NIQHU

Lily was crying while she was hiding inside her closet. Her mom and dad are quarreling over something she can not understand. She was 8 years old that time.
It started two weeks ago.
When her mom came home and her eyes were all swollen. Her mom did not even notice that she was there in their living room watching the television. She just came in and lock the door then went up to her room.
She just shrugs it off and continued what she was doing and that is watching her favorite cartoon.
It was almost dinner time but her mom did not come down. They have no cook because her mom wants to cook for her and her dad.
Then she thought of knocking her mom’s door. She was in front of the door when she heard her father’s car enter the driveway.
“Ma, Dad is home!” she announces joyfully and came down the stairs to greet her father. But she notice that her Dad was in a foul mood. She intended to greet him but before she can do it, he asked her. “Lily, where is your mom?”
“She’s in the master’s bedroom. She’s been there since she came home.” Lily answered innocently.
“Go to you room. Your mom and I have something important to talk about.”
“But Dad, I’m hungry…”
“Go to your room, Lily.” her dad commanded in a tune that she have never heard him talk to her before.
Suddenly she felt scared of her dad.
She went to her room but was totally wondering about what was happening.
The next thing she heard was her dad and mom is shouting at each other.
It continued every night whenever her dad and mom are alone.
But today is the worst fight she has ever heard.
“What the hell do you want me to do, Allia?” her dad shouted. “I did what I can for the past 8 years. I married you, brought you to a nice house and pampered you and our kid.”
“That’s not what I mean, Alex, damn it!” her mom voice seemed like she was crying.
Lily tiptoed outside of the closet and went to the master’s bedroom. She was curious if what was the fight about.
She peeps through the unclosed door…
“I’ve told you a lot of times to keep your distance off her, Alex. I told you…” her mom seems to look hopeless.
“Look, Allia, I also told you a lot of times that I will never do that.” her dad said sarcastically.
“But, Alex, this will ruin our family.”
“Oh, Allia, stupid Allia, from the start you knew that we were not really a family. It was all an act to satisfy your stupid father.”
Lily bit her lower lip with what her father had just said. She was really shocked. From all those years they spent together, he just said that their loving family image was just an act. Her dad even called her mom stupid, not only her mom but her grandfather.
“I’m so tired, Allia. If you do not want to stick with this kind of situation, fine, I’ll move out of the house.” her dad continued while looking around the room. “You can keep it. I’ll leave the title of the house and land to you. I’ll also send the divorce papers,”
She did not understand whatever happened next. The only thing that registered to her is what her father said.
She hurried back to her room and was not able to sleep that night.
The next day, she knew that her father was gone.
Her mom locks herself up in her room. But she did not know what to do. She knocked her mom’s door. It opened and when her mom saw her. She held her tight and cried in her shoulder. Lily’s eye became wet, too, and she cried with her mother.
Lily grew older and began to understand what happened when she was 8.
It turns out that her mom and dad were just trapped in a marriage that the two of them were not sure about. Her grandfather saw her mom and dad together in one room in an awkward situation and ordered them to marry each other.
Her mom and dad agreed to stay together. But had an agreement, if one finds another, the other one must let go.
Her father was silly, alright and he hated him for that. He took that agreement seriously.
He even reasoned out on the divorce papers that he and her mom had an agreement a few years back. And he was not doing anything wrong because her mom knew about it a long time ago.
Her father was so dumb, yes, she totally agreed with that.
She knew from her mother that he found another woman named Dina. That her father adored her so much that he did not know how to listen and think right.
It did not even occur to him that the agreement was made before they had a daughter. For Pete’s sake! They already have a daughter, some silly agreement should be dissolve and forgotten because of her existence.
Lily knew that her mom did not say anything to make her father look bad on her. Her mom was just saying the right thing, so that Lily could know if what the real score was.
Mrs. Allia did not sign any divorce papers. Her mom was still married with her dad.
She knew her mom too well now, that even though that agreement was made before their marriage. Her mom love her husband as the marriage lasted.
At the same time, she also knew that her mom was just teaching his dad a lesson and giving him a taste of her revenge.
Her dad could not give anyone his surname. So Dina and he did not get married, but they sure did live together up to now.
Her mom started to stand up on her own feet a year after what happened when she was 8. Mrs. Allia started from scratch and build “Lily’s Sweets”. It was just a small store named after her and then it became bigger and bigger,
Despite her mom being busy with work. She did not lose time to spend with Lily.
Her mother sure did a lot on her own, not depending on her dad.
Of course, her dad sends monthly allowance. But her mom just sends it back to him.
Lily is so proud of her mom. If it would only be some women, they would have never recovered. If there was some who recovered, then Lily was sure there were just few.
May 10, 2009
Mother’s Day
it was a really pleasant day. The sun was shinning brightly but the weather soothed with it quite well. That the sun’s brilliance did nothing but to make any mother assured that their special day is going to be enjoyable.
Lily, a 16 years old teenager, woke up with a smile. She went down stairs and checked her mother. As expected Mrs. Allia Asuncion was busy in their kitchen.
“Good morning, Ma” she kissed her mom’s cheek.
“Good morning, hija. Did you have a good night sleep?”
“Of course, Ma.” she looked at what her mom was cooking, “Spaghetti.”
Her mom chuckled. “Your favorite, right?”
“Right! By the way, Ma…”
“What?”
She hugged her mom. “Happy mother’s day.”
“Thank you, hija.” her mom hugged her back.
“Ma, I need to go out to buy something from the store. I’ll be right back. Ok?”
“You’re going like that?” her mom looked at her from head to toe.
When she understands what her mom was trying to say, she chuckled. She forgot about it.
“I’m going to fix myself in a flash. I’ll be right back, Ma.” then she kissed her mom again.
She was now heading to a store when a figure from a distant tree moves.
Then the figure faces her.
“Dad?” she said, surprised.
“Yes, its me.” her dad seems uncomfortable around her.
Oh how long has it been since they last met? She did not need to think. It was also when her father packed up and moved out of the house.
He did not even see his daughter for the past 6 years.
“What can I do for you, Dad?” she asked. She did not even move to hug or even kiss her father.
She knew that she was not ready to do that.
He did not only ignore her mother but also her. He can last without seeing his daughter.
That was one of her aches. But she still knew the fact that he is still her father.
“Well, Lily, can we talk somewhere else?”
“We can talk now Dad. Mom is waiting for me and I need to buy something.” she did not want to spend a lot of her time with her father.
She was afraid to burst out and say a lot of harsh things to him.
“Lily, uhm, I do not know if this is appropriate or not. But I really miss you, my daughter.” he said. “Your mom has been with you since you were 8. Why not come and live with me and you Auntie Dina?” he said straight ahead.
She thought, her father is nuts.
He continued. “Your Auntie Dina would not mind because we all had boys. She would like you as her daughter.”
Lily gritted her teeth.
“I missed you too and I have to say no, Dad”
“But, why?” her dad said like he was so confused.
“You know why, Dad. I need not to explain.” she said while she was really disappointed.
Her Dad needs some sense in him.
And what he was doing made her ache, not only for her but for her mom.
Her mom married someone or even loved someone who is hard to be with. And he was unreasonable, her dad.
Lily did not know if what was going on with her dad’s mind that he even got the courage to take her out of her mother’s care.
Of course, she would not come. Her mom is both her mom and dad when he was gone. And she did not give up because of her.
Her mom did not even have any man in her life after her dad.
She only focuses on Lily and her business. Like what her Mom said, she is very important to her and that she is the reason why her mom still lives.
She looked at her dad. “I got to go, Dad”
He was still thinking if what did he do wrong when she passed by him.
And she remembered something,
“Dad, before I forget I’m going the store to buy Coke.”
Her father just looked at her.
“Did you forget? Every mother’s day Mom cooks spaghetti and you buy Coke. Now that you’re gone I’m the one who’s buying.”
“It’s mother’s day today?” her dad asked. Suddenly he went pale and shook his head like he was in deep regret. His shoulder fell in both sides.
“Yes, it’s mother’s day.” the pattern of our life did not change enough when you were gone, Dad, It was still the same. The only thing is that you were not there., she wanted to add.
She smiled painfully. Her father wanted to take her from her mother on Mother’s day.
When she got back to their house her mom was finished in cooking spaghetti.
“Wow.” I said.
“Come sit.” her mom said and served her with the spaghetti.
They ate.
“Dad came to look for me. He wants me to stay with him.” I said nonchalantly but I was looking at my mother.
Allia’s expression change, “What’s your answer?” her mother asked, like she was alarmed.
“I said no” I answered back, while tasting the sweet-sour spaghetti.
“Oh.” her mother exclaimed. She seemed relieved but sad.
She decided to give her mother a gift. Aside from the gift she was planning to give her this afternoon.
“You know, Ma” I started.
“Yes?”
“Do you know why spaghetti is my favorite?”
“You love it. What else would be the reason?” her mom asked, still sad.
She finishes her spaghetti.
Looking at her mom, “This spaghetti taste sweet but at the same time sour. Like what our life had been this past few years. But even though it reminds me of our aches I still love spaghetti. Maybe, because the memories that this spaghetti can reminisce are not just sad ones, it also reminded me of the things that you did for me. Ma, I really appreciated all of it. When Dad was gone, I thought that it would all be over. I was so scared. But because you were there I stayed strong. Dad approached me earlier and showed me how much a bastard he is. But still even he acted like that I knew that no matter what happens. He is still my Dad. And you taught me that. You never planted any anger on me for Dad. All this years, you did not prevent me to approach Dad but I never did anything to approach him. I love you, Mom. I am really happy that you did not give up one me. I’m really thankful to have you as my Mom. Our life is like this spaghetti. Although years have past the taste of the spaghetti you cook does not waver at all. It tastes the same. Like us, we never wavered because of Dad.” she said with tears in her eyes.
Her mom was already crying. She approached her mom and hugs her tight.
“Happy mother’s day, Ma. I love you.”
“Thank you, Lily, Thank you. I love you, baby.”
-niqhu. may 5, 2009

(visit my multiply (niqhu.multiply.com) to read some of my short stories)

The camp I attended at New Washington, Kalibo, Aklan was the first camp I went to. We stayed at Sampaguita Garden Resort for 5 days that was on April 1-5, 2008. The first day was no rush at all because the official opening of the camp was held at night. So we had a 0stroll around the resorr for sometime and took our rest afterwards. We managed to eat there but it cost us a lot. So we decided to take our lunch outside the resort. Our food on the first day at dinner time really shocked me a lot. It was dried fish and a somewhat soup that I can’t tell the taste. It really wasn’t what I had expected. But as the program started that night I met some new friends from other schools. From the first day, I have already set in mind the objectives of the camp that was for us to learn more how to socialize with people that we’ve never met before. Do things with them that requires teamwork to finish any said activity. And secondly is to learn more about marine biology, many lecturers came to give us some sessions and I really appreciated what I’ve learned. The second day was the part where we were seperated to subcamps. Although Im seperated from my group I enjoyed the company of my co-members in that subcamp. They we’re so warm in welcoming me. I will never forget that cloud9 that you can receive upon introducing yourself. We also decided on "Nautilus" as our group name and made banner for it. We also had yells that we’ve perform the same day at night. We also joined the mambo but it suddenly rain so the fun was stopped. Our banner was also lost the same day. My school also held a dance practice after that. The rain wouldn’t stop us from perfecting our work. The third day was another suprising day with the pop quiz. Although I was one of those whose going to be picked as a representative of our group. I still can’t join because of the other load I have, We just had our luck test on. Well, my luck was bad. So, I wasn’t able to join. At night, it was time for the performance we’ve been practicing on and the Fashionista Night. Although, we didn’t win I was happy to be able to join such event. We also change to our fashionista outfit wherein I had on an all-black summer look outfit. My mom suggested that. And we had a small party at one part of the resort. The fourth day was tiring because in the morning we had that somewhat amazing race thing with lots of activities for us to gain points to determine if what class will we belong at the afternoon camp fair. It was fun grooving with the music playing that afternoon. At night, we had the quiz bowl that really made me sleepy. The fifth and last day was also another exhausting yet wonderful day. It was because we went to tour around. We went to a church, the museum, a somewhat place that I can’t remember the name but they demonstrated how they make those pine into the materials used in making bags and we also had a tree planting at Bakhawan Mangroove  (I’m not sure with the name). At night was the pledge night where we lighted our candles and gathered it to make our symbol as a PSYSC delegate. And that night was also where we bid our farewells with exchanging of cellphone numbers, of course. The last thing that I could add is that I never expected to attend such camp, I really thought it would be hard but it wasn’t with the helped of everyone around me who really tried their best to make it enjoying. Thank you all. And I’m missing "Nautilus 12"