DISGUISE US

KABANATA 21

"Mama," pagtatawag ko rito habang nagluluto siya ng hapunan namin.

Samantalang lumabas naman si China para maggrocery ng mga kailangan dito sa bahay.

"Hmm?" nakangiting tugon niya habang tinitikman ang patapos na niluluto niyang adobo.

"Do I lost my memories?" diretsang tanong ko.

"I think so, darling. Why?"

"Hmm," I was thinking about that certain man in my dreams, "Do I have a lover before or I am certified No Boyfriend Since Birth?"

She didn't answered my question instead she asked me, "Have you ever wonder why you always wearing that promise ring in your necklace?"

"No. Because all I know that this is important to me. That the ring looks like it was already engraved to my body. So, hindi ko siya inaalis o tinatanggal mula noong nagtitreatment ako pa matapos kong mahospital."

"Do you think someone gave you that before?"

"I guess so."

"Do you think that someone is a man?"

I simply nodded.

"Do you feel like it was your lover before?"

I just casually nodded again and stopped for a while.

"Honestly saying, anak, you avoiding to remember your all things from your past after witness that traumatic scene and recovery from it like you don't know anything. All I can say that you have a lover before, except your fake relationship with Valmor as Raffy. You already forgot everything about him. Your bitter-sweet memories with him."

I feel like I am hurting myself by hearing my past.

"He did not know what happened to you before. After you two decided to split up because you guys wanted to focused on your own career and I heard before that your past lover went to abroad to pursued his career."

Do I heard that same story before? I guess so. Medyo familiar kasi sa akin iyon. Pero kanino ba?

"Maybe, we didn't know if you two is actually meeting again but you're not aware that it was him and maybe, your past lover was thinking that you're pretending that you actually forgot him because of fame as a model and one of the popular hotel owner."

Now, I'm thinking about it. But how I will recognized him if I don't know his name or even his face.

"Do you remember his name or anything about him, Ma? I wanted to know baka nga nagkikita na kami nang walang akong ideya tungkol sa kanya." I asked.

"I'm home!" China shouted.

She did not response to me instead she come to China to help her in the bags of groceries.

"Nakabili ka ba nang pinapabili ko sa'yo, hija?" tanong ni Mama.

"Opo Tita." sagot naman niya.

"Ang tagal mo yatang namili?" kaswal kong tanong.

"Traffic?" She joked.

"Wala tayo sa Pilipinas." masungit kong pahayag.

She laughed and smile at me, "May kakilala kasi akong nakita doon sa isang coffee shop kaya ayon nakipagkwentuhan ako sa kanya kaso napatagal na ako at hindi ko napansin ang oras."

"Lalaki?" seryosong tanong ko.

Nakangiti siyang tumango sa akin, "Opo, ate Memo."

"Bata 'to! Isumbong kita sa magulang mo. May biglang kadate at may pacoffee-coffee ka pang sinasabi sa akin." sermon ko rito pero tinawanan lang niya ako.

"Inggit ka lang ate. Hahaha!"

"Tse, tigilan mo ko." masungit ngunit natatawang sambit ko.

"Tumigil na kayo. China, pakilagay to doon sa fridge at ikaw, anak, maupo ka na dito para pagkatapos kong magready ng hapunan natin ay kakain na din tayo." masungit na awat ni Mama Ruth sa aming dalawa.

"How are you, MC?" Precious asked while we were on the facetime.

"Malapit na ang due date ko. I'm nervous as well as I'm excited too." masayang sambit ko.

"Aww, ang bunso namin, I am happy for you, babes." Yasmine emotionally said.

"Thanks for being there in my downfall and now for my biggest blessing. I love you both."

"By the way, have you ever read the newest article of you?" Precious asked again.

I shook my head.

"Oh? You did not read our emails and messages to all your social medias last 3 weeks ago?" They both asked me.

"Hindi. Mula noong makarating kami dito noong nakaraang tatlong buwan, wala ni isa akong binuksan maliban sa video chat natin o facetime. I don't know want to stress out myself." paliwanag ko pa dito.

"Oh okay, maybe you should see it by yourself after giving birth of your baby boy." Precious said.

I nodded.

"We just check you up before we going to sleep." They said as we bid our goodbyes to each other.

-beep-
ValdireAmorSmith: Can we talk?
ValdireAmorSmith: I want to talk to you about something.
ValdireAmorSmith: Where are you?
ValdireAmorSmith: This is important.

Hindi ko nireplyan ang mga texts niya dahil mula noong umalis ako ng Pilipinas ay madalas siyang mag-iwan ng messages na binabasa ko lang.

"Honey," napalingon ako kay Mama Ruth na nasa tabi ko na pala ngayon.

Ngumiti lang ako sa kanya at yumakap sa bewang habang hinahaplos niya ang buhok ko na nakayakap din sa akin.

"Mama, may balita ka ba sa nangyayari sa Pilipinas ngayon? Sa kanila kung kamusta nila?" mahinang tanong ko rito.

"The Arctic Hotel is doing great as well as Chandria's Boutique and your Papa's business. Your girlfriends is also fine and busy to their businesses and modeling. Your Kuya Demon and Ate Cecilia were fine as your Papa Thomas. And Sister Maria told me that the orphanage is okay but the kids missed you so much. Don't worry honey, everything is fine there."

I nodded.

"By the way, Sofelia tell me that she will be visiting you here because she wanted to be there when you giving birth to our apo." She added.

"When Mama?" I was surprised.

"By weekend."

I nodded, "Is he doing fine?"

"I heard from Rayjan and Martin, he's doing fine but he having hard time to his business because something happened. But he told me they were helping and supporting him."

I nodded again, "I want to sleep, Mama. I'm tired from walking outside earlier."

"Okay, gigising na lang kita mamaya kapag kakain na tayo." nakangiting sagot niya at inalalayan akong mahiga saka hinalikan ako sa noo bago siya umalis  ng kwarto ko.

-beep-
ValdireAmorSmith: I miss you.

Accept or Decline?