Mila clutched the money in her hand, tightly, as she walked the narrow street that led to a store nearby. She had planned to buy Biogesic, a tablet medicine for her son’s headache, and it made her frown even more. Not because her son had earlier complained of a headache, no. She would do anything for her son. But because she only had twenty pesos left.
She walked straight ahead since that narrow road led directly to Manang Gina’s store, just eight houses from hers. Mila lowered her head and thought how else to earn for a living. She was soon interrupted by Lena’s chitchat ahead and that gave her a temporary smile.
“Hoy, Mila come here,” Lena called. Mila saw that she had just ended a conversation with a younger lady and so she walked towards her.
“Did you hear of Romelyn getting pregnant?” Lena asked after the young lady had left.
“No. She did? With whom?” Mila asked, and she stood closer to Lena.
“Hay, to Bernard. That foolish rascal you have long hated!” she replied with a gentle slap on Mila’s left shoulder. “Di ba, you hated his attitude of plundering drivers at the high way when he should have made use of his big muscles and find work.”
“What? To that sluggard? Ay, I have always predicted that Romelyn—“ She quickly cut off her words and looked around to see if anyone was around, especially Romelyn. “—na igat.”
“Did you see her here just a few minutes ago?”
“Yes. So that was what you talked about?”
“Yes. Actually, I pity that girl sometimes. Hay Mila, that was harsh of you to say that. It’s not entirely her fault, you know.”
“Mare, she wouldn’t have gotten pregnant if she didn’t open her legs for him. Na! She should have realized how hard it is to raise a child!”
“Uy, grabe sad.” Lena exclaimed and gently shoved Mila’s shoulder again. “Anyway, you’re right. It was her decision too, that’s why. It’s really hard raising a child. And to think that she’s only nineteen. Tsk tsk. Poor girl.”
“Of course.” Mila added with a firm tone. “Uy, I’ll just go to Gina’s store ha. I’ll have to buy Bogesic for junior. He was complaining about his headache.”
“O sige. I’ll also be preparing dinner inside. Meynard will be home soon from work.”
“Hay, I wish my husband’s going to find work too.” Mila breathed silently. “O sige. Thank you for that small chat.”
“Sige Mare.”
Mila walked further on until she reached the store. She loosened her grasp on the money and saw that it crumpled into a smaller piece of paper.
“Gin, Biogesic.” Mila said, and handed the last money she had for the day. In her mind, she thought of her son sick of headache and the last money she had. She was surprised herself when she thought she wished her husband was Meynard and not her useless husband who couldn’t find any job.
bugal-bugal