Trieja: Jake And Josh [Under Revision]

Chapter 36

The dinner went smooth, all thanks to Jake's Tita Marilyn. She saved me from awkwardness throughout. Hindi ko kasi alam kung ano ang sasabihin, so I kept quiet and just listened. Nagsasalita lang ako kapag tinatanong ni Tita Marilyn, o kaya ni Tito Edmond... o kaya ay Tita Nancy.

It was really fun and the dinner is quite lovely and lively. Nasa pool ang mga boys habang kami ay naiwan sa sala. The adults dragged me to show me their wedding pictures and other collections of their memories together.

Tita Nancy gasped. "Oh, I remember this..." she pointed at a picture of her and Tito Edmond in a scenery, and it seemed like a romantic place. "This is where Edmond proposed to me."

Tita Marilyn giggled. "Can you even believe that I was caught in the picture?", sabay turo sa babaeng nakanguso di kalayuan sa pwesto nila.

"Right!", humalakhak si Tita Nancy. "You wouldn't even believe the day I told you that I was constantly looking at your table even before Edmond knew you existed."

"And when he did, that was the time you caught the both of us sharing a kiss behind a dumpster."

Lumakas ang tawanan nila. Napangisi na lang ako. Such memories of them, huh? It's so weird to see two girls reminiscing that particular past. Kung siguro ay hindi normal ang tatlong tao sa iisang relasyon, baka nagsabunutan na sila sa harap ko.

After all, they're talking about one man. Outside of this island, there are lots of girls out there who'd be willing to scratch another girl's face if the latter chooses to flirt with a promised man.

"Teka lang, nakalimutan ko ang brownies!"

Dali-daling tumayo si Tita Nancy at iniwan kami. Napabuntong hininga ang katabi ko.

"I can tell that you're uncomfortable with our topic, Claire."

Nakagat ko ang ibabang labi. "P-Pasensya na po..." di na ako nakapagsalita dahil seryoso ang mga mata ni Tita Marilyn.

Shocks! I think I offended them... her! Dapat kasi hindi na lang ako nagpahila sa kanila dito. But I'd be rude if I declined their offer to bond with me. Why am I suddenly regretting that I have come here?

Pero natigilan ako nung tumawa siya.

"You should've seen your horrified face, Claire." She sighed. "Josh is right, ang bilis mong maloko."

Napangiwi ako. "I-Is that a bad thing?"

"Well, a bit of good and slightly bad. It depends, actually."

"Guess I'm really a fool, huh?"

Tita Marilyn gently slapped my arm. "I'm just kidding! Ito naman. Honey, you're not a fool. And I understand why you're reacting this way. Bago lang ang lahat ng ito sayo, so you're okay. Hmm?"

Napatitig ako sa kanya. She is so comforting and easy to get along with. Wala akong nararamdaman na kaplastikan sa kanya, lalo na nung kadarating pa lang namin. Tita Marilyn was very welcoming when she saw us, specially to me.

Hinawakan niya ang magkabilang braso ko. "Alam ko ang pinagdadaanan mo. Believe me, mahihirapan ka talagang tanggapin ang lahat sa una. Pero kalaunan, you'll appreciate the two people that's involved in your crazy life. It's not like we can accept our fate in just one night, right?"

Tumango ako. Alam na alam ang mga sinasabi niya.

"This new chapter of our lives, it won't always be easy. When one door closes, a new one opens. New obstacles... new people... new friends... new family... new extreme enemies." Makahulugan niyang sabi sa huli. "Remember that."