AGS 3: The Stag Party (PUBLISHED)

23. Twin

I couldn't remember Leo being my sign language teacher. He was a student teacher, but not specifically in ASL na natutukan ako. Or maybe . . . I forgot about that part since ASL was just a month-long training na naging part na lang din ng extra-curricular activities namin. Hindi graded iyon. Part lang ang program ng project ng student-government body related sa SPED (Special Education).

That was the time na required kaming makipag-usap sa mute and deaf exchange students for a month using sign language. Kung ano ang lesson namin, lesson din nila. In-expose kami sa PWD students para din mawala ang stigma about them at ang PWD students ay hindi kailangang iwasan just because they have their disabilities.

Hindi si Leo ang nagturo sa akin ng sign language, kasi buong SSG ang nagga-guide sa aming lahat. May teacher din talaga kami for that. But Leo was a former SSG Vice President, and I knew him from there. Magkaiba kasi kami ng section kaya hindi talaga kami magkaklase. And I only digested ASL during OJT namin sa course ko since kailangan naming matuto ng maraming languages to communicate sa mga plane passenger.

I didn't know Leo would remember me as one of his team's batch of trainees, and thought na iyon ang reason kaya ako sunod nang sunod sa kanya. Iba kasi ang reason kaya ko siya hinahabol during my high school and freshman year of college. And I was so petty during those years, for real.

After he said that I forgot about him being our SA noong high school, hindi na niya pinilit o kinulit ako. Siguro kasi naramdaman niyang naiilang ako sa topic, and Leo wasn't the type of guy na mang-aasar nang mang-aasar para lang makuha ang attention ko. Clark, maybe, but not him.

Nasa antique divan kami ni Leo, nakasandal siya at nakalatag ang left leg niya sa tabi ko at ang isa naman ay nakatupi patapak naman sa carpet sa sahig. Nakasandal ako sa kanya habang nagbabasa ako ng novel book. Siya, nagbabasa rin naman, pero handouts niya sa engineering economy na super kapal.

Naging favorite tambayan na namin ni Leo iyon kapag ayokong umakyat at bumaba ng hagdanan, saka malapit sa front door kapag gusto kong dumaan sa garden.

Leo and I really thought na whole day sina Mommy at Gina sa shop kasi sobrang agang umalis, pero wala pang two ng hapon, may maingay na ulit sa bahay.

"Manang, pahingi ng tubig!"

Sabay pa kami ni Leo na tumingin sa nakabukas na pinto. Napaayos ako ng upo nang makita si Tita Shannon—kakambal ni Mommy—na napahinto pagkakita sa amin. She wore a fitted black shirt, denim jeans, and Jimmy Choo flat boots.

"Nagpagupit mommy mo?" tanong ni Leo.

Tita Shannon and Mom really looked so identical, and they were in the same field too.

She's still in service compared kay Mommy na retiree na. Kung PNP si Mommy, sa airforce naman si Tita. And her hair was shorter than Gina's. Pixie cut, but stylish. She definitely looked like Cara Delevingne with brown eyes. But compared to Mom na lesbian, Tita likes guys. Single siya, kaso sobrang choosy. Lagi niyang sinasabi sa amin na gusto niya ng poging sundalo kaya siya nag-PMA. So far, may mga nakikita naman daw siya, pero gusto niya ng poging sundalo na mayaman. Kapag hindi mayaman, ayaw niya. Pero ayaw rin niya ng mayaman pero sobrang arte. Kaya nga sundalo ang like niya para sure na kahit sigawan niya (in his face), hindi raw "mag-iinarte" at iiyak.

That was the main reason she's still single. The qualifications are too hard to reach.

"Hi, Tita Shan!" I stood up, and Leo helped me.

I could see her eyes scanning Leo from head to toe, which was an expected move from her kasi nga hindi pa niya nakikita si Leo dito sa bahay.

"Ang baby ko, magkaka-baby na rin!" She kissed both my cheeks and cupped my face as if I were the cutest thing on earth right now. "Ang tambok ng pisngi mo, nanggigigil ako sa 'yo!" Lalo pa niyang kinurot ang magkabilang pisngi ko pero hindi naman mahigpit.