"Papahangin lang ako sa labas Elias," sabi ko after ko siyang tulungang magluto ng breakfast at noong ibibigay namin sa new neighbors namin.
"Okay, tapusin ko lang 'to." Nguso niya sa mga pagkain na nilalagay niya siya tupperware.
Tumango ako sa kanya at naglakad na papalabas ng bahay. Lumanghap ako ng hangin pagkalabas ko at malalim na huminga habang may ngiti sa labi. Dahan-dahan akong naglakad papunta sa dagat. Nang makarating ako sa tabing dagat ay nagsquat ako doon at linibot ko ang tingin ko sa kumikintab na dagat.
It's five thirty in the morning pero marami na akong nakikitang tao na nagreready sa kanilang paglaot. Mga early bird talaga ang mga tao dito.
Ilang minuto pa akong natulala sa tubig dagat bago nagdesisyong bumalik sa loob. Tumayo na ako at pinagpagan ko ang suot kong floral flowy dress na bigay sa 'kin ni Elias noong first sweldo niya as an assistant.
Nakangiti
"Bakit hindi kana lumalabas ng bahay? Tataas ang bills natin niyan since lagi kang gumagastos ng kuryente at tubig. Matuto ka namang magtipid, hindi naman masyadong mataas ang sweldo ni kuya." Napayuko na lang ako at tumango."Pasensya na," mahina kong sambit.Nakita ko namang inirapan niya ako at nagpatuloy sa ginagawa niya. Napakunot ang noo ko dahil this is the first time I saw her cooking. Mas nagtaka ako dahil nakangiti pa siya habang nilalagay ang niluto niya sa tupperware."Para kanino 'yan?" tanong ko.Tumigil naman ito sa ginagawa niya at tiningnan ako habang naka simangot. "At bakit ko naman sasabihin sa 'yo?" mataray niyang sabi.Nagkibit balikat ako at kumagat ng apple. "Well, it's fine to me if you won't tell me. I'm just curious since this is the first time I saw you cooking for someone. I'm just curious if it's for your boyfriend, he's lucky then," pag-eexplain ko.
"Mommy!" Nagulat ako ng isigaw niya iyon sabay yakap sa aking bewang.Nang makabawi na ako sa gulat ay dahan-dahan kong inalis ang braso niyang nakayakap sa bewang ko at nilayo siya sa 'kin ng bahagya."I'm not your mommy, okay? Stop calling me mommy at baka may makarinig na iba, baka kung ano pang isipin nila. Don't call me mommy since hindi naman ako ang mommy mo," mahinahon kong sabi sa kanya."You're my mommy," pamimilit pa niya.Napabuntong hininga ako at akmang magsasalita na nang maunahan niya ako."Anyway, here." Inabot ko ang binigay niyang tupperware."The lady gave us foods, tell her that her food is awful. She shouldn't be giving foods to everyone when her food is not that delicious," he boastfully said.Nalaglag naman ang panga ko sa sinabi niya. Seriously, sinabi talaga iyon ng isang batang lalaking katulad niya?&nbs
"What are they doing here?"Agad naman akong napatayo at lumapit sa kanya. "They just visited here. Ayoko namang maging rude sa bagong neighbors natin kaya pinatuloy ko na sila," pag-eexplain ko."You can go now, we have something to talk with my husband." Nakita ko pang umismid ang dalawa bago sila naglakad papaalis ng bahay.Nang tuluyan na silang nakalabas ng bahay ay agad kong kinuha ang plastic sa kamay niya at ngumiti. Pero agad akong napanguso nang makitang seryoso pa rin ang itsura nito."Ang aga mong nakauwi ah, and thanks for this mango, I've been craving for these since last week. Thank you talaga. Are you hungry ba? I cooked adobo, baka gusto mong kumain?""You didn't answer me, what are they doing here?""I already answered you kanina di ba?""You're lying. I'm not going to buy it," sabi niya at nilagpasan na ako. Umupo siya
Nagising ako nang may marinig akong maiingay natunog. Dahan-dahan kong minulat ang mata ko at bumungad agad sa 'kin ang puting kisame at ang nakakasilaw na linawang. Another deja vu?"She's awake!" Agad kong nilibot ang paningin ko at nagulat ako nang maraming nakapalibot na tao sa 'kin."S-sino kayo? Anong ginagawa ko rito?" gulat kong tanong.Nakita ko naman silang nagkatinginan at para silang mosquitoes na nagbubulong-bulungan. Agad naman akong napatignin sa kanan ko nang marinig kong may himikbi doon. At doon ko nakita ang isang babaeng may edad na habang umiiyak kayakap ang isang lalaki namukhang asawa niya."A-anak ko... B-buhay ka anak, mommy is so thankful that you're alive," umiiyak niyang sabi at agad akong niyakap.Ilang beses pa akong napakurap at hindi ako nakagalaw dahil sa ginawa niya. Hindi rin nagtagal ay umalis na siya sa pagkakayakap sa 'kin pero patuloy pa rin
Years had passed and I finally regained my memories. It wasn't that easy pero dahil nandyan ang pamilya ko especially Wyatt and Sevi, nagawa ko. They stayed at my side and they didn't leave me during my tough battle against myself. Pagka alis namin sa Zamboanga ay sabay-sabay na kaming bumalik ng Maynila. We stayed their for three days bago kami lumipad papunta sa US para doon magpagamot. It took me a year bago ako tuluyang gumaling. At first, I was so emotional when my memories came back. Siguro ilang araw pa akong umiyak hanggang sa tumigil na ako kaya bagang-baga talaga 'yung mata ko noon. I kept on apologizing to them lalo na kay Sevi because I know I hurt him noon itinanggi kong hindi niya ako mommy at hindi ko siya anak. My baby grew up so well even though I wasn't with him for five years. Wyatt took care of him at hindi niya ito pinabayaan. Halata naman since mas close na sila kaysa sa
"Why do you keep on hurting me, Wyatt?" I yelled at him while crying like a goddamn baby.He looked at me emotionless and puffed his cigarette. Hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin siyang pake sa 'kin, even though his seeing me crying because of him... again."Don't act like you're the only one who's hurting here, Sierra," he uttered while looking at me sleepily."'Yon na nga eh. We're both hurting pero magkaiba tayo ng rason." I wipped my tears and looks at him confidently na parang hindi ako umiyak kanina.I will cry, but not forever. I don't want to be weak and sympathize by others. He's the only person na hinayaan kong ipakita ang pagkamiserable ko."I'm hurting because of you. But you're hurting because of that fucking bitch!" Nagulat ako nang bigla niyang binato sa pader ang bote ng wine.Laglag panga ko siyang tiningnan but he looked at me like he saw me as a prey that ready to be ravish by a lion. Mabilis siyang lumapit sa 'kin at mahigpit
"Ophelia Weller... came from a not so rich family but I must say na may kaya rin naman ang family niya." I maintained my stoic expression while walking in front of them.I secretly smiled when I noticed that the other students are giving a way for me. Lahat sila ay gumigilid the moment they saw me walking in the hallway."But you can make their small business bankrupt, Sierra. We all know that's just a piece of cake for you," Sera said. She's one of my chaperone along with Navi.They often call us, Sierra and friends. But no, I don't consider them as a friend. And I know that they also not consider me as their friend. They just befriended me because they want the attention and power. So they stick to me because they know that I can give it to them.And of course, a queen also needs a servant. And in my case, I am the queen and they're just my servant. It's actually a win-win for us. They get the attention they want and I get a fucking servant.
"What? It's fucking two in the morning yet here you are, calling me like a fucking mad man. What do you need bitch?" I yelled while my eyes are still shut. This fucking bitch ruined my beauty sleep. Humanda siya sa 'kin if I'll get an eyebag for this. Not my pretty face, it's more precious than a gem. "Chill Sierra. We're here at the Valkyrie. You want to come?" She ruined my sleep just to invite me this late? Edi sana inimbitahan niya 'ko kaagad. She's really a dumb bitch. "Seriously, Sera? You invite me this late? What the fuck is your problem?" bulyaw ko. "Dang! Fine, I'm sorry but you know. There's something that you have to know that will make you go here within an hour." I can sense that she's smirking while saying that. "Just spill it, Sera. I have no time for this. I'm still sleepy for pete's sake!" I yelled. Nilayo ko ang