Once In A Lifetime (Life Struggle Series #1) COMPLETED

Chapter 04

"Wow, ate. Honor ka?" manghang tumingin si Fatima sa certificate at ribbon ko.

I proudly reach both of her hands and placed my awards on her palms.

"Syempre. Matalino si Ate, 'no!" I giggled. I'm not as smart as she thinks. One-fourth of my grade was done by my friends.

They are not the type of friends who are afraid to be outdone. Kung may award ang isa, dapat may award ang lahat.

"Gusto ko rin ng ribbon at certificate, ate." Fatima pouted.

I patted her head and smile at her, "Oo ba. Sa susunod meron ka ng ribbon at certificate."

Para akong tanga. Ang sabi ko, ayokong umaasa si Fatima tapos ngayon ako pa mismo ang nagpapaasa sa kan'ya. But it's fine, it's far from being impossible. Unlike sa paniniwala n'ya na totohanin daw ni Jesus ang mga panalangin n'ya. It's impossible!

Hindi naman bobo si Fatima. She is even easy to teach. Ang problema lang sa kan'ya ay masyado itong mahiyain. I don't consider her as an introvert because she sometimes talks a lot to me. Depende nalang siguro kung sino ang kasama n'ya.

"I already taught you how to answer that one. Sagutan mo na iyan. Bibili lang ako ng ulam sa labas." Malapit na rin palang gumabi. I need to cook us food before mama and papa came.

Just as I opened the door, someone appeared in my sight. A lady wearing a white blouse and a long flowery skirt that ended under the knee strictly raised her brows upon seeing me.

The woman to whom I am indebted.

"L-lola..." I vowed a bit to show my respect for her.

"I heard what happened." Sabi na eh! Kaya s'ya pumunta rito. The news might have reached her.

Ang bilis kumalat ng balita. It's like the running water from the faucet.

"Ahh... O-opo." Nakayuko kong saad. I saw her holding two large pieces of plastic.

"What happened?"

I took a deep breath before meeting her strict eyes.

"I... I did something w-wrong, La... kaya nagalit si mama sa akin." I blinked empathically. Yes, I lied. I need to.

"Is that true, Mahalia? Huwag mong pagtakpan ang walang kwenta mong Ina." Umiling ako.

Lola Estinita is my father's mother. She did not agree with my parents' marriage. She didn't like my mother. Pero noong nabuo ako ay unti-unti n'ya ng nilubayan ang dalawa. She accepted me. She treasured me kaya ganoon lamang ang galit n'ya kay mama nang malaman na inaalipan ako rito sa bahay. She tried to get me. Gusto n'yang tumira ako sa ibang bansa kasama ang isa n'ya pang anak o kaya tumira sa bahay niya, but I refused her. I don't want to leave my siblings here.

I always cover my mother's wrong doings dahil kung sasabihin ko ang totoo ay pipilitin n'ya ulit akong tumira sa ibang bansa.

"Pinahihirapan mo lang ang sarili mo rito!" her voice sounds mad. Umiling pa rin ako sa kan'ya.

Papa left everything because of mama. Pati pera ay iniwan n'ya.

Lola told me that my parents' were excited to have kids before. They were eager to have me. But I didn't believe her. If they want me here, why are they not taking care of me? Bakit nila ako pinapahirapan?

"La, okay lang ako rito. I'm happy with my siblings."

I got the two plastics from her and was about to enter our house when she grabbed my shoulder that made me turned my gaze at her.