Sinful Blessings
I have been succeeding in maintaining my desired body weight of 65 kg until today.
A friend, seeing a pic on FB of me in a body-hugger shirt (body fit, they now call it) showing a slight tummy bulge, said, “tumataba ka na!” (You’re putting on weight!).
That was at 6 in the morning, so I bolted out of bed, put on my running shoes, and started out on a 2-km trek through the banks of the water irrigation (patubig) facing my house in Bukid-non until I arrived at the town center.
Along the way, I bumped into people who greeted me enthusiastically upon recognizing me. They were friends I’d known from my childhood or from the neighborhood, maybe, but I’ve been away for so long, so tried as I might, I couldn’t place any of them. So I acknowledged them with fake enthusiasm, without slowing down, to spare myself the embarrassment if they realized I didn’t recognize them.
“Musta si Bela?” (How’s Bela?) I said to someone who flashed me a smile. I thought I knew him.
“Sinong Bela?” (Bela who?). Oops! Run, Dik, run.
Reaching the public market, I saw familiar faces flashing happy smiles in my direction.
“Hoy, kelan ka pa dito?” (Since when are you here?)
“Pumayat ka ngayon!” (You trimmed down). Hah! Eat your heart out.
Having heard that, I came home with a bagful of goodies from the market, which could, in no time, shatter my elusive dream of a flat tummy —Narcissus is my other name—prompting me to banish Cecille Dela Cruz and the likes from my life forever!
This symphony of sinful blessings is now neatly laid out on the breakfast table – puto cuchinta, maja blanca, sapin-sapin (rice cakes), which I remember I have yet to pay for later, having had no money when I went out to jog. The rice cake vendor is a pal I have known since primary school. Talk of selective memory! And then my cook served a healthy harvest from my garden. To make me guilty?
Today, I decided to commit mortal sins.