METROCEANNA TALES III: Close to You

CHAPTER 27: PEER PRESSURE

the next morning, since her classes are in the afternoon, she prepared the kids breakfast. footlong hungarian sausages, honey-cured beef bacon, buttered toast, sweet ham, sunny side-up eggs, cornflakes and flapjacks. the typical morning meal in every american household. she then open up the fridge and get the jug of fresh milk, pour it in the tall glasses and heat them in the microwave. after it's heated, she put on the pot holder and set the glasses of milk on the table. she plated the victuals just in time that the kids came down. they're already in their uniforms.

"good morning, Aunt Denise!" they greeted her rather joyously and gave her kisses on the cheeks.

"goodmorning, sweethearts. have a seat now, the bus will be here within twenty minutes." she said. sunod na pumanaog ang ate nya bitbit ang gamit ng mga bata.

"thank you sa pag-prepare ng breakfast nila, Sweden. anlaking tulong mo talaga sa 'kin, sis." pasasalamat nito. ngumiti lang sya.

"wala yun, Ate. masaya akong ipaghanda sila." sagot nya.

"you'll be a good mother someday dahil mahusay kang mag-alaga, Sweden. how 'bout you go out on a date? I knew good guys who could pass for a potential boyfriend. you'll be 21 this summer and I haven't seen you dating. do you want me to introduce someone?" tanong nito. hindi sya agad nakasagot dito.

hindi nya sinabi sa kapatid ang tungkol sa personal nyang buhay. ang tanging alam lang nito'y brokenhearted sya sa pagpanaw ng bunso nilang kapatid--hindi nya kailanman binanggit ang tungkol sa walanghiyang two-timer na yun. at mas lalo nang wala itong alam na Bisexual sya at nagkaroon dati ng karelasyong babae. at sa totoo lang, wala syang planong umamin. dahil gaya ng sinabi nya na--kinamumuhian nya ang taong yun. hindi nito makukuha ang kapatawaran nya.

"Sweden?" untag nito sa kanya. she just smiled politely and shook her head.

"I think i'd pass, Ate. my studies are always on the top of my priorities and i'll keep it that way. makakapag-hintay naman yan." sagot nya. nagkibit-balikat ito.

"okay, then." anito. "sabi mo,eh."

they just gave it a laugh and help the kids get in the school bus. matapos nito'y umakyat na ang kapatid para gumayak. may trabaho ito sa isang malaking bakeshop bilang cashier.

"i'll be off, sis. luto ka lang dyan ng lunch mo, okay? bye!" anang kapatid na lumabas ng bahay.

"bye, Ate! ingat po!" wika nya dito. sya nama'y nagluto na ng tanghalian nya.

siniguro nyang wala syang ilaw o appliances na naiwang nakabukas bago nya ni-lock ang pinto. malamig pa rin ang panahon dahil winter season pa ngayon. malapit na rin kasing mag-pasko.

as she walk on the streets to the subway, her smartphone's incoming call alert tone blared. it's Bliss.

"hey, there. finally huh, tumawag ka rin. akala ko talaga tinanan ka na ni Jordan." biro nya dito. natawa lang ito sa kanya.

[gosh,Denise. we need not to elope, girl. we could move in and live together if not for my conservative mother. anyway, kita tayo sa Zerelli-Marimo. ive'd got something to tell you. bye, girl!]

the call ended in time that the train came. halos walang laman ang bagon dahil mas maagang natatapos ang klase ng mga nasa elementary, high-school at middle school. pagkarating nya sa istasyon, andun din si Brent. nakangiti itong kumaway sa kanya.

"hey. fancy seeing you. you have afternoon classes?"

"yeah, three majors. you? i thought you already have electives."

"well, I pick up the morning scheds. i'm just here now for our fraternity's welcome ceremony for the new recruits."

sagot nito. si Brent ang isa sa mga myembro ng sikat na fraternity sa campus, ang Alpha Nu Gamma. isa iyun sa rason kung bakit kilala ito sa University, maliban sa kasali din ito sa football team.