R O S A
"Caitie, can I ask you something?"
Umupo ako sa buhangin habang abala sya sa paghuhukay ng buhangin.
"Yeah, sure!"
Sagot nya.
"Why did you call me your other mom the first time we met?"
Bigla syang napalingon sa akin.
"Because, I saw your picture on mom's stuffs."
"And then?"
"She got mad at me for being nosy, and in the middle of the night, she walked in my room and laid beside me, she smelled funny and act funny. She told me that you're my other mom."
Tahimik lang akong nakinig sakanya.
"Why were you so happy when you found me?"
Tanong ko habang abala parin sya sa paglalaro sa buhangin.
"Because, I wanted to have another mom. Mommy wasn't like this before. She used to be so distant and sometimes won't notice me. But I've always felt missing her all day. I get sad when I wake up she's gone but I am soooo happy when she gets home."
Napangiti ako sa kwento ni Caitie.
"Baby girl? Come on, we're going home na"Mabilis kong ipinasok ang mga maleta namin sa sasakyan. Si Tatay ay nagbubukas na ng gate."But why? You told me we'll be staying here for a while?"Napahinto ako sa ginagawa ko at hinarap sya. Hinawi ko ang baby bangs nya at saka ngumiti."Mommy has a lot of things to do back in Manila. I'm sorry. Babalik naman tayo dito eh, maybe next year? Pag bakasyon na ulit."Nakita kong gumuhit ang lungkot sa mga mata nya."Okay. But, how about Miss Rosa? I didn't have a chance to say goodbye."I took a deep breath. Ito na nga ba ang sinasabi ko. Kaya ayokong mapalapit sya kay Rosa dahil alam kong malulungkot si Caitie once na kailangan na naming harapin ang katotohanang hindi kami iisang pamilya."Honey, come here."Lumapit sya at niyakap ko si Caitie to comfort her. I know she's sad, pero
L O R R A I N EI had a dream. A wonderful dream. Kasama rito si Caitie and Rosa. Hinahabol namin ni Rosa si Caitie just to tickle her while the ocean tries to wipe our footprints behind us with its waves. Umaalingawngaw yung tawa ng dalawang taong mahal na mahal ko. Rosa's laugh that makes my heart beat fast. And Caitie's that sounds like the laugh is coming from an angel. Yeah, she is an angel. Si Caitie yung naging dahilan kung bakit umayos ulit ang buhay ko. She's the reason why I am back on track. I kept on denying it to myself before, that she's my angel. I kept on being distant dahil hindi ko alam kung kaya ko bang maging magulang. But day by day, I wake up to the fact that I am a mother. I had a dream. A dream that's beautiful and sweet. A dream of a happy family, with Caitie, Rosa, and me."Are you sure? Busog ka na talaga? Ang hina mo na kumain. Sige ka pagagalitan ako ng mommy mo kapag nagising sya and na
"Please Lorraine do it for me, please. I can't break her heart so please." She's crying in front of me. Sinugod nya ako dito sa bahay ko at nag mamakaawa. Hindi ko alam kung bakit nya ito sinasabi at ginagawa sa akin. "Please help me sis. I don't want her to know about this at habang hindi pa nya alam, hindi ko na sya sasaktan pa. Mahal na mahal ko si Janice and I can't do this. Pagod na akong mag panggap sa harapan nya kahit na nasa malayo sya ngayon. I can't do this anymore. Ayoko nang mahirapan at mas lalong mahirapan si Janice." "P-pero Tanya hindi maganda yang plano mo at seriously, ayoko." Ininom ko ang alak na nasa baso ko pagka sabi niyon. "Pero bakit Lorraine? Mahal mo
"Thank you Doc Sage!"Masiglang pasasalamat at pag bati namin ni Janice sa Physical Therapist nya bago umalis ng clinic."Mahal, daan naman tayo sa amusement park. Gusto ko lang mag libang today. I deserve it!"Napangiti lang ako at nagmaneho papunta sa isang malaking amusement park dito sa Manila. It's been months simula nang ma discharge sya at ngayon ay malaki na ang naging improvement nya mula nang mag Physical Therapy sya. Maayos naman ang daloy ng lahat ng nangyayari sa amin ngayon. I'm handling the business well. Wala nang pumutok na balita na namatay si Tanya dahil I prevented it from happening dahil mas inalala ko ang sitwasyon ni Janice noon."Mahal, naalala mo ba yung first date natin? Grabe nakakatawa ka! Natalo ka sa dare
"Good Evening ma'am"Nakangiting bumati sa akin ang manager ng Estrada Hotel na pag sstayan ko dito sa Palawan. He knows who I am. we talked on the phone at ngayon ay malugod ang pag salubong nila sa akin."Good Evening"Bati ko sa kanya ngunit hindi ako ngumingiti."Please don't make any special treatments for me. I just wanna be alone. I'll call when I need anything. Are we clear, Mr. Mariano?"Mabilis itong tumango at sumagot"Y-yes ma'am, it's our pleasure to have you here please enjoy your stay"Ngumiti syang muli sa akin, lumabas ang pantay pantay at mapuputi nyang ngipin na lalong naka gwapo sa kanya. I think he's in lat
JANICE-----12years ago-----"Nabasa mo na ba?"Tanong sa akin ni Tanya pag upo nya sa tabi ko."Hindi pa. Eh kasi naman natatakot ako. Baka mamaya eh, sungitan nya lang ako!"Nag papanic na sagot ko kay Tanya. I kept touching my phone. Nagiisip kung babasahin ko naba ang message mula kay Raine."Not here. Maybe in the library. Eating those fucking books."Ang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko. Nakangiti akong tumingin kay Tanya."Patingin!?"
10 YRS AGO. . . . ."Wow ito ba yung kwarto mo? Ang linis mo ah in fairness"I heard a woman's voice kaya napalabas ako agad ng cr wearing only my sports bra and cycling shorts. My hair is still soaking wet."Can I help you?"Nakakunot ang noo ko dahil she's eating chips while comfortably sitting in my bed."Wow in fairness may abs ka pala! Can I touch them! I touched a man's abs before pero bakit parang mas sexy yung sayo?"Mabilis pa sa alas kwatro syang lumapit sa akin at hinawakan ang abs ko. She looks amazed. Parang bata na ngayon lang nakakita ng laruang nagiging invisible. Naki
11Years ago. . . . . ."Ang yabang mo ah, akala mo naman kung sino ka. If I know, pareho lang kayo ng kakambal mong si Tanya! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA"Locked inside the gym, napapalibutan ako ng grupo ni Jerden. Nakaupo, pagod at pawisan at puno ng galit.They are torturing me. These are the kind of men na nagiging extra sa pelikula tapos nananakit ng babae, ang kaibahan nga lang, that's just acting, but this, right now, right here, it's really happening."Dumb star player. Psh"Pang iinsulto ko sa kanya. She broke up with Tanya, and T is deeply hurt dahil pinagpustahan lang sya ng mga siraulong ito.
L O R R A I N EI had a dream. A wonderful dream. Kasama rito si Caitie and Rosa. Hinahabol namin ni Rosa si Caitie just to tickle her while the ocean tries to wipe our footprints behind us with its waves. Umaalingawngaw yung tawa ng dalawang taong mahal na mahal ko. Rosa's laugh that makes my heart beat fast. And Caitie's that sounds like the laugh is coming from an angel. Yeah, she is an angel. Si Caitie yung naging dahilan kung bakit umayos ulit ang buhay ko. She's the reason why I am back on track. I kept on denying it to myself before, that she's my angel. I kept on being distant dahil hindi ko alam kung kaya ko bang maging magulang. But day by day, I wake up to the fact that I am a mother. I had a dream. A dream that's beautiful and sweet. A dream of a happy family, with Caitie, Rosa, and me."Are you sure? Busog ka na talaga? Ang hina mo na kumain. Sige ka pagagalitan ako ng mommy mo kapag nagising sya and na
"Baby girl? Come on, we're going home na"Mabilis kong ipinasok ang mga maleta namin sa sasakyan. Si Tatay ay nagbubukas na ng gate."But why? You told me we'll be staying here for a while?"Napahinto ako sa ginagawa ko at hinarap sya. Hinawi ko ang baby bangs nya at saka ngumiti."Mommy has a lot of things to do back in Manila. I'm sorry. Babalik naman tayo dito eh, maybe next year? Pag bakasyon na ulit."Nakita kong gumuhit ang lungkot sa mga mata nya."Okay. But, how about Miss Rosa? I didn't have a chance to say goodbye."I took a deep breath. Ito na nga ba ang sinasabi ko. Kaya ayokong mapalapit sya kay Rosa dahil alam kong malulungkot si Caitie once na kailangan na naming harapin ang katotohanang hindi kami iisang pamilya."Honey, come here."Lumapit sya at niyakap ko si Caitie to comfort her. I know she's sad, pero
R O S A"Caitie, can I ask you something?"Umupo ako sa buhangin habang abala sya sa paghuhukay ng buhangin."Yeah, sure!"Sagot nya."Why did you call me your other mom the first time we met?"Bigla syang napalingon sa akin."Because, I saw your picture on mom's stuffs.""And then?""She got mad at me for being nosy, and in the middle of the night, she walked in my room and laid beside me, she smelled funny and act funny. She told me that you're my other mom."Tahimik lang akong nakinig sakanya."Why were you so happy when you found me?"Tanong ko habang abala parin sya sa paglalaro sa buhangin."Because, I wanted to have another mom. Mommy wasn't like this before. She used to be so distant and sometimes won't notice me. But I've always felt missing her all day. I get sad when I wake up she's gone but I am soooo happy when she gets home."Napangiti ako sa kwento ni Caitie.
L O R R A I N E"Mommy?"Napatayo ako sa kinauupuan ko nang marinig ko ang husky voice ni Caitie."Baby girl! You're awake! May masakit ba?"Agad na tanong ko while reaching for her tiny hand."Mommy I'm sorry"Her tears started to pour."Shh, it's okay Caitie. But please please wag nang tatakbo ulit sa staircase. Okay?"She slowly nodded."Where is she?"Tanong nya habang nililibot ang paningin sa kabuuan ng kwarto nya."Who?"Maang na tanong ko but deep inside I know kung sino ang hinahanap nya."My other mom?"She looked at me with curiosity in her eyes."Caitie, we talked about it, right? About calling Miss Rosa your other mom?"Malungkot syang tumango at saka ko sya niyakap. I don't even know
R O S A"Hahaha that's embarrassing! I told Raine to take me home kahit na stranger pa sya sa akin, I even thought na straight sya dahil she kept talking about her daughter so I thought she wouldn't understand. But when we got home, I kissed her and she kissed back! Hahaha that's very lucky of me."Nakinig nalang ako sa kwento ni Karen. Ang bagong babae ni Raine. Napailing ako habang bumubuntong hininga. Naramdaman ito ni Eve kaya naman bumaling sya sa akin."Babe are you okay?"Napatingin silang apat sa akin."Uhh, yes."Nagkatinginan kami ni Raine pero binawi nya ang tingin nya at hinalikan sa noo si Karen."Yes, baby. I'm okay."Niyakap ko ang braso ni Eve at hinalikan ito."Hmm, it's getting late na pala. Solenn we should head out na. Caitie must be waiting for me."Tumayo sila at saka tumayo rin si Solenn."Already? hindi ka na ba magpapapigil? Come on"Pigil ni Solenn pero hindi na
ROSAThree days ago. . . ."Hey"Kitang kita ko kung paano kindatan ni Rachel si Lorraine. I smelled something agad kaya napatingin ako kay Raine to see her reaction. Sukbit ako ni Raine palabas ng office nya dahil pinuntahan ko sya para sabay kaming mag lunch."Hi! Anong ginagawa mo rito?"Nakita ko kung paano mataranta si Raine. Napatingin sya sa akin at kay Rachel at mabilis na naglakad papasok sa office nya. Naiwan kaming dalawa ni Rachel kaya naman sumunod ako kaagad kay Raine."Uh, sorry I forgot to book an appointment. I need to talk to you about business."Pailalim akong tiningnan ng babae."Uh, okay. Uhm, Oo nga pala. Babe, si Rachel, isa sa mga latest investor namin yung dad nya"Tumango lang ako at ngumiti saka
"Do you know how much I love you?"Malambing na tanong sa akin ni Rosa habang nakahiga kami sa kama at nakayakap sa isa't isa."Yes."Sagot ko naman sakanya saka bumuntonghininga."Antok ka na ba?"Tanong nya sabay halik sa leeg ko."Not now, babe. I'm tired."Sambit ko saka tumalikod sa kanya."Bakit? Raine? Hindi na ba ako sapat?"Nakaramdam ako ng inis sa sinabi nya."Ano na naman bang problema mo Rosa?"
The night is shining bright. The yellow lights are dangling in the wind that is hanging over her head, while slowly walking towards me. Lorraine Alcavar has finally landed the woman her heart only beats for.I looked around, we're surrounded by people that we do love and love us. My family, nanay Liza and Tatay Karding, Celine, and the people from Palawan. I wiped the tear that's about to ruin my makeup. I smiled, as we lock eyes with each other. Her simple white gown is making her skin and beauty lit up the darkness of the night. The cold wind brings goosebumps in my body together with so much happiness and kilig.I chuckled as I remember asking her to walk together, but she refused."I want to see you waiting for me 'dun sa altar, babe."I didn't argue with her, I just agreed because for me, knowing that this woman
L O R R A I N E"NO ROSA! HINDI KA MAKIKIPAG KITA SA HUNTER NA 'YUN! IS THAT CLEAR!?"Mariin kong utos sakanya. Tanghaling tapat, tonight is Christmas Eve, despite the cold weather and Christmas spirit ay heto kaming dalawa, nag aaway sa living room ng bahay nya, here in UK."Bakit hindi mo maintindihan!? He is my friend! We are good friends Lorraine! I can't just ditch him dahil gusto mo!"I slowly nodded."Okay. You see him once again, you'll lose me. Tandaan mo yan Rosa."I took my coat na naka patong sa back rest ng couch na kinauupuan nya ngayon. She's crying, I don't know why pero di ko na balak alamin. I