It's You

Five

CHAPTER 5
DINNER

"Yes Mom, we're on our way, malapit na po kami," nagising ako sa boses ni Ali na may kausap sa cellphone. I opened my eyes and tried to look outside but I noticed na may jacket na palang nakakumot sa akin. I smiled looking at it and then turned to Ali who's now looking me and I mouthed 'thank you'. He just nodded and smiled. Pagtingin ko sa labas napansin kong malapit na pala kaming lumiko sa subdivision namin.

"Okay, take care alright? We'll be waiting for you two," napatingin ako sa speaker ng kotse when Tita Lysel answered. That's when I realized na naka-bluetooth pala si Ali.

"Yup I know, thank you Mom. And by the way, did Eli came with you? I texted her kanina but she hasn't answered it," Ali asked Tita Lysel.

"Yes anak, sumama si Eli sa amin. I bet namiss niya rin ang Tito at Tita niyo," answered Tita na ngayo'y medyo tumatawa.

"Okay that's good to hear," Ali said and then bid goodbye to his Mom as we took our turn papasok ng subdivision.

"Sorry, my voice must've awakened you up," Ali said after the call. He sounded a bit apologetic na hindi naman dapat.

"Ano ka ba, okay lang. Tsaka we're almost arriving to our house na rin naman," I said and laugh a little because he's too serious. But then he smiled after hearing my answer.

Ali parked his car next to probably Tito Anton's car I guess when we finally arrived at our house. Ali took off the car first at pinagbuksan ako pinto ng kotse at nang makalabas ako ay kinuha niya ang cake na nasa backseat. I wonder kung bakit nandoon na yun eh kanina lang nasa lap ko nakalagay yun. Duh Alex, malamang nilipat niya yun sa backseat 'coz you're asleep. Ali has been always like this -a gentleman.

Yaya Melda was already waiting for us at living room as Ali and I entered the house and led us to the garden kasi doon daw gaganapin ang dinner. Yaya got the cake from Ali para ma-prepare na and will serve it together with the desserts later.

When we arrived at the garden, the decorated gazebo flashed before my eyes. It was surrounded by fairy lights and there's a chandelier in middle na enough lang ang laki para hindi magmukhang oa ang kabuuang design. As we get closer I can see that a rectangular dining table was placed in middle of it already filled with foods, mostly Italian recipes.

Mom must've really prepared for this huh, I thought to myself quite amused.

Sabagay, matagal na rin mula noong huling nakasama namin ang pamilya nina Ali. This dinner is kind of a reunion I guess kaya siguro pinaghandaan talaga ni Mom.

Mom and Dad as well as the Ignacio's maliban sa amin ni Ali were already settled at the dining table. Si Dad ang nakaupo sa dulo ng mesa, while Mom is at his right. Bakante ang upuan sa left side ni Dad, maybe that is where I'm going to sit. Tito Anton is sitting opposite to my Dad, to his right is Eli sa left niya naman ay si Tita Lysel na kahilera ni Mom kung titingnan. May dalawang bakanteng upuan sa tabi ni Eli including mine, may bakante rin sa tabi ni Tita na napapagitnaan nilang dalawa ni Mom.

When they saw us approaching towards them, my parents, Tito and Tita were about to stand kaya naman sinabi ko nalang na hindi na kailangan. Pagdating namin ni Ali sa dining, lumapit muna ko sa parents ko and gave them a kiss on their cheeks, ganun din si Ali sa parents niya maliban sa tinap niya lang sa shoulder si Tito Anton of course. Nakipagbeso din muna 'ko kay Tita Lysel at kay Tito bago ako umupo sa upuan ko. I gazed at Eli as soon as I settled and gave her a smile, ngumiti din siya ng tipid pabalik sa akin. Woah, awkward.

Ali chose to sit between Tita Lysel and Mom, meaning katapat niya ang bakanteng upuan na napapagitnaan namin ni Eli. As soon as everyone were settled already, nagsimula na din kaming kumain.

Habang kumakain ay nagkukwentuhan ang mga parents namin. Tahimik lang kaming tatlo nina Ali and Eli pero sumasagot din naman kami kapag napapasali sa usapan. Our parents are now talking about their pasts, reminiscing their old happy moments until the topic was diverted to Ali.

"So Ali, iho," tawag ni Dad kay Ali. Napatingin naman ang binata sa kanya. "Do you have a girlfriend already?" tanong ni Dad habang nakangiti pero halatang ini-interogate si Ali. While Ali on the other hand, almost choke with Dad's question. Maybe he didn't expected it, kahit ako rin naman.

Everyone is now looking at him waiting for his answer habang siya naman ay kino-compose pa ang sarili. After composing himself he then gazed at me, and of course nagulat ako. Why the hell would he look at me? Kaya naman tinaasan ko siya ng kilay na parang nagtatanong kung bakit siya nakatingin sa akin. Naputol lang ang sandaling titigan namin nang tumikhim si Eli at uminom ng tubig. That's when Ali opened his mouth and answered Dad.

"Wala pa po Tito. Having a girlfriend is not included in my priority list as of now," he said and smiled at Dad napatango naman si Dad. Pero napatingin kami kay Eli when she chuckled a bit after hearing Ali's answer.

"Do you have something to say hon?" tanong ni Tita Lysel kay Eli. Eli looked at her mom and then gazed to the rest of us as well. Nang napansin niyang nakatingin ang lahat sa kanya, umayos siya ng upo at nagsalita.

"I was just amused with Ali's answer. It's just that there are tons of girls hovering at him sa MU. I just can't believe na wala siyang napili ni isa doon," she answered and laughed a little kaya napatawa na rin ako kasi totoo naman yung sinabi niya.

"Oh shut up Eli. You don't even have a boyfriend," Ali snorted at his twin and laughed.

"Who would want to court me knowing that my twin is the president of the student council huh?" Eli fired back at Ali looking pissed. Uh-oh nagsisismula na naman sila. Haaay, just like the old times.

"Maybe because they just don't have the balls," Ali simply answered and smirked at his twin. Sasagot pa sana si Eli pero nagsalita na si Tito.

"That's enough! Ali please watch your words. Nasa hapag padin tayo," Tito is now scolding them. "And Eli can you control your mouth as well? Di na kayo nahiya sa Tito at Tita niyo pati na rin kay Alex," patuloy ni Tito Anton. Nakayuko na ngayon ang kambal kaya naman nagsalita na si Dad.

"Anton okay lang ano ka ba. Actually, nagulat nga ako na hanggang ngayon nagbabangayan parin pala silang dalawa," Dad said habang natatawa. Habang si Tito ay napapailing na tiningnan ang mga anak ay nangiti nalang din.

"How about you Alex, may boyfrined ka na ba?" okay hindi ako handa sa tanong ni Tita Lysel. At bakit kailangan ko pang madamay sa tanungan na 'to?

"Uhh..." panimula ko habang tinitingnan silang lahat. "No, I don't have a boyfriend Tita," I answered and smiled at Tita Lysel. "I'm also not planning to enter a relationship as of now po," I added at tumango naman si Tita pati ang parents ko.

"Wala bang nanliligaw sayo sa university niyo anak?" tanong ni Dad sa akin. Napatingin naman si Ali sa akin, giving his full attention to me. Actually silang lahat naman nakatingin sa akin, but Ali's stare is different. Di ko nalang pinansin.

Napaisip naman ako sa tanong ni Dad. There were love letters being sled on my locker pero wala namang nagtatangkang mag-confess personally.

"Wala naman po Dad," I answered looking at Dad. "And I guess no one dared because my bestfriend is the president of the student council," I joked and I looked at Ali then laughed. The rest also laughed with what I said habang si Ali ay nakayuko nalang at napapailing.

Napatingin naman ako kay Eli na ngayo'y tumatawa na rin. Maybe she noticed that I was looking at her, the reason why she looked at me too. Nagkatinginan kami sandali at sabay na napangiti, it was a genuine one.

I don't know the reason why one day she just shut me out, basta ang alam ko lang siya parin ang Eli na isa sa mga bumuo ng mga magagandang ala-ala ko noong mga bata pa kami.

And no one would be able replace her in my life.

♍