Life After Lies

FORTY SIX: SISTER

We're heading on Ate Adeline's house. Kahit wala namang araw ay para akong pinag papawisan dahil sa kaba. I don't know, feeling ko ay sisigaw-sigawan nya lang ako pag nag kita kami.

Ang mga pinamili namin ay iniwan na lang namin sa sasakyan at bumaba na kami sa tapat ng isang kulay puti at may kalakihang bahay. Labas pa lang ay mukhang elegante na at halatang pinag gastusan ng malaki. Tita knocked on the door at bumungad sa amin ang isang babae na maputi at matangkad. Her slim body matches on her long brown wavy hair. Maganda na ko pero parang ngayon pa lang ata ako nakakita ng mas maganda sakin.

She looked at me habang kinakausap sya ni Tita. "Remember what I've said about your sister? She's here"

I looked at Ate Adeline and saw her smiled at me. Lumapit sya sakin at niyakap ako ng mahigpit. "Finally, I waited this for too long"

"Nice to meet you, A-Ate," kinakabahang sambit ko. Di ako sanay pero I know eventually, matututunan ko rin dahil parte na ito ng buhay ko rito.

Tumuloy kami sa loob at nakita kong tumatakbong bumungad samin ang isang batang lalaki. "Mamie!"

(Granny)

Lumuhod ng bahagya si Tita at niyakap ang maputi at kulot na batang lalaki. "Tu m'as manqué, Mamie"

(I missed you, Granny)

"Tu m'as manqué aussi, Bastien," sagot ni Tita habang pinisil ang mamumula-mulang pisngi nito

(I missed you too, Bastien)

Bumaling sakin ang tingin ni Bastien at nag tataka akong tinitigan. I smiled at him at dahan-dahang yumuko para maabot sya.

"C'est ta tante Franceska, la sœur de ta mère," pag papakilala sakin ni Tita.

(This is your aunt Franceska, your mother's sister)

He nodded and hugged me. So heartwarming! Ngayon lang ako nakayakap sa isang bata. "Bonjour tante Franceska, tu es si jolie comme maman"

(Hello Aunty Franceska, you are so pretty like Mom)

"Vraiment? Merci, Bastien," nangingiting sagot ko at ginulo ang buhok nya.

(Really? Thank you, Bastien)

He nodded and smiled at me. He looks so innocent and cute. "Avez-vous un fils? je veux avoir un camarade de jeu"

(Do you have a son? I want to have a playmate)

I nodded smiled. I can't wait to see my baby playing with his cousin. "Où est-il?"

(Where is he?)

I pointed my tummy and I saw his eyes widened. I chuckled at his reaction. "Avez-vous mangé votre bébé?"

(Did you ate your baby?)

Narinig kong tumawa ng malakas si Ate at Tita. I chuckled and shook my head before patted his head. "Je suis toujours enceinte c'est pourquoi c'est toujours dans mon ventre"

(I'm still pregnant that's why it's still in my belly)

He nodded once again and slowly touched my belly. I was overwhelmed, he's so sweet and innocent. "J'ai hâte de jouer avec toi, alors viens dès que possible, d'accord?"

(I can't wait to play with you, so come on a soon as possible, okay?)

+

Maya-maya pa ay natapos rin ang usapan namin ni Bastien. He's with Tita now, ang ganda nila titigan habang nag aaral mag sulat.

Naiwan kami ni Ate sa kusina habang tinuturuan nya akong mag luto. Nakakahiya, sana pala noon pa ay nag aral na ako.

"Do you have plans of staying here in Marseille?" tanong nya habang nag hahanda ng iba pang ingredients.

I nodded habang dahan-dahan ko namang hinahalo ang niluluto namin. "I don't have plans of g-going back to the Philippines"

Natigilan sya sa pag hahati ng mga gulay na gagamitin namin at bumaling sakin. "How about the father of your baby?"

"He doesn't know about the baby," tipid kong sagot.

I saw her shocked expression at bumuntong-hininga na lang. "I don't know what happened to you but if you're ready, we'll talk about it"

I smiled and nodded slowly. She's like her son, they're both sweet.

"I have an offer for you, my dear sister," sambit nya kaya napatingin ako sa kanya at hinintay syang mag salita ulit. "Why not, stay here in my house?"

"How about y-your Mom? I mean, is it okay?"

She laughed and filled the gap on us. "Of course! Let her visit us here at my house, you're pregnant and it's very cautious to travel and travel"

May point naman sya kaya lang nakakahiya talaga. Baka isipin ni Tita ay masyado akong demanding.

"And besides, you need to practice taking care of a child. Here's our Bastien so you'll learn at least a bit," dagdag nya habang tinatapik ang balikat ko.

"You're right. I h-honestly don't know how to handle kids," nahihiyang sagot ko.

"You'll learn it eventually. I saw myself in you when I was pregnant. I'll help you," sincere nyang sabi. I can't believe in just a snap my life really changed.

"How about your h-husband?" di siguradong tanong ko. Baka mamaya ay hindi okay sa kanya. Ayoko namang makigulo.

"Don't worry about him he's in the Philippines for some sort of things. He'll come back with his brother, I think weeks from now," paliwanag nya at pinag patuloy na ang pag luluto. "By the way, Frances, how old are you?"

"Turning nineteen," tipid kong sagot at tinapunan sya ng tingin.

"Wow! I thought you're in your twenty's. I mean, you're so pretty!" she exclaimer. Nahiya naman ako bahagya. I knew it though. "So you stopped in school right?"

"Yup. I was in my first year in college"

"Do you want to continue?" she asked while looking at me.

I chuckled. I don't think I can, as of now. "Maybe, after I give birth. I don't know yet"

"We can enroll you while you're pregnant. You can study here at home," she said and nodded. Napa awang ang bibig ko sa sinabi nya. Homeschooling? I never tried that.

"Right, I know you want it. I'll tell it to Dad. I'm sure he'll be glad to hear that, I assumed you're into business?"

"Y-Yes," nahihiya kong sagot habang pino-proseso pa rin ang mga sinabi nya.

"That's cool! Our company needs someone to manage it soon. And you know, that's not my thing. I'm into fashion," she chuckled and shrugged. I can't believe she wants me to manage the company soon. Puro ka-malditahan lang ang nagawa ko noon, hindi ko akalain na magiging ganito pa pala ka-ayos at ka-ganda ang buhay ko rito.