"W-what did you say, Arkiel ? Elissa hija?" si Mommy, waiting for my explanation.
"Mom, Dad, Tita, Tito, si Arkiel po... Boyfriend ko po."
"Oh my gosh!" Mom laughed hysterically
She thinks we're joking. Well, I can't blame them. Mahirap nga namang paniwalaan. Arkiel's been going in and out of our house since childhood as my brother's bestfriend, and they always believe that Arkiel is also my other Kuya.
"Markus, you knew this?"
Nilingon naming lahat si Kuya Markus. He sighed.
"Yes, Mom."
"Oh my gosh!"
I bit my lower lip. I can't stop but overthink, is Mom mad? Napatingin ako kay Daddy, naabutan kong seryoso itong naka tingin sa akin. Gan'on din si Tita Mariela, ngumiti ito ng alanganin sa'kin. Wala namang reaksiyon si Tito Lukas.
"Mom, why don't we talk about this over dinner?" sa wakas ay nagsalita si Kuya Markus.
Dad nodded, and whispered something to Mom.
Sabay sabay kaming nag tungo sa dining. Nilingon ko si Arkiel, he smiled at me.
"Everything will be fine, don't worry too much." bulong niya.
Tumango ako, si Daddy ay umupo sa gitna, sa kabilang gilid niya ay si Mommy, katabi si Tita Mariela, sunod ay si Tito Lukas. Sa kabilang side naman ay naupo ako, tumabi si Arkiel, at katabi naman niya si Kuya Markus. Foods were served and everyone started eating, silently. Sobrang tahimik. Napatingin ako kila Mommy at Tita Mariela na akala mo'y nag uusap gamit ang mga mata.
"So, Arkiel." napalingon kami kay Daddy nang magsalita ito.
"Kailan pa?" dugtong niya
"Last week lang po, Tito."
"Gan'on kabilis?" si Mommy at Tita, sabay pa.
"No, Mom, Tita. I liked her even before."
Tahimik akong kumain, I liked him too, noon.
"Before... You mean?" Mommy tracing years.
"High school po, Tita."
Mabilis na lumingon si Mommy kay Tita Mariela. Tila naguusap na naman ang dalawa, ngunit wala namang salita na lumalabas sa bibig nila. I sighed.
"You mean, when she's fifteen Arkiel?" si Dad
I looked at him and he's already glaring. That if Arkiel will say yes, he'll punch him straight into the face. Which I hope, he will not do.
"Yes, Tito."
Napalingon ako ulit kina Mommy at Tita. They both drank their water. Hindi mapakali ang tingin nila, while Tito Lukas is just busy eating.
"She's too young that time, isn't she?"
Daddy seems like controlling himself. Maybe the only thing stopping him from punching Arkiel is that he trust him and he's hoping for explanation. Kilala niya si Arkiel. He knew Arkiel's better than that.
"Yes, Tito."
"Did you have plans courting her that time? Ayaw siguro sa'yo ng anak ko kaya hindi naging kayo noon?" naubo ako.
"Dad!" mahinang saway ko.
"Yes po, Tito. She kinda hates me. But then, wala naman po akong planong ligawan si Elissa noon."
