lilies.

77

Kabanata 77

Rai's POV

Something is definitely wrong.

Madaling hindi alamin ang buhay ni Lily dahil iilan lang naman ang nakakaalam ng tungkol sa amin. Even my family doesn't know that we used to date. Tita Elena didn't bother to tell my mother. Their family kept everything private.

It's easy to know everything though. My mother knows everything, especially Acostas who are our family friend.

Umuwi ako ng Saria para roon. Mommy is so delighted to see me. Gulat din si Fei at Denver kung bakit ako narito, eh hindi naman ako umuuwi tuwing may pasok ako sa hotel.

Ibinigay ko ang pasalubong sa pamangkin kong si Raver. Kung hindi ko pa nalaman na anak ito ni Denver, hindi ko talaga maiisip na kamukha niya si Raver. Ngayong nalaman ko na, hindi ko na maalis sa isip ko ang pagmumukha ni Denver tuwing nakikita ko ang pamangkin.

Hindi papalya sa bahay namin na dapat ay sabay sabay kaming kumain. Sa hapag ko itatanong ang tungkol kay Lily. I wanted to sound casual. Kunwari ay nagbibigay lang ako ng maaaring pag-usapan. Ganoon lang dapat ang isipin nila.

These past few years, they have been so attentive to every girl's name I mentioned. Iniisip nila na kahit sino ay pwedeng iyon na ang mapapangasawa ko.

"You invited Acostas to the opening last month?" I asked mommy, "I never sent the invites."

"Oh," Pinunasan niya ang gilid ng bibig gamit ang table napkin at tumawa ng mahina, "Yes, we always invite the Acostas, son, we should. They're our friends. Don't forget that."

Nagkibit balikat ako. "They don't attend events, mom. It's a waste of paper."

"Hush!" suway ni Mommy sa sinabi ko, "Even if they attend or not, you always extend your invites to your friends."

"You saw her nga e, that's why you knew. Why make this a big deal? Mommy's right. Don't be rude," dagdag ni Fei.

Tinapunan ko siya ng masamang tingin, "Did I ask for your opinion though?"

Namula agad ang mukha niya at umusok ang ilong. I smirked.

"Kaya ka hindi nagkaka-girlfriend. Ang sama ng ugali mo!"

"Nagsalita ang anghel," dagdag ko sa pambubwisit sa kanya. Nabubuo talaga ang araw ko kapag naiinis ko si Fei.

"Nagsalita ang demonyo!" ganti niya.

"Kids!" Mommy scolded us.

"We're not kids," sabay pa naming dalawang sinabi.

Natawa na lang si Denver at napailing. He snaked his hands on Fei's waist and whispered something near her ear.

"Then act like adults," dagdag ni Mommy.

Dinaluhan ni Fei ang pagkain ng anak bago nagsalita, "Karma mo 'yan. Sana di ka talaga magkaasawa o kaya sana pangit mapangasawa mo," bulong bulong ni Fei pero ipinaparinig niya talaga iyon sa akin.

Mommy clasped her hands, "Going back," She then now acted like Fei and I didn't quarrel, "Be nice to the Acostas, they've been through alot for the last years."

"Really?" I nodded slowly. I focused on my food and then acted nonchalant, "I didn't know. What happened?"

"My god, Kuya, where were you? Nasa Mars ka ba?"

"Bakit ka ba sagot ng sagot? Hindi naman kita tinatanong?"

"You have the audacity to fight in front of food because your daddy and Lolo are not here, ha? Stop it!" suway ni Mommy.