"Yes, Mom, I know," I told my mother for the fourth time. "Nandito na nga po ako sa airport." I nearly rolled my eyes heavenward.
"Kasi ang tagal n'yo nang hindi nagkita ni Annica. Baka naman hindi mo makilala 'yung bestfriend ng kapatid mo."
"'Mmy, Cerise loves posting photos on social media and more than half of those photos include Annica, of course I know what she looks like."
"Ang sa akin lang naman..."
"Mommy, stop worrying, okay?"
I heard my mother sigh. "Cyd, I know that I am asking you a big favor. I know how busy you are, too. But when your Ninang Salve told me that Annica needed a place to stay in Makati to process her papers to go abroad, I didn't even think twice and volunteered your condo. I'm sorry, Anak, for not asking you first."
"Okay na po 'yun, Mommy..." I quietly said. My mother and Annica's Mom are best friends and although her intentions were good, I couldn't help but feel uncomfortable at the idea that I'd be chaperoning Annica around.
Sige po, 'Mmy, kunyari I don't have a life.
"Cyd, are you still there?"
"Opo."
"Ang totoo ay ayaw ng Ninang Salve mo. Nahihiya raw s'ya sa'yo. Pero, ang sabi ko nga hindi naman na iba sa atin ang pamilya nila, magkakahiyaan pa ba naman tayo sa isa't isa? Naaawa ako kay Annica, she just lost her father and now she's forced to find work so she and her mother could survive. 'Yung bahay kasi nila nakasangla rin. Pero, sabagay, kahit sinong pamilya ay gagawin ang lahat para sa isa't isa. But it just breaks my heart to see their family like this."
My mother sighed again.
"I just don't understand, Mom, ang dami nilang apartment at commercial complexes, they even own a resort. Paano nangyaring naghihirap sila?"
"Ito kasing si Ninang Salve mo naglilihim. Ang sabi n'ya 'yung trips abroad nilang mag-asawa ay for leisure when in fact nagpapagamot na pala 'yung Ninong Ernesto mo sa ibang bansa and they have used their properties as bank collateral for his medical expenses. They were trying to keep it all a secret from Annica kasi alam mo naman kung gaano nila kamahal 'yung unica hija nila."
"But they made it worse for her."
"I know. And your Ninang Salve knows that, too. Iyak nga nang iyak because she feels sorry for her daughter. Alam mo naman kasi si Annica masyadong sheltered, wala nga 'yung alam na gawaing bahay kasi lumaki naman 'yung napapalibutan ng mga katulong. Kaya, Cyd, please, be patient with her, ha. I know you're very independent because that's how we raised you and your sister. Si Annica, she's different, wala 'yung alam sa buhay."
"And Ninang Salve thinks that it's a good idea to let her daughter work abroad? Paano naman s'ya mag-su-survive d'un?"
"I know but your Ninang Salve's sister is a nurse there. Matutulungan n'ya si Annica. Besides, 'yung kababata mo ang nag-i-insist na pumuntang Manila."
"Ano raw ba ang magiging trabaho ni Annica abroad?"
"Office work daw pero kung hindi papalarin she might train as a caregiver."
"Caregiver? Si Annica? Lalamunin 'yun nang buhay d'un. Mahirap po ang trabahong 'yan."
"Kaya nga, Cyd, if you can help Annica sana. Baka pwede mo naman s'yang ipasok sa opisina mo tutal mataas na naman ang posisyon mo d'yan, Baby, 'di ba? I know that I shouldn't ask you to pull strings but Annica really needs your help."
I couldn't tell my mother that I couldn't possibly get a position for Annica who's a Tourism graduate at the engineering firm where I work because I knew that it would only make her more upset.
