Carrying the Real Trophy ✓

Chapter XIV

XIV: Sleepover

"Your birthday is coming. How would you like to celebrate it, Riki?"

"Hmm?"

"Malapit na ang birthday mo, sweetheart," paglinaw ni dad dahil ko narinig si mom.

I was stunned. Nakalimutan kong malapit na nga pala ang kaarawan ko. Dalawang linggo na lang, and I'll turn twenty. That. . . fast. Wow. I'm old.

"Just the usual," I replied while finishing the food on my plate.

"Got it. We'll find you a better location where there are many of stray animals surrounding so you may interact with all of them."

My eyes lit up at my mother's willing assistance. Napatingin ako kay dad at tinanong siya gamit ang mga mata. He only gave me a shrug and a smile.

"Really?" I gulped. "Thank you, mom!"

She smiled at me and got another dish on the bowl,but she placed it on my plate instead, which only made me feel strange.

Nakakapagtakang pumayag siyang gawin ko pa rin ang madalas kong ginawa tuwing kaarawan ko: ang magpagkain ng mga hayop sa mga streets kasama si dad. Nagagalit siya kapag ganoon ang ginagawa namin ni dad at hindi ako kakausapin ng ilang linggo. Nakakapagtaka rin na bumabait siya saakin nitong mga nakaraang linggo.

I suppose she realized something because of my pretend relationship with Rafael? Baka. . . napagod namin siya. I now live for this version of my mother. Sana ay magtuloy-tuloy.

Napakagat labi ako bago muling binasag ang katahimikan. "Can I bring. . . Rafael with me?"

Tumingin silang dalawa saakin pero magkaiba ang naging reaksyon nila.

"Sure thing," si mom.

"Hindi mo ako isasama, ganoon ba?" pagmamaktol ni dad.

"No, dad. I'm not leaving you out of the box. Isasama ko lang naman po siya para ma-witness niya kung ano ba ang ginagawa ko tuwing birthday ko," I explained.

He pouted, showing that he wasn't pleased by my guarantee. "Palibhasa may Rafael ka na. Magkakamatayan muna kaming dalawa ni Rafael bago ka niya makukuha sa bahay na ito."

Napahalakhak kaming dalawa ni mom sa sinabi niya.

"Bakit naman napunta sa gan'yang bagay ang usapan, Lucho?"

"What I'm trying to say is that even if we approved of their relationship, we will also approve of them living together at this age, Hina," ani dad kay mom.

I groaned. "We're not thinking about doing that right now, dad!"

Siya naman itong naging istrikto pagdating saakin. Parang noong isang buwan lang ay inaasar niya ako na bigyan na siya ng apo! Seriously, I am not aging backwards! I'm turning old!

"Hayaan mo. After five or ten years, we won't know if they'll still be dating or not. They would definitely grow out the relationship," mom's theory came so close to stabbing my heart.

"Whatever." Dad rolled his eyes.

I couldn't get my mother's words out of my thoughts. Paano kung totoo nga ito? Na pagdating ng ilang taong pagsasama namin ay magsawa na siya saakin? Na baka makahanap siya ng iba na kaya akong higitan?

That is something I am currently unable to imagine. Rafael is someone I can trust. I'm sure he won't do that.

"By the way, Riki. . . We'll be out of country for a day or two. The timetable is for this week, and since it falls on the weekends, our workers won't be here on that day."