Esmeralda

Grabe naman maka-Esmeralda ha.

It's making me feel old!

I go by Esme. Or Esmy. Or Esmee - or any way you like to call me, anak. It’s up to you na.

I am a mother of three strong and beautiful women.

Their names are Jekerel Boa, Jaiden Yoona, and my youngest, Jimin Karina.

My two eldest are still single.

And my youngest ay nauna pa sa kanilang dalawa ikasal!

Oh ha, bongga!

My baby, Rina, is already married… to another wonderful woman, ang isa ko pang anak… ang cute cute kong anak na si Winter.

Hay… these two, really.

I am still gushing about them.

I witnessed their connection… blossomed into something really beautiful.

I felt it from the very beginning.

Alam niyo ‘yun?

Mga bata pa yang mga ‘yan, I thought there was something na.

Kaya naman nung umamin sila sa akin that they are girlfriends, complete with props ng print-out high grades and medals from grade school pa - to prove daw na hindi napapabayaan ang studies nila, I knew it already.

They've been loving each other since they were young… until it just became deeper each day.

Oh to be young and in love again, diba!

I am very happy for my daughter.

I only wish for her continued happiness.

I am very confident din naman that Winter will always make her happy and vice versa.

Anyway, to tell you the reason why I'm here… I just got this, what do you call it, Deja Vu?

Nagulat lang naman ako nung bigla na lang nag-show up dito sa bahay tonight ang anak kong si Rina.

Mind you, medyo late na, mga 9pm.

She was in a rush and she looked serious too.

Kinabahan agad ako when I saw her, baka kung ano ang nangyari.

"Oh? What's wrong, nak? Why are you here? Where's Winter?" I glanced up sa likod niya baka nahuli lang si Winter pumasok.

"Mommy." Karina greeted me with a kiss sa cheek.

Halatang nagmamadali siya because of her hurried actions.

"Mom, kung tumawag man si Winter or hanapin ako, can you please tell na wala ako dito sa bahay? Thanks Mommy, love you." Dere derecho niyang bigkas at patakbo nang umakyat sa hagdan namin, probably to her room.

“Okay..?” I was left confused.

I shrugged.

Whatever it was going on between them, I knew they would sort it out eventually.

It’s just them... being them.

I also know when my daughter needed me to intervene and talk to her.

Right now, clearly she didn’t.

That’s when it hit me, yung ano.. Deja Vu!

So ito na nga ang aking story time.

I remembered na nangyari na rin itong certain situation na ito dati.

When Karina was still a kid, maybe just graduated from grade school.

She came home one day.. with fresh tears on her eyes and looking so heartbroken.

Kinuwento niya sa akin lahat ng nangyari.

Summer. Wala ng pasok sa school.

Winter and Karina just graduated from grade school.

Naghahang out sila ngayon sa park malapit sa subdivision kung saan sila nakatira.

Nakasakay silang dalawa sa swing habang kumakain ng ice cream.

“Sest…” Tawag ni Karina sa bestfriend niya. “Kung ira-rank mo ko out of 10, anong score ko sa’yo?”

Naisip ni Karina ang tanong na yun dahil sa mga face-off sa Facebook recently. Madalas siyang napapasama doon kung saan itatabi ang picture niya with another girl at mag-cocomment ang mga tao kung sino ang mas gusto nila.

Lagi siyang nananalo.

So, confident siya sa isasagot ni Winter.

“Hmm. Ha?” Tanong ni Winter habang dinidilaan ang ice cream niya. “Ranking saan?”

“Wala lang. Basta. Ano nga?” Pagpilit ni Karina. Nakatingin lang siya kay Winter ngayon with a hopeful look.

“Rank sa talino o sa itsura?” Tanong ulit ni Winter na nakakunot ang noo.

“Kahit ano. As a whole.” Sabi ni Karina, excited siyang malaman ang isasagot ni Winter kahit alam na niya. Gusto niya lang marinig na sabihin ito sa kanya.

Kumagat ulit si Winter sa ice cream niya at mukhang nag-isip ng malalim. “Ikaw…? Out of ten lang ba?”

Karina giggled. She nodded. “Oo nga, ang kulit.”

Naisip ni Karina na baka mas sobra pa ang score na ibibigay sa kanya ni Winter.

“Hmm, siguro ano, 7.” Sagot ni Winter.

Mabilis ang paglingon ni Karina sa kaibigan. “H-ha? Bakit 7 lang?”

Hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya.

Tama ba ang narinig niya?

Baka nagjo-joke lang kasi si Winter.

“Syempre, 7 lang. Alangan namang 10 edi perfect na yun.” Mahina pang tumatawa si Winter.

Nag-iwas ng ting