Cliche (Candy Stories #5)

Chapter 25 part 3

TCWDM: Last part na po kasunod, then Epilogue na (aka, daldal ni Maxwell). Kaunti na lang ~ 

*** 

Aurora Arranza:
Kuya, pauwi na ako. May kasama po ako
na ipapakilala sa inyo ni Dad. Tell Dad for me.

I sent the message before going home and they said okay. But my kaba was knocking the air out of me. I don't know what to expect or how to explain everything. When I opened the gate, lumabas agad sina Dad at Kuya.

Natigilan kaming tatlo. Pero si Maxwell na nasa tabi ko, nakabati.

"Good morning po, Tito, Kuya."

Palitan ang tingin nina Kuya at Dad sa amin ni Maxwell. Habang wala silang sinasabi, lalo akong hindi makahinga. They didn't look angry but . . .

"Si Maxwell pala ang sinundo mo sa airport," sabi ni Dad. "Kumusta, Maxwell? Nagkita ba agad kayo ni Aurora? Hindi ba siya naligaw?"

My cheeks flushed. "I told Kuya kanina na hindi ako naligaw, Dad!" sabi ko at lumapit para humalik sa pisngi niya.

"Hindi po siya naligaw, Tito," sagot ni Maxwell.

"Mabuti naman."

Awkward silence followed after.

"So, Dad, Kuya . . . Si Maxwell . . ." I started but couldn't continue. I glanced at Maxwell for help, but what help could he give me? Hu-hu. Ako ang dapat magpakilala sa kanya.

"Ano si Maxwell?" tanong ni Kuya na nakahawak pa rin sa knob ng pinto.

"Boyfriend ko po." "Manliligaw po ako ni Aurora."

Nagkatinginan kami ni Maxwell sa nagkasabay naming pagsagot.

Kuya crossed his arms and humor danced in his eyes. Tutuksuhin na naman ako nito. Subukan niya lang, I'd get angry!

I pouted at Maxwell and whispered, "Manliligaw ka pa lang? But . . . you ligaw already?"

Sumimangot ako dahil nagpipigil si Maxwell ng ngiti. "Sabi mo, hindi ligaw 'yon."

"But . . ."

Tumikhim si Dad.

"Ano, Dad, he's my . . ."—tumingin ako kay Maxwell at sinimangutan siya—"boyfriend."

"Hindi manliligaw?" tanong ni Dad na parang natatawa pa.

"It would be weird if he's still my suitor. He already confessed a lot of times and I already told him about my feelings!" I whined.

Napa-Ahh sina Dad at Kuya.

"And you know him, you know he's a good person. You know his family. And I know you want me making decisions for myself and that you trust me. So there." Hinawakan ko ang kamay ni Maxwell at ipinakita sa kanila. "He's my first boyfriend!"

"First lang?" tukso ni Maxwell sa tabi ko. "Ako na rin second saka third."

"Heh."

He laughed softly.

"Sinagot ka na pala ni Aurora," sabi ni Dad kay Maxwell. "Pinahirapan ka ba?"

"Sana pinahirapan ka muna," salo ni Kuya Rius.

I made a face to Kuya. "I already did mean things to him. Hindi na siya dapat pahirapan."

I was exhausted with my outburst. Samantalang sina Dad at Kuya, parang natatawa sa 'kin.

"Pasensiya na po," sabi ni Maxwell. "Dapat, nag-usap muna kami nang maayos at mas matagal ni Aurora bago nagpunta rito."

"Mukha nga. Kung hindi ka nagsabi noon pa sa intensyon mo sa bunso ko, baka napagalitan ko kayo."