That Platonic Landi

07

It’s awkward.



Very awkward.



My father invited the Tiu’s to sit “with us” that’s why they’re here…infront of us while listening to the program. Kaharap ko si Josh ngayon habang katabi niya naman ang mga magulang niya. My parents are busy chatting with them. Tuwang-tuwa si Dad na dito sila umupo sa table namin. Ugh! I wanted to leave this place for real!



I looked at Josh who was smirking at me like he was teasing me for some reason. I glared at him before looking away.



I didn’t know that Josh’s family was a real deal! Like a big deal! Oh my God! Am I being judgemental? Hindi ko naman tiningnan si Josh na parang nakakababang tao. Baka siya pa nga ang tumitingin sakin ng ganoon! Sa yabang niyang yan…hindi na ako magtataka!



Kaya pala ang mamahal ng sasakyan niya! Ugh! I was dumb for not knowing that!



Wala sa sarili akong pumalakpak ng marinig ko ang ibang tao na pumalakpak. I don’t even know kung para saan ‘tong event na to eh!



Siguro event para sa mga plastic na tao?!



Naramdaman ko ang pag-vibrate ng phone ko sa bulsa ko. I looked at Josh who was busy with his phone. Pasimple niyang tinuro ang phone niya, giving me a hint to check my phone.



Josh Alexander:
Lutang ka ata



Josh Alexander:
HAHAHAHAHAHA



I looked at him and glared my eyes before texting my reply to that.



Me:
Pinaglihi ka sa sama ng loob?



Josh Alexander:
Siguro. HAHAHAHAHA



Pati sa message parang naririnig ko ang tawa niya na nakaka-inis. I have to stop myself from shouting at him. Kung wala lang kami sa event na ‘to ay baka nasuntok ko na siya.



The program went by and it was boring as hell. Halos lahat ng pinapakilala sa stage ay puro lang naman mga politiko o kaya naman mga businessman. Nalaman ko ‘rin na mag magaganap na auction mamaya at ang makukuha ‘dun ay idodonate sa isang charity.



Josh’s parent and my parents are busy talking about something. Mukhang good mood ang dalawa dahil may koneksyon na naman sila. Kung kaya ko lang pigilan ang mga magulang ni Josh, ginawa ko na.



Ayoko na ngang magkaroon ng koneksyon kay Josh pero sa parents niya naman!



Grabe!



“How’s your law firm?” rinig kong tanong ng tatay ni Josh kay Dad. “Balita ko may mga naipanalo kayong mga kaso lately.”



My dad smiled at that looking proud. I wanted to roll my eyes at him. Ang yabang.



“My law firm seems to be busy lately since maraming case ang natatanggap namin.” My dad slightly chuckled. He sounded so happy. “My family is also helping me especially that we have support coming from the Sandrino’s.”



Nakita ko ang pagkatigil ng tatay ni Josh at ang pagtaas ng kilay ng nanay niya. I looked at my mother who was whispering some words to my father. Tumikhim pa ito at ngumiti sa kaharap namin. Umayos ng upo ang tatay ni Josh at mabilis na tumingin sa asawa niya. 



Tiningnan ko ang nanay ni Josh na seryosong nakikinig sa usapan. Hindi ko pa siya nakitang ngumiti simula ng umupo sila sa table namin. She looks intimidating when you looked at her up close. She has this aura that can make your knees shake. On the other side, Josh’s father looks serious, malayo sa ugali ni Josh. He seems polite with a hint of business character when he talks. Sobrang layo ng ugali nila sa ugali ni Josh.



“Nikko…” napabaling ako kay Mommy na tumawag sa akin. She looks at me with warning eyes.



“What?” I asked her in a small voice para walang makarinig sa amin.



“Talk to the man infront of you.” She commanded.



Si Josh? What the hell!



“Why would I?” I asked her back. “We’re not close.” Sabi ko ay umayos ng upo.



Nagtuloy tuloy ang usapan ng mga magulang namin to the point that I was getting so bored. My father was the one initiating the conversation at mabuti na lang at sinasagot naman to ng mag-asawa.



“You have a fine young men here, Engineer.” My mom pointed out Josh, at sa sobrang yabang ni Josh ay ngumiti siya kay Mommy.



Fine daw? More like a faggot!



Josh’s father slightly chuckled at that sentiment. On the other side, Josh was smiling from ear to ear from that. Ang sarap niyang suntukin sa oras na ‘to.



“Josh right?” my father asked and Josh nodded. “What a nice name you have.” My father complimented him. “What school?” my father asked.



Josh looked at me and cleared his throat before answering the question.



“UP Diliman. 4th year, Business Administration.” Josh politely answered.



Tumango tango naman ang mga magulang ko. My mother was smiling at Josh.



“That’s right.” My father said. “You should be ready to take on your father’s responsibility, after all you’re the heir to your family’s company.”



The smile on Josh’s face disappeared. His jaw was moving aggressively…like he was mad for some reason. I squinted my eyes at him. I looked at his parent’s who was silently looking at him.



I think my parents hit a spot.



Tumikhim ang tatay ni Josh at pasimpleng ngumiti sa amin. Inakbayan niya si Josh at hinimas ang balikat.



I cleared my throat to ease the awkwardness that I can sense in this table.



“He’s ready.” Josh’s father suddenly said. Napatingin tuloy kami sa kanya. “He’s ready to take on the responsibility, after he graduated, the company will go to his hands and get married as well. As soon as possible.” then he smiled.



Habang sinasabi ‘yun ng tatay niya ay nakatingin lang ako kay Josh na nakayuko. Mahigpit ‘rin ang hawak niya sa baso na may lamang inumin.



“He has to fill up my shoes.” Josh’s father said.



“That’s right.” My father nodded at that remarked. “You should get a girlfriend now, you’re now in age to have a relationship or even to marriage.”



Mabuti na lang at tumigil na sila sa kakasalita nag dumating ang dinner. It was so awkward to the point that I was getting sick of it. Sobrang bigat ng hangin sa table namin. Hindi ‘rin nagsasalita ang nanay ni Josh pero alam kong nakikinig lang siya sa mag sinasabi ng mga tao sa table namin. Hindi ko na ‘rin narinig na nagsalita si Josh simula kanina.



“Nikko…right?” Josh’s father asked me. “Is it?” I nodded at him.



Tumigil ako sa paghiwa ng steak at tumingin sa kanya. He was smiling at me so I have to smile at him also.



“Are you aspiring to be a lawyer too just like your family?” he asked me. Nakita ko pagtigil sa pagkain ng asawa niya at tumingin sa’kin na parang nangigilatis.



I cleared my throat before answering that question.


“No sir…I’m a nur-“



Bago pa ako makapagsalita ay pinutol na iyon ni Dad at siya na ang sumagot sa tanong.



“He’s a nursing student.” Mabilis na sagot ni Dad. I looked at him. We all are. “We tried to get him into law, but I guess he loves medicine.” Sabi niya at tumawa pa. “That’s okay, malimit lang naman siyang maging sakit sa ulo, we can use him in the future as well.”



Use?



I sighed to myself as I get bitter about that.



Here we go again…



I’m useful in the future? Para saan? Para ako ang mag-asikaso sa bangkay nila? Para ako ang gumawa ng death certificate nila?



I badly wanted to leave this table.



Humigpit ang pagkahawak ko sa utensils na hawak ko. Napatingin ako sa harapan ko at nakitang nakatingin si Josh sa kamay ko na mahigpit na nakahawak sa mga utensils. Nagkatinginan kami at ako ang unang umiwas. My eyes landed on Josh’s mother who was also looking at me…especially to my hands.



“I don’t know why Nikko chooses medicine over law…but I can’t do anything about it.” My father added.


“I heard that your daughter was married now?” Josh’s father asked.



“Yeah yeah.” My father answered then wiped his mouth with the table napkin. “She’s now in good hands with her husband. She’s working under the Sandrino’s now, after all she’s one of them.”



Nagpatuloy ang usapan ng dalawa at minsan ay sumasama sa usapan ang mga asawa nila. My father was also saying some shits about me to the point na parang ikinakahiya niya ako. Pansin ko ‘rin ang tingin ng mag-asawa sa akin kapag nagsasalita si Dad ng tungkol sa akin. I always gave them a fake smile to show that I’m okay even if I’m not.



Naramdaman ko ang pag-vibrate ng phone ko kaya naman napatingin ako kay Josh at tinuro niya ang phone niya.



I squinted my eyes at him but he smiled at me.



Josh Alexander:
Alis na tayo dito



Josh Alexander:
G?



I looked at him then to our parents who was busy with their shitty conversation.



Me:
How?



He immediately replied.



Josh Alexander:
Ako bahala HAHAHAHA



Now I’m nervous.



Ano naman kayang katarantaduhan ang gagawin niya?



“Excuse me…” he suddenly said. We all looked at him and he just smiled at us. “I need to go to the lavatory.” He politely said. He stood up from his seat and then walked beside me. “Let’s go Nikko?”



Gago!



Ito ba ‘yun?!



I was dumfounded for a moment. I looked at him with widened eyes and he just smiled at me.



This fucking jerk!



“H-huh?”



“You said that you will be joining me to the bathroom, right?” he asked.



I squinted my eyes at him.



“Right.” I said while blankly staring at him. “Excuse us.” I looked at our parents then I flashed a fake smile at them.



I stood up to my seat at inunahan na si Josh na maglakad. Nakaka-inis! Nakaka-init ng ulo ‘yung ginawa niya!



“Ayos ba?” tanong niya na may kasamang tawa.



Hindi ako sumagot. Sinuntok ko siya sa braso niya at napa-aray naman siya.



“You jerk!” I sarcastically said to him.



“Anong…bakit?” tanong niya habang himas himas ang braso.



Nagtuloy tuloy ako sa paglalakad ng hindi siya pinapansin. But I know that he’s just beside me. Nang maka-alis kami sa event ay doon ko siya tiningnan.



“So…san na tayo?” I asked him.



“Sa taas.” Simple niyang sabi at nauna nang maglakad.



We both entered the elevator at siya na ‘rin ang pumindot ng floor kung saang taas man niya ko dadalhin.


“What are we going to do there?” I asked him since wala man lang siyang imik.



“Wala naman.” He answered.



“Wala?!” I asked him back.



He chuckled and faced me with a smirk. I arched a brow at him.



“Bakit? May gusto ka bang gawin?” he asked. “Hotel ‘to Nikko.” He uttered in a very sexual voice. 



Huh? What the hell is he talking about?



Hotel? So ano ngayon kung hotel ‘to?



What the?! Ew!



“Bastos ka ‘rin eh no?!” sigaw ko sa kanya. “As if naman….” Then I looked at him with a disgusted face.



Tumawa lang naman siya at may binulong na hindi ko marinig. Mabuti na lang at bumukas na ang elevator. Nasa rooftop kami ng hotel. It has a nice view of the other building. The city lights looks beautiful up in here.



“Family of lawyers huh?” he suddenly said so I looked at him. He put his hands on his pockets while looking at the scenery in front of us. “Wrong turn ka ata eh.” Sabi niya sabay tawa,



I sarcastically smiled at him.



“So you’re an heir huh?” I mocked him. “What a responsibility you have.” I said to him.



Natahimik siya sa sinabi ko. I hit a spot. Ano ka ngayon!



“It sucks though.” He said.



I looked at him with curious eyes. I can also hear is heavy breathing.



“Nakakawala ang gana kapag may expections ‘no? Yung alam mo namang kaya mo pero nawawalan ka ng gana dahil sa pressure ng pamilya mo. Nakakawala ng gana kapag akala ng ibang tao kaya mo ang isang bagay na alam mo sasarili mo na hindi, pero pinipilit mo dahil wala kang choice.” Sabi niya. “Ganoon ang pakiramdam ko.” He also added. “It sucks when your family pressures you because of their shitty expectations.” He then chuckled with no hint of humor in it.  



Yeah, it sucks. It fucking suck! I know the feeling!



“I pity myself.” He said so I looked at him with my brows furrowed. “Hindi halata ‘no?” tanong niya sabay tawa. “Tangina talaga!” sigaw niya.



Huminga siya ng malalim bago humarap sa’kin.



“Nikko…” he called me.



“What?”



“I have one request.” He suddenly said.



“Uhm…okay?” I looked at him with a questioning look.



“Please…” he uttered. “Please don’t judge me.” 


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