Chapter 2.1

Pasalampak akong humiga sa kama ko nang matapos kong magbabad sa bathtub, pagkaratig ko kanina sa apartment ko ay pasamlampak akong umupo sa sofa ko dahil sa sakit ng katawan ko. I looked at the clock that is on my bedside table. It was already 11:30 pm. 

"Gosh! Who the heck is calling me at this late!" Inis kong sabi ng mag-ring ang phone ko, kaya kinuha ko iyon at isinandal ang likuran ko sa pader.

"Hello?" I asked while my eyes were now closed.

"Pumunta ka dito bukas sa bahay ah! I need your opinion about my outfit," I heard Sycanith's voice on the other line.

"’Yan lang? Matutulog na ako," sabi ko sa kanya at papatayin ko na sana ang tawag ng magsalita ulit ito.

"Wait lang! Ahm... Tito Lucas called me earlier, he wanted to meet you tomorrow. 'Di ka niya kasi ma-contact eh, send ko na lang sa 'yo ‘yong address. Sumipot ka raw," sabi niya at binaba ang tawag. 

And I just remembered, it was mom's birthday tomorrow. Kaya pala gusto niyang magkita kami. A notification rings telling me someone texted me, it was Sycanith, she sends the address of where we'll be meeting up.

Natulog na ako matapos no’n. Nagising nalang ako sa huni ng alarm clock ko, it was already 6:30 am. So I prepared my breakfast and do my daily routine. I showered and dressed up. I picked something nice today, since b-bisitahin ko si mommy sa cemetery. 

I picked a golden brown cardigan sweater, with a golden brown blazer, and black square pants. I look at myself in the mirror before going outside, first stop in Sycanith's house. I drove myself into Sycanith's house, and I see her still in his messy bun while her one eye is still closed.

"So ano maganda rito?" She asked while a bunch of dresses were laying on her queen sized bed and one dress just caught my eye. It was a maroon dress, so I picked it up and lent it to Sycanith.

"You look good on it," I said then smiled at her.

"Talaga? Thank you! Tapos nito saan ang punta mo?" She asked while happily smiling at what I've picked for her.

"Gonna buy a cake and a flower for mom," sabi ko sa kanya.

"Sige, pasabi kay tita na nag-date lang ako kaya 'di ako makakadalaw," sabi niya at humikab.

"Sige. Mag-ingat ka ah, chat mo agad ako pag may mangyaring masama," sabi ko sa kanya at umalis na. 

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I was waiting for my order to come, while I’m in deep thought I remembered how my mom and I celebrated her birthday here in the café.

"Happy birthday mom!" I happily said and lit up the candle of mom's birthday cake.

"Thank you sa pinakamagandang anak ko! Ikaw na mag blow," mom said while smiling at me, nakakalungkot lang dahil wala si dad dahil may business trip itong pinuntahan.

"No mom! Ikaw dapat, it's your birthday," pilit ko kay mommy.

"Don't forget to make wishes mommy," sabi ko kay mommy kaya nag-wish s'ya bago niya blinow 'yong candle.

"What's your wish mommy?" I asked mom.

Aakmang magsasalita na sana si mommy ng pinigilan ko siya, "No! Huwag na pala mommy, baka 'di matuloy!" 

Natawa na lang si mommy sa inasta ko.

"Ms. Wemia Acelline Sanchez," tawag ng cashier , making me back at the reality kaya pumunta na ako doon. She gave me a box of cake that I ordered that Monday, binayaran ko na 'yon at hinintay si dad na dumating.

"Happy birthday princess!" Narinig ko sa kabilang table. I stared at the whole family who is laughing and smiling, naging ganyan din sana kami kung hindi lang nangyari lahat ng 'yon noon.

"Sorry I'm late, kakatapos lang ng meeting ko eh," a man said and sat across from me, I'm still staring at the family on the other side of the table, imagining them that it was me and my family who are having fun.

"What are you looking at?" Dad asked and looked at the one who I've been staring at since kanina pa. I look at the cake to avoid his gaze.

"It's your mom's birthday today, right? It's a special day sweetie so don't frown," Dad said.

"What do you want to talk about?" I asked him, still not looking at him.

"To celebrate your mom's birthday, of course. It's her day so I guess she wants us to be complete," he said, making me scoff.

"Buti at naaalala mo pa pala, you don't need to accompany me. This is my duty every year, sanay na akong kami lang dalawa ni mommy," sabi ko sa kanya.

"Sweetie, I know that you’re mad at me but I'm still your father. Sa ayaw at gusto mo pamilya pa rin tayo," sabi niya sa 'kin.

"I know," maikli kong sabi sa kanya. 

"Why don't we eat what you buy?" Dad asked me kaya kumain na kami.

"Want to order something? My treat," sabi niya, ng mag order s'ya ng kape sa waiter. The waiter is still standing beside us while holding a notepad and a ballpen in her hand.

"Iced latte," I said, then the waiter wrote what I've said, then she left to get our order.

"Still craving for lattes? You're still sleeping on time, right?" He asked and I just nodded. 

"I miss the old Wemmy, the one who will disturb me every day in my office, the one who will bring me some lunch, the one who is still energetic, and the one who still smiling and laughing while playing with my hair," he said and I just stared at him with a blank expression.

"I'm not that girl anymore, I changed," I said and the coffee we ordered arrived kaya sumipsip na ako doon. 

“So where to next?” tanong ni dad sa ‘kin habang umiinom ito ng kape at may binabasa sa phone niya.

“I have to pick the bouquet for mom at the flower shop,” I simply said and he just nodded. After that we both went to the flower shop to buy some flowers.

I'm still finding that flower that mom loves, a pink Carnation caught my eye. It was mom's favorite flower. The man who is assisting me takes the carnation to make a bouquet. Si dad ay may pinuntahan at ‘di ko alam kung saan na naman siya pumunta.

"Here ma'am, thank you," the man gave me the bouquet, and I take it. Dad came back holding a two starbucks coffee, he lend me the one coffee he is holding, ayaw ko pa sanang tanggapin pero tinanggap ko nalang since nauuhaw na rin ako.

I drank the coffee, it was a caffè latte. I get in my car and dad gets in his car too, dumiretso na kami papunta sa sementeryo.

I was now cleaning my mother's tomb that is full of leaves and place the bouquet in his tomb, medyo matagal narin akong hindi nakakadalaw pero walang damo sa mga paligid nito.

"She's the head of ER now, our daughter is really a smart girl," sabi ni daddy at ngumiti habang tinitingnan and puntod ni mommy. And he kept saying some things about me to my mom.

"How about we have dinner at the mansion? I'm sure your brother will be happy to see you," dad said, making me stop in my tracks. Pauwi na kami dahil nagdidilim na rin ang kalangitan.

I really loved being with my brother, but having his mother on our side. I don't want to see her face again, it makes me remember how I heard mom cry every night because of that girl.

"Sasama ba ‘yung babae mo?" I asked him to make him stop on his tracks. He looks back at me with a disbelieving face, he doesn't want me to call his new wife like that.

"If nandyan siya, hindi ako sasama sa’yo," sabi ko at aakmang papasok na sa kotse ko ng magsalita siya.

"She is on a business trip, Saturday pa 'yong uwi niya. Don't call your mom like that Wemia," sabi niya sa 'kin at mukhang nainis.

"Correction. Step-mom," sabi ko sa kanya.

"Suit yourself, are you coming or not?" He asked.

"Lead the way," sabi ko sa kanya kaya nauna na siya.

I was now staring at the big mansion in front of me, it's making me cry because of the memories I had here with my mom. Nagulat nalang ako ng bumukas ang malaking pinto sa unahan ko, at niluwa roon ang isang matandang lalaki. Makikita ko na ang mga puting buhok nito, he is also wearing a glasses now.

"Miss Wemia, glad to see you again. Ilang buwan ka rin na 'di bumisita rito, na miss ka na ni Tanller, pasok na po kayo," sabi ni manong Ryle sa ‘kin, kaya pumasok na kami ni dad sa loob. Kaagad kong hinahanap si Tanller pagpasok ko, ngunit 'di ko siya makita.

"Hindi pa siya nakauwi sir, may training ata sila sa volleyball ngayon kaya late daw siyang makakauwi. Pero uuwi narin 'yon maya-maya," rinig kong sabi ni manang Mia kay dad.

Lumiwanag ang mukha nito ng Makita niya ako na nasa gilid ni dad. She was like my other mother after my mom died, she was the one who comfort me, kahit maid lang namin siya.

"Miss Wemia! Buti po at nakadalaw kayo rito, dito ho ba kayo matutulog?" Manang Mia asked me, so I look at dad.

"You can stay here for the night if you want, medyo madilim na rin kasi. Mahirap ng mag-isa sa madilim na daan," sabi ni dad sa ‘kin kaya tumango nalang ako. Buti nalang at may damit ako doon sa sasakyan.

"I wanna excuse myself, may kukunin lang ako sa kotse ko," paalam ko at naglakad na palabas ng bahay para pumunta sa kotse ko.

"Ang bibilis na nilang lumaki, ‘di ba sir?" I heard manang Mia said to dad before I close the door. Pumunta ako sa likod ng sasakyan ko at hinanap ang bag ko, I was always ready kaya may mga damit ako sa bag ko, dahil minsan sa hospital ako natutulog.