Inis akong napamulat ng mga mata ng marinig ko ang nag-iingay kong alarm clock. Then I close my eyes again for the sudden contact of the light from my window and lazily got up. I fixed my bed and while fixing it my eyes accidentally landed on my calendar.
I snort, so it's now April huh? A day to fool people. What a great day to start!
I smiled to myself and look at my reflection in the vanity mirror.
"Beautiful as ever!" I said gleefully then walk out of my room to go to the downstairs where our kitchen was located.
And there, I saw my lovely mom cooking something for breakfast. Dahan-dahan akong lumapit sa kaniyang likuran para gulatin siya na palagi kong ginagawa. And as usual, nagulat na naman ang mommy ko. Saglit niya akong pinagalitan at natawa na kalauan. I smiled sheepishly as I offered a help to my mother that she instantly accept. I ask my mom where dad is while I was chopping the onion. Sabi ni mommy ay nasa terrace lamang si daddy at nagbabasa ng diyaryo gaya ng nakasanayan nito. Maya-maya lang ay tuluyan na akong naiyak dahil sa hapdi ng mga mata ko dulot ng mga sibuyas na hinihiwa.
"This is damn making me cry!" I bursted a laughter and my mom too.
She instantly go near me to wipe my tears, still laughing a bit.
"Mommy, onions are cruel they're making me cry.." I sob.
My mom gently caress my eyes and put a basin of water in the table so that I could deep my eyes in it.
Imbes na gawin ko yon ay hinayaan ko na lamang ang sarili kong lumuha. Damn the onion.
Nagtatakang napatingin sa akin si mommy ng hindi ko manlang ginawa ang gusto nitong gawin ko.
"I will rinse my eyes in my own ways , mom. I'll clean it with my tears this time." I said and we both chuckles.
Hindi na ako pinatulong ni mommy sa paggawa ng breakfast and I obeyed like an obedient puppy. Maya-maya lang ay biglang kumalat sa buong kusina ang masarap na amoy ng mga niluluto ni mommy.
At kasunod nun ay ang pagpasok ni daddy sa kusina at salubungin ng yakap si mommy at humalik sa pisngi nito. I rolled my eyes and avoided my gaze at them. Yuck PDA.
Tumawa si daddy ng makita ang reaksiyon ko at ginulo nito ang buhok ko. He is always like that.. messing my hair and laugh heartily at my annoyed expression.
After the setting of table we dined with each other with so much joy. Ang sarap ng luto ni mommy, as usual.
Matapos naming kumain ay may tumawag sa akin. I answered the call and it was Edmond, my boyfriend. He ask me to go out and because my parents really like him they immediately agree with no further ado.
I wore the nude dress he gave me. I look awesomely beautiful! It complemented my fair skin.
As I open the door our eyes meet in instant. His eyes is sparkling as he look back at me. Admiring my beauty.
Inabot niya sa akin ang isang pulang rosas bago kami umalis ng bahay. At gaya ng dati naglakad lang kami papunta sa palagi naming pinupuntahan. Ang plaza.
Habang naglalakad kami ay maraming kalalakihan ang napapalinga sa akin na puno ng paghanga ang mga mata. Dahilan para sumimangot si Edmond.
I laugh and held his arm and pulled him towards the old man selling a cotton candy like we always do everytime we go in the plaza.
"Manong, dalawang cotton candy po." I said and smiled to my boyfriend. Nag-abot sa akin si Manong ng dalawang cotton candy. I pay and my boyfriend insisted na siya na lamang ang magbayad ngunit hindi ako nagpatalo at hindi narin siya nagpumilit pa. When I handed my money towards Manong his creasing his forehead in confusion. Pati rin ang mga tao sa paligid namin ni Edmond.
I just shrugged off their confusion and return my attention to my boyfriend.
We decided to settle on a bench in a corner of the plaza where a lot of children were playing. I am so darn happy right now.
Ang pagtawa ko ay nabitin sa ere ng makarinig ako ng ring sa aking cellphone. Elsa, my friend is calling. Kaagad ko itong sinagot ng may ngiti sa mga labi. She ask me where I am because she wanted to have a girly date with me but when I told her I'm in a date with my boyfriend she squeal instantly and said to enjoy our date together. Supportive as ever.
Maya-maya lang habang nag-aasaran kami ng boyfriend ko ay may isang batang lumapit sa akin.
"Manang, sino ho ang kausap niyo?" Naguguluhan nitong tanong sa akin at luminga linga pa sa paligid.
Ngumiti ako sa batang babaeng lumapit sa akin. "My boyfriend and my best friend, darling." I answered
"Did they leave? Wala na kasi akong makitang kasama mo." The little girl asked still creasing her forehead.
I laughed, "yes, they left me.. a long time ago." I answered. Kasabay nun ay ang paglapit ng mag-asawa sa amin.
"Ashana! Anak nandito ka lang naman pala!"
"Baby, next time magpaalam ka sa amin ng mommy mo.."
So they are the parents of this little girl huh and there daughter's name is Ashana.
When Ashana bid her good bye to me the gazes of these two people landed on my spot. Shock and sympathy are all over their faces. I smiled bitterly at them. "Go like how you did before and never look at me like that." I said with no emotion in my voice.
So it means this fooling is now over huh. The reality just slap me.
Bumagsak ang luha ko habang tinitignan ang dati kong kaibigan at ex-boyfriend na naglalakad palayo habang pinapagitnaan ng mga ito ang produkto ng kanilang kataksilan sa akin. They betrayed me, yes. They left me to the very moment I needed someone to hold on to.
I laugh with no humor.
I've been fooling myself since I woke up in the morning.
My parents, they're dead and I'm just making myself believe that they're still alive. But the truth is they died in a plane crash years ago.
My beauty, it has already been faded. The stares of the men a while ago wasn't looking at me with admiration but in pure distate and disgust. Mas matanda pa ako ng ilang ulit sa tunay kong edad. I'm twenty four but I look sixty. Maybe because I became an alcohol addict, a chainsmoker, and a drug user after the grave of my parents. I didn't cope the tragedy very well.
And because of that, my boyfriend left me for the beauty I had is slowly fading away. The beauty that he truly love about me. And later on my best friend. She turn her back at me and have my boyfriend. Matagal na pala itong may gusto sa nobyo ko. Just fvcked up, right?
I smiled to myself as I wiped my tears, the product of my pain, sorrow, and agony.. "Happy April Fool's Day, self." I greeted myself as another batch of tears fell.
I look up above the sky and extend my arms there, hoping I could reach my parents. And hopelessly down it and hug my knees. At this point I look like an abandoned ugly puppy.
"You've made me happy and smile again. You've fooled me well. What a nice job!" Kausap ko sa sarili and I fake a laugh that turns out into painful sobs later on.
What a day to fool ourselves. Happy April fool's day, people!
