"I'm gonna miss you," malungkot na saad ni Maco habang hinihintay ko ang plane flight ko pauwing Pinas.
"Are you sure you won't go back home?" I asked her.
Umiling siya. "No, I still have a masteral to finish." I stood up when it's my boarding time.
"I have to go," paalam ko saka kinuha ang handbag. "Ingat ka. Bawasan ang party." She just giggled at hinatid ako ng tingin.
Hindi ako na-excite umuwi knowing na hindi niya naman ako hinihintay pagkalapag ko sa airport. Wala naman siya roon.
Si Oisin at Krause ang sumundo sakin sa airport. I was about to hug him but I realized, what right I had to even call him my son?
"Welcome your tita, Krause," utos ni Osh. I smiled at him.
"Welcome home, tita," he greeted but he's not paying attention to me.
"Tita..." I reiterated. It hurt me. It should be Mom. He should have called me Mommy. Uminit ang mga mata ko but I covered up a fake smile. "You're a big boy now, Krause."
"Dad, will mom meet us today?" Kumunot ang noo ko sa tanong ni Krause nang umandar ang sasakyan na minaneho ni Oisin.
"Yeah. We'll be picking her up in her office."
"Mom?" I was confused and bitterness evident in my tone.
"Sia, my fiancee," simpleng tugon ni Osh habang nasa daan ang atensyon. Umawang naman ang bibig ko sa gulat.
"I have missed a big event," I commented. "Congrats..." I almost whispered my late greetings.
"Thanks."
Dinaanan ni Osh ang fiancee niya sa office nito katulad ng sinabi niya kay Krause. It pained me seeing how Sia and Krause were closed to each other.
"Mom, I'm hungry," reklamo ni Krause, kausap si Sia. Ako dapat 'yong sinabihan niya. Ako dapat ang nilalapitan niya sa tuwing may kailangan siya.
"Ipagluluto nalang kita sa bahay, okay? Pagod na si tita mo. Kailangan niyang magpahinga," paliwanag niya kay Krause. Malamig ang mga mata na tumingin sakin si Krause sa rearview mirror. Umiwas ako ng tingin. I wonder if he knew who I truly was to his life.
Madaling mapaamo noon ang bata pero ngayon ay sa mga taong close niya lang lumalapit at nakikipag-usap si Krause.
"Who cooked?" Krause asked the moment he took a bite of the food I cooked. Humingi ako ng pabor kay Sia na kung pwede ako nalang ang magluto.
"Huh?" Sia didn't know what to say. Tumingin lang siya sakin.
"This is not how your cooking tastes like, Mom." Pati sa lasa ng pagkain, alam niya.
I smiled. "Me. I was the one who cooked the dishes." He pushed the plate.
"Mom. I want the foods you cooked for me."
"Okay. Wait for it, huh? Magluluto nalang ako." Sabay kaming tumayo ni Sia sa hapag at nagulat naman siya.
"I'm sorry, I'm tired. Magpapahinga na ako." Naninikip ang dibdib ko sa hindi maipaliwanag na sakit habang paakyat sa itaas.
Mom and Dad threw a homecoming party for me. I was introduced to the people invited. Some were their business partners and some were politicians.
"No! I want Mommy C!" Naabutan ko si Krause sa sala na nag-ta-tantrums. Mabuti nalang at nasa graden ang party. Wala si Sia dahil may inasikaso sa office niya. Si Osh naman ay busy sa pag-entertain ng mga bisita kaya mga kasambahay lang ang nag-aalaga kay Krause.
BINABASA MO ANG
BDSM SOCIETY: A Gentleman's Kiss
Storie d'amorePast mistakes made people stronger and wiser. And a certain tragedy made the cold and frigid Roisin the person she is right now. But dark pasts keep on bugging her and scarred her for life which made her think the worst person existed. Who would bra...