I was twelve years old when I started living on my own. Others may think that I'm too young to be by myself but I prefer that than living in a house I cannot call my home. And so, it pisses me seeing Brent pushing her mom away from our table. Yes, I was shook. She mistaken me as her girlfriend, but no need to push her mom away.
Her mom seems lovely. And she looked at her son so full of love. Something I haven't experience and will never experience.
"Brent, stop it." matigas kong awat at salamat naman at nakinig siya. Ngumiti sa akin ang mama niya kaya sinuklian ko iyon ng isang hilaw na ngiti. It's still awkward for me Tita, I thought to myself. I just don't want him to do that to her own mom when clearly I can see in her eyes the unconditional love she has for her son. At don pa lang sobrang swerte na ni Brent sa kanya
I wish I have that too. Of all people I must know it when I look into someone's eyes. Dahil ako mismo ay nangarap sa pagmamahal na iyon pero sa kasamaang palad ay hindi ako hinayaang maranasan iyon.
"Look! You, bastard! Mas may pakialam pa sa akin si hija!" naiiritang tumingin si Brent sa Mama niya kaya ay kinurot ko siya ng mahina sa tagiliran.
"Aray ko! You're both bullying me!" reklamo niya at tsaka nagmartsa paupo sa harapan ko. Dahil walang ata siyang balak na ayain ang sariling nanay ay marahan ko siyang sinipa sa ilalim.
"Would you like to join us, Ma'am?" tanong ko. Hindi na pumalag ang kasama ko pero her mom shook her head a multiple times to neglect our offer.
"I would love to, hija! But next time na lang, I think my grumpy old son hates it." nanlaki ang mata ko at nawalan ng sasabihin.
Bastos na lalaking to! Her mom told us na may kikitain siyang 'amiga' kaya hindi na rin ako nagpumilit pa. I smiled inward when Brent kisses her mom's cheek and bid their goodbyes on each other. He must be loved at their home. I can see it the way his eyes projected tuwing kausap niya ako. Parang wala siyang problemang kinakaharap. I shrugged off the bitter emotion swallowing me in.
"You are a bad son." I stated ng tuluyang makaalis ang mama niya. He doesn't seem to mind.
"I was on my first year college ng huminto siyang ihatid sundo ako. Ayan tuloy my nickname is 'mama's boy'." umiiling niyang paliwanag kaya naman kumunot ang noo ko.
What's wrong with that?
"Only shows that she loves you?" sarkastiko kong sabi.
He was about to defend himself ng dumating ang waiter na may dalang menu. Sabagay, most boys like to be independent. I saw boys my batch gets annoyed everytime they have to bring out a packed lunch prepared by their mothers. Maswerte nga sila na mayroong nanay na umaaruga sa kanila.
I ordered a Delmonico Steak and iced tea. He ordered the same pati ang common sidedishes nila. The waiter repeated our order before departing to their kitchen. I skip the small bites dahil kaya ko pa naman mag-antay. Libre lang naman ito kaya ayoko na umorder ng madami, isa pa baka hindi mapakali ang tiyan ko kung kakain ako ng madami.
"Kamusta pagrereview?" he asks while we're waiting for the food.
"Fine. Sana ay nasa test ang mga nireview ko." I answered tsaka sumandal. I was scared to fail my finals exam. Alam kong normal naman sa estudyante ang bumagsak pero kung sakaling bumagsak ako, magbabayad ako ng panibagong tuition para maulit ang units na to. At ayokong mangyari yon. Mangyari na ang lahat wag lang ang madelay ako sa pag-graduate.
