I felt dizzy and weak when I woke up. This is probably because of runny nose. Magmula nang makauwi ako kahapon ay nagsimula na akong sipunin. Damn this feeling! Pakiramdam ko ay hindi ko marinig ang sarili ko. I gazed myself through the mirror, I look like a clown with a red nose.
Lumabas ako ng kwarto habang hawak ang tissue na maya't maya kong ginagamit. I cannot smell anything but I am sure someone is moving inside the kitchen. Probably si manang. But I got it wrong.
"Mom?" My eyes widen the moment I saw mom wearing an apron and cooking something. She smiled at me. Saglit siyang may ginawa sa stove pagkatapos ay binuksan ang kanyang mga braso para yakapin ako.
I ran towards her and hug her tight. Halos matumba kami pareho dahil sa ginawa ko.
"Kanina ka pa mom?" I asked her. She smiled at me while gently fixing my hair. This is what I miss the most having a mother around. I miss having Maria Nicole Vista. Well, yeah. She's now a Vista dahil sa asawa nito na si Tito Brad.
"You're not feeling well anak. Look at your nose. Uminom ka na ba ng gamot?"
"I was about to. Wow! You are really here. How...how come? Pinayagan ka ni Tito Brad?" I asked with a wide smile. I even touched her cheeks.
"Pinapayagan naman talaga ako ng Tito Brad mo. You make it sound like he's detaining me. Ikaw talaga Armaya, pinababayaan mo ang sarili mo. Look at you."
"Did...did Britanny told you that I called?" I asked. Kumunot ang noo nito. From her reaction I can say that Britanny has nothing to do why mom visited.
"Tumawag ka? I didn't know. I dropped her to school early today dahil may meeting para sa mga parents for her competition. Isinali kasi siya sa isang pageant. Naisipan kong dalawin ka kasi miss na miss na kita. You didn't even visit me." She said. My mom is so beautiful. The way she talks always amazes me.
Sometines I wonder why dad had that idea of leaving her for another family? I mean, mom is perfect.
I never knew dad will do that. I witnessed how they love each other. They had a long relationship, probably since highschool? But then everything changed when we all found out that dad cheated long before their marriage. Kaya merong Troy. He did not just cheat once, we thought it was just long due and must be forgotten. Ang iniisip namin na abala siya sa pagtatrabaho para sa kompanya sa States ay hindi naman pala ganoon, kaya mayroon akong half-sister.
He's a perfect dad before I found out everything. They tried hiding it from me kahit pa bata palang ako ay nakikita ko na siyang may kasamang batang babae sa isang mall during my fieldtrip when all I know was he's out of the country.
But I let it be. Thinking it was not him. Baka kamukha lang.
Sa lahat ng nalaman ko about dad. I never blame him. Mas nagawa kong sisihin ang sarili ko. Akala ko ako ang nagkulang because I can't make my family stick together. That's what children are for right? The fruit of wedded people's love.
But as I grew up, narealize kong maybe dad is all to blame. Because he wasn't loyal. He wasn't contented with mom. He doesn't love unconditionally. He's selfish. But he's still my dad and I can't contain anger towards him so I have to understand. Understand that I may be living alone.
"What are you thinking?" Kunot noong tanong nito marahil napansin na naman niya ang pagkatulala ko.
"Nothing. Ano yang niluto mo mom? Is that my favorite? "I changed the topic.
"Yes of course para sa maganda kong dalaga na hindi ako naalalang dalawin." She teased.
"Naging busy lang sa school mommy." I said.
