L O R R A I N E
"Alcavar! May dalaw ka"
Mabilis akong tumayo mula sa tabi ni ate Glo. Nag lalaro sila ng baraha at nakikinood lang ako sakanila.
"May rasyon na naman tayo ng pagkain mamaya!"
Kanya kanyang kantyawan ang mga kasama namin sa loob. Masaya sila kapag may dalaw ako dahil pati sila ay nakakakain ng mga pagkaing resto. Pati mga cupcakes na galing sa Meetme ay pinag hahati-hatian nila.
"No, no-no."
Napahinto ako sa paglalakad nang makita kong hindi kami sa visitation area pupunta kundi sa isang private room at sigurado akong walang ibang nandoon sa loob kundi si Victor.
"Merry Christmas!" Bungad sa akin ni Janice pag baba ko sa staircase ng bahay na pagmamay-ari niya. Mayaman rin naman kasi ang pamilya ni Janice pero hindi sya tied sa business ng mga ito dahil noon pa man ay napaka independent na nitong tao. "Morning" Bati ko naman sa kanya. Hindi ko mapigilang mag inat sa harap ng glass door na sa labas ay makikita ang mga halaman, at masuyong tumitirik ang araw papasok sa loob. "Coffee?" Tanong nya. "Ako na." Sambit ko at nilampasan sya saka dumiretso ng kusina. Pag pasok ko ay nakita ko ang ibang maid na abalang nag luluto.
"Flights are being canceled. We can't fly back to London today." It's such bad news for me but for her, it's a good one. Yes, I can see that the storm is getting really heavy as we speak. "Okay." I said then took an apple from the table at kinagat ito saka naglakad pabalik sa hagdan para umakyat sa kwarto ko. "Where are you going?" Tanong nya habang nakaupo parin sa couch ng napaka laking sala. Tinanggal ko sa bibig ko ang apple at saka sumagot. "In my room. Hihiga." Sagot ko naman. It's 3 pm already pero I'm still wearing jammies. Sobrang lamig kasi dahil sa bagyo. So I fee
J A N I C E"Good Morning, Ma'am, coffee, and mails."Bati sa akin ni Laurice na syang assistant ko dito sa office. Today is gonna be another day. Malapit na ang launch namin ng bagong product, which is in February kaya kailangan ko nang matapos ang lahat ng kailangang tapusin para makapag focus sa gaganaping event. Inilapag nya ang kape ko at ang mga mails for me. Napansin ko kaagad ang may kalakihang papel, it has a red ribbon in it and it is lightweight, wrapped with brown paper and my curiosity is piling up.A newspaper?Mabilis ko itong binuklat. The headline shook my world."Lorraine Alcavar: In Jail for Money Laundering"
R A I N E"Are you sure enough na 'to?"Tanong nya sa akin habang ako ay kanina pa palinga-linga sa paligid. I feel like it's really her."Huy! May kausap ba ako?"Tanong pa nya ulit. This time, she finally snapped me out of it."H-ha? Ah, yes. This is enough."Sagot ko na panay parin ang lingon sa mga aisle na nadadaanan namin."Okay, let's check out na. Ikaw ba wala ka na bang bibilhin para sa sarili mo? Anything."Kailangan naming mag salita ng medyo mas malakas dahil parehas kaming naka mask. She insisted that we wear facemask
R O S A"Are you the kind of person who gives second chances, Ms. Rosé?"Tanong sa akin ng interviewer ng Flex Magazine. She's Heidi, she interviews known people in the industry and publishes it in their magazine."Uh, Hahaha. That depends on the person. Because I believe that you do not just deserve a second chance. You have to earn it to deserve it."She nodded her head."Wow, that's a different outlook. It's fresh."I smiled and thanked her."So, the goss is, you are with the bachelor Hunter Hilburn, Is it true?"
R O S A"To the launch party? Yeah, yeah. Pwede B. Can I bring a friend?"I looked at Leslie na masayang nakikipag usap kay Arthur dito sa backyard. We're having coffee nang tumawag si Beetles, telling me that I am invited to the Cariones' launch party."The invitation said to bring your plus one, so yeah.""Okay, e-mail me the invitation please B.""Okay. No problem. Enjoy your vaycay!"Tumawa lang ako at nagpasalamat saka namin ibinaba ang tawag. Inilapag ko ang phone ko saka umupo sa chair na kaharap ni Arthur."Work or Hunter?"
L O R R A I N E"Leslie!"Mabilis ko syang hinatak sa isang sulok nang makita ko sya dito sa loob ng party."Anong ginagawa mo dito?"Tanong ko sakanya."Uy! Ikaw anong ginagawa mo dito? Ganda naman natin."Nakuha pang mang asar!"Bakit ka nga nandito? I'm with Janice. She's the wife of Levoine Cariones. Kaya ako nandito dahil syempre alam mo na."She rolled her eyes on me."Wag ka na mag inarte! Ang tagal mong hindi naranasan to kaya enjoyin mo nalang!"
R O S A"Ready for tonight?"Tanong ni Hunter sa akin via text message. I just replied 'yeah' para alam nyang I won't bail on him tonight."Good Morning ma'am, I am Lorraine, I will be assisting you today."Napalingon ako bigla sa likod ko nang marinig ko ang pangalan niya. I found a woman wearing a uniform. Ka pangalan lang pala. I am inside a boutique at naghahanap ng dress na pwedeng isuot."Hayss"I took a deep breath. Up until now, naiisip ko parin sya. I chose to block that night. What have happened that night. Hindi maganda ang gabing iyon, ayoko naring alalahanin pa.
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