“Hija, what’s with those tacky shoes? Weren’t you wearing your favorite Prada when you left the house this morning?”
“Kinuha ng isang hayop na bakulaw, ‘Ma. So, I didn’t have much of a choice... I had to borrow a pair of shoes from the drama club.”
“Oh, really? Gwapo ba ang bakulaw na iyon?” kantiyaw ng mama ko na in-ignore lang ang distress sa tinig ko. “At ang pangalan ba ng bakulaw na iyon ay ‘Dusk Jhaikeb de la Vega‘, my beautiful daughter?”
“‘Ma!” tiling pigil ko sa kanya. Natawa lang ang magaling kong ina. Na mas lalong nakapainis sakin.
My mom was always prying into my business. Ako lang kase ang nag-iisang babaeng anak niya kaya natural lang na masyado itong “excited” kapag ako na ang pinag-uusapan. I understood that naman. But, sometimes, my mother just annoyed the hell out of me. Pinakikialaman kasi nito ang love life ko as if I had one to begin with – or even wanted one. Hindi siya maawat-awat sa pagrereto sakin ng kung sinu-sinong binatang anak ng mga kaibigan niya. She was still a sophomore in college, damn it! Pero okay lang naman sana iyon. That, I could handle. Ang hindi ko matanggap ay ang fact na sa dinamiraming lalaking pwedeng gawin niyang paboritong potential son-in-law, ang walang hiyang tikbalang na bakulaw pa talaga ang napili ng aking magaling na ina! What the heck did my mother see in that asshole?
“O, hijo? Napaaga ka yata ng uwi, wala ka bang trabaho ngayon sa Student Council?”
My older brother who came from behind megave our mom a peck on the cheek. “Meron, ‘Ma. I just came home to get something I need for my…presentation bukas. And to tell you na rin that I won’t be sleeping here tonight. We still have a lot of work to finish for tomorrow’s cultural festival.”
“Pwede bang hindi nalang um-attend sa activity na iyan bukas, kuya Austin? One week naman iyan, eh. Wala rin naman akong gagawin doon.” Singit ko sa usapan ng kuya ko at ng mom namin. May kutob kasi ako na may kinalaman na naman ako sa “presentation” niya.
Nilingon niya ako. He stuck his tongue out to tease me. “No. Hindi pwede. Kailangan ka roon at ang mga kaibigan mo. We’ll be using – I mean… asking you, guys, to help us get more people to come.”
Dinilatan ko siya na tinawanan lang naman niya. Pesteng ogre!
“Kumain ka na ba, Eric, sweetie?”
Nilingon ko ang nakababatang kapatid namin na pababa pa lang sa hagdan. My little brother was too neat-looking, wearing my over-sized shirt that says “Iba na talaga kapag maganda!”, which was given to me by our eccentric aunt. I'm a little concerned. Nah, curious is more like it. Bakla ba kapatid ko? Kung siya ang tatanungin, hindi ang isasagot niya. Pero kung ang kilos niya at ang hitsura ang pagbabasihan, parang ang hirap paniwalaan na hindi nga siya bakla tulad ng hinahala naming lahat. Bakit ba ang weird ng pamilya ko?
“Not yet, Mommy.”
“Why not, sweetie? Kailangan mong kumain, kakagaling mo lang sa sakit, ah.” Nag-aalalang paalala ni mommy.
“Maybe nag-da-diet yang anak natin, ‘Ma.” Natatawang sagot ng papa ko na kararating lang galing sa trabaho. “This is a rare sight. Everyone, together in the living room.”
I kissed my dad’s cheek. At agad nagsumbong sa kanya.“Dad! Si Mommy, o!”
“Bakit? Is your mom giving your boyfriend a hard time, hija? Hmmm… What was his name again, ‘Ma?” Kantiyaw rin ng magaling kong ama. If I were a volcano, kanina pa nag-disintegrate silang lahat. Are these people really my parents?!
“Dusk, ‘Pa. Iyon ang pangalan ng boyfriend ng unica hija natin.” My mom’s amused look was truly irritating.
“Ah, oo. Iyon nga!” My dad chuckled and kissed mom full on the lips. “Ang galing talaga ng asawa ko! Kaya nga mahal ko ‘to, eh!”
Napabuntong-hininga nalang si mommy. “I can’t believe how forgetful you are. Biruin mo, nakalimutan mo ang pangalan ng nag-iisang inaanak natin.”
Ngumiti naman nang matamis si daddy. “Yes. But I didn’t forget that it’s our wedding anniversary today, dear.” Natameme ako nang makita niya ang malaking bouquet ng orchids na ibinigay ni daddy kay mommy.
“Awww…ang sweet naman ng asawa ko! Kaya nga mahal na mahal din kita, eh!” my parents kissed each other fervently on the lips again.
“Wew! Get a room, you, two! May mga bata pa rito, mahiya naman kayo sa amin, ‘no!” natatawang sambit ni kuya Austin niya while acting disgusted.
Our parents just ignored my older brother’s little reaction. They kissed like there was nobody else in the world other than the person who was in each other’s arms. And even when I was still irritated at how my parents pry into my business, I still can’t help but admire how much they love each other. My parents were the only reason why I just couldn’t bring myself to believe that true love doesn’t exist.
“Uy! Earth to mom and dad! Buhay pa kaming mga anak ninyo rito!” pagtatawag pansin ni kuya. Pero deadma pa rin ang mga ito. “Ah, ewan. Maiwan ko na nga kayo. Babalik pa ako sa school.”
“Kung makahalik kayo, wagas!” nagsimula nang maglakad palayo si Eric. Pero bigla siyang huminto. “Wait, don't stop! I’m getting my camera!”
Ang weird talaga ng mga tao sa bahay na ‘to! I sighed and smiled in surrender. Yeah. This really is my family.
BINABASA MO ANG
The Campus Ice Queen (Revising)
Teen FictionMaci liked him. He liked her. Happy ending, diba? But as it turns out, he never really liked her at all. He just played with her feelings. Pinaasa. Saklap, diba? So naturally, Maci gradually hated him. She realized that the saying "the more you hate...
