Loving a Believer

Chapter 22: The Real Business

It was three in the afternoon when Storm arrived home.

"I'm leaving tomorrow morning," he said as he wore his shoes off while sitting on the bed.

"Business trip again?" I asked.

He looked at me and then at Eli who was peacefully sleeping beside me, while I was just leaning against the headboard of the bed. I saw sadness in his eyes as he gazed at me. Later, he heaved a sigh. "May aasikasuhin lang ako roon. I cannot promise kung kailan ako makakabalik," he said, "Nakausap ko ang anak ni Manang Linda kanina. She will come here tomorrow. She told me that she will replace her mother—Manang Linda can't work anymore."

I will miss Manang Linda, I thought.

I suddenly felt sad. "Do you think it will take you a week?" I asked. I would miss him again.

"Um . . . Hindi naman siguro . . ."

Malungkot na tumingin lang ako sa kanya. Bahagya lang siyang ngumiti sa akin bago tumayo at kumuha ng damit sa cabinet.

Tulad ng palaging ginagawa ko sa tuwing aalis siya kinabukasan at mawawala siya sa loob ng ilang araw, pinagmasdan ko siya sa kalagitnaan ng pagtulog niya hanggang sa dalawin na rin ako ng antok.

***

Rachel, the new maid came here in the house after Storm had left. Siya ang pumunta noon dito sa bahay at sinundo si Manang Linda. I asked her a few questions about her. She told me that she was married and had five children. Her husband was currently unemployed so she really needed to work here as a maid.

"Don't use 'po' to me. Mas matanda ka sa akin. I'll call you Ate Rachel," suway ko sa kanya. Masyado kasi siyang magalang sa akin samantalang mas matanda siya sa akin. She was 32 years old.

"Ah, s-sige. Kung 'yan ang gusto mo. Pasensya na kung medyo mataas ang tingin ko sa 'yo. Napakalaki kasi ng utang na loob namin sa pamilya ng asawa mo. Dahil kasi sa kanila kaya nakapagtapos ng pag-aaral ang dalawa kong kapatid."

"Ah, I see . . ."

We decided to cook something for lunch. Here we were, slicing vegetables on the table. I left Eli in his crib. He was sleeping.

"Is it fun to have many children?" I suddenly asked. Hindi ko alam kung bakit naisipan kong itanong iyon.

"Oo. Medyo mahirap lang itaguyod lalo na't mahirap lang kami," she replied, "Kayo ba? Ilang anak ang gusto ninyo?"

"Uh, kung ilan ang gusto ni Storm," medyo nahihiya pa na sabi ko.

Napangiti siya. "Mayaman naman kayo. Siguradong kayang-kaya ninyong bumuhay ng malaking pamilya."

Mapait na napangiti lang ako at nagbaba ng tingin sa carrots na binabalatan ko. Naramdaman ko rin ang pagtamlay ng mood ko. "Pero palagi naman siyang wala at hirap din akong magdalang-tao," I said in a low voice.

"Nabanggit nga sa akin ni Nanay. Ang tagal pala bago kayo nagkaroon ng anak."

"Two years kaming naghintay."

"Pero sulit naman ang paghihintay ninyo. Napakagwapong bata ni Eli."

I just smiled slightly.

I didn't know why I felt lethargic, but I tried to be okay. I didn't want depression to attack me again.

After we had eaten lunch, I went upstairs and checked Eli. I found him crying. I quickly carried him and rocked him in my arms, calming him down.

"Shh! Mommy's here now," I told him.