Wabi-Sabi

5

I remember her.

It was a humid summer. Tito George and my dad were on the balcony, sipping tea while strategizing their next business move. Luna and I were at my dollhouse, the scene of us laughing while my mom prepared us a bowl of cereal with fruits on top, is very nostalgic. A feeling of longing to experience it again.

My favorite was cherry.

Luna's was grape.

We walked down the streets of the subdivision we owned. A homeless child was at the guard house, and we went to him. I gave him a bag of bread and yogurt.

"Where are your parents?" I asked. He didn't speak, but he was eating the bread I gave him.

The guard let him in since he knew me.

"Maybe he doesn't speak, Maya," Luna was worried.

"It's fine," I smiled and he became uncomfortable when we invited him to the playground—because of the children mocking him. So he ran away.

We went home. Luna and her dad faded into my vision as their car left the gate... for good. She was waving, smiling, and so was I.

And that was the last time I saw her.

—

"Naaalala ko na, yung papa mo at papa ko ay magka-business partner dati diba?"

Hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti dahil all this time kaklase ko lang pala ang anak ng dating business partner ni papa.

Hawak ko pa rin iyong lumang polaroid. Mukhang kuha ito noong kakasimula pa lang nilang mag-collab, tandang-tanda ko pa noong naglaro kami ni Luna sa cafe nila. Kung paano kami tinawag ng photographer para kuhanan ng picture, pero lahat ng alaalang iyon unti-unti ko nang nakakalimutan noong lumaki na ako dahil hindi na ako sumasama kay papa pag may meeting sila ni Tito Richard, same with Luna.

"Oo, pero hindi na siguro nang nawala si Tito George! By the way, Maya. Condolence!" Ramdam ko ang lungkot sa tono ng kaniyang pananalita kaya ngumiti lang ako sabay tango.

"Ayos lang,"

"Pero mabuti nga 't naipagpatuloy ninyo ang negosyo ng papa mo!"

Kumurba paibaba ang aking labi matapos marinig ang kaniyang sinabi. Ibinalik ko na sa kaniya ang polaroid tsaka tumitig sa kawalan.

"Iyon ang akala mo, nila, ng mga kaibigan ko, ninyong lahat."

"Mind telling me what happened?" Tanong niya, ramdam ko ring nag-aalinlangan siyang itanong sa akin 'yan dahil alam niyang napaka-controversial ng itinanong niya. May galang din naman ang tono ng kaniyang pananalita kaya wala akong naramdamang panliliit o ano paman 'yan.

Hindi ko alam kung tama bang sabihin ko sa kaniya o isa sa mga kaklase ko ang totoong nangyari sa buhay ko, buhay namin. Sa negosyo namin.

"It's all gone. Everything,"

"I can help you, Maya,"

—

Nalaman tuloy ni Luna kung saan kami nakatira, lahat nalaman niya. Kung paano sinubukan namin lalong-lalo na si mama na buhayin ulit ang negosyo namin, kung paano ako nagpanggap na may kaya pa talaga. Noong una nagulat siya pero dumaan ang ilang minuto, binigay niya sa akin ang address ng kanilang cafe. Tinanong ko na rin siya kung paano kung malaman ng papa niya?