Nights Like This

Chapter 30

Chapter 30

Dream

I was unbelievably nervous the whole time. I'm used to meeting new people but thinking that they are Rex Niccolo's parents, I can't help but overthink. Sa gitna ng pag-uusap, iniisip ko kung ayos lang ba ang suot ko. O kung may sense ba ang mga sinasabi ko kapag may tinatanong sila sa akin.

Though, Tita Verna and Tito Steve's questions weren't too personal. Pamilyar naman sila sa family background ko kaya tungkol na lang sa mga interes ko ang tinanong.

"Interior design... Pareho pala kayo ni Alison," si Tita Verna.

Tumango ako. "Opo. We often see each other in school."

"You two are in the same year? Parehong sophomore, hija?" Napatingin siya kay Rex Niccolo at bakas ang pagkagulat sa mukha.

"Bobbi's graduating, Mom."

Naunahan na ako ni Rex Niccolo sa pagsagot. I feel like she was surprised to know that I'm still studying... Sabagay, siguro iniisip din ni Tita na ang d-ini-date ng anak niya ay kapwa professional na. I'm not so maybe that caused some confusion on her part. Pati rin kay Tito na naalerto sa usapan nang tanungin ni Tita kung magkaparehong taon ba kami ni Ali.

"That's good. Good..." she sounded relieved.

I glanced at Rex Niccolo and he gave her mom a look I couldn't quite read.

"Where did you have your internship, hija?"

"Sa isang interior design company po sa Orlando."

"Oh, not here?"

"Sina Papa po ang nag-decide na roon ako. It's fine because I learned a lot there and it was a good experience."

"Mabuti naman. I imagine it's hard for you to live alone."

I smiled a little. "I liked living alone, Tita. It wasn't a problem."

Naalala ko lang kung gaano ako natuwa na walang nakikialam sa bawat galaw ko noong nasa ibang bansa. It was peaceful and I couldn't care less that I was alone.

"Very independent, I see..."

Tito Steve asked some technical questions about the internship. Baka raw kasi gustuhin din ni Ali na sa ibang bansa at ngayon pa lang, maghahanda na si Tito kung sakali. Sweet gesture. Unlike my parents who hastily decided for me because they wanted to punish me.

Hindi na rin nagtagal ang pag-uusap dahil magsisimula na yata ang party. Tita Verna complimented my look one last time before they left. Kami naman ni Rex Niccolo ay nagtungo na sa table na para sa amin.

Nasa bandang harapan iyon at kasama namin sina Inigo, Rafael, Lyss at Ali. There are also older men I don't recognize. Well, not that old. Matanda lang siguro ng kaunti kay Rafael at Rex Niccolo.

I sat beside Inigo. Narinig ko pa si Ali na gustong makipag palit ng upuan kay Inigo pero hindi nakikinig si Inigo. I didn't mean to look but I saw him stalking a pretty girl's Facebook account. Masyadong abala roon kaya hindi yata narinig si Ali.

"You're still nervous," sambit ni Rex Niccolo na diretsong nakatingin sa mga kamay ko.

"Huh?"

I thought I'm doing well masking it this whole time. Napansin niya pa rin?

"You fidget with your rings whenever you're nervous."

Napatingin din tuloy ako sa mga kamay ko. True enough, I was fidgeting with my rings. Para bang iyon ang pinagkakaabalahan ko para maibsan ang kaba. I never knew I do this...