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"Yes, ma. Andito ako sa Bataan with Liz's family." I told my mom.
"Buti naman at sinama ka nila? Okay ka na ba sa dad ng girlfriend mo?" she asked.
"Yeah. And also, my girlfriend has a name mom. Her name's Liz and she's my fiancée."
"Whatever, Moses." she replied. Napasinghap na lang ako at napailing. Mom never liked Liz for me. Sabi niya, masyado raw maarte at masyadong brat. Hindi ko na lang sineseryoso. "Oo nga pala. I talked to your Ate Iara and she told me na magkaibigan pa rin pala kayo ni Julie even after your break-up."
"Ma..."
"I mean, that's good. Take things in a more matured way diba? Atleast you and Julie are friends again."
"Well..."
"Tell you what, invite her to your kuya's death anniversary okay? I wanna see her when I come home next week."
"Uhm... Ano kasi..."
"Hindi naman awkward yan kung andun siya at nandun yung girlfriend mo. Unless may nararamdaman ka pa then it will really be awkward." we both fell silent afterwards. "Wait. Anak, may nararamdaman ka pa ba para kay Julie?"
"Ma naman..."
"That's not the answer to my question, Moses."
"Eh..."
"Kung may nararamdaman ka pa, di mo naman kailangan magpakasal sa girlfriend mo. One, she's not pregnant. Two, you're not yet ready to get married. And three, mukhang napipilitan ka lang dahil sa gusto yun ng daddy niya."
"Pero inaayos na lahat, ma."
"So? We can pay them back if that's your problem. Anong mas iintindihin mo? Yung gastos o yang nararamdaman mo?"
Hindi ako nakasagot at napasinghap na lang. Ang gulo. Ang gulo-gulo na talaga.
"Do whatever your heart wants you to do." I heard mom said. "Sige na. Matulog ka na and I have to get back to the hospital. May board meeting pa kami. I'll see you next week okay? I love you, anak."
"I love you too, ma."
Binulsa ko na uli ang phone ko and sat on the lounge chair na andito sa balcony. Ayoko sa loob ng condo. Panigurado kasi, kakausapin nanaman ako ni Tito Ed. Baka kung ano nanamang sabihin at di na ko makapagpigil.
"Hon, let's sleep na." narinig kong sabi ni Liz. Nakasilip siya mula sa sliding door at nakahanda na para matulog.
"You go ahead. I'm still waiting for mom to call and hindi pa naman ako inaantok."
"Akala ko kausap mo na si tita kanina?"
"Yeah. Pero tatawag daw uli siya. She just needs to go back to her office then tatawag na uli."
"Ah okay. Uhm, hon..."
"Hm?"
"Sa pullout bed ka na lang matulog ha? Kasi dad wanted to make sure na alam mo na. Kaya kasama natin sa room sina Ate Lianna and Luke."
"Yeah sure." tango ko. "Uhm. Matulog ka na susunod na ko after namin mag-usap ni mom."
"Okay. Good night." sabi niya saka na humalik sa pisngi ko.
Nagstay pa ko sa balcony ng ilang oras. Naisipan kong icheck uli ang Facebook ko saka tinignan uli ang profile ni Julie.
Julie Anne San Jose is traveling to San Antonio, Zambales - with Maqui Farr and 4 others
Nasa Zambales pala sila. Malamang nag-eenjoy siya kasama mga kaibigan niya. For sure kasama din boyfriend niya. Mukhang close kanila Maqui eh. Nagulat ako nang biglang nagring ang phone ko.
