Mnemosyne's Youth

Chapter 34

Five fucking years later....

"Mymy! kati pwet ko!" Pasigaw sa ‘kin ng anak ko at naglumpasag pa lalo sa bakuran namin.

Paanong hindi mangagati, umupo nanaman sa lupa.  Kung maka sapad akala mo tiles ang hinihigaan.

"Kinagat ka nanaman ba ng langgam?" Natatawang tanong ko sa kaniya bago siya linapitan

"Ih, mymy! kati po!"

Umiling nalang ako at kinarga s'ya.
"Ligo ka na, tapos rest. Okay?" Malambing kong sabi, pero may pagka makulit itong batang ito kaya ngumawa nang marinig n'ya ang word na 'rest'.

"Ayaw! brush lang pwet, ayoko ligo. Play pa ako, ‘di naman kati pempem ko bakit ako liligo, mymy!"

"Mely, quite! Nakakahiya sa kapit bahay natin anak, anak ingay-ingay mo. "

Ngumuso lang s'ya sa akin.

"Dali na  My, kati mo na dali!"
I took her inside and took her short off. Hindi naman kinagat ng langam, sadyang pinasukan lang ng lupa, maliliit na bato at kuyo ng baboy ang panty n'ya.

"Baby, madumi ka na. Let's take a shower, okay?"

"Ihhh, tapos play parin ako?"

"Hindi na, mamayang hapon nalang by. Ma-araw na, later nalang ulit kapag wala na si Mr. Sun. Okay?"

"Okay." She said while pouting.

Wala na s'yang nagawa nang paliguan ko s'ya.

My daughter is already four years old. If anyone would ask me if I'm happy. I am.

Walang halong biro. Masaya ako na may anak ko, although the struggle carrying her in my womb is no joke. Everything about my baby is blessing.

Melpomene Alistiá, that's my daughter's name.

She got everything from me except the color  of her eyes. They're bright emerald green.

Mula ilong, kulay ng buhok, labi hanggang sa hugis ng mukha. Little Mnemo, ika nga ng pinsan ko.

But her glowing orb reminds me of her father.

I shook the memory of him inside my head. I don't need to remember that ball less man as he's no longer relevant in my life. Kahit pa sa buhay ng anak ko.

"Mymy, kailan ulit tayo mag kaka visitor?" Tanong ng anak ko habang pinapaliguan ko s'ya.

"Next week baby, kapag hindi na busy ang mga Tito mo." Simple kong sagot.

We're living peacefully in the province of Pampanga. I bought a house in one of their barrio. Kaming dalawa lang ang nakatira, it's a small town house but big enough for the two of us.

May maliit din na bakuran kung saan s'ya laging naglalaro.

I didn't marry Augustous, because I ran away. I ran away with the help of Kuya Tee and Ate Flame.

I didn't know they were friends until they save me from the misery.

Papa cut all our ties. Tinaboy na n'ya ako, naiintindihan ko naman. I betrayed him but he couldn't blame me. I don't want to marry someone I don't love, lalong lalo na ang lalaking alam ko hindi naman ako aalagaan.

I was alone all through out, I received criticism everywhere I go. Idagdag pang  nabuntis ako ng maaga.

And I went in labor alone.