Conditions of Worth

Chapter 8

The number you have dialled is not yet in service.

"MA'AM, sumagot na po ba?" It's Martin. Hiniram niya ang cellphone nito para matawagan ang kapatid, hindi niya kasi gustong gamitin ang kanya dahil baka magsunod-sunod ang pagring niyon kapag binuksan niya.

"Hindi pa--" pero, bigla itong sumagot. "Hello?"

"Ate!"

Napangiti siya nang makilala agad nito ang boses niya. "Thank God, you called me! I was worried sick here, we all are! What happened? Bakit bigla ka naman nawala, sana alam ko kung nasaan ka--"

"Hey, calm down" alo niya rito. "I am fine. Ako pa ba?"

She heard him sigh, "You always say that but it's already obvious that you were not..."

Nagkaroon ng katahimikan sa pagitan nila.

"H-how's, Dad?" hindi niya mapigilang maitanong. Kahit naman masama ang loob niya rito ay hindi naman niya kayang matiis ang ama. "How's he doing?"

"He's not okay" pagamin naman ng kapatid, "He's in your room now, nakatulog siya doon mula nang umalis ka"

Dalawang araw pa lang naman halos ang nakakalipas simula ng umalis siya, and for her, masyado nang matagal iyon.

"Kailan ka ba uuwi, Ate?"

Napalabi siya, "I-I don't know.."

"It's okay" anito, "though, I don't advise you to go home yet,masyadong toxic ang bahay ngayon dahil sa nangyayari. David was denying that its his child at araw-araw siyang nandito sa atin, hinihintay kang makauwi, while your so called friends were ranting over the social media."

"Ranting? About what?"

"Nagtatago si Freya ngayon. According to Gloria's facebook account, Freya's scared for her child's welfare lalo na tinatanggi David and the blame was on you"

Napalunok siya at napahawak sa cellphone ng mahigpit.

"Mali ba ako, Ares?" Hindi niya maiwasang maitanong. "Mali ba ang mga desisyon ko kaya ganito? For the first time, I did question my beliefs and principles because of them"

"Ate.." may pagsuyo sa tinig nito, "Nasaan ka ba? I'll go there at sasamahan kita--"

"I'm okay, Ares. Isipin mo na lang na nagbabakasyon lang ako..." and you can't see me like this, not so ideal. "You know me, right?"

"Ate.."

"Anyway, nakigamit lang ako ng cellphone. I'll call you as soon as possible but please don't let anyone know na nagkausap tayo, okay?"

"Ate..."

"Ares, please?"

"Magiingat ka, Ate.."

Hinatid na siya ni Martin sa silid. Hindi na siya nangulit pa na magpahatid sa villa niya, somehow, she enjoyed the solitude inside the small room of the islet's medical center.

"Hello, Ma'am! Goodevening" Bati ni Martin sa kanya, "Here's your dinner, kain po kayo nang mabuti"

Napakunot ang noo niya sa nakita, "What's with the sunflower?" at paanong mayroon nito rito?

"Pinabibigay po ni Doc Atlas" ngumiti ito at lumabas na.

Maliban sa bulaklak ay may pa-sulat pa si Doc. Aba, anong trip nito sa buhay? May pasulat-sulat pang nalalaman.

     The most beautiful woman in my life used to say that every women is like a flower, and like a flower, it has different kinds, we just have to know what kind of flower that she is in order to understand, to know her more.

     I don't know what you're going through right now, but I could see a sunflower in you. You had this sunshine effect that could captivate anyone's eyes, yet that sunshine was taken away.

     I sent you this sunflower because its message says that; Stand tall and follow your dreams. Focus on what’s positive in your life and don’t let anyone get you down.

     I hope you'll ignite that sunshine, again.

- Doc Atlas :)

Bigla tuloy siyang may naalala. Her mother, Athena Ainsworth - her sunflower, her sunshine.

Kung siya si Mooncake, her mother was Sunshine. Partners daw sila!

"Mom, why do you love sunflowers?" she curiously asked dahil mas natural sa babae ang pagkahilig sa roses. "Because of sunflower seeds?"

Her mother youthfully chuckled, "More than that, Mooncake" she said and held her hands.

They're on their backyard, ang Mommy niya mismo ang nagaalaga sa mga sunflower. Routine nila sa umaga ito, ang maglakad sa sunflower garden ng ina.

"It's more on what it symbolizes" anito. Napakunot ang noo niya, because for a seven year old, wala naman siyang pakialam doon.

"Do you know what it symbolizes, mooncake?" Umiling siya, but she wanted to know!

"It symbolizes, adoration, loyalty and sunshine!" she smiled, "It symbolizes positivity, mooncake. And that's why I love it!"

"Where do you need positivity for?"

Ngumiti ang ina at kinurot nang hindi kahigpitan ang pisngi niya.

"Everyday, anak. Madaming bagay sa mundo na hihilain ka pababa ngunit kailangan mong hilain ang sarili mo pataas, and with that you'll be needing a lot of positivity"

She smiled. "So, I'll be positive that Dad would be proud of me kahit second honors lang po ako?"

Hindi kasi natuwa ang Daddy niya nang malaman na hindi siya first honors sa final grading. Wala tuloy siyang treat unlike her siblings na nabili na lahat ng request nila.

"Anak, Dad was just pushing you because he could see a potential in you, but I want you to know that I am proud you no matter what.."

She just went back to her senses when the door opened. "Ma'am, pahabol po!"

"What's this?" Obviously, it's a book. "Sino ang nagpapabigay?"

"Sino pa po ba?" Martin smirked, tila nangaasar. "To keep you company daw po"

"Where is he?" Bakit panay pabigay lang? Hindi na lang siya harapin!

But, speaking of the not so devil. Aba, nasa likod lang pala ni Martin! "I thought you wouldn't ask"

Lumapit ito sa kanya at masuyong ngumiti.

"How are you, sunshine?"