Monologo ni Aling Atsirka

Sa kanila, …

Ako ‘yong batang gusgusin. Nanlilimahid at pinuputakti ng lahat ng klase ng langaw at lamok. ‘Yong amoy ko kasi masahol pa sa – Ano ba ‘yong naamoy mong pinaka sa tanang buhay mo? Kung anuman ‘yon, ‘yon na ‘yon. Gula-gulanit ang kaisa-isa kong dyaket na nakapaimbabaw sa obersays kong dating puting-puting t-shirt e nangingitim na. Bigay lang ‘to ng mamang napadaan dalawang taon na ang nakalipas. At ‘tong pwetan ng bestida kong kaluma-luma’y tagpi-tagpi. Ako’y walang pera ni isang kusing. ‘Alang makain. D’yan lang pagala-gala. Walang tiyak na patutunguhan. A basta, kung anuman ang inabot sa ‘kin ng mga nadadaaanan ko, kinukuha ko. Salamat sa mga panahong nakakatsamba ako sa mga hilera ng basurahan ng pamatid-gutom.

Pero para sa kanya, …

Prinsesa raw ako. Katunayan e, Prinsesa Juana ang tawag n’ya sa ‘kin. Hihihi… Nakakalanggam naman! Naghihinatay daw sa ‘kin ang napakagarang mansiyon. May malaking kama sa sarili kong kwarto. ‘Tong bestida kong ‘to, sus papalitan Niya ‘to ng bago na may di ko maipaliwanag na kakomportablehan. Di raw ako giginawin o pagpapawisan, sakto lang. Komportable nga e. Di ko aalahanin pang makagat-kagat—Sandali!. May ngipin ba ang mga lamok at lamok? Este, gan’to, di na raw ako muling matusok-tusok ng lamok o madidilaan ng langaw. Okey ba? Sila pa raw ang magiging numero uno kong kaibigan. Di ko na kelangang mangmina ng trash can. Lahat ng gusto kong kainin o inumin, iproprovayd Niya. Di ko iisipin ang uhaw at gutom ko pag ka gano’n. Kaya lagi akong relaks at s’yempre nakangiti.

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