Persia's Prayer

chapter two

"What are you doing, Persia? It's three in the morning.." nagising si Papa dahil sa kalampag sa kusina.

"I'm just craving for shortcakes since last week. That's why I'm making some now.." palusot ko.

"Oh.." he then realized that so he got a chair and sit on it to watch me cook. Isinuot pa niya ang salamin para makita ang ginagawa ko. "Make some for me."

"Hmmm.. if you'll praise me, then I'll make some for you.."

My father laughed. "Alright, then.. You're beautiful just like your mother. Is that enough?"

My father is getting old but he won't still forget about my mother. He's head over heels over my mother, ang problema lang my mother died of breast cancer two years after I was born.

"You missed her?" I asked.

"Yes, I do. And you because you resemble her, you're the only person that's keeping me alive.." biro niya.

"Tch, mas mahal mo talaga si Mama kesa sa sarili mong anak?" natatawa kong tugon.

My father is a retired pastor although he still preach on children and charities sometimes. He is very religious and kind, no doubt maraming donasyon na dumarating sa amin. He loves to share and help, that's why he got a lot of awards for helping the poor.

"Of course, I love you.." he said. "But do you still pray? Don't forget to thank God for all the blessings. Galing sa kanya ang kinakain natin," paalala niya.

I was raised on a religious environment. He always teach me how to pray. When I started to read at the age of three, he started teaching me gospels. Maging ang mabuting asal at pag-uugali. I can say I was raised well, pero palagay ko ay may nakuha akong ugali sa aking ina na may kaunting attitude.

"Yes po.." pagkatapos ng ginagawang decoration ay isinalang ko na iyon sa oven. Tiningnan ko si Papa na nakatitig sa malayo. "Matulog ka na kaya, Pa?"

"What do you think about sisterhood?"

Napatigagal ako sa sinabi niya.

"S-Sisterhood? You mean pagmamadre?"

My father slowly nodded. Tila gumuho ang pangarap ko. I'm baking shortcake for the guy I like and now my father is talking about sisterhood! How ironic!

"Yes, what do you think about it?"

Hindi yata ako nakagalaw. I was always obedient to my father but I'm not sure what to answer now.

"Uhhmm.. I don't know Pa. Wala sa plano ko ang magmadre.."

Tumango-tango si Papa na tila alam na ang isasagot ko sa kanya. "Huwag mo ng isipin iyon, anak. I want you pursue whatever your dream is.."

Does he want me to become a nun? But why? Is it related to his work?

He looked so worried. Nakakunot ang noo niya at tila malalim na nag-iisip.

"Matutulog ako ulit, anak. Ipagtabi mo na lang ako."

Tumango ako sa aking ama. Ipinagpatuloy ko na lamang ang ginagawa at natuwa naman ako dahil mukhang masarap ang ginawa kong cake para sa mahal ko. I wrapped it on a cute box para naman mukhang may effort talaga ako. Ilalagay ko na lang talaga sa locker niya.

"Ibibigay mo 'yan kay Alastair?" tanong ni Emily sa akin nang matapos ang unang subject namin.

"Yup."

"Huh? Hindi mo ba nakita na tinatapon niya lamang ang mga regalo sa kanya. Minsan pa, ipinapamigay niya sa mga kasama niya sa basketball team," sagot ni Emily. Naglalakad na kami sa hallway at hinahanap ko ang boy's locker. Medyo tago ang locker ng mga lalaki kaya hindi ako mamomoroblema kung may makakita mang may nilalagay ako sa locker ni Alastair.