Until The End

Reality

"I need to be home at 2:30 may meeting ako ng 3:30 at may aayusin pa ako." I said.

"Ok. Kain nalang us."

"Gutom ka naman lagi." Alli said and the next thing I knew? Nag sasapakan nanamn sila. We went nasa food cout ng mall kasi I have baon naman and they will buy nalang daw.

"Ano plano mo? Birthday mo na next month?"

"Makakapag celebrate ba sa public? Hindi. Hindi ko na icecelebrate." as I eat my food. 

"Serenity."

"No, Alli. It's ok. Not fond of celebrations din naman." 

"Huy bago ka pala umuwi daan tayong Kultura." Maxine said as she started eating also.

"Ok." I said. We continued chit chatting until it's 1:30 already. We went to Kultura as Maxine said. I was just looking at their new collection when I saw a familiar face. 

It was her. Mommy.

She slowly went to her side without getting caught.

"Ms. Irene, papicture naman po!" 

"Sure dear halika!" She said as she hugged the girl. I felt a sting in my heart. 

Unfair.

"Nakakaiyak! Ang ganda mo po!" 

"Aysus! Hala wag kang umiyak! Maganda ka din oh! Picture tayo tahan ka na." She said once again and hugged the child. Ano ba itong nararamdaman ko.

"Oh ikaw iha? Why are you there? Halika dito don't be shy darling." She said as she tries to persuade the girl who was hiding far away from here.

"Don't be shy. Ano ba kayo. Para na kayong mga anak ko no. Sa bagay wala naman akong anak na babae kaya mga anak ko kayong lahat!" she said as she giggled.

And that strucked me the most. Wala talaga ako sa kanya. 

"Salamat mga anak. Sa uulitin ha! Salamat sa pag bili ng mga gawang lokal. Ingat kayo!" she said as she said goodbye.

"Psst hoy! Serenity! Halika na Tapos na kami." Maxine said. I looked at her and stood up.

"Umiiyak ka ba?" That's when I felt my tears continuously falling. Tumayo ako at lalayasan na sana sila.

"Serenity!" Maxine shouted. I looked back at her and saw that Irene was looking at us. Shocked. I looked at her blankly as I wiped my tears.

"I'm ok Max. Let's go. 2:04 na" I said and went out. 

Ang sakit. Ang sakit sakit. Hindi ko naman to deserve ah. Ginawa ko naman lahat eh. Nasa isang public school ako at isang scholar para hindi mahalata ng iba na mayaman ako. My friends are the only ones who knows my situation right now. 

"Hey. Kaya mo ba?" Alli said.

"Kaya ko naman lagi. Uwi na ako ah? Thank you for today." I said at pumara ng taxi. 

Habang nasa loob ako ng taxi eh hindi ko maiwasan ang pagiyak ko. Hanggang kailan ko ba mararanasan to? Hindi ko na kaya. I was overthinking and did not even realized I'm here. 

"Bayad po. Salamat manong." I said as I went out. I walk inside the subdivision. They know me here though. While I was walking I felt a car was following me. That's why binilisan ko ang paglalakad ko hanggang sa nakarating ako sa bahay. Umakyat ako kaagad at nagbihis na para makapag simula na. Nagpa akyat nalang ako ng kape kay Manang at mahaba ang araw ko. I was checking what needs to be checked when I heard a knock.

"Come in!" I said not knowing who could this be. I was still focused with my thing even if I heard the door opened already.  

"Here is your coffee anak." I froze. Bakit nandito na siya? Bakit nandito siya? Di ba dapat nandun siya sa mga fans niya? O kaya nasa work siya? O kaya nasa office. Bakit nandito siya?