My One In A Million

"He has the nerve! Akala niya babalik-balikan ko sya." She paused. "Siguro nga yun talaga ang iniisip niya. Baka nga ako ang may mali. Di ba ma?" she said teary eyed. I smiled. Galing siya ng school at nakakapagtakang umuwi sya mag-isa. Nandito kami sa terrace ng second floor. I've always admired the view here. Fascinating. There was silence. Bumuntong hininga ako at hinarap sya. "Alam mo, anak; I was always waiting for this day. Yung araw kung saan sasabihin mo sa akin na may mali. I rejoice with you in all of your wins, but you know what, sharing your downtimes with me feels like winning, too." She sobbed. She didn't get the answer that she wanted. She's always been like this. Naive. Innocent. "I don't understand you at all, ma. Bwisit!" "Oops. Your language." Pagsaway ko sa kanya. Nadia is now in ninth grade. She's our only child. Sinigurado namin ng dad niya na lumaki siya ng malapit sa amin para lagi niyang maramdaman na kung mayroon mang isa sa pinakaimportanteng bagay sa buhay namin, siya yun. From all the littlest of little to the big ones of her struggles, we wanted to be there. I wanted to be there. Even if that includes the guy problems. Sa dad niya yun sinasabi pero I also wanted to know about it. Palagi niyang sinasabi sa akin lahat ng problema niya. Noong tumungtong na sya ng eight grade, she started to be shy about some things. We didn't prohibit her from having suitors, but we always tell her that as long as they will include us, her parents, in the equation. We're all good. "Tell me, ma. Do we really find true love in this age? o ilusyon lang talaga to lahat. Siguro nga sagabal lang to sa pag-aaral." Hinahaplos ko ang buhok niya habang nakasandal ang ulo niya sa aking balikat.  "If it's true love we're talking about, there's no right answers" I smiled at her. "Magkakaiba ang pagdating ng bawat tunay na pag-ibig sa buhay ng tao, anak. Pwedeng makita mo yung tamang tao at your 20s or maybe, at your age now. May iba nga magkababata at matapos ang ilang taong paghihiwalay ng landas, nagkatuluyan parin. The soulmate stuffs." The air blew life into my face. "It's just...." she stopped. "it hurts." Niyakap ko sya. Dalaga na nga talaga siya. Parang kailan lang binubuhat pa namin to ni Chrys. Now, she's a teenager. "If that's really the love that you want, anak; endure it. But, if it's disrespect, never tolerate it. You always deserve better. You may be made of steel, but you should choose the things that you resist." She faked a smile. "Kayo ba ni dad, ma? Was there a time in your relationship that you ended up crying?" I sipped my coffee.  It's been years. "Of course, there was." and all the memories flashed before me...