My Little Moon - 𝗂𝗋𝖾𝗇𝖾 𝗆𝖺𝗋𝖼𝗈𝗌

04. intransigent grief

"So hija, tell me about yourself." Imelda broke the silence that was lingering since earlier. They were eating their breakfast, each one of them busy with their own thoughts until Mama Meldy has had enough.

Napatingin silang tatlo kay Catrina, sabay-sabay ang ulo nila lumingon sa kaniya kaya nabigla siya tuloy. The three of them all looked intimidating at napa lunok nanaman si Catrina dahil diyan.

"Uh. . .ang full name ko po ay Catrina Tuazon. Mahilig po akong kumanta at mag-drawing ng kung ano-ano."

Napatingin si Imee kay Irene nung sinabi ni Catrina kung ano ang hilig niya. She was staring at her as if trying to convey something. Irene, on the other hand, perked up at the sound of the girl's hobbies, but raised her brows when she noticed Imee observing her.

"Oh? You like to sing and draw?" Mama Meldy asked, surprised at the revelation, "para karin si Irene ah. Mahilig din siya sa ganyan."

". . .mom," hiya napasabi ni Irene sa mama niya. She doesn't like people telling it for her, gusto niya na siya mismo ang magsabi, pero it's no use. She doesn't even wanna talk to the girl.

"Opo. Pero hindi po ako magaling. Tanging kasihayan ko lang po mga 'yan."

"Ah. . ." Imee hummed, she was still very invested on what her sister's reaction will be, pero parang matigas kalabanin si Irene. She still didn't say anything about what happened earlier, and by the looks of it, she wasn't planning on telling at all.

"Tell me what else."

"Uhm. . .mahilig din ako tumingala sa langit para pagmasdan ang kagandahan nito. Lalong lalo't na ang buwan. Medyo weird na hobby pero 'yan talaga kasi ginagawa ko kapag nalulungkot ako."

And just like that, Irene caught herself looking at the girl with something else in her eyes other than annoyance.

"Really?"

Biglang napa tigil si Imee sa pagsubo ng kaniyang pagkain at napatingin ng lubos ky Irene. Ganun din si Mama Meldy. For the first time, she acknowledged the kid with words and not just her silent glares.

Catrina softly smiled. "Yes po, hindi ko po alam kung bakit pero ginagawa ko na po 'yon noong bata palang ako."

Irene didn't smile back, however, her face wasn't as condescending as before. Parang gumaan yung mukha niya, and Imee saw it.

"Ilang taon kana ba?" Imee was the one who questioned, intrigued by whatever was happening between them all.

"Fifteen po. . ."

Tumingala si Irene nung narinig niya 'yon. She suddenly remembered something. Tahimik lang siyang nakatingin kay Catrina pero ramdam ni Imee ang pananabik niya.

After Mama Meldy made Catrina introduce herself, the table was quiet once more. It was like that until everybody had finished eating. They slowly got up and went to pick up their plates when Catrina stopped them.

"Ay, ako napo ang huhugas niyan."

The three Marcos ladies looked at her in hesitation.

"Kaya naman namin hija," Imelda reassured. But Catrina was stubborn. Another one of her traits that Imee and Irene noticed.

"Ako na lang po. Total first day ko din po naman," Catrina smiled and took each of their plates to bring it to the sink. Wala na silang iba nagawa kundi ibigay ito sa kaniya kasi napaka adamant niyang bata.

And that reminds Imee of someone. Sino pa ba kundi si Irene.

"Oh sige, andito lang kami sa living room if you need anything." Paalam ni Imee at agad-agad hinila ang Mommy at ang kapatid niya sa sala.