Cool Kaimito (Jollibee V. Luna 6)

 

By Virginia J. Pasalo

LAST Wednesday morning, a woman in her 50s wearing a blue dress sat on the table adjacent to mine. She took small bites of the Burger Steak she ordered, while looking at some photos, smiling. A voice from behind me made her look up:

Nanganak na ba? Sino nagbayad ng bill? (Did she give birth? Who paid the bill?)

Oo, Ate, nanganak na. Ako ang nagbayad ng bill. (Yes, sister, she gave birth. I paid the bill.)

Putangina, yang asawa mong malibog, walang kapapigil! (Son of a whore, your maniac of a husband, he has no restraint!)

Di bale, Ate. Wala na sila. Yung bata iuuwi namin. Aalagaan ko. (Never mind, sister. They are no longer a couple. We are taking home the child with us. I will take care of him.)

Ano? Ang tanga mo! (What? You are so stupid!)

Kay sa naman dalawin pa ng asawa ko yung anak niya sa kanya. Nangako siya, di na uulit. (Instead of my husband visiting his son in her care. He promised he will not do it again.)

Dios ko po! Kung bakit ka kasi tumapat sa gitna noong nagsabog si Satanas ng katangahan! (My, God! Why did you go directly in the middle when Satan strew stupidity!)

Sinusunod ko lang ang payo ng pari, ang nagpatawad. Mas malaking pagkakasala ang magpalaglag. (I am only following the advice of the priest, to forgive. It is a greater sin to abort.)

Nakatatlong anak na yang asawa mong atsay-killer. Hihintayin mo pa bang maging apat? (Your maid-killer husband had sired three children already. Are you waiting for the fourth?

Wala kaming anak. Ituturing ko silang mga anak. (We have no children. I will raise them as my own.)

Ganun! Puro menor de edad yang mga kasambahay na nabuntis. Isang araw, baka magsampa ng kaso ang mga magulang niyan. (Really! Those he impregnated are minors. One day, the parents might file a case.)

Kumain ka na, Ate. Malamig na Chicken Joy mo. (Eat, sister. Your Chicken Joy is getting cold.)

She wiped her lips, and looked at the photos again, smiling. No defiance, no anger, no anxiety. Outside, just as serene, the kaimito tree, threatened to be cut, stands in the rain.

 

COOL KAIMITO

I see you, kaimito

cool, calm and collected

swaying to the music of the wind

and the rhythm of the rain

 

I pray for you, kaimito

as you celebrate another day

in conversation with the hearts

of people passing by

and those who decide

whether you live, or die.

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