One Sunday afternoon, Aldo and Leni were rehearsing their lines at her aunt’s house. Her Aunt asked them to have their merienda first.
Aldo ate a slice of chicken roll and said,
“Grabe, na-miss ko’to, ang sarap.”
“Of course it’s a family recipe. For sure, dito ka lang nakakain niyan.”
“You’re right. Your family is actually great in cooking. Every time I visited Agatha, I always look forward on the meal that would be served.”
“Really? You know what, my friends and ex does the same, especially when they found out that Nanay cooked. Nobody can create chicken roll the way she does. Though, this is a good one, I would still prefer Nanay’s version. Too bad, she passed away last year.”
“Wait, what’s the cause of her death?”
“Diabetes .It took toll in her body.”
Leni was about to cry but she prevented it by veering from the topic
“Tara,praktice na tayo ulit Medyo hirap ako sa eksena na to eh.” Leni said.
---
The next morning, Leni woke up and ate her breakfast. She was stopped by the longganisa, fried rice, and scrambled eggs on the table. This was the meal that her grandmother cooked for them when they were still kids.
“Leni, naghi-hintay na sa iyo ang pagkain.” Her aunt told her.
They sat down. The two were silent until Leni started the conversation.
“Tita, it’s Nanay’s death anniversary today.”
“I know.”
Leni smiled and passed the bowl of rice to her aunt. She began to talk about Louie’s wedding afterwards. Her aunt noticed that she is just trying to compose herself, she knows that Leni haven’t fully recovered. Nanay took care of Leni and Gino until they grew up. She moved back to Bulacan when Leni entered college. Leni’s family still visits her from time to time. She was in third year when Nanay’s diabetes crippled her whole system that led to her death.
---
Leni spent the last three days in the hospital with her grandmother
She was changing Nanay’s socks when she asked her, “How’s your relationship with Red? Bakit hindi ko na siya nakikita?”
“Nag-away na naman po kami eh.”.
“Hija, mukhang napapadalas na ang away ninyo ah”
She just shook her head as her grandmother explained why she wasn’t in favor of their relationship. But after listening with what Nanay said, Leni still defended Red.
“Nanay, Red and I would make our relationship work.”
“Leni, I understand how much that guy matters to you. But, he should be the one taking care of you, and not the other way around. Sa nakikita ako, ikaw ang nahihirapan. Hindi ka magiging masaya sa tao nay an. Balang araw,maiintindihan mo rin ang sinasabi ko. Maiisip mo rin na tama ito lahat.”
“Opo, naintindihan ko po.”
But deep inside, Leni can’t accept what her grandmother said. A few minutes later, Gino, Adam, and Faith arrived.
“Nanay, nandito na kami!” Adam and Faith exclaimed as they entered the room.
Adam handed a paper bag of nuts to Nanay while faith embraced her.
“Ang mga bata na ito nag-abala pa. Salamat, paborito ko talaga ang nilagang mani.”
“No problem,malakas po kayo sa amin eh.”
“Mabuti naman at nakarating kayo.Matagal ko na kayong hinahanap.”
“Pasensya na po, medyo busy po kami ngayon sa school. Bakit nyo naman po kami hinahanap?”
“Marami sana akong ibibilin sa inyo.Baka kasi hindi ko na kayo maabutan. Alam niyo naman, mahina na ako.”
“Naku po! Wag po kayong magsalita ng ganyan, kasi po ipagluluto niyo pa po ako ng chicken roll sa birthday ko”
“Adam naman eh, puro pagkain ang nasa isip. Ah basta, promise nyo po na magpapagaling po kayo. Para next week, maka-sakay tayo ng calesa nila Leni.”
“O sige, magpapa-lakas ako ha. Ipangako niyo lang sa akin na hindi ninyo pababayaan si Leni.”
“Syempre po, basta kayo. O, Leni narinig mo ha, binilin ka sa amin ng Lola mo.”
Nanay suddenly craved for a Sunkist orange and asked Gino to buy one for her.
“Gino,ikaw na muna ang mag-bantay. Kami nang tatlo ang bibili sa baba.Kakain lang muna kami.”
Adam, Faith, and Leni had their merienda at the cafeteria inside the hospital.
“Leni, napag-sabihan ka na naman ni Nanay noh?”
“Uy, hindi ah. Paano niyo naman nasabi?”
“Wag ka nang defensive. Sa mukha mo pa lang, obvious na.”
“Alam namin ni Faith na pinagsabihan ka ni Nanay tungkol kay Red. Sa totoo lang, sinasabi niya sa amin kung paano ka papayuhan tungkol doon.”
“Sa tingin namin, tama siya. Tignan mo ha, nag-away kayo ngayon, eh dapat si Red ang kasama mong nagba-bantay sa kanya. Asaan siya? Nandoon sa court o kaya, gumigimik kasama si Cocoy.Baka nga nanggu-good time sila ng iba.Ano ba yang boyfriend mo?! missing in action. In fairness, kina-career mo ang pagiging martyr na girlfriend.”
“Faith, tama na nga. Hindi ka naman nakaka-tulong eh. Imbis na gumaan ang loob ko, eh pinapasama mo lang.”
“Sorry po, concern lang naman. ‘Friend’ po kasi kita.”
“Tumigil na nga kayong dalawa. Walang magandang pupuntahan yang pinag-uusapan niyo.Basta, Leni maniwala ka sa lola mo. She only wants the best for you. Teka, bumili na nga tayo ng Sunkist kay manang sa baba para makabalik na tayo kay Nanay.”
“Adam, Leni, kanino yung phone na tumutunog. Ang baduy naman ng ringtone, ‘that’s entertainment’.”
“Ah, kay Leni yun.” Adam said pointing to her.
Leni got the phone from her bag and answered the call.
“Ate, bumalik ka na dito, dali!”
“Gino, anong nangyari?!Tawagan mo si Mama.”
The three of them hurried back to the room only to find out that Nanay is gone. She was just like sleeping.
“Humingi siya ng tubig, paglingon ko, di na siya nagising.”
“Hindi pwedeng mangyari yan.Gino, tumawag ka ng doctor.”
Leni checked her pulse but nothing happened. A few seconds later, the doctors came and tried to revive Nanay. But it was too late.
Her grandmother beamed with excitement seeing the two of them. Ever since Leni brought them in their house, Nanay became fond of them. For her, Adam and Faith had a good influence in her granddaughter. She treated them as if they were her real grandchildren.
