PREVIEW Always You

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"I'm not so sure about this," sabi ni Alexis habang pinagmamasdan ang isang blue gown sa screen ng kanyang tablet.

"It will look good on you, Mommy," sagot ng kanyang anak na si Cece, nasa boses ang kumbiksiyon.

Hinaplos ni Alexis ang ulo ng anak bago hinalikan ang sentido. Nasa kama silang mag-ina. They were looking for a gown she could wear in a wedding she had to attend. Wala siyang panahon para magpunta sa isang boutique kaya naman nagpapasalamat siya sa online shopping. She just needed to find the perfect dress.

Sa kasalukuyan, nakatingin silang mag-ina sa isang blue long gown. It was the gown that would show a lot of boobs and a lot of leg. Mahaba ang gown pero halos abot yata hanggang sa baywang ang slit niyon. Sa bawat hakbang ay masisilayan ang kabuuan ng kanyang hita. The model looked so good on it. It was sexy and delicious. A part of her wanted to wear it. It had been a while since she felt sexy.

"Yeah, it would look good on me but it is too much," sabi niya.

"It is sexy and daring," sagot ni Cece habang mas binibistahan ang gown sa screen. "But you can pull sexy and daring."

Hindi napigilan ni Alexis ang matawa sa mga narinig mula sa anak. "I'm not sexy and daring," pagsalungat niya. "I can't be. I'm a mother."

Tumingin sa kanya si Cece, salubong na salubong ang mga kilay. "Mothers can be sexy and daring," she said, a little indignant. She looked so adorable and cute, she couldn't help but smile. "Mothers can be anything. Hindi nakakulong sa isang box."

Pinanggigilan niya ng yakap si Cece. She was almost ten now. She had been a mother for that long. Marami na siyang natutunan sa pagiging single mother. Pero hanggang sa ngayon ay namamangha pa rin siya kay Cece. Hindi pa rin niya mapaniwalaang galing ito sa kanya.

She was lovely, kind and just all-around wonderful. She was the sweetest kid a mother could ever hope for.

Being a single mother had been tough. She struggled so much. She had to do things on her own. But then she had been gifted with the most wonderful child. Cece made so many things easy for her. She could be a challenge sometimes but she had the most patient and most loving kid in the planet.

Cece was terrific.

Dalangin lang ni Alexis na sana ay maging mabait sa kanila ang puberty.

"Of course mothers can be anything and everything. I just don't think it's appropriate for me to wear something like this to a wedding. Let's go for something more conservative and tame. Something sophisticated and elegant, but also muted. Something white or any of the neutral colors."

Lumabi si Cece. "I really like this gown for you."

"Let's save it for another occasion." Alam ni Alexis sa sariling hindi niya isusuot ang gown sa kahit na anong okasyon. Hindi iyon magiging angkop sa mga pagtitipon na karaniwan niyang dinadaluhan. Everything was for work, with the exception of this wedding.

"You need something that would draw the attention of men."

Napakurap-kurap si Alexis. Hindi niya gaanong mapaniwalaan ang narinig mula sa kanyang nine-year-old. Hindi niya sigurado kung tama ang intindi niya sa sinabi ni Cece. Iyon ang unang pagkakataong nakarinig siya ng ganoon sa anak.

"Excuse me?" sabi niya nang hindi na kayanin ang pagkabaghan at kaunting pagkamangha.

Tumingin din sa kanya si Cece, saka ngumiti. "I think you should date," walang anuman pa nitong dagdag. "The wedding is a good time for you to meet men, get to know them and try going out with them sometimes."