Estaciones Series: When Floréa Blooms

Chapter 5 – Forging Dreams

New day na naman mga mare! Annyeonghaseyo! Char!

I’m currently having breakfast with my daughter. As promised, we’ll be going to her new school, to observe and to enroll pag nag-okay na si master prinsesa bambina. But I already advised her na jan na nga talaga sya. We still have one and a half month before school starts for both her and me.

“Bambina!” I called to her from the bottom of the stairs.

“Are you ready? I’ll wait for you sa car.” Pagpapatuloy ko. I went out and drove the car outside the gate. I went down a bit planning to wait for Kiara. Gentlewoman kasi ako. Magbubukas pa ko ng pinto.

“Hi!!!” I heard a half shout, half squeal greeting. Tumalikod ako. Andun si cute baby girl na masarap kagatin sa cheeks. Syempre ayokong dedmahin si bagets.

“Hi to you too cute baby.” I waved at her. Ang cute talaga nito. Humahagikgik pa.

“Sophie! Where are you?”

“Ma! I’m here. Tara na po?” Sophie siguro name nya. I turned back when I noticed Kiara. Binuksan ko na yung pinto ng car to let her in. Then I walked to the door of the driver’s seat. I was about to open the door pero nagbalik tingin ako sa gate ni kapitbahay. Karga-karga na rin si baby ni kuya pero nakatalikod na naman.

Bakit palaging likod nito nakikita ko? Simula ngayon sya na si kuya likod. Char!

I started driving na rin. The school is not that far rin naman. Around 15 to 20 minutes drive lang from our home. I was passing-by block by block, then something caught my attention. I slowed down and turned right.

“Andito na tayo ma?”

“Ah wala pa, I just want to check something. Can you wait for me, bambina? Quick lang to.”

I jumped down the car. Ang taas pala ng Bronco para sa katulad kong 5’2”. Pero bakit ba.

I saw this building. It’s in red brick with arched windows. A 3-floor building. Then on the yellow tarp, it says that it was for lease. I feel excited. Eto na sya. Eto si Floréa.

Naglakad pa ulit ako going to the glass door. I peaked through the glass. Mukhang maganda. It’s bare. Ang gandang ayusan. Ano kaya to dati. I checked yung spaces sa leftmost, then sa rightmost.

Malapit sa schools – check

Malapit sa simabahan – check

Malapit sa hospital – check

Wow. Maganda ang foot traffic nito pag nagkataon. I pulled out my phone and took pictures. Then I saved the number from the tarp.

Tatawagan ko to mamaya.

This is it. This will be Floréa.

Bumalik na rin ako at nagdrive papunta sa magiging school ni Kiara. As we are driving, naexcite na naman ako. I can’t wait!

“Ma. Can we go to a café? Parang gusto ko ng macaron. Please po ma.” Request pa ni bagets. Kakaalmusal lang naming nyan ha. Pero why not? Parang gusto ko rin. #marupok

So I searched for a café selling macarons at 10am and drove there.

“Ma, do you think I will make friends in my new school? This is the third time na rin kasi na lumipat ako.” Mejo napansin ko din yung slight frustration nya dun. Di ko rin naman sya masisisi. We’ve moved quite a few times.

“Meron yan bambina. Trust me. Don’t worry. Dito magtatagal na tayo. This will be our forever place if you want to."

“Okay po ma.” I smiled a little. I know that frequent change affects her. But Kiara seems to be a very diligent and understanding child. Kahit papano naiintindihan nya yung situation, and I know she knows that we’re doing this for her.

When she finished her macarons and I finished another cup of coffee, we made our way to school.

Naglakad lakad kami, slowly lang, trying to observe and feel the school. Sinasadya ko talaga. I’m looking and checking for her reaction. It’s bigger than the schools she attended before. May mga bata rin, siguro for summer classes. She held my hand kaya napatingin ako sa kanya. Niyakap nya pa ang braso ko. So, I looked at her. I saw her smiling.

Uy excited ang baby ko.

“Mama it looks nice. It’s so big!” Ang hina ng boses nya pero excited and all smiles. Napangiti na lang ako, sabay exhale. Hayy may nagawa na kong maganda sa buhay ko for today’s video.

Tumakbo naman si Kiara, I was just looking at her. Ayan, be a free-spirited girl ‘nak. Mama will open every door and window for you. Nakangiti pa rin ako sa kanya habang malalaking mata nyang tinitingnan ang paligid nya.

“Miss Legaspi?” Rinig ko naman. Taka pa ko kung sino. Pero naka uniform sya.

“Hi po. I’m the school’s guidance counselor for the grade school department. Ms. Irene po, the one you talked to over your phone inquiry.”

“Oh, hi po Ms. Irene. Thank you for meeting us. Clara na lang po.” I shook her hand. Pano ba dapat interaction sa mga ganitong exclusive private schools? I shook her hand na lang. Okay na yan.

“Let me assist you for today. I can give you a tour. Kayo lang po ba?”

“Oh no. I’m with my daughter. Wait nasan na ba sya?” I turned my head para hanapin si Kiara. Asan na yung batang yun. Naaliw ata sa kakatingin.

“I think my daughter enjoyed the school. I’m sure nauna lang sya ng kunti. We can walk forward nanjan lang yan sya.” Asan na kaya yun.

So habang naglalakad kami hinahanap ko pa rin si Kiara. There, I saw her half sitting across a bench looking up to a little girl na umiiyak. Bumilis din yung paglalakad ko papunta sa kanya.

“Bambina what happened?” Tanong ko naman when I approached her.

“I think she lost yung kasama nya mama. She’s crying din kasi nung nakita ko, so I sit her down.” Paliwanag nya. I looked down. Nagulat ako, pero slight lang. It was the baby girl across the street.

“Hi baby.” Simula ko. “Why are you crying? Who’s with you huh?” Pagaalo ko habang pinupunasan yung luha. Sumisinghot pa. Sarap kurutin. Sorry, ang cute lang kahit umiiyak. Grabe baby fever ko sa batang to. She raised her head slowly, sumisinghot pa rin.

“Hi!” I heard her say in a low voice. Halatang galing iyak.

“Hi. Do you remember me?” I asked.

“Yes po.”

“What’s your name?”

“Sophie”

“Hi Sophie. I’m tita Clara and this is my daughter, ate Kiara.” Pagpapakilala ko sa kanya. “Who’s with you beautiful girl?”

“Miss Clara? Oh…” I turned my head. Si Ms. Irene yun. “Sophie, why are you here baby? San si yaya mo?”

“I don’t know.”

“That’s okay darling. Let’s go to the area for your sundo baka andun si yaya.” Tumango na lang sya. Then tumingin sya sa akin. She raised both of her arms, signaling me to carry her.

Ay! Pak! Close na kami. Makakagat ko na sya. So I lifted her up na lang.

“Ay miss, do you know Sophie?” Nagulat din siguro sya when Sophie made the gesture.

“Not really. I just saw her sa gate nila across my house. I don’t know her parents yet. Nagbabatian lang kaming dalawa pag nagkikita kami.” Niyakap naman ako ni Sophie at sumiksik sya sa leeg ko. Awww ang sweet naman ng baby na to.

We walked dun sa area na sinasabi ni Ms. Irene. Nakasiksik pa rin sa akin si Sophie. Si Kiara naman tinitingnan lang sya. Ano kayang iniisip ng anak ko. Gusto rin kaya nyang kagatin?

“Sophie? Ay Sophie, san ka galing? Kanina pa kita hinahanap.” Approached naman ng isang ate. Eto siguro yung yaya nya. Kaso si baby girl sumisiksik pa rin sa leeg ko, nagtago pa nga. Ang kulit.

“Hi Ma’am. Sorry po. Naligaw po ata alaga ko. Biglang takbo po kasi siya.” Pahingi naman ng pasensya ni ate.

“Wala yun ate. Hey Sophie.” Mahinahon kong tawag sa kanya.

“Sophie, dito na si yaya oh. C’mon baby girl.” She slowly lifted her and looked at me. I smiled at her and put her down slowly and gently. She’s just looking at me.

“Tara po Miss Clara?”

I looked at Sophie again. “Okay ka na?” She nodded.

“That’s good. I’ll see you later Sophie ha.” Tumango ulit sya.

I waved her goodbye.

“Thank you mama.” Hala mama daw. Lumingon-lingon pa ko. Then I looked at her and pointed to myself as if asking if she was pertaining to me. Ngumiti lang ang bata. Napangiti na lang din ako.

“Hala Sophie!” Nagulat din yung yaya. Nag wave na lang ulit ako ng babye sa kanya at sinundan si Ms. Irene at si Kiara.

Natuwa naman ako dun.

We went on with our tour and Ms. Irene’s introduction of the school and explanation of the academic year. I accompanied my bambina with her entrance tests. We went to lunch sa cafeteria nila while waiting for her results. High scores din naman ang little girl ko. My heart did a little happy cartwheels. Ang talino talaga ng anak ko—sa hirap ng pinagdaanan namin, she still shines. Later on, we proceeded with the enrollment.

“This is it bambina. Do well here Kiara, okay? I know you can.”

“Yes mama. Excited na rin po ako.”

“That’s good ‘nak. Any extracurriculars that you want to pursue as well?” I saw her thinking.

“Can I go back to doing ballet mama? Then tennis po?” She'd been doing ballet since she was 7. Nastop lang sya 2 years ago.

“Of course, naman. No problem with me. Are you sure?” Parang trip magpakabusy ng anak ko ah.

“Miss Clara, if you want, you can consider our ballet class here in school. We have tennis classes too. I think it will be easier for Kiara since di na kailangan magbyahe. An hour after school she can do her extracurricular activities.” Nakinig lang ako. Then I looked at my daughter, she’s looking at me as well, as if asking na pumayag ako. I turned to Ms. Irene.

“Sige Ms. Irene. Please send me the details over my e-mail. I’ll check them and inform you after.” Tiningnan ko ulit si Kiara. Ngumiti sya sa akin, nginitian ko na din sya pabalik.

Di kalaunan, nagpaalam na kami. I drove us home. That was a long day. 4PM na when we got home. Naalala ko naman yung building. So I pulled out my phone and dialed the number.

“Good afternoon. EC Architecture & Design. Tina speaking.” Sagot sa kabilang linya.

“Hi. Good afternoon. I have an inquiry about a building for lease in Diliman, the red-bricked building for lease. Is it okay to request an ocular? I’m considering it for my new business.”

“Sure ma’am. Wala pong problema. When do you want to visit?”

“Is it possible tomorrow at 9am?” Masyado bang maaga? Excited ako eh. Haba nung silence ni ate.

“Ma’am, let me put you on hold. I’ll just check the owner’s schedule. Sya po kasi usually ang nag totour and nag aassist ng ocular.”

“Alright. No problem.”

“Ma’am all good po. I was able to schedule you for tomorrow, 9am. The owner will meet you there na lang po.”

“Alright. Thank you, Tina.”

Ayan na. Here we go Floréa. Malapit na rin kitang maumpisahan.