The Red Strings

CHAPTER 8

Manang Hermenia slice it equally at inilagay nya ang bawat slice sa platito namin, the dessert looks familiar. I think I have been eating this dessert from way back, kinuha ko yung tinidor and I started tasting the dessert—and it's so YUMMY!

I widened my eyes. How can this simple color white jelly with smashed peanuts toppings with sweet corn in the middle of it can be such a delish?!

Nagpatuloy lang ako sa pagkain parang naa-addict ako sa lasa, so I ended up eating 7 slices of it and now I'm super full. Pero worth it naman yun.

"Burp." Natigilan silang tatlo ng marinig nilang nagburp ako— (╬☉д⊙)⊰⊹ฺ

But they all just laugh kaya natawa na rin ako imbes na mahiya, it's weird to feel this but I'm so happy right now ngayon lang ata ako nagkaganto— first time kong mag burp sa harap ng hapag, I've never done this before because it's improper daw ayon kay Mommy.

"Lami Lang noh?" (Masarap hija noh?) Hirit ni manang tas nag smile lang ako kahit diko naintindihan.

"Nay tagalog biya si ate" (Nay tagalog diba si ate) sabi pa ni Juny. Ano kaya yun diba?

"Ay oo nga pala, naku nasanay na kasi sa bisaya hahaha pasensya na hija ha. Masarap ba hija? Baka kasi masyadong matamis." She said.

"No Manang, actually it's great and good and the taste was very delicious. Na enjoy ko po yung dessert, para ngang na kakain na nga ako nito noon eh pero matagal-tagal narin yun like super tagal. Ngayon ko lang ulit naalala yung lasa ng maja?" Manang just nodded with a sweet smile in her face.

"Na eh kuwento mo samin diba na taga-visayas rin Lola mo?" I nod as a response.
"Diko sure pero kasagaran dito kasi sa Visayas pag may Birthday-han, wedding anniversary party, binyag, or kaya kahit walang event— hindi mawawala yung maja blanca sa hapag kung panghimagas na ang usapan" kwento ni Manang and now I remember!— birthday party ata yun ni ni Adonis we were just kids back then parang sa isang garden ata yun? Shallow na sa memory ko.

After chitchatting ay natapos kaming kumain at nagtulungang maglinis at ayos, and from that day I started to change myself slowly.

THREE weeks had passed and 3 weeks narin akong nag stay dito sa mansion ng Chan, masaya at okay ang pagtira ko dito. It's cool to live with new people and new environment, sa loob ng three weeks I've also learned something new— like cooking tips with Manang Hermenia and learning bisaya language with the kids.

Unti-unti ay nagiging sociable na akong person and I'm trying really hard, and last week ay umandar na naman ang mental illness ko. I endured panic attacks while cooking mabuti nalang at kasama ko doon sa dirty kitchen si Juny kaya minadali nila akong dalhin sa malapit na health center, thank God hindi masyadong malala ang panic attacks ko at humupa rin ito salamat sa gamot na binigay nila sakin. Namoblema nga ako dahil wala akong dalang pera and worst I have no money, but sabi ni Manang no need to worry daw kasi it's free dahil it's a public health center lahat ay libre dahil ito'y parts sa government.

Also may nalalaman na akong bisaya phrases and words, I really tried to learn and understand this language. Salamat sa dalawa ay natutunan ko rin ito step by step. Ang understanding nila at pinagtiyagaan nila akong turuan ng bisaya, I really enjoyed their company.

"Ate Jas, Are you ready? Our chaperone is here" she giggled after she said those words, chaperone? I thought magco-commute kami?

Inayos ko na yung mga gamit ko; shirts that good for 3 days, shorts that good for 3 days, underwears, private stuffs, medication just in case, and hygiene products.