Flaws To Your Perfect (PUBLISHED UNDER PAPERINK IMPRINTS)

Flaw #9

"SO I supposed you're adjusting well here, Paige?" tanong ni Mommy habang kumakain kami ng lunch.

Bumaling ang tingin ko kay Paige, silently waiting for her reply. Naabutan ko siyang ibinababa ang baso ng icetea at sandaling pinunasan ang kanyang bibig gamit ang table napkin. Pagakatapos ay gumilid ang kanyang ulo sa direksyon ko kaya naman ay mabilis akong napabaling sa pagkain ko.

I can feel my cheeks burning up.

Masyado kaya akong obvious?

"Well thanks to a certain someone, I get to blend in with the crowd." Nakahinga ako ng malalim nang marinig ko ang sagot niya kay Mommy. But there's still a few remnants of the butterflies that kept on wandering inside my stomach.

"Well, Teagan can surely be handful at times too," ani Dad na nagpasinghap sa akin.

"I'm not, Dad—"

"You're right, Tito. She's super stubborn and always refuses to back-down at anything," sang-ayon naman ni Paige na mas nagpakunot ng noo.

"Are you seriously ganging up on me?" tumatawa kong tanong sa kanila. "Mom?"

Mommy just shrugged at me with a smile. I put my utensils down and pouted my lips as a I glare at them one by one.

"I hate you."

"No you don't," sabay-sabay nilang sagot sa akin bago nagkatinginan at saka sabay-sabay na nagsitawanan.

It was sight to be treasured. Seeing my beloved parents laughing with . . . someone I like.

Dadating pa kaya ang ganitong pagkakataon ulit?

Hopefully yes, but with a guy around instead.

"PAIGE . . ." Inalis ko ang tingin mula sa video na pinapanood ko sa cellphone para tignan si Mommy na kasalukuyang nakaupo sa passenger seat.

"What about her po?" tanong ko kasabay nang tuluyang pag-lock sa phone para mas matuonan ko ng pansin si Mommy. Nakita ko ang sandaling pagtingin niya sa phone na ipinasok ko sa bag bago siya ngumiti sa akin.

"Wala naman. I just . . . like that girl. Masaya siyang kasama."

"She is." Walang pagda-dalawang isip kong saad.

My mother's lips parted. For a moment, she looks like she have something to say to me but in the end, her lips just turned into a sweet smile as her hand extended to the back of the car. Bahagya akong umusog palapit sa kanya to let her ruffle my hair.

"That's right. Feel free to have fun, baby," makahulugan niyang sabi habang naka-ngiti.

I was lost with her sudden remark but I paid it no mind. She's probably just back on her role as the sentimental mother once again.

Inalalayan ako ni Mommy sa pagbaba ng sasakyan kahit na sinabi kong kaya ko naman. Iyong kaliwang braso ko ang nakasemento pero kung tratuhin nila ako ay kulang nalang ay karagahin nila ako papasok ng bahay.

Dad followed behind us, carrying my bag and the food we had ordered for take out para sa mga kasambahay. Binigay niya ang mga pagkain kay Lola Tess na naunang sumalubong sa amin pagkapasok ng bahay.

"Ano ba 'yan, Teagan?! Jusmiyong bata ka, sa susunod ay mag-ingat ka naman!" Tinawanan ko lamang ang mga sermon ni Lola Tess na siyang nagpalaki kay Daddy at sa'kin na rin.

Gamit ang isang braso, inakbayan ko ang matanda at naglalambing na ipinahinga ang ulo ko sa balikat niya.

"Lola . . . I didn't want to be injured naman eh! Look!" sabay pakira ko ng naka-sling na braso. "It would be hard for me to sew for a while," nakanguso kong reklamo sa kanya habang natatawa lamang kaming pinanood ng mga magulang ko.

I heard my nanny sighed heavily before she hugged me from my side. "Hayaan mo, hija. Kung gusto mong magtahi ay tawagin mo lang ako o ang Ate Nila mo, kami ang mag-uusog at hahawak ng tela para sa'yo."

"Aww! That's so sweet, Lola!" ani ko kasabay ng magaang paghalik sa pisngi niya.

Others may not know it, but I really love sewing and designing clothes. Minsan nga ay isinusuot pa ni Mommy ang mga damit na ginagawa ko o 'di kaya ay binibili ang mga designs ko para i-produce ng sariling clothing line niya.

"No working yet, Teagan. The doctor told us you need to rest. Try to sneak out and I'll make sure to lock your working room." Naniningkit ang mga mata ni Daddy nang sabihin iyon.

Hinatid nila ako paakyat sa kwarto ko. Mommy helped me take a bath and change into comfortable clothes. Pareho na kami ngayong nakaupo sa kama ko, she was drying my hair with a towel.

"Wala kayong appointment today, My? I can manage naman po if—"

"Teagan." Naputol ang dapat na sasabihin ko nang marinig ko ang seryosong boses ni Mommy.

Mommy's soft spoken and usually ay malambing ang tono niya kung kakausapin ako o si Daddy. It was rare hearing her tone like this but it was just a silent warning that what she would say would be a serious matter.

"Alam mong ikaw ang priority namin ng daddy mo, hindi ba?" she asked. I felt a tinge of guilt inside my heart once again.

Again. I'm making my mom sad again. She always hated being called an adopted mother or even a foster parent. Kaya naman ay kakaunti lamang ang nakakaalam ng totoo kong pagkatao. It's also a blessing na talented ako sa pagde-design at pagtatahi ng mga damit, people then thought that I inherited the talent and skill from her. That was really something she was so proud of.

She had hated it when I suddenly question her treatment, be it consciously or not.

"Kayang-kaya naming isang tabi ang kahit ano para sa'yo, Teagan."

"I know, Mom . . ." Malungkot kong sagot pabalik sa kanya. "I'm sorry . . . did I make you sad again?"

Nakayuko lang ako at nilalaro ang mga daliri ko. I don't have the will to lift my head to look at her just to see the hurt or dissapointed eyes she have at the moment.

"Hay naku, itong prinsesa talaga namin . . ." she whined before I felt her arms around my shoulders. Naramdaman ko ang hininga niya sa may pisngi ko at kinikiliti ng dulo ng maiksi niyang buhok ang likuran ko. "We love you so much, Teagan. We don't care what you want or what you do. We'll always be here to support you. Ang hinihiling lang namin ng daddy mo ay ang maging masaya ka."

It was a simple talk. I usually have these moments with mom a lot of time before.

Pero ngayong may pinagdadaanan akong tunay ay parang iba ang dating nito sa akin.

Bahagyang lumabo ang paningin ko dahil sa paunti-unting pamumuo ng luha sa mga mata ko. I didn't want my mom to see me cry. That would surely break her heart.

"Mommy . . ." My voice trailed into a stop before a sob successfully escape my lips.

"Hmm?" she responded while still hugging me from the back.

"What if I did something that . . . that may embarrass you . . . and dad?"

Naramdaman ko ang pag-aalis niya ng kanyang ulo sa balikat ko bago niya ako inikot paharap sa kanya. But my eyes remained still, hindi ko kayang harapin siya gayong alam kong may tinatago ako mula sa kanya.

"Teagan . . ." Gamit ang kanyang mga daliriinangat niya ang baba ko para magtagumpay sa paghuli ng tingin ko. "You cannever be a disappointment for us, baby. Never."