The World Against Us

5

Pogi

Today is weekend and my parents are also at home. Naging stable na ulit ang negosyo kaya hindi na sila masyadong busy.

I am helping my mom preparing for lunch when I suddenly think about Kane. Then I remember what happened yesterday, I never thought she have a side like that.

I chuckled and prepared the plates on the table.

"Are you in love, anak?" my mom asked out of nowhere.

"Po?"

She laughed shortly and smiled at me. "You look in love. That's how my eyes sparkle when I think about your dad."

"I'm not in love, Mom. I only met her a month ago."

"Her?" bakas ang dismayado sa mukha niya pero nagawa niya pa ring ngumiti. Pilit naman akong ngumiti sa kanya.

I'm sorry, mom.

I know even if she accepted my sexuality, she still wants me to introduce a man to them. But I couldn't.

"Can you tell me about her? Hmm?"

"Pero-"

"It's okay, anak." malambing niyang sabi. "I want you to tell me about her para naman makilatis ko." she chuckled.

I sighed at naisipang pagbigyan siya. I know she's been waiting for this moment. Every mother wants to witness how their children get inlove. Alam ko na saamin nila Rosh at Rylan, ako ang hinihintay niyang maging open sa kanila about sa lovelife ko.

"She's my classmate, a transferee student. She's been in my mind lately, Mom. I don't know. But the moment our eyes met, i couldn't get rid of her. No matter I'll try not to think about her, bigla siyang sumusulpot." panimula ko.

"Uhuh." napasandal ako sa sink habang iniisip ang babaeng yon.

"She has these beautiful eyes, beautiful hair, beautiful voice-- all of her are beautiful."

She chuckled and said, "Your eyes are dreamy, honey."

Tumikhim ako at nag iwas ng tingin. Uminit ang pisnge ko nang tumawa si Mom.

"There's something about her that I couldn't help but to admire." I smiled at Mom.

She nodded and smiled.

"I'm looking forward to meet this girl. Promise me you'll let me to meet her, okay?" I nodded.

"Uy! Ano yang pinag uusapan niyo ha?" biglang sumulpot ang kambal kong mokong sabay umupo na para kumain.

"I heard may ipapakilalang babae si Reisha kay Mom." sabat naman ni Rosh.

"Babae? Hmm..." napaisip naman ang kambal ko. Agad din nagliwanag ang mukha at tinignan ako ng nakakaloko.

"Yung transferee ba, Rei?"

"Transferee?" kumunot ang noo ni Rosh.

"May transferee sa section nila. Maganda. Natulala nga ang prinsesa natin don eh." humahalakhak pa siya kaya agad ko siyang binatokan at napadaing siya.

Siraulo. Inexpose pa ako.

Sumunod na dumating si Dad kaya kumain na kami. Habang kumakain biglang tumikhim si Dad bago nagsalita.

"You have a girlfriend, princess?" natigilan ako sa tanong niya.

"Dad, it's-"

"I thought you would change. It's that you really want?"

Natahimik ang boung paligid, napahinto silang lahat. My mom squeezes his hand to stop him.

"Dad, we already talked about this." hindi niya pinansin si Rosh at nagpatuloy siya.

"Not that I couldn't accept you, Reisha. But I'm expecting you to change dahil akala ko nagugulohan ka lang sarili mo." I sighed.

I know, dad. I'm sorry.

"I even think about Mr. Collins' son to be your soon-to-be husband." doon ako napatingin sa kanya pati sila Mom nagulat sa sinabi niya. He can't be serious. Dwayne is just a friend.

"Dad, Dwayne is just a friend." I fake laughed and proceed to eat.

"He saved their company in the U.S and he amazed when their company is 5 times better now. I just thought about to be their major investors by engaging you with him."

Napatigil ako sa pagnguya. What?..

"You will not involve her in the business industry, dad." biglang nagsalita ang kambal ko. I look at him and he's really furious, napailing naman ang kuya namin.

"Hon, that's enough." seryosong sabi Mom and then look at me worriedly.

I stood up and leave the dining.

I get the keys and drive my scooter to the convenience store para magpalamig. I can't believe my dad would be like that. Ni minsan hindi namin napag-usapan ang arrange marriage dahil siya mismo ang ayaw non.

I was busy looking for my favorite snack when I sighted a girl na kakapasok lang sa convenience store. It's Kane.

She's wearing simple shirt and pants, her hair is in ponytail which makes her face emphasized.

She's such a beauty.

Agad akong napayuko nung papunta siya sa direksyon ko. Pero napatitig pa rin ako sa kanya habang namimili siya ng snack nang bigla siyang napalingon sakin.

"R-rei?" gulat niyang sabi I just smiled at napagdesisyonang kumuha ng Oishi.

Agad akong pumunta sa cashier para bayaran bago maghanap ng bakanteng table. Hindi ko napansin na nakasunod pala si Kane sakin at umupo sa tapat ko.

Tumikhim ako at nagsalita, "How's your day?" gulat naman siyang nag angat ng tingin sakin at lumunok.

"Okay naman, ikaw ba?"

Napatanga ako sa mukha niya. How could she be so beautiful without make-up? Most of the girls really likes to wear make-up kahit pa naka pambahay lang, they boost their confidence with it like Megan and Danika.

Ang aliwalas. Ang ganda.

"Earth to Reisha! Huy!" she poked the tip of my nose at napatawa sa gulat kong mukha.

Ilang beses na ba akong napatulala sa babaeng to?

"H-ha?"

"How's your day also sabi ko" she chuckled.

"Okay lang din."

And I remember my conversation with dad. I sighed.

Me and Kane continue to chitchat about random stuffs while eating when her phone suddenly beeped.

"Uh excuse me, sagotin ko lang to ha?" I nodded.

Does she have a boyfriend? I hope none.

What the heck, Rei?

Hindi rin nagtagal bumalik siya para magpaalam. "Rei, mauna na ako."

She's leaving already? I want her to stay a bit more.

"Sabayan na kita palabas ."

I look up the sky to see there's no sun and it's about to rain.

"Mukhang uulan, susundoin ka ba?" I asked.

"Magtataxi na lang ako, ikaw ba?"

"I have my scooter, hatid na kita?"

"Hindi na, okay lang." she smiled. A moment later, may dumating na rin namang taxi so I didn't insist.

I smiled and wave at her, but she stopped when she's about to get in the car.

"Bye, pogi!" she smiled at me brightly.

Napakurap ako. What was that? Did she just called me pogi?

A smile escaped from my lips. Mababaliw ako sa babaeng to.