Minutes Before Midnight

#MBM07

#MBM07

"Uy, Ate! Tumutulo laway mo," bulong ni Ivo nang bigla akong nagising dahil nauntog ang aking ulo sa bintana.

Kasalukuyan kaming nasa biyahe papuntang probinsya. Alas cinco y media pa lang ay umalis na kami ng bahay para makarating sa bahay ng tiyuhin bago magtanghalian. Kasama na rin sa time allowance namin ang stopovers para sa toilet break at pati na rin pagkain ng breakfast habang nasa daan.

I didn't get much sleep last night because I kept thinking back to the bizarre and spontaneous hangout I had with Tey. Well, if one can call it a hangout session. He basically forced himself to spend time with me, although I initially declined.

We didn't stay too late outside. Shortly after giving me his number, which I didn't even ask for, he walked me back to our house while carrying the stuff I bought from the store.

Madaldal siya, that's for sure. He was talking to me the entire time at puro tango lang ang sagot ko. I was too preoccupied about what will happen today to think about whatever he was blabbing. I think he was complaining about his sister's fascination with playing house lately, at wala siyang choice kung hindi pagbigyan ang kapatid na maglaro kasama siya. It's quite cute, to be honest.

Sinundot naman ni Ivo ang braso ko at inabot ang fries na kinakain niya. Dumaan kami kanina sa Jollibee pero hindi ako bumili ng fries dahil pinili ko ang breakfast offering nila.

"Wait," pahabol niya. "Bago ka kumuha, punasan mo naman ang laway mong natuyo na. Grabe ka kung makanganga, Ate! Parang pinasan mo ang mundo last week kaya sobrang pagod."

I frowned but still kept quiet. Hindi pa ako masyadong nahimasmasan. Sabi nga nila, magbiro ka sa lasing at huwag sa bagong gising. Gosh, if I wasn't so tired, I would've smacked my brother right in the head.

"Ilang oras pa bago makarating tayo kina Tito?" I directed my question to my parents who were in front of us.

Si Papa ang nagmamaneho ngayon habang nasa shotgun seat naman si Mama. Ganito madalas ang pwesto namin kapag may lakad ang buong pamilya.

Kapag mas mahaba pa rito ang biyahe, nakikipagpalit naman si Papa sa akin para magdrive. Maayos naman akong driver, 'no! Hindi tulad ng katabi kong madaling mapikon. Delikado kayang magroad rage kaya minsan lang nagmamaneho si Ivo. Not that he has anger issues, but seriously, he needs to keep his temper in check.

"Mga isang oras na lang darating na tayo do'n," sagot ni Mama sa akin. Dahil siya ang nakaupo sa harap, siya rin ang naka-assign sa pagpili ng kanta. Ayun tuloy, puro kapanahunan nila ang pinapakinggan namin ngayon.

Buti nga marunong na silang gumamit ng bluetooth speaker eh! Dati kasi binu-burn pa nila sa CD ang mga kanta tapos 'yon ang ginagamit sa pagpapatugtog.

Buti na lang sana kung sila ang nagbu-burn kaso hindi rin nila alam kaya kami ni Ivo ang gumagawa no'n.

Habang pinupunasan ang mukha, lumipad na naman ang isipan ko kung saan-saan. I just don't know how to deal with my family later.

But who cares, right? I can never fully prepare myself anyway. They will always find their way to give me their unsolicited and backhanded comments.

What triggers me more is how it's always under the guise of a compliment. Para sa akin kasi, kung wala ka naman magandang sasabihin, pwede namang manahimik na lang? Mas nakakatulong pa nga 'yon eh kaso may mga taong gano'n talaga.

Deal with it, Ida. You have no other choice.

The passing scenery kept me entertained for the rest of the ride, mostly of swaying trees and people cleaning their frontyards.