The Babymaker

Prologue

I was twelve when I lost my parents in an accident, both of them died and left me.

I was just staring on my parent’s lifeless body when my Uncle arrived, he’s my only hope. My father was an orphan and left with no relatives other than my mother’s brother.

“Apple?” he called me, tears continuously shedding on my cheeks.

“Uncle!” I screamed and he hugged me.

I didn’t grow up with him but he used to visit us. After the burial, Uncle brought me in the province where he lives with his family.

He’s nice but his wife doesn’t like me. She keeps saying that I’m only waste of money. That they are already poor and they have a child, and I’m just another person to feed. But my uncle insisted that he was my only relative and he will take care of me. My auntie was really mad, they always almost every night.

I’ve tried to be a good niece. I always help them with the chores; I’ve even taking care of my little cousin if they are not around.

“Thanks God, you even know how to make chores. I thought I still need to order you.” She pointed her index finger on my forehead. “Apple, remember this, if your parents treat you like a princess before then I’m sorry to inform you. Here in my place, in my house, you’re not a living princess, okay? Learn how to clean and work! Not just someone who sleeps and eats in this house.”

I wanted to cry that time but she stared at me and poke her index finger to my forehead. “Don’t cry on me. Ok? Don’t cry on me. I won’t feel sympathetic on you.”

I did try to stop my tears. I remembered Mom always telling me to be strong and I’m a big girl already.

Even when I envy Maya, my cousin, because I can see that auntie is a nice person after all. She loves Maya, I can see how much she loves her daughter and made me miss my Mom more. Auntie is like a different person when it comes to Maya. I grow up watching her taking care of Maya, preparing her bath, food and uniform for school, she even accompanied her in school sometimes while on me, she’s really mad when uncle enrolled me in high school. They even fight over night because of that.

So even I’m tired from school works, once I got home I will do all the house chores.

Even I feel so envy on Maya, I love Maya. She’s way younger than me but she’s smart, sweet and loveable. She always cheer up when I’m sad with her dancing. I remembered when auntie was really mad when I went home late. She didn’t let me eat dinner but Maya sneak some food for me.

“Ate*, I have food for you.” And she made the ‘sshh’ sound then laugh, even I haven’t eaten the food she sneaked for me. I felt full, full of love by my little cousin.

So if Maya needs me right now, I will do everything for Maya.

***

FYI. For your Guidelines.

Ate - is older sister in Tagalog/Filipino