Noong nasa grade three pa lamang ang bunsong anak kong babae, si Nina Martinne, hindi siya miminsang tinutukso ng mga kapatid niya dahil may isang batang lalaki ang lagi na
ay nagbibisikleta at umiikot sa may harapang-bahay namin at sumisigaw nang ganito: "I love you, Nina!" Iyan ay bukod pa sa mga padalang love notes mula sa pinunit na notebook.
But Nina's siblings could not even make her cry. She was simply enjoying it, flattered by the boy's attention. Anim na taon na ang lumipas mula noon. That young boy's sixteen now, kasing-edad ng aking dalagitang malimit nitong sulatan at ipagsigawan sa buong subdivision ng I love you, Nina!
Minsang kasama ko si Nina, hindi sinasadyang napa-dalaw kaming mag-ina sa lugar kung saan nakatira ang pamilya ng batang lalaking iyon. Since I know this boy's parents, we were obliged to drop by and exchanged some polite conversations. My daughter, prim and proper, sat in one of the kawayan benches with a polite smile on her face.
Ang batang lalaki naman ay nasa isang dulo ng upuang-kawayan at tahimik din lang, a stiff smile on his face. At hindi na ito pilyo. Katunayan ay mahiyain na at nag-mature.
When we were leaving, I saw the young man stole a glance at my daughter. Something in his eyes sparked. Hindi ko mabigyan ng pangalan ang nakiraan sa mga mata nito. But anyway, ang kapilyuhan ay matagal nang lumipas. Siguro ang nakita ko sa mga mata nito ay isang panghihinayang sa nawalang kabataan.
Nawalang kabataan? I really thought so. The young boy was trapped into marriage at a very inadmissible age. And at sixteen, is already a father.
This novel is for that young boy...
MARTHA CECILIA
YOU ARE READING
SWEETHEART 12: Charles' Angel
RomanceCats and dogs. Iyon ang tulad nina Charles at Angeli. Kailanman ay hindi na yata sila magkakasundo pa. Not until Angeli got dumped by her star basketball player boyfriend. And Charles by her smart and beautiful girlfriend. Now that they both have so...
