Present Time
Erica's POV
"Naging malapit kaming magkaibigan ni Ate Lerma, para ko na nga siyang kapatid kung tutuusin. Kapag weekends sa bahay siya tumatambay at kung minsan pumupunta kami sa mall para maglaro sa arcade. Pinaranas niya sakin ang mga bagay na hindi ko narasan noong nabubuhay pa si mama." Masayang kwento ko kay Maddie na gaya ko ay may matamis na ngiti sa mga labi.
Kahit papaano may mga happy memories naman ako noong kabataan ko. Isa doon ay si Ate Lerma na naging sandalan ko kapag nangungulila ako kay mama. Noong mga panahon din kasi na yon, naging abala si Lola Sonya sa pagtitinda ng gulay sa palengke. Nahihiya nga ako kay lola noon dahil todo kayod pa rin siya sa paghahanap-buhay kahit matanda na. Gusto niya kasi akong makapagtapos sa pag-aaral.
"Mabuti naman at hindi ka pinabayaan ni ate Lerma." Komento ni Maddie sabay kuha ng chips sa bowl.
Napatango naman ako. "Maswerte ako sa kanya. Kung tutuusin hindi naman niya ako kailangang kumustahin pa. It's already enough that she called for an ambulance when she saw my mother got into an accident."
Uminom muna si Maddie ng tubig bago siya sumagot. "Tama ka, girl. She's such a kind person. Gusto ko rin siya makilala in person para magpasalamat sa kanya dahil sa pag-aalaga niya sa'yo noon." Sinserong pahayag ni Maddie.
Napangiti nalang ako sa naging pahayag ng kaibigan ko. It's been quite a long time since ate Lerma and her family migrated to Canada. I remembered how I cried a river back then when she informed me. It felt like a had lost a sister and a friend at the same time. But I can't do anything about it, she needs to go and follow her dreams. I knew to well that it was bound to happen. Before meeting me, she had already started planning for her future and I can't be selfish to wish for her to stay with me.
Napansin yata ni Maddie ang pananamlay ko kaya bigla siyang lumapit sa akin. "Anyare sa'yo, girl? Tumahimik ka yata?"
I heaved a sigh. "Naalala ko lang si Ate Lerma. Matagal na rin kasi noong huli kaming nagkita. I was just nine years old back then when her family migrated to Canada."
Maddie let out a gasped and her eyes widen. "Really? Hindi na kayo nagkita ulit pagkatapos nun?" Tumango ako. "Hindi mo man lang ba siya sinearch sa facebook?" Tanong ni Maddie.
Napalabi ako at napa-isip bago sumagot. "Wala pa namang facebook noong panahon na yun. Atsaka naging abala ako sa mga gawaing-bahay, sa palengke at pag-aaral kaya nawaglit din sa isipan ko na sulatan siya at makibalita. Pero nakatanggap naman ako ng sulat galing sa kanya. Hindi nga lang ako nakasulat pabalik."
"Noong college tayo uso na social media nun, sinearch mo ba?" Nakataas ang kilay na tanong ni Maddie. Honestly, she looks intimidating whenever she raise her perfectly shaped brow like that.
Napatango ako at napaiwas ng tingin. I tried to look for her facebook account years ago, there were some Lerma Sanchez that appeared on the search bar but none of them were the person I am looking for. "Hindi ko naman nakita ang facebook account niya. I think, she's now married and probably she's using her husband's surname." Yun ang naisip ko noon habang sinesearch ang facebook account niya.
Maddie nodded knowingly. "True. Ilang taon nga siya noong una kayong nagkita?"
"18 siya." Sagot ko.
"So, she's 38 now? Kasal na nga siya ngayon at baka may mga anak na." Maddie said with a hint of resignation on her voice. Naiisip niya din siguro na mahihirapan na kaming hanapin si ate Lerma kung kasal na ito. It is actually just a wishful thinking that maybe someday our paths will cross again and hopefully she still remembers me. Although there's a slim chance for her to recognize me since I was just a little girl back then.
Sometimes I wondered if she still thinks of me and did she ever looked for me after all these years? I remembered that she made a promise that if she would go back to the Philippines, she will look for me so we can reunite and catch up for the years we were apart from each other. When I was child, I hold on to that promise and kept it in my heart. Hoping that someday, we can meet again. But it's been 18 years since she left for Canada and I haven't heard any news of her whereabouts. I was starting to doubt if she really meant what she said.
"Are you okay?" Maddie's asked quietly which brought me out of my reverie. She had a concerned look on her beautiful face.
"I'm fine. Just thinking." I picked up the bottled water and drink from it. In my peripheral vision, I saw Maddie looking at me intently.
"Were you thinking about ate Lerma?" Maddie asked as she leaned her back on the couch.
I blew a deep breath before I shifted on my seat. "Yes. I can't help but think about her. She's been a big part of my childhood." My voice squeaked at the last sentence. I'm getting emotional by the sudden memories of my time with ate Lerma.
Maddie patted by shoulder. "It's okay. You can tell me everything that's been bothering you and I will do my best to understand and comfort you. I got your back, remember?" She sweetly smiled at me, reminding me of someone I used to know. I tried to compose myself and forced a smile.
"Salamat Maddie. Ikaw nalang ang meron ako. Sana hindi ka rin mang-iwan gaya nila." Napaiwas ako ng tingin at naramdaman ko nalang na lumuluha na ako. I'm so weak. I can't believe after all these years the pain was still there and it's been consuming my inner peace.
Maddie pulled me into a tight hug. "Okay lang yan. Cry all you want. Wag kang mag-alala, hindi kita iiwan. Bestfriends tayo, di ba?"
Napatango ako sa kabila ng pagluha ko at niyakap ko siya pabalik. Nagpapasalamat ako sa Diyos dahil kahit mag-isa nalang ako sa buhay may mga tao siyang pinakilala sakin para maging sandalan ko. Kung wala sila hindi ko na alam kung paano ko haharapin pa ang buhay na mag-isa. Mula kay ate Lerma, Maddie at sa lalaking nagligtas sakin mula sa kapahamakan, sila ang mga taong tumulong sakin para mabuo ko ulit ang sarili ko. Sana lang ay makita ko ulit si ate Lerma at si Gavin para mapasalamatan sila sa lahat ng tulong na ibinigay nila sakin.