never hurt you." Paliwanag nito.

"Whatever you want," sagot na lang niya para hindi na sila magtalo pang dalawa.

If there's someone much stubborn than she was, it is Mamita. Mas pasaway pa ito sa kanya. Lagi ring nag-aaway ito at ang Papa Vic niya. That's why Mamita chose to stay in Toronto, para walang nakakapagbawal dito. Ayaw kasi nito na tinatratong parang bata na bawal lahat.

Mamita really despise her father, which is her son. Hindi talaga magkasundo ang dalawa. But regardless of that, her father respects and loves her abuela a lot. Mas madalas pa nga na magkausap ang dalawa thru Facetime. Ganoon din naman ang abuela niya sa ama niya. May mga bagay lang talaga na hindi napagkakasunduan ng mga ito. Well, that makes them human.

"Much better. I'll call them later." Mamita even clapped her hands.

She's a classic woman of her time. She speaks her mind. She's the top of her class. She's not afraid of anyone, but she suck at love. She let go of the first man she ever loved because she had to marry someone else. She can stubborn and hard hearted, but not to her own mother's wish. Ginawa nito ang hiling ng ina kahit pa nga may minamahal na itong iba.

"Mamita," tawag niya rito dahil sa biglaang naalala. "By any chance, was the man you rejected a Faulkerson?"

Mamita put down her glass of orange juice. Pinunasan nito ang bibig. Tumitig ito sa kanya bago marahang tumango.