Some Kind of Love

Chapter One

"RELAX," pagkausap ni Yelina sa sarili kahit na abala na ang mga mata niya sa pagtingin sa mga pagkain. "Don't obsess over it. There's enough food for everyone," dagdag niya. "You made sure of that a week ago."

Napangiti siya nang maramdaman niyang may yumakap sa kanya. Kaagad siyang gumanti ng yakap, mas mahigpit. Mariin din niyang hinagkan ang gilid ng ulo ng kanyang anak na si Lennon. She was the love of her life. She could not believe she was already going away for college. Abroad.

Inutusan niya ang sarili na pakawalan ang dalaga niya. Ipinaalala niya sa sarili na hindi mahalaga ang anumang nararamdaman niya, kung nahihirapan man ang kalooban niya. Ang tanging mahalaga ay ang kaligayahan ng anak. Hindi mawawala ang labis na takot, pag-aalala at masidhing kagustuhan na panatilihin sa tabi niya si Lennon, pero alam din niya na hindi niya maaaring pigilan ang paglipad nito.

Her daughter needed to explore the world. She needed to see what was out there for her.

She might stumble and get hurt, but she needed to be tough for the world. She needed to make mistakes and learn from them.

Mahirap lang talagang panindigan ang mga bagay na iyon. Labis siyang nahihirapan sa kaalaman na isang linggo na lang ay lilipad na ito pa-Amerika at mamumuhay nang mag-isa malayo sa kanila.

"You're not gonna cry," natatawang sabi ni Lennon. "Mom, you promised me."

Pinamasaan pa rin siya ng mga mata. "Yes, I did. And I'm not gonna cry. Are you happy?"

Lennon squeezed her tight. "Of course, Mom. I'm with friends and family. The food is great. Everyone's nice and getting along. Everyone's excited and happy for me."

They had invited their closest family and friends for a barbeque. Hindi gusto ni Lennon ng magara o fussy na party. Gusto lang nitong makasama ang mga malalapit na kapamilya at kaibigan para makapagpaalam. Yelina did everything to make this day a very special day for her daughter. They invited all her favorite people. She made sure all her favorite food would be available.

"Lola isn't being a pain," nagbibiro pang dagdag ni Lennon. "She's not even giving me the side-eye when I get myself another slice of cake."

Nakahinga siya nang maluwag dahil doon. Kinausap niyang talaga ang sariling ina at pinakiusapan na huwag nang gaanong punahin pa si Lennon. Hindi niya gustong marinig na pinupuna nito ang suot ng anak niya, ang ayos nito at lalong-lalo na ang timbang nito.

Lennon was not even overweight. The grandmother had just a very unrealistic and unhealthy beauty standards. She was very critical when it came to appearance. She did it to her while growing up and she vowed she would never let her do the same to her daughter.

When Yelina found out she was having a girl, she vowed she would treat her well and work hard not to make her hate herself as she grew up.

Gusto niyang maniwala na napagtagumpayan naman niya iyon. Lennon was a confident young woman who loved herself. She was also kind to other people. Her daughter was beautiful inside and out.

Yelina was very grateful to have Lennon as her daughter.

Everything in her life made sense because of her.

Lennon was her whole life.

And all she wanted was her daughter to be happy.

"All these people here love you, my darling. They are rooting for you," aniya habang hinahaplos ang buhok nito.

"And I'm so grateful to have a wonderful family. Thank you, Mom. Thank you for allowing me to fly and convincing Dad that I could do it. Salamat kasi pinagkakatiwalaan mo 'ko nang husto. I know it's not easy for you but you're gonna let me do my own thing because you love me."