A Letter of Promise

Chapter 18

Nagising si Ria sa iyak ng pamangkin niyang si Gil. Nasa may paanan ito ng kaniyang kama at umiiyak.

"Ohh, what happened to my baby boy? Why are you crying? Wher is your mom?" binuhat niya ang pamangkin at kinalong ito. Parang lalo niya lamang pinalakas ang iyak ng bata dahil hindi maawat ang pag-iyak nito nang tanungin niya kung ano ang nangyari.

"Tita ninang, mommy said that we will leave early today. I don't want to go. I want to stay. Can't I?" Simisinghot-singhot pa ito at sumisinok.

"Isn't that a good thing? You will have a family bonding baby." Inayos niya ang pawisan nitong buhok at pinunasan ang likod na pawisan na rin dahil sa kaiiyak. Umiling ito nang tatlong beses at nag bigay ng puppy eyes.

"No it's not like what you are thinking. Da-daddy said we have to go home to our real house in manila. And I don't like to leave this house of grandmommy. It is more fun here than in Manila. I love it here po. And I-I don't wanna leave you too, titaninang." Humagulgol pa lalo ang kaniyang pamangkin at isinubsob ang mukha sa kaniyang dibdib.

"Hush now baby, you know that you are studying in manila right? You have to go home so that you could continue your life there. You have your friends and classmates there. It's also fun in manila, you just have to play with them and create the "fun" you wanted to feel. It's been two months since you left manila and maybe manila misses Gil too, right?" Hinagod niya ang likod nito at inayos ang pawisang buhok ng bata.

Alam ni Ria na kailangan nang umalis ng kaniyang ate, dahil may negosyo ito roon at ang pag-aaral ni Gil ay malapit na namang magsimula.

"But I don't miss manila. I love my life here. I want it here po." Mapungay ang mga matang tinitigan siya nito.

"It's just fun baby because you are new to this place, plus the farm I guess? You don't have friends your age here, it will become boring when you miss your classmates and friends baby."

Tinitigan siya nito at hindi kumibo. Sumisinok-sinok pa ito, hindi rin makalas ang yakap nito sa kanya.

"Baby, you know that I have plans to build my own house too, and sooner or later I have to leave grandmommy's house too. And you could visit us here every month. You should listen to your parents. Your life is in manila, baby." Alu niya sa pamangkin at binuhat na ito patungong dining area at iniupo na ito sa tabi ng ina.

"Do you want me to go po ba?" malungkot na tanong ng bata kay Ria.

"Of course not baby. Titaninang loves you to be here, but I would love to see you studying in manila and doing your stuff there. We could do skype and video chat. I could visit you too. I will. That will make you excited every time I visit, I want it to be that way so you won't lose your interest on titaninang and the farm baby." Aniya ngumiti siya ditto at hinayaan ang ina nito na si Clea na lagyan ng pagkain ang pinggan ng anak.

"Really titaninang?! How about grandmommy?" sabay lingon nito sa lola, hindi pa rin nawawala ang pagsinok nito dahil sa pag-iyak kanina.

"I will not just visit you apo, I could stay for a week or two." Ngumiti pa si marina sa apo at inabutan ito ng bacon na nilagyan ng gulay sa itaas.

"if you promise to visit me, have video chats and skypes, then I'll go with my mommy and daddy." Ngumisi pa ito ng malawak sa mga magulang.

"okay then baby, I promise. And please study and have fun in Manila." Itinaas pa ni Ria ang kanang kamay. Maging si Marina ay nangako rin.Tumango naman si Gil at ngumiti. Natawa si Ria ng suminok ito habang nagsasalita.

"No-ted po titaninang." Natawa rin ang bata sa sarili ng masinok habang nagsasalita.

"Oh you should eat, the ride would be long baby." Nagsimula naman itong kumain kaya binalingan na ni Ria ang kapatid na nag-aabang sa pagtatapos ng pag-uusap nila ng nak nito. Ngumiti ito na tila nagpapasalamat sa pagkumbinsi niya sa anak nito na umuwi nan g manila. Tumango lamang siya at kumindat.