Eleanor Mendrez

06 Eleanor

I was cornered and I was sure it was my mother's plan. I woke up from a phone call. Since it was my mom, I answered it. She was crying and I thought right at that moment that the bomb finally exploded. My life would shift tremendously just like how I imagined it. We'd be living abroad or far from this town, I thought.

But I was wrong. She called me to say that she needed me so right after I was done brushing my teeth and washing my face, I took off. I didn't even bother on changing my pajamas.

Pagkarating ko sa bahay, nadatnan ko s'yang nagluluto ng lunch. Wala pa man s'yang sinasabi ay gusto ko na s'yang layasan.

"That's not funny." bungad ko nang salubungin n'ya ako ng yakap. "Why were you even crying?"

"I wasn't lying when I said I needed you." reklamo n'ya. I inhaled her scent. She smelled coffee and toast. Yumakap rin ako nang mahigpit sa kanya. "I missed seeing you in your sleepwear."

"I missed you." bulong ko. Humiwalay ako sa kanya para silipin ang niluluto n'ya. It was Kare-Kare, my favorite. Hinarap ko muli s'ya. "Bakit ka nga umiiyak kanina?"

"Anniversary namin ng dad mo ngayon. He didn't greet me yet. Wala s'yang trabaho ngayon pero dumiretso s'ya sa study n'ya nang magising s'ya."

Sinamungutan ko s'ya. "Ma, hindi naman kayo consistent mag-celebrate ng anniversary n'yo."

Noong bata kami, big deal pa 'yan but it stopped when we grew up.

"Kahit sana simpleng batiin lang n'ya ako!" she whined.

"Then greet him first. Babatiin ka naman siguro n'ya pabalik." I moved to make myself a coffee. It was almost lunch but I needed caffeine in my system. Wala na akong choice kung hindi ang kumain dito. I'd leave immediately after.

Hindi ko na matandaan kung kailan ang huling kita ko sa dad ko. It was probably last month when I last ate in our house. Hindi ko na rin matandaan kung paano ako napilit na umuwi noon. It was probably because of Eleazar.

"Magme-menopause na siguro ako kaya lagi akong ganito. I'd be back at work next week. Parang mas lalo lang akong na-stress dito."

"You needed the break for your health, mom."

"Oo nga. But I have to be back at work."

The break that she took did her good physically. I wasn't sure emotionally, though.

My mom was really pretty. Her eyes were always smiling. I've always wanted to have the same eyes. She could really brighten the mood whenever she was happy. Natatagalan ko lang talaga ang hangin sa bahay dahil sa kanya.

"Where's kuya, by the way?" I sipped on my cup and sat on the countertop while watching her cook. She was a good cook and I guess I got that from her.

"He said he needed to do something at school. Babalik rin s'ya before lunch. Finish your coffee and take a bath. Ihahanda ko na ang table maya-maya."

I kissed my mom's cheek before going upstairs. Minabuti kong hindi gumawa ng ingay papunta sa kwarto ko dahil ayokong makita si dad. I could endure an hour of sitting at the dining table with my family. Pero 'yung one on one ay iniiwasan ko talaga.

My room still looked the same and I appreciated that. Mukha namang nalilinisan regularly. I went to my bathroom and took a quick shower. After putting a red summer dress, I did my skincare routine.

I halted on my tracks when the door of my dad's study flew open. He looked older than the last time I saw him. The reason why I didn't wanna see him was because he looked so much like me. Kung parehas lang kami ng kulay ng buhok at mata, para na kaming pinagbiyak na bunga.