Again

Chapter 8

"This is Atticus Lincoln — Linc, my boyfriend."

Naglakad si Linc patungo sa amin at agad naglahad ng kamay kay Daddy. But Dad grabbed his hand and tapped his shoulders.

"Thank you for being my daughter's boyfriend." Linc looked at me confusedly but I immediately diverted my gaze.

"Dad, can we now just have a dinner?" Agad kong yaya sa kanila.

"So is it true that you're classmates?" Mom asked but he's looking at Linc.

Kakasimula lang namin halos kumain pero heto na agad ang tanungan. This is why I'm having second thoughts of inviting Linc over.

"Yes Mom." Ako na agad ang sumagot na siyang ikinalingon nila sa akin. Hindi na lang pinansin ni Mommy ang ginawa ko at tiningnan na lang muli ang katabi kong si Linc.

Linc is sitting on my left. Katapat ko si Mommy at nasa kabisera naman si Daddy.

"You're Jillian's cousin hijo?"

"He is. Magkapatid ang Daddy nila ni Jillian." Mom looked at me again raising her eyebrows.

"So you are Lyndon's only son." Dad stated as a fact.

"Obviously Dad."

"Let him talk Adi." Biglang suway sa akin ni Mommy na ikinatingin ko sa kanila. Linc smirked at me while both of my parents are looking me puzzled with my actions.

Nanahimik na lang ako at nagpatuloy kumain. I'm just worried that their questions will be too much so I'm trying to prevent it.

"So Linc we know everything about our daughter. Tell us, what made you fall in love with her?"

Linc stopped eating and suddenly looked at me. Agad kong iniwas ang tingin ko sa kanya. Nagkunwari akong walang narinig at nagpatuloy kumain.

"She's a natural head turner. I got my eyes on her ever since. Observing her from afar, I know she's worth to keep."

Malaking pagkakamali na nilingon ko saglit ang mga magulang ko para tingnan ang kanilang reaksyon. Mom is smiling at us widely while Dad is seriously looking at Linc.

"I don't know what it is that made me fell to her trap but, I know I love her that I can't just stick as only her friend's cousin. I just want her to be mine."

Halos mabilaukan ako sa aking pagkain nang marinig ko iyon mula sa kanya. Is he really a singer? He's really a good actor. Puwedeng puwede nang isalang agad sa heavy dramas.

"Well, hindi na ako magtatanong kung paano ang ligawan. Privacy niyo na iyon. I'm just glad that finally, my daughter is happy again." Mom said happily while trying to wipe her invisible tears that made my father chuckled.

"My wife is just too emotional when we heard the news abroad. Pareho lang kaming nagulat. But we're happy for the both of you especially to you my princess." Inabot at hinawakan ni Daddy ang kanan kong kamay.

"I'm happy that you finally let him go. That you finally let yourself be happy again." Hindi makapaniwalang napatango na lang ako. Hindi na rin napansin ni Daddy ang nagbabadyang luha ko dahil agad nitong tiningnan si Linc.

"Thank you Hijo. Let's have dinner with your parents one of these days."

"I will tell my parents Sir." Masiglang sagot ni Linc.

"Just call me Tito Greyson."

The dinner went well. They still asked Linc some questions but it's already about their business and his career. Nang nakapagpaalam na si Linc sa aking magulang ay sinamahan ko na ito papunta sa kaniyang kotse.

"Thank you for the dinner." Nahiya naman ako bigla nang magsalita siya.

He knows I'm spacing out ever since from our dinner. Tanging pagtango at iling na lang ang ginagawa kong pagsagot sa kanila kanina tuwing may katanungan sa akin. Maski siya ay tahimik lang din akong sinusulyapan lang.

"Sorry that you have to lie." He stopped from getting inside his car and looked at me.

"It's fine."

Kinaumagahan ay sinundo ako ni Linc. Hindi kami nagkikibuan sa loob ng sasakyan tulad ng dati. Nang lumabas lang kami ng kotse ay agad may lumapit sa amin na estudyante.

"Uhm Hi. I'm a student assistant. The Dean wants to talk to the both of you." Kunot noo akong nakatingin sa babaeng estudyante na pulang pula na ang mukha at nakatingin lang sa sapatos nito.

"She also said that as soon as you arrived." Dagdag nito at kumaripas na ng takbo. She's too shy to look at our eyes.

Linc offered to carry my bag but I declined. Sobrang gaan lang ng dala kong shoulder bag kaya hindi na ako pumayag pa. Passing without even glancing the students, we arrived at the Dean's office.

"Good Morning Ma'am." I greet as the swivel chair turned around.

"Quit the formality Adi. Lalo na't may hihingiin akong favor sa inyo." Agad siyang lumapit sa akin at bumeso, gayundin kay Linc.

"Ngayon na lang kita nakita ulit. Pabinata ka ng pabinata." Linc chuckled.

"Bakit ninyo po kami pinatawag Tita Julliane?" Tanong ko nang kami ay paupuin.

"Have you heard the advertisement from my daughter Jillian?" Agad akong umiling.

Tita Jullian is Jillian's mother. She is the Dean since this university is owned by the Marquez family. It was only named as Marquesses since it was passed on their family name generations.

"We're going to advertise this university for a charity concert. Kayo ang kukuhanin naming models for the advertising materials. Ang lahat ng malilikom na pera ay idodonate sa recently victims ng bagyo. This will be held at the last day of our school's foundation since iyon lang ang event na puwedeng buksan sa public ang ating university."

"Last week of October then." I answered na ikinangiti at palakpak pa ni Tita Julliane.

Para sa akin ay hindi bago ang hinihingi ni Tita. I model for brands, ano pa kaya kung itong para sa university namin na for a good cause. I actually felt honored for this. Dahil nakikita ni Tita Julliane ang influence ko sa ganitong mga bagay.

"I still have something to tell." Tita Julliane seems shy about it but then there it goes, I can trace her authoritative aura suddenly.

"What is it Tita?" Linc asked.

"You two will lead a two special shows in our Foundation."