Always and Forever (Allyse Sequel)

KABANATA 2 - Dad

"Shane... Nice to meet you." namumulang sabi ni Mindy. I chuckled at her reaction.

"Uhm, nice meeting you, Shane. Are you a Filipino?" tanong ko. He smirked at me and frowned.

"Yeah, how did you know that?"

"Isn't it obvious?" tawa ko.

"Ah, yeah." tawa niya. Dang! That's ridiculous.

"So, seems like you know your way around here." ani Mindy. Go, Mindy! I secretly grinned at her.

"No, not really. We just got here like, uhm, two weeks ago. Can I sit?" tanong ni Shane na aambang uupo na sa harapan namin.

"Oh sure!" mabilis na sagot ni Mindy kaya siya umupo.

"Uhm, h-here." sabay lahad ni Mindy sa isang sandwich.

"No, thanks. I'm done. I'm just waiting for my sister." tumango siya.

"Where do you live here?" tanong ko.

"Tacoma. You?" simpleng sagot niya.

"Uhm. Burien." sagot ni Mindy.

"How about you, Allyse?" he turned to me.

"Oh, we're just blocks away." ngiti ko. Tumango-tango siya.

"Kuya!" tawag ng isang nakaviolet na coat na dalaga. A female version of Shane.

"Oh, here she is. Brooklyn!" tawag niya sa kapatid niya. Ngumiti si Brooklyn sa amin bago lumapit. Tumayo si Shane para salubungin si Brooklyn tapos sabay silang lumapit sa amin.'

"This is my sister, Brooklyn Ariah del Valle. Brooklyn, meet Mindy Claire and Allyse Wilson. We just met." Napa-o naman ang bibig ni Brooklyn tapos naglahad ng kamay. Unang tinanggap ni Mindy pagkatapos ay ako.

"Uhm, I think we better go. Our parents are waiting for us." ani Brooklyn bago hinila si Shane.

"Bye, guys!" pamamaalam ni Shane kaya kumaway kaming dalawa.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Mindy bago kami natawa. Pinaypayan niya ang sarili niya at huminga hinga nang malalim.

"Oh my God! Did you see that? He just called me by my first and second name, Allyse! Oh my God! I just died!" she almost squealed. Kill me already.

"Hey! Remember, you're still young, Mindy." payo ko sa kaniya.

"What the? I'm already 18!"

"You're just 18, Mindy." tawa ko pero ngumuso lang siya.

"I really hate you looking after me, especially someone raised in the Philippines. You're too conservative." she rolled her eyes while giggling.

"Whatever. I'm just protecting you, Mindy. Let's just go back, okay?" ngiti ko nang natapos ko nang inumin ang espresso.

"You call that a protection? I don't get it." ngiwi niya habang binibitbit na ang mga pagkain. Nagsimula na kaming maglakad pabalik kila daddy.

Dumilim ang tingin sa amin ni Xav nang makabalik kami sa kanila.

"And you didn't even told me you're going to eat!" angal ni Xavier; masama ang tingin sa bitbit ni Mindy na pagkain. Mabilis na tinago iyon ni Mindy mula sa tingin ni Xavier.

"Blame yourself, nah-I'm-cool guy!" she mimicked Xav kaya tinawan ko siya.

"Mindy?" her dad warned her. Pero ngumisi lang si Mindy at tumabi sa akin habang hinihintay ang arrival ni Cameron.

"Cameron's here." my dad announced. Gosh, finally!