On That Same Year

Chapter 25

Hearing my momma's thoughts just now made me tear up real bad and the fact that she‘s also trying her best to understand me and correct her mistakes before just made my heart melt so bad.

We both hugged each other that time and now I'm currently having a phone call with my suitor who's now nervous about meeting my mom.

“'Wag ka masyadong kabahan, I already talked to Mom. She said, introduce yourself to her formally lang daw.” I reassured him. Narinig ko naman ang pagbuntong hininga n'ya sa kabilang linya.

“I'm trying my sweetcheeks, okay? Thank you for the reassuring message.” him sounded a bit relieved.

“Mhm, so sa'n ka na? Want me to fetch you?”

“No, no. I'm on my way na po, I'll be right there in the next 5 minutes.” aniya, natawa naman ako ng mahina.

“Sus, sige. Alam mo naman na kung saan 'tong bahay namin, just knock on the door pag andito ka na ha? I'll open the door for you”

“Okay, I'll hang up the call na po. I love you.” pag papaalam n'ya, nag init naman ang pisngi ko.

“Sige, ingat. I love you too.”

Nang maibaba ang tawag ay kaagad naman akong napahawak sa magkabila kong pisngi dahil sa kilig na nararamdaman ngayon.

He’s way too good to be true.

Dumaan ang ilan pang mga minuto at nakaupo lang ako sa sahig habang kaharap ang pintuan ng bahay namin, waiting for his knock. And, when he finally do. I hurriedly open the door at bumungad naman sa aking napakaguwapo n'yang mukha, he’s wearing white polo‚ black pants and white shoes. Ang itim na buhok ay maayos na naka wax at amoy na amoy ko pa ang pabango n'yang malakas makapanlalaki na mas lalong nakapagpaakit sa'kin ng malala ngayon.

Napansin ko pa ang dalawang bouquet ng bulaklak na dala-dala n'ya, I'm guessing the other bouquet was for my mother. The bouquet is well-designed, the color of it is pink and the other one is purple. The various kind of flowers are captivating my heart from the inside of my chest.

Ngumiti naman ako ng malapad at ganoon din siya. “Hi!” I giggled, bago pa man s'ya makapagsalita ay binuksan ko na nang pagkalaki-laki ang pintuan at binigay n'ya naman sa akin ang color purple na flower bouquet na kaagad ko namang tinanggap. It smelled fresh and sweet.

“Hala, salamat RK. Nag abala ka pa.” sabi ko, umiling naman s'ya. “No, don't thank me. You deserve it from the very beginning.” he uttered which made me smile even more and so as him, inabot ko naman na ang isang kamay n'ya para makapasok na s'ya sa loob.

Bago pa man kami tuluyang pumunta kung saan nakatambay si Mama ay hinarap ko muna s'ya upang patibayin ang loob n'ya. “Don’t be nervous hmm? Just be yourself.” malambing na sabi at inayos ang kanyang buhok na bahagya pang nagulo ng hangin kanina.

Ngumiti naman s'ya sa'kin. “Salamat po.” I only replied him a sweet smile and then we both made our way from where my momma's currently having a good time while staring and typing at her phone.

“Nandito na po s'ya, Ma.” nangingiting sabi ko habang nakahawak pa ang isang kamay ko sa kamay ng lalaki, napansin ko naman ang saglit na pagtingin ni mama niyon pero hindi ko binitawan ang kamay ng lalaki. Nabitawan ko lang 'yon no'ng binati na siya ni RK at iniabot ang dala n'yang bouquet.

“Good noon po, Tita.” RK greeted mom and he then give the pink bouquet he bought for the both of us, nakangiti namang inabot iyon ni Mama at kitang kita ko kung paano nasiyahan si Mama sa simple gesture n'ya.

“Salamat, ijho. It doesn't really needed but thanks for the effort.” my Momma thanked him, I saw him smile. Siguro naman nag papalagayan na sila ng loob.

“Maupo ka, Ijho.” she offered him to sit at the couch beside the sofa she’s been sitting at, bago tuluyang naupo sa gilid ni mama ay inilapag ko na muna sa coffee table ang bouquet na ibinigay ni RK sa akin at gano'n din naman si Mama.

“So, I guess you're my daughter's suitor huh? Infairness, guwapo ka.” komento ni mama sa physical feature ng lalaki habang tumatango tango pa ito, hindi ko tuloy alam kung matatawa ako. I saw my man smiled shyly.

“Hindi naman po, ikaw din po, maganda.” he replied, natawa tuloy ako ng mahina. Kahit medyo awkward ang atmosphere ay sobrang cute pa rin ng conversation nila ni Mama.

Napatingin naman si Mama sa puwesto ko, I guess she must've heard I laugh a little. Tinikom ko naman ang bibig ko.

Ibinaling n'ya naman kaagad ang atensyon sa lalaki. “So, how long are you courting me daughter now?” nakita ko namang napaisip si RK, he must've counting the days since he started courting me.

“It’s been 2 weeks and 4 days na po, tita.” he said respectfully, nakita ko naman ang pagtango ni Mama na para bang tinanggap n'ya kaagad ang sinabi nang lalaki.

“Ah, matagal tagal na rin. Bakit ngayon mo lang ako sinabihan Iris?” bumaling naman si Mama sa puwesto ko ngayon, napakamot naman ako sa anit ko.

“Sorry na, Ma. Natatakot kasi ako na baka hindi ka papayag, masyado akong nasanay sa pagiging strikta mo eh.” sabat ko naman agad na ikinataas n'ya naman nang kilay, nag peace sign nalang ako.

Tumikhim naman s'ya bago nag patuloy sa pag i-interview kay RK.

“I'm guessing you two were classmates, right?” aniya, tumango naman si RK. “Okay, tama nga ako.” saglit pang natigilan si Mama. “Ano nga pa lang pangalan mo, ijho?”

“Ah pasensya na po, ako nga po pala si Ruzh Korman. RK nalang po in short, 18 yrs of age and I'm from Quezon City, Manila but I came here to restart and relive my life.” he explain.

“So, transferee ka pala?” my Mom's eyes furrowed. “And oh, the last thing you said made me curious. Do you mind sharing?” she continues, nakita ko naman ang pag guhit ng sakit sa mga mata ni RK pero agad din namang nawala 'yon.

He puffed an air before telling my Momma what he had been through since his parents got separated and that he had to live with his grandmother for years until his beloved grandmother died last year and now he’s finding peace and reliving a quiet life in different place with his father's support. Hearing his story once more weighs my heart.

When my Mom learned the story of his life, she can’t help but to feel bad about his situation and even said sorry for his loss. “Anyways, punta ka lang dito kapag bored ka sainyo huh?” my Mom offered, ngumiti naman si RK.

“I'll do that for sure po, tita. Salamat po.” he uttered and my mother just nodded, I got up for a moment to bring them snacks 'cause I'm having a thought that they needed a talk also without having me there.

Nag timpla lang ako ng juice sa pitsel at kumuha ng iilang biscuits sa pantry namin, nang matapos na sa ginagawa ay una ko na munang dinala ang pitsel na may lamang juice at tatlong babasaging baso. Sunod ko namang dinala ang biscuits na nilagay ko sa plato para diretso kuha nalang kaagad at wala ng hassle.

Nakita ko pa ang suspicious reaction ni RK dahil nangingiti na siya pagbalik ko. Is he trying to steal my mom from me now?

Napaisip tuloy ako, baka naman sinabi ni Mama yung elti moments ko pagkabata. Magtatampo talaga ako ng one week.

—

After spending an hours of laughter and random chatting with RK and Momma, nag paalam naman na si RK na uuwi na dahil hindi na namin napansing malapit na palang gumabi. I guess day’s were really fast to fade when you’re with your comfort persons.

Before RK left our house we invited him to eat with us and when we're done, I simply bid my goodbye through a kiss on his cheeks.

“Text me when you got home, hm?” malambing na saad ko, he nodded and gently pulled me into his arms for a quick hug and then he left our house.

And, when I couldn't see his figure, I immediately collapsed at my bed and buried my face to my soft pillow to scream from too much emotions inside my body.

The first word that came into my mind was the word I thought I couldn't utter in my whole living in this earth.

I felt alive.