Curses and Kisses

XXIX

It's been two days mula nang kunin ni Kuya Seth si Cade, a day since I found out that Cade was the lone survivor of the crash where Uriah and the other BS Accounting Batch died. I don't need someone to blame for that crash, it was an accident. Mas lalong hindi ko kailangang sisihin si Cade sa nangyari dahil siya lang ang nabuhay sa aksidenteng iyon. It was not his fault that he survived. But what I need are answers from Cade. Kinuwento ko sa kanya ang tungkol kay Uriah at kung Paano siya namatay, if he was the only survivor, bakit hindi niya sinabi sa akin? Did he lie about not knowing me? And how is he a CEO of an entertainment company if he's a BS Accounting graduate?

"Mama, the pancake's burning." Ilang beses akong napapikit bago tignan ang linuluto ko. I immediately turned the stove off when I saw the pancake turning black.

"You don't have any pancake mix anymore, Mama, what are we going to eat?" I heaved a heavy sigh then faced my daughter.

"I'm sorry, wala talaga akong pag-asang magluto." She pouted her lips.

"I wish Papa Abe was here."

"I wish he was here too." Habang hinahaplos ko ang buhok niya ay nakaisip ako.

"Take a bath, Sab. We're going to eat outside. Then, kung mabait ang ihip ng hangin, let's go shopping." Her eyes lit up and hurriedly went to her room. Pumunta din ako sa kuwarto ko para maligo.

Matagal na din mula nang huli kaming magbonding ni Sabrina. I'll take her out of the city and hopefully, no one will see me with her. Saka lang naman kami nakaka-shopping sa spain kapag meron si Cade o kapag malaki-laki na ang naipon ko kahit meron pang natira sa perang ibinayad ni Cyto sa akin.

"Mahirap din tanggapin na ikakasal ka na sa taong ipinagkatiwala ko na bantayan ka..."

I shook my head when his voice echoed inside my head. I found out few things about Cade since I got home and I don't want it to ruin the trust I have for him. Alam kong hindi magagawang magsinungaling sa akin ni Cade. He's been with me all those years that I was alone, I know him, hindi niya ako pagtataksilan.

Sana.

Hinaplos ko ang tattoo ko sa braso. Medyo nawawala na ang sakit nito. Nung nakita kasi ni Sab 'tong tattoo ko, wala na siyang ibang ginawa kundi hawakan ito kung may pagkakataon siya. Siyempre masakit dahil bago pa, pero nang itago ko ay hindi na niya ito pilit na hinahawakan.

"Mama! I'm done doing ligo po!" Agad akong lumabas sa banyo para makapagbihis. Nasa walk-in closet ko din ang mga damit ni Sab kaya hindi na ako nagulat nung naghahanap na siya ng sarili niyang damit.

"I want to wear a skirt!"

"Then you will wear a skirt." nakangiting sabi ko saka naghanap ng palda niya. Hindi naman ako nahirapan dahil kaunti lang ang damit niya, one reason why I have to take her out, hassle ang laging naglalaba dahil kaunti lang ang damit niya, I still have a lot of money and it's a waste not to waste it.

"Wear this, Mama." aniya nang matapos ko siyang bihisan. Hinablot niya ang itim na high waist denim skirt ko at humarap sa mga pangtaas ko, sunod niya namang hinablot ang isang itim na crop top at hirap na inabot  ang isang puting blazer ko. Sinunod ko nalang ang mga pinasuot niya. When I looked at myself on the mirror, I looked six years younger.

"Sweetie, how did you--" humagikgik siya sabay utos na tanggalin ang blazer ko.

"It's too hot here. Take everything off, Mama." muli siyang tumingin sa mga damit ko, I only watched her with amusement.

She made me wear high waisted jeans, a white halter top paired with a vest. Napapalakpak siya sabay abot ng sneakers sa akin.

"You look like my sister, Mama."