My Mother's Mother

I’d had spent my week here at grandma’s house with the same routine. Eat. Feed the chickens and their cute baby chicks. Watch her feed the mother cow. Go home. Do my thing. So, today I’m gonna sneak out of the house and explore the area. I have never gone far from nana’s house and it has been so boring lately.

“Ali, lunch is ready!” Lola shouted from the kitchen. I shouted back “Coming down already!”

“I’ll go to the market later. Do you want me to buy you something?”

I thought for a while, and then I remembered something. “Can I go with you? You did not take me with you last time.” I smiled hopefully she would agree. “Who’s gonna watch the house if we both leave?” I’ve been having a creepy feeling about grandma. She did not take me with her two days ago ‘cause she said it was hot and I wouldn’t feel comfortable in the market. Now, she just gave me that petty reason. Is nana hiding something from me?

“Grandma, we can lock the doors and the windows? Did you never take Aunt Lily with you when you went out?” She turned her eyes to her plate. “I’ll bring you next time.” Well, that doesn’t sound bad. “Do you promise?” I looked at her, and she looked at me straight to my eyes and I felt goosebumps. My hair on the next rose. “I promise.”

“Hey, Ali! What’s up?” I called my friend Vivi to kill time while I’m planning my escape plan. “I regret coming here to Nana’s house. I miss her, but she has been acting weird.” I slumped my body on the bed and grabbed a pillow. “Did she make you wear Granny-style clothes?” That earned a laugh from someone on the other side of the call. “Who else is there? Are you with someone?” The voice sounds so familiar. I can’t be wrong. Or maybe, it was just an illusion. Wait, why would I be making an illusion hearing his laugh? “Hello, Ali. How’s granny?” I’m right! “Why are you there? You should be in Pangasinan. Did your mom realize you are the heir of Judah?” I sat up and opened the top drawer. “You’re still bitter I rejected you? Uhh, you should accept defeat, Li.” I opened my diary and turned to the page I wrote one of the most hateful events in my life. “Shut up, AJ! You’re not my type!”

The call ended with solemn goodbye after some curses and banters from her cousin and me. When he gave the phone back to Vivi, I finally felt relaxed and my blood pressure went back to normal. I think I can’t really stand the arrogance and attitude of that guy. Vivi and I talked about what she did this week and I shared what has been up to my life since I got her at Grandma’s house. I took a nap after the call.

I woke up around four thirty. I got off the bed and went out of the room. I walked to the stairs and noticed something was off. The house looked normal, but the silence crept me out. “Nana must be home by now,” I murmured to myself. “Grandma!” I walked to the kitchen when I saw something moving across the room. I was so indecisive. The bigger part of me was shouting I should not look at it. But I did otherwise. I turned and gasped when I saw a white cat. “Christ!” I unconsciously put my hand to my chest and felt the fast beating of my heart. A cat just scared me. I wanted to cry. I closed my eyes which I regretted because when I opened them I saw nothing but the cat. “AAHHHHHHHHHHHH.”

I woke up gasping for air. I instantly sat up straight and looked for my phone when I heard a knock on my door. “Nana?” I didn’t hear her answer. “Nana?” I called again, but she didn’t still answer. I panicked and searched my phone. I locked the door when I had come into my room. No one can open it but someone from the inside. I opened my drawers and checked the top of my cabinet, but I can’t find my phone. I went to the door and leaned my ears when something rang from under my bed. ‘That’s my ringtone.’ I thought. I walked closer to my bed. I wanted to check it, but I was so frightened I think I would have a heart attacked if I saw something like an ugly creature. The ringtone did not stop I think I had to check it. I slowly bent and when I got to the very edge of my bed bunker, I stopped. “Now or never!” I did not – “Ali?” I turned to the owner of the voice.

“Are you sure you wanna go to Nana’s house?” My mother looked at me like what I wanted was terrible. “What’s wrong with spending time with Nana? We’ve been so away from her because she doesn’t wanna leave her province. What are you worried about?” I folded my panda print T-shirt and put it in my duffel bag. “Aren’t you scared of the island? Why don’t you go to your Aunt Mimi’s house?” I’d love to, but I wanted to do something else. “Ma, I don’t believe in ghosts and I don’t have much time to think about them. Lola’s getting old. I wanna see her and experience what it feels like to be taken care of a Lola.” I packed my shoes and slid them into my backpack. “Fine. You call every day when you get there, okay?”

I went into my cabin on the ship and closed the door. I dropped my bags and slumped myself on the bed. I cared less if it wasn’t so clean. It did not smell bad, so I think it was well-washed. Soon I fell asleep. It didn’t take so many hours, and I finally touched down Siquijor. I waited till I received a text from my mother. “Aunt Lily will meet you at the entrance gate. Take care and call when you arrive at mama’s house.” I read.

A woman in her forties looked at me and smiled. I smiled back and waved. “Aunt Lily!” I called. We hugged and I blessed. “You’re a grown-up now?” She giggled and I laughed. “Come on, let’s go home!” We took the same taxi she had taken, and drove home. We talked and I could see she’s kind with her light and bubbly personality.

From a distance, I saw a house. It looked old and it was made of blocks and wood. I saw a woman at the balcony on the second floor. I think she was Nana.

“What shall I call you?” An old lady around her sixties asked me. “You can call me Ali, Nana.” I smiled. “Your mother did not think well of your name. Anyway, I prepared dinner. Let’s go to the kitchen.”