Don't Cry

004

The sun is screaming happiness as its rays peek inside my room's windowpane when Paris suddenly barged into my room wearing a bright yellow apron. I looked at her a little bit dazed.

"Get up. Get up ka na diyan, ate. Umalis na sila daddy kaya let's start na," she said in a high-pitch voice.

I decided to finally get up after for a while. After doing my morning rituals, I went downstairs to eat my breakfast. Naabutan ko si Paris sa dining room at hinihintay ako. I sat next to her.

"As far as I know, mamaya pa sila dady uuwi dahil hindi lang sila kakain sa labas. Daddy wanted to spend time with mom especially for her to rest after her hectic schedule of everyday."

Tumango naman ako sa sinabi ni Paris bago kumuha ng kanin at ulam.

Dad is totally in love with mom. Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit pakiramdam ko ay hanggang ngayon ay may doubts pa rin si mommy sa pagmamahal na ibinibigay ni daddy kay mommy. Maybe ay dahil pa rin ito sa nangyari sa nakaraan pero paano siya tunay na magiging masaya kung hindi niya bibitawan iyon?

Mommy Althea was long gone but it seems that mommy Athena can't still forgive her twin. Why don't she at least move forward and let my true mother's soul be at peace?

Hindi lang naman siya ang nasaktan. Hindi lang naman siya ang nahirapan. Daddy also spent his life repenting on his mistakes for hurting the woman he loves. Mommy Althea died because of hopelessness that she won't be able to have the love she has wished for and then her only hope was also taken away from her.

Each one of us is fighting our own battles but why can't mommy Athena see it? Even I am have my own struggles yet she never dared to look at it.

Hanggang kailan niya ipaparamdam sa akin na wala akong puwang sa tahanan na ito? Hanggang kailan niya ipaparamdam sa akin na hindi ako parte ng pamilyang ito?

"Ate Venice, are you okay?"

Napatingin ako kay Paris dahil sa sinabi niya.

"Hindi mo pa nagagalaw ang pagkain mo," she added as I looked into my plate filled with food.

I smiled before I started eating.

"Is a two-tiered cake already fine? What do you think?"

I smiled again. "Sa tingin ko ay ayos na iyon para hindi masyadong nakakagugol ng oras kaysa kapag mas marami pang layer."

Tinanguan naman ako ni Paris. "Ok. Then I guess it is settled. After we eat, let's start baking na. Sana, daddy and mommy will like it."

"They will. I'm sure of it," I said to ease her worries. Then she smiled widely at me.

We moved into the kitchen for us to start baking. Ako na ang nagbe-bake sa cake mismo habang si Paris ang nag-aasikaso naman ng pangdekorasyon.

Pagkatapos kong ilagay ang cake na binake sa oven ay nagtungo na muna kami sa island counter upang makaupo at makapagpahinga. Hindi naman mahirap ang mag-bake lalo na kapag hindi ka nag-iisang gawin iyon.

"Sana hindi maging fail ang cake na bine-bake natin," she said in a small voice.

"Of course it won't. Huwag ka ngang mag-isip ng negative diyan. Nasaan na iyong kilala kong Paris na napaka-positive ng outlook sa life?"

"Of course, I am still here, ate. Gusto ko lang kasi talagang maging perfect ito para kanila mommy."

"Life doesn't demand perfection. Life doesn't require you to be constantly fearless. It only needs you to move forward despite all the pain and sufferings it gives you."