Invisible Strings

3

How would I answer for that engaged woman?

"Reina, that's her choice tsaka mahal naman nila ang isat-isa—"

"Baka buntis ha? Hayy nako Ziyah, sinasabi ko talaga sayo. Wag kang gagaya sa kaibigan mong yon. Sayang at maganda pa naman. May potential kaso may tinatago palang kapusukan"

"Reina, she's not into pageantry and she's not pregnant. Hindi siya ganon. Anong pinagsasabi mo?" Hindi kona napigilan ang sarili ko na magtaas ng boses. Nagsisimula na siyang magsabi ng hindi magagandang salita tungkol sakaniya.

Ghad, Minthe was the last person who deserves to be talked about in that light.

"Im saying na wag kang maging mapusok." She stopped talking until I heard a glass clinking.

"You're drinking again" Puna ko. "You're being alcoholic Mom"

"I'm not alcoholic! Whatever Im hanging up. Nai-stress lang ako sa pakikipagusap sayo. Ang kulit mo."

Before I could even answer, binabaan na niya ako. Ghad, that woman is wasting her life. Reina Kianna Ong, my mother, was crowned to the 1995 Miss World and she has always been doing pretty good deeds since then.

She's a good mother for a child like me and that's what frustrated me the most. Ang kaso ay hindi ko magawang magalit sakanila ni Papa.

Papa, Carlo Illagan, who is a known surgeon married her two years after that. The couple's life is hardly publicised and everything they do was the talk of the town. Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit okay lang sakanila iyon, na pinaguusapan sila ng maraming tao.

Because I'm sure, it's not all good things. Pag nagkabagyo, iniinterview sila, which doesn't make sense to me. Pati pagpunta namin sa hospital, pagpasok sa school, kung ano ang ginagamit na panlaba, nababalita. Nakakapagod na lang.

Ginawang pulutan sa inuman ang buhay ng mga Illagan. The only good thing is that I was not forced into the limelight. Ang pagiging minor de edad ng anak nila ang naging rason para hindi ako mapasok sa showbiz.

My train of thought was stopped when a notification from instagram rang. I checked it and saw Celestin's tagged photo of me with his nephew. Lahat kami ay hulog na hulog sa batang iyon. Nakakakaba nga na baka biglang mawala yon at kami agad ni Trina ang suspect kasi sobra kami makagigil sa bata.

@notZiyah @itsmeTrina look at my prince charming. I'm a mommy now, officially!

Kasama non ay video ng bata na tinatawag siya Mommy. Agad akong nagtipa ng comment doon Bago napagdesisyunang mag-ayos na.

The following days, hindi na ako nagpunta sa ibang bar. I knew deep inside that I was waiting for Stephen to show up in the same bar. Kahit pa ilang beses kong sabihin na "Ziyah, don't keep your hopes up", wala parin. Ganon ako kagaga.

One time, CHIAYI had a group video call at hindi na napigilan ng bibig ko na sabihin ang tungkol sa European na nakamomol ko.

"Ikaw Zi ha, baka may STD ka na niyan" Mapanghusgang turan ni Vera. Napagalitan tuloy siya kay Cher. They had an argument over that. Hmp, bagay nga sakaniya.

Nagsimula na akong magkwento ulit, kung paano ang naging pagkikita namin hanggang sa bar.

"Pakshit! Bakit parang jowable talaga yang 'Kanong yan!" Si Trina.

"He's not American though.. European girl. Nakalimutan ko kung anong bansa" kwento ko.

Trina shrieked in excitement. Pag talaga kalandian ang usapan, nagkakasundo kami ni Trina. Minthe was already engaged, Cheria seems asexual pero hindi pa nag-a-out, Vera is very reserved with her wicked tongue while Celestin is tied to his nanny duties at wala yatang kalandian life ang batang yon.