Salmon

22: Finally

22: Finally

   "Ken was always telling us about you. Hindi ko nga inaasahang magkakaroon siya ng... ng... kaibigan?" His mother laughed. "Yeah, kaibigan."

   I felt my cheeks stained at that. I knew what they were thinking, and I was too embarassed to correct them. Nakahihiya pa lalo dahil baka magtunog defensive pa ako, nandito pa naman si Ate.

   "Ma'am—"

   "Tita," she cut me off. "Call me Tita."

   I was still overwhelmed with the kindness they were giving, but I felt light, especially when my sister gripped my shoulder— I had never felt so accepted. I nodded.

   "Alam mo ba, Ate, madaldal 'yang si Kuya. Pero kapag kami lang ang kasama. Mukha lang siyang friendly kasi madalas lang siyang nakangiti. Tapos ang k-in-kwento lang eh about sa nangyayari sa mga ka-opisina niya, but he doesn't usually talks about himself. Some of his chikas about him were mostly about how he tripped that day, how the sauce of his spaghetti dripped on his shirt— mga ganoon lang, pero ang karamihan ay kung gaano ka-bait sa kaniya ang kaklase or officemate, kung ano ang amoy ng napuntahan niyang cafe." She laughed, and looked at Kaiden's room. Hindi nakaligtas sa paningin ko ang bahagyang panginginig ng kamay niya. "No offense, Kuya Nate, love ko kayo equally pero mas madalas akong magkwento kay Kuya Ken." She giggled. I looked at Kuya Nate and saw his lips curling a little. "He will never make your stories feel worthless no matter how petty it is. Grabe siya magbigay ng reaksyon. I remembered how mad I was everytime I would tell him stories about my suitors, but his reactions always make me laugh." Natalie wiped her eyes. "Mamamalayan ko na lang, hindi na ako ginugulo ng mga k-in-kwento ko sa kaniya kasi nagawan niya na pala ng paraan."

   Natahimik ako at pasimple ring nagpunas ng luha. Kaiden's a breathe of fresh air. His smiles radiated positive energy even if the two of you were not close. He was the type of person who would smile at you for no reason, and would held no grudge when you don't smile back. More of him was neeeded in this world.

   "Stop crying, Natalie, gigising si Ken." Walang emosyong nag-abot ng panyo si Kuya Nate kay Natalie na umiiyak sa tabi ko.

   I looked at Ma— Tita Margarette who seemed unfaze by her daughter's cries, but obviously in grief with the unshed tears on her eyes.

   Napayuko ako. I didn't want to be irritating, but it was my fault. These kind of people didn't deserve to cry llike this. They were too sweet, and kind. Hindi nila dapat nararanasan ang ganito. Alam kong hindi sila perpekto, pero hindi ko kayang makita na may ganitong tao dahil sa kagagawan ko.

   Akmang tatayo ako, at aalis nang may nakitang paparating. I gulped when I saw Villejo's father walking toward us. Just like I thought ealier, his eyes resembled theirs. Pero mas nakikita ko ang pinatandang Nate sa kaniya. Kaiden looked like he was a mix of his parents. I shrank on my seat when Mr. Villejo stood proudly beside Tita Margarette with his button up shirt, and slack.

   Maybe this wasn't intentional, but the intimidation he was letting out was choking me. Lalo na't nakatitig lamang siya sa akin. Walang emosyon, kahit na tila pagod ang mata.

    I was certain, this would be Kuya Nate when he became older.

   "Hon, she's Idge."

   Nakangiti man si Tita Margarette, hindi pa rin maalis ang uneasiness sa loob ko. He was staring at me as if he was looking through my soul. I wanted to cry.

   "I'm Nicolo Villejo," pormal nitong pagpapakilala. "Ken's father."

   I couldn't help but notice his name which was the same to Kaiden— sa kaniya siguro kinuha.