TOUGH LOVER

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Dinala kami ni Manang sa pool area kung saan naroroon ang gazebo where we sometimes hold outdoor parties, casual lunch or family dinners. Nakita ko si Mama at Papa na nakaupo na sa mahabang mesa. Tumayo si Mama nang makita kami ni Bree.

"Oh, they're here. Trissa, anak! Mabuti naman at umuwi ka! And Bree, I'm glad naisipan mong sumama. I missed you both, girls." Sinalubong niya kami ng yakap at beso.

When she released us, bumaling na ako kay Papa na noon ay prenteng nakaupo sa pasimuno ng mesa. Lumapit ako sa kanya at humalik sa pisngi niya habang nagchi-chikahan pa sina Mama at Bree like long time friends that they are.

"Naku, Tita! Dapat lang talaga. Na-miss kaya kita! And of course, 'yong masarap na luto ninyo. I think I just lost weight. Trissa isn't as good as you." Umiiling-iling pang sabi niya.

I was about to protest but thought otherwise. I just shook my head and faced my Dad. "Hi Pa."

"Hello, my sweet little princess." My father greeted me back and I swear I heard Bree fake a cough.

I groaned.

"Oh c'mon, Papa! Don't call me that. I'm far from little anymore!" I whined.

"Indeed." I heard Bree agreed. I smirked at her. "Hi, Tito!"

"Hello dear! Maayong pag-abot!"

"Thank you po."

Bumaling naman sa akin si Papa. He wore that fond look he always give me. "You know you will forever be my sweet little princess."

Now how am I supposed to complain with that? I shook my head. My, my... My father doesn't play fair.

"Okay! Let's take our seats and enjoy the meal! I'm sure you'll love my new discovered recipe. And I also prepared your favorite desserts!"

Pagkatapos naming kumain ay nagkuwentuhan muna kami tungkol sa kalagayan namin sa DQ. Excited na excited pa si Papa sa pagtatanong ng kung ano-ano tungkol sa kanyang pinakamamahal na Alma Mater.

"How about the Arachnids Museum? Is it still open? I remember how I first had a date with this certain girl in there. A typical cheer leader who wants to score a hot boy. I don't know she has Arachnophobia.! Jesus. It was a disaster!"

"I remember that! You were such an ass bringing Malory there! I can't believe you." Umiiling-iling na komento naman ni Mama. Yeah, they were schoolmates since forever until eternity.

"I was just trying to get your attention. You wouldn't even talk to me."

"Dahil antipatiko ka!"

"I sure am not."

"Oh yeah? Then tell me how you did not even court me but forced me to be your girl?"

Nagkatinginan kami ni Bree. I bit my lower lip. I wanted to laugh at my parent's exchange.

"Of course I did court you. Ano ang tawag mo don sa paghahatid-sundo ko sa'yo sa Apartment mo kahit na out of the way?"

"Duh, friends do that. I considered you my friend then. Besides, you own the building. Anong out of the way doon?"

"Okay, then how about my bringing you fruits?"

"Come on, Jean and the rest of my friends give me fruits."

"I took care of you when you got sick. I cooked for you."

"You were forced to take care of me because no one can. And, you can't cook. Bumili ka lang ng soup sa labas."

"At least I tried."

"No can do."

And they continued arguing. Bree and I just pretended we weren't there. Natapos ang bangayan nila with my father conceding. Hinayaan na din nila kaming magpahinga.

"Darating mamaya ang mga pinsan mo. Tinawagan ko sila noong isang araw at ipinaalam kong uuwi kayo ngayon. Sakto namang nandito si Harvey at Nizza. Wala yata silang klase at umuwi. They said they'll visit. I know you missed each other. Lalo na si Nizza. Hindi ka raw nagrereply sa mga texts niya. ni hindi niya pala alam na nag-transfer kayo ni Bree sa Bukidnon? Anyway, you have to rest dahil alam kong wala na naman kayong tulugan mamaya. Nasa baba lang kami ng Papa mo kung may kailangan ka. keep the intercom on." Ani Mama nang ihatid niya ako sa kwarto ko. Nasa guest room lang si Bree sa tabi ng kwarto ko at nauna na naming siyang inihatid.

I nodded and kissed my mother's cheek as she bade goodbye. Kaagad akong naligo at nagbihis ng komportableng damit. I'm tired. I just wanna sleep my exhausted body. Sobrang nakakapagod ang biyahe from Bukidnon to Cagayan de Oro. Palagi nalang kasing bumper to bumper ang traffic dahil sa ginagawang kalsada. Palagi nalang may sira. It's really frustrating sometimes.

Dapit-hapon na nang magising ako dahil sa tawag sa telepono ko. It was Jace, asking for my whereabouts. Wala naman daw kasing nakakaalam na umuwi pala kami ni Bree dito sa CDO. Hindi din dawn a-mention ni Bree sa kanila kagabi. You see, they were all together last night. Partying for a successful week. Successful my ass. It was a horrible week if I were to put it correctly. Sa hirap ng exams, kulang nalang palagyan ko ng sangkatutak na battery ang utak ko para gumana ng maayos.

Jace really sounded defeated when he learned I was home. May importante daw kasi siyang sasabihin na hindi pwedeng sabihin through the phone. Whatever! I didn't blush, alright? I didn't even have the faintest idea what he was gonna say. Ni hindi ako nag-wonder kung ano ang sasabihin niya. It's probably nothing. Ni hindi kumabog ang dibdib ko nang mabasa ang pangalan niya sa screen ng phone ko.

In totale, he relayed their meeting which is the midterm vacay ng grade 12 classes.

"May ganoon? Sosyal ha? Pabakasyon-bakasyon lang tayo? Tapos may grade pa?" Bree reacted nang sabihin ko sa kanya ang tungkol doon.

"Well, that's what I heard from Jace. Parte daw iyon ng Social interaction natin with the community. Isang linggo tayong mananatili sa lugar at tutulong sa mga Gawain nila. And... it's by pair. Titira tayo kasama ang mga tao in different barangays."

"What? Hindi ba nakakatakot? Paano kung mapunta tayo sa bahay na may nangangain ng tao? Shit. Parang ayoko na yatang mag-comply dyan."

"Baliw. Hindi naman siguro. Tsaka, pwede ba naman 'yon? Siyempre priority pa din ng school ang kaligtasan natin. Tsaka, sabi ni Jace, project daw iyon ng school ever since at wala naman daw nangyaring mga ganyan. Kaya pwede ba? Stop being grim."

"Fine. So, we teach them stuffs and learn from them as well. Like a two-way process." Tumatangong sabi niya. "Hmm... may kwenta naman pala 'yong paghihirap natin sa Civic and Social studies."

"Kaya nga ngayon palang, mag-isip na tayo ng magandang project. Mamaya, tayo pa ang pinaka-kulelat. You know those students from DQHS, they're very competitive."

"Aba, kung makasabi parang hindi ka pa official student ah? Hindi mo ba binasa 'yong letter na ibinigay ng Admin? We are now officially part of the studentry dahil sa good behavior and impressive academic grades natin."

Napangisi ako nang maalala iyon. she's right. Parte na nga kami ng DQHS. Opisyal na ang pagiging estudyante namin. Hindi na kami dapat na mabahala nab aka bigla nalang kaming matanggal sa school. Nag pay off din sa wakas ang ilang araw na pagsusunog namin ng kilay ni Bree.

I nodded and we started thinking of prospective projects we learned from our Civic and Social studies class.

Alas siyete na nang dumating ang mga pinasan ko. my mother went all out again with foods. I missed this. The fun of being together, cooking with my mother, spending time with my cousins, this is my life. No complications, just pure joy. Bakit ko hinayaang masira ito? One mistake... one stupid mistake... and now, my time is running out.

I've got to make amends.

God, help me.