Chapter 10
I left Rainier hanging.
Ilang oras na ang nakalipas no'ng nabasa ko ang mensahe niya at hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko pa rin siya sinasagot. Alam niyang nabasa ko ang chat niya. Wala na rin namang kasunod 'yon.
At first, I was paralyzed momentarily in shock. Then, I was screaming because of kilig, and after that, I panicked. I did not know what to reply. I spent hours dissecting the intention of that message, and I could only come up with one which I was not hundred percent confident with—he was flirting with me.
Am I wrong to assume that? It would have been fine if he had been my classmate or friend or if we had an established relationship, but we're not anything, right? Our only connection is Kuya Soren. And we never even had any proper interaction to get acquainted with. So, why would he invite me?
Para sana kung pupunta ka, may kasama akong manood.
And it's being implied that it would be just the two of us! Assuming ba ako o ano? Kakabasa ko ng romance books 'to, e!
It was late in the afternoon when I have finally decided to attend the closing ceremony of our foundation. Although I might pursue college in the same university, gusto ko pa ring maranasan ang Foundation sa huling taon ko sa Senior High. Idagdag pa na unang beses kong makikita ang Cup of Joe at baka nga ito lang ang tanging pagkakataon.
Imbes na magpasundo kay Kuya Kairo, si Daddy ang sinabihan ko, kung pwedeng kunin niya ako sa bahay dahil gusto kong manood ng concert. Tumanggi pa siya no'ng una at sinabing magpahinga na lang ako pero nang nagbanta ako na 'di ko siya kakausapin habang buhay kapag 'di ko nakita ang Cup of Joe ay pumayag din naman siya.
Para hindi mahirapan sa pagsuot at paglakad na naka-ankle brace, denim midi skirt ang sinuot ko. I paired it with a long-sleeve top with a plunging V-neckline. I grimaced when I saw myself in the mirror. I'm wearing my white sneakers on my left foot and an ankle brace on the other. I look funny, and I honestly thought of not going after all.
"Ano ba 'yan," napabuga ako ng hangin at ngumiwi habang nakatitig sa salamin. "Parang tanga, e."
I groaned when I heard the rattling of our gates, which meant my father was already here to fetch me. I sniffed as I stared at myself again before grabbing my maroon Hobo bag and awkwardly walking out of my room. The ankle brace support is a little big and uncomfortable but manageable.
"Anthea!" Sigaw ni Daddy nang pumasok ito sa bahay, saktong pababa na ako ng hagdan.
Natigilan ito nang makita ako. Nagkamot siya ng ulo at nameywang sa dulo ng hagdan.
"Sigurado kang kaya mo?" He inquired.
"Yes naman," I tried to sound confident and stood at the last step. "Okay lang ba itsura ko, Dy? Parang nakakahiya maglakad sa campus ng ganito, e."
Pinasadahan niya ako ng tingin. "Mukhang tao ka pa rin naman. Wala namang nakakahiya diyan, ah?"
Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. "Ako lang naman kasi ang mukhang tao sa pamilyang 'to."
Tumawa siya at inabot ang kamay para alalayan ako.
"Maganda ka pa rin, 'nak. Maganda kaya genes natin." Aniya habang naglalakad kami palabas ng bahay.
"Ampon din si Kuya Camden? Minsan lang siya mukhang tao, e. Madalas, mukha siyang tikbalang." Inosente kong tanong.
Mas malakas ang tawa niya ngayon. Ngumisi ako at mayabang na sumulyap sa kaniya.
"Oh, bakit 'di mo ma-itanggi, Daddy? Agree ka na mukhang tikbalang si Kuya?"
He couldn't stop laughing as we walked past the gate. His deep baritone laugh made me smile so wide. I could hardly remember now how often he laughed that way when my mother was still alive and healthy.
