The Cat's Tail-Chapter 38: Name/Sun And Moon

One sunny morning roughly 15 years ago, at a lakeside deck situated underneath a big tree, seated on a rocking chair was Adela who was admiring the lake view.

The peaceful silence, the gentle song of animals in the distance, and fresh air a complete contrast to the bustling environment surrounding her company situated in the mainland.

She ran her hand gently through her hefty belly carrying her second child.

From where the house was in the distance, a little girl was making her way to where Adela was relaxing, the warm sunlight cascade over her dirty-brown hair as they float effortlessly through the fresh breeze.

The girl was carrying a tray with a glass of milk and an unpeeled banana.

"Mama," she called, her voice laced with pure affection. "I've got you your milk and banana."

Adela turned behind her, a gentle expression plastered on her face. "Thank you, Leona. Can you bring it here on the table?"

Leona did her mother's bidding without a retort, even pulling it closer to her mother so Adela could easily reach her snack whenever she wanted it.

Leona sat comfortably on one of the straw chairs next to her mother. Like her Mama, the little Leona also admired the beautiful scenery before them, committing it all to memory.

Later, she turned to Adela's big belly. Leona's eyes, like a pair of suns, gleam with excitement and anticipation. "I can't wait to become a big sister."

Adela chuckled softly at her daughter's words, a tender expression on her face. "You will very soon."

"Once she comes out, I will play with her a lot. I will go to so many places with her. I will protect her."

"Yeah, I'm counting on you, Leona."

Leona got herself off of the straw chair, kneeling down right in front of Adela as she rested her head over her mother's belly.

"Can you feel her?"

The daughter nodded, beaming a gleeful grin as she continued to feel movements from within her mother's big belly. "She's kicking so much. It's like she wants to come out now."

"You're just like her when you were also in my belly."

"Is that so..."

Leona pulled back to look at Adela's stomach, seemingly falling into thought.

"Mama," she called. "Have you and Papa already decided what her name will be?"

Adela shook her head at the question. "We're still trying to figure it out."

Tilting her head to the side, Leona gave her mother a wondering look. "Is finding a good name hard?"

"It's not about finding a good name," Adela replied. "It's a matter of if a name clicked well with them. Like it was meant for them from the beginning."

"Meant for them?"

Adela gave his daughter a resounding yes. "When you call or hear someone's name, you immediately think of that person you know. And when you think about their name, you will see them even if they're not around."

"I see," Leona said after listening intently to her mother, her forehead creasing with thought. "A name that clicks well with them, huh... I think I understand why you and Papa haven't decided what her name will be yet now."

Finally understanding that giving someone a name wasn't as easy as she initially thought, Leona could not help but wonder; "How did you and Papa came up with my name, then?"

Adela raised an eyebrow at her daughter's query. "That's an interesting question."

The mother turned back to the beautiful scenery, a fond smile curving her lips as she started to reminisce.

"It was a sunny day just like today. I remember the warm heat of the sun grazing my skin as your father and the others helped me out of the car to the hospital as I was on the verge of giving birth to you. Rather than painful like it usually was, the heat was actually soothing. At the time, we were still thinking about what name would befit you, Leona. When our eyes met just a minute or so after your birth, your eyes immediately reminded me of the sun. Then, I heard from Raymond how your cries are the loudest out of all the babies in the nursery room. Apparently, you were so loud that your cries are reaching out of the room even though it was supposed to be soundproofed."

A shy blush creeped up Leona's neck. "I-I don't cry like that anymore. I'm a big girl now."

A chortle escaped Adela's lips at her daughter's defensive comment, knowing what she was telling Leona was simply how Raymond told her in exaggeration.

"The heat of the sun, your golden eyes, and your cries that dominated everyone. All these pieces just came together and I figured it out. The moment I said it for the first time, I knew it was your name, Leona."

For a moment, Leona was just silent. She was in the middle of processing everything her mother told her.

And then, pumping her small fists, Leona's golden eyes sparkled with awe.

"Wow," Leona said excitedly as she looked up to the bright sky, she raised her arm up as if trying to reach the heavens. "It's like the world itself gave me my name. Like I'm connected with the sun."

Adela let out a soft chuckle at Leona's reaction, her lips curving into a smile. "You are my sun, Leona."

Leona turned to her mother and beamed a wide, brilliant grin. Then, her expression changed quickly as a thought seemed to have crossed her mind.

"Mama, I figured it out," she revealed with enthusiasm. "If I'm the sun, then she'll be the moon!"

"The moon?" Adela raised an eye-brow at her daughter's words.

Leona nodded energetically. "I thought about how my name is connected to the sun. Then, the moon and her came to my mind. Then, I figured it out! My baby sister's name is Callisto!"

"Callisto..."

That was the first time Adela uttered the name, but she immediately understood why Leona came up with it.

The name Callisto drew her to the thought of her still unborn baby. She could already imagine her second child's cute face even though she was still in her belly.

It clicked well.

"I see. It's decided then. Your baby sister's name will be Callisto."

"But! We can only give her that name if she decides to come out at night and the moon is up and bright. It's a must, Mama."

"That's quite a strict requirement. I guess we'll have to hope she decides to come out at night."

"Yes!"

*

*

*

One sunny morning in the present, in a place that was far from the district of Silangan and the bustling city of Manila.

Standing beside her car in front of the entrance to a lone big house was Adela. The place was surrounded with a wide grass field, mountains standing tall from a far distance, and a single road that stretched as far as the eye can see.

Despite the breathtaking site around her, Adela decided to look up in the sky. She could not help but remember that moment she shared with Leona. It was warm and sunny just like today.

But although it felt similar, it was also rather different for an obvious reason.

Adela reached for her lotus necklace as she closed her eyes, seemingly taking a deep breath as a gentle breeze brush through her dirty-brown long hair.

And then...

Creak!!

One of the gates to the big house opened and there came out an old woman.

"Pardon the sudden the visit" Adela spoke in a low voice, a fond expression on her face. "Mama."