Princess By Surprise

Chapter Two: Epic Confession

Chapter Two

"Nag-enjoy ka bang bumisita kayla Vannesa?" My mom asked.

We were doing the laundry, and I was so anxious about meeting the lawyer today, I kept messing up the folding. Hindi ko sinabi sa nanay ko na hindi ako papasok sa first day, hindi naman kasi parang meron ako'ng pinanghahawakan na attendance record. My parents went through a lot of shits with me. Nasuspend na ako ng dalawang beses last year dahil sa paggawa ng mga kabaliwan, at sinigurado na nilang may gagawin akong mabuti ngayong summer. They used to be really lenient on me, but now, it was like they attached a freaking GPS locator on my phone.

Hindi ko naman sila masisisi. Inilagay ko sila sa impyerno. Ang akala nila noon ay naimpluwensyahan ako nila Clark at Thad, but I was always a bad child. Being good just never interested me. But god damn, konti na lang ay mamamatay na ako dahil sa kasal na 'to. Kung totoo man, pwede na akong mag babye sa lahat ng social life na naiwan ko.

Ang pagpunta sa trip na 'yon para bisitahin si Vannesa ay ang reward ko para sa aking 'good behaviour' ngayong summer (minus all the bad things they would never find about, ssh, don't tell them). Hindi talaga kami mapaghihiwalay ni Guilliana, so hindi na nila inalala na sumama ako sa kaniya. At matapos 'kong sabihin sa kanila ang theory ng sexual orientation ni Clark and Thad, hindi na rin nila inalala 'yon. My dad tells them to make like an amoeba all the time. It was kind of funny, because both of my parents were nuclear physicists who hoped that next Einstein would pop out of my mom, but nope, they ended up with me.

"Mhmm," I replied at ginawa ko ang makakaya ko para hindi tumingin sa kaniya sa mata. Alam ko na 'pag nadulas ako ng konti, masasabi ko na ang lahat tungkol sa kasal.

"That's it? Walang detalye?" That was my mom trying to bond with me. Don't get me wrong, but they were pretty stellar parents, but when dinner talk becomes business talk, and the only thing I have to offer is: did North Korea lunch their bombs yet?, you'd begin to distance yourself too.

Inilagay ko ang mga labahan sa basket and waved it off as if it was no big deal. "Baka nandyan na si Clark. Kwento ko na lang po mamayang dinner." Pumasok na ako sa kwarto ko at nilagay ang basket at kinuha ang book bag bago umalis ng bahay.

"Whew, muntik na 'yon ah," sabi ko at naglagay ng seatbelt. Nasa loob na sina Guilles at Thad. Lagi nila ako'ng sinusundo at hindi ko alam kung bakit. Sa tingin ko ayaw din nilang mag-discuss ako ng daily news sa parents ko and their excuse was their need to be in time for school. What liars.

"Sinabi mo sa nanay mo?" Tanong ni Guilliana. Halata ang pag-aalala sa mukha niya, and I felt a little better. Ang akala ko kasi niloloko lang kami nila Clark at Guilles nung una, pero alam kong hindi nila kayang gawin 'yun. Hindi ko pa nakakausap ai Thad hanggang ngayon. He looked.. worn out today.

"Nope. Masasabi ko na nga sana eh. Napakahirap magtago ng sekreto sa kanila. I swear. Parang kumuha sila ng mga private investigators para bantayan ang nga kilos ko."

The rest of the car ride was spent with Clark and Guilles belting out songs like they always do. Usually sumasali ako sa kanila, pero ngayon masyado akong kinakabahan at feeling ko hindi naman dapat na sabayan 'yung kanta. After what it seemed like an eternity, Clark finally pulled up to his residence.

Leading us through the maze and obstacle course that it takes to actually get to his front door, binuksan na ni Clark ang office door ng tatay niya at bumungad samin ang mukhang mabait na lalaki na nagbabasa ng mga ilang papel. Agad siyang napatingin sa amin nang makita niya kaming apat sa doorway. "Ah, Mr. Winston. Good morning. Is this your friend?" He gestured towards Thad.

"Yep. Here are the newlyweds," Clark responded. He was the biggest troll in the world. "This is Bob Lean, your lawyer."

Ngumiti siya sa amin, a hand stucked out. "Nice to meet you, nice to meet you. Uh, Mr. Winston, I hope it's not too much to ask for you and the other young girl to leave us to our business."