CHAPTER 5
JOSH POV
Nakaharap ngayon sila ni Teejay sa hapag kainan kasama ng kanyang mga magulang at kapatid na babae, sa hindi niya maipaliwanag na dahilan ay kinakabahan na siya sa pwedeng mangyari.
“Mom, what is this all about?” kinakabahan na tanong niya.
“You’ll love this, Josh.” Nakangiting sabi pa ng kapatid niyang babae na si Lauren Czarina.
“Sasa, you know something?” tanong niya pa dito pero nginitian lang siya nito.
“We will talk after dinner” sabi naman ng daddy niya.
They waited until dinner is already done at pinatawag na sila ng magulang sa may living room para maka-usap.
“First of all, we are congratulating you for your engagement.” Nakangiting sabi pa ng mama niya sa kanila, which is lalo niyang ikinabahala.
“Tell us, already mom, what is this all about?”
May inilapag itong sobreng maliit sa table na nasa harap nila. Nagkatinginan pa silang dalwa ni Teejay kung anong meron sa table na iyon, pero para itong walang expression sa nangyayari. Iniabot niya iyon at saka binuksan.
A key.
“What is this?” kinakabahang tanong niya.
“A key to your house. You will be living together, but different rooms as of now.” sabi ng kanyang ama na walang kagatol-gatol.
“Live together? Are you out of your mind!” bulyaw niya at napatayo na siya.
“Don’t shout, Elizar, we can hear you, and sit down.” Madiing sabi ng kanyang ina na ikinakaba niya kaya sumunod na lang siya. “We already moved some of the things in your apartment to the house”
“What! This can’t be happening. Teejay come on, back me up on this. You can’t possibly approve to this” reklamo niya pa, pero wala man lang siyang nakitang reaksyon sa mukha nito, saka lang siya naliwanagan sa sitwasyon. “No way, Teejay. You already know about this?!”
“Believe me, no one can say no to your mom.” She said in a boring tone. “Don’t worry I won’t rape you at all.” Dagdag pa nito.
Napatingin siya sa mga magulang with disbelief, pero alam niyang hindi na magbabago ang desisyon ng ganoon kadali. Especially his mom, kung ano man ang sinabi nito, when she made up her mind, nakataga na iyon sa bato. Napalunok na lang siya sa mga possibleng mangyari sa kanilang dalawa ni Teejay. He can live in hell with her.
Nasa garden sila ni Teejay at wala itong imik na nakaupo lang sa tabi niya, as if patiently waiting for him to start saying something. “Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked calmly.
“I just knew about it this morning. Kinausap ako ng mother mo, and believe me, she has her ways to convince people. No wonder your company got really that big.” Then Teejay laughed a bit. “The next thing I knew, they are already calling you for lunch. Obviously my father knew about it too, maybe because he also has this kind of marriage too with my mother.”
“So when will we move?” he asked hopelessly.
“Tonight.” She said flatly.
TEEJAY POV
They are eating dinner on the same table. Wearing usual clothing. It is her first time seeing Josh in usual clothing. She is seeing him at school with those branded clothes different every single day, with his car, and shades, expensive jewelry everything na matatawag mong luho.
