The whole five days in Bangkok was fun. Naenjoy ko rin talaga itong dream country ko. I took a lot of pictures para memories.
In those five days, I always make sure to have a call with Theo and Liam. Maayos naman ang kalagayan ng anak ko at humihingi lang talaga palagi ng pasalubong. I got them their pasalubong yesterday, dahil last day ko na dito.
Two days ago, bumyahe na sila Theo papuntang Sta. Ana kasama si Nanay at sila Toby. Buti pumayag ang anak kong hindi muna makapasok sa school pero dahil may module naman siya kaya ayos lang din.
"Ready?" I asked Mara.
Sumama talaga siya sa akin dahil sabi niya gusto niyang magrelax. Masyado na raw siyang stress dahil sa nangyari sakaniya nitong nakaraan.
"Yeah. Anong oras ang flight natin?" Tanong niya.
"7:15." It's 5:30 in the morning and I still have time to talk to Liam through Messenger. Sa account ako ni Theo nag message.
Lianna Patrice Resuardula: I'll see you soon. I love you, my two babies.
"Lian, mahirap ba maging single mother?"
I glanced at Mara who was looking at her reflection on the mirror. Hindi pa namin alam kung ilang weeks o buwan ba siyang buntis. She promised me na kapag nasa Sta. Ana na kami magpapatingin na siya.
"Mahirap, pero para sa anak mo, sobrang worth it." Nakangiti kong sabi.
I remembered my years na mag-isa lang ako sa pagpapalaki kay Liam. Not really "mag-isa" dahil nandyan naman si Nanay. But still, with those judgements I received from the people I don't even know? Nasaktan ako. Pero para sa anak ko, tinanggap ko kasi mahal ko.
"Paano mo nasurvive?" Tanong niya.
I sighed and looked at her. "My son gives me the light, Mara. You know how devastated and broken I was when he came. Mahirap pero dahil sobrang mahal ko yung anak ko, hindi ko masyadong nararamdaman yung hirap. Parang mas gugustuhin mo lang na magtrabaho para mai-provide yung kailangan niya. "
She didn't speak so I continued. "If there's one thing I learned from my past, Mara, that is I learned how to set my priorities right. Mag-isa lang akong magpprovide para sa anak ko noon dahil may sakit din sila Nanay. Pero kinaya ko yon dahil mahal na mahal ko ang anak ko. Mahal na mahal ko sila ng nanay ko. "
"Thank you, Lian. For being here with me. Please stay with me until the end. I really treasure our friendship." She finally smiled at me. That genuine smile.
I walked towards her and hugged her tight. I treat them as my siblings. Sila nila Eugene.
"I won't leave you. Kung babae man ang magiging anak mo, ipapares ko yan kay Liam.." I smirked.
She laughed at that. "Bet ko yan. Bet ko genes ni Theo e."
We were laughing about that and the next thing I knew, pababa na kami ng eroplano. Naamoy ko na agad ang simoy ng Manila. We will have a connecting flight back to Tuguegarao tapos sasakay kami ng van para makarating ng Sta. Ana.
"Sure ka bang hindi ka pagod? Buntis ka, Mara." Pagpapaalala ko sa kasama ko.
"Lian, pwede bang magstay muna tayo sa Tugue. Gusto ko sanang magpacheck-up muna." Sabi niya.
I nodded. "Okay."
Kumain muna kami sa airport bago dumiretso papunta sa next flight namin. Saglit lang naman ang Manila to Tuguegarao so walang problema.
The whole flight to Tuguegarao was smooth. Ngumuso ako ng makita si Mara na tulog nanaman sa gilid ko. Antukin ang buntis.
We rode a trycicle on our to our house. Iniwan ni Nanay ang susi kila Mang Lito na kapitbahay din namin.
