Behind The Scene

Scene 04

Present

Invitation

"Mommy, how do I look?" Tanong ni Lyra habang umiikot sa pink niyang bestida.

"You look great, anak." Sabi ko at kinarga siya.

"Mommy, will I see Kuya Marco's baby today?" Tanong ni Lyra.

"No baby. Ate Jess is still carrying the baby. Pero in time makikita mo rin siya. You'll play with her or him right?" Masayang tumango si Lyra at unti unting napaisip.

"Mommy, you know yesterday?" Nanglaki ang mata ko. Why the sudden question about yesterday? Nginitian ko lang siya.

"Who were they? Are they your friends?" Inocenteng tanong ni Lyra. Sasagutin ko na sana siya ng biglang may kumatok at pumasok si Dylan.

"Hey girls. You ready?" Tumango ako at agad namang naramdaman ni Dylan na may nangyari. He can always sense me.

"Let's go."

Magkikita kami ni Kuya ko and have lunch with her wife-to-be. I've only met her once nung namanhikan si Kuya, which was six years ago. I'm so excited to see my brother again. Matagal na din kaming hindi nagkita since ng nabuntis si Ate Jess. She's three months pregnant and she's blooming. Na alala ko tuloy nung pinag buntis ko si Lyra.

"Kapatid!" Bati ng Kuya ko at hinagkan ako. Kinarga niya si Lyra at nakipag high five kay Dylan. Bumeso din ako kay Ate Jess at kitang kita ko ang pagka blooming niya sa pagbubuntis.

"Motherhood suits you, Ate." Sabi ko at ngumiti siya.

Umupo na kami at nag order.

"Kuya, what's your baby's name?" Tanong ni Lyra habang nakatingin sa tyan ni Ate Jess.

"We still don't know, baby. We're still thinking about it." Sagot ni Kuya.

"Mmmhhh. If it's a boy, how about Max?" Muntik na akong mabilaukan sa tubig na ininom ko. Max? Nahagip ko ang tingin ni Kuya. We were thinking of the same thing.

"Ah-ah. Why that name, baby? Do you know someone with that name?" Tanong ni Kuya habang sumusulyap sakin. I haven't mentioned that name to her. Not once.

"No. Wala naman. But my name's Lyra Maxine right? The boy version must be Maxi." Masayang sabi ni Lyra.

Why did I name her that again? Lyra was great but Maxine? I must've been out of my mind!

Nagkamustahan lang kami hangang sa dumating na ang pagkain. We ate and talked about the olden days. But I was careful, and Kuya was careful to not mention anything about him. I'm glad he didn't mention him. At salamat sa Diyos di na nagtanong ulit ni Lyra. I don't like lying to my own daughter.

"Hanggang kailan kayo dito?" Tanong ni Kuya ng kami nalang tatlo. Sinamahan ni Dylan si Lyra para pumili ng mga desserts.

"Four weeks or so." Sagot ko. I know where he's going with this pero hindi ko pinansin yun. Narinig ko ang mabigat niyang buntong hininga.

"At wala ka talagang planong sabihin sakanya ang totoo?" Tinignan ko siya. Unsure if he meant him or Lyra. Umiling ako. Because I know I won't tell either one of them.

"Look, Eve. Ayaw kong manghimasok o mangialam, because it's your life and your daughter. But can you hear me out as your brother who's going to be a father soon." Hinawak ni Kuya ang kamay ni Ate Jess.

"Kung ako, hindi ko nalaman na nabuntis ko si Jess at nakita ko siya after six years after with a child, that could possibly be mine?.....Mababaliw ako." Kinagat ko ang labi ko. I didn't want to speak.