Crash (SC, #0.5; ARTL, #1)

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Me either

Kagabi, hindi ko natanong sina Mommy at Daddy tungkol sa mangyayari sa linggo. Hindi rin naman ako sigurado sa tinutukoy ni Harry. Ang naiisip ko lang baka may okasyon sa linggo rito sa bahay? I'm not sure though. Hindi ko rin kasi alam kung pa'no uumpisahan e. Saka, kung sinabi ko iyon noong dinner baka buong gabing kulitin ako ni Ches sa nangyari. Chesca will never stop her mouth. I could almost hear her thoughts inside my head. Ha! Akala niya!

Maaga ang uwi ko ngayong araw. Dalawang subjects lang kasi mayroon ngayon. It's 3 in the afternoon. Naabutan ko si Mommy sa sala may binabasa na libro. She was seriously reading a recipe book, I guess. Siguro'y nagbabalak ito ng lulutuin niya mamaya.

"Mommy!" I said a little loud.

"Nathalie!" Mommy touched her chest and a little shock, looking at me. Napababa siya ng binabasa. Tumakbo at niyakap ko siya kaagad. I kissed her on cheek. Kumalas ako ng yakap at tinitigan siya. Malapit ko ng maabutan ang height ni Mommy.

My mother tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. Her eyes twinkled in joy while looking. Mom's features are really like my sister.

"What's for dinner?" I gave her a lopsided grin.

"Thinking about dinner at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, hun?" she mumbled. Lips were curving upward.

Tumango ako ng ilang beses.

My mother chuckled.

"Is Dad going home early?" I asked. Binaba ko ang bag ko sa couch.

"He said, yes, honey."

"Yes!" Muntik na 'kong mapasayaw sa dineklara ni Mommy. I was grinning widely. I kissed my mom again on her cheek.

"Help me," she said and held my hand. Pinisil niya ito.

"Of course, Mommy!"

Umupo ako sa couch at nilabas ang phone ko. Bigla kong naisip iyong nangyari kahapon noong uwian. Since we're alone right now. Pwede ko naman sigurong matanong si Mommy? For clarification din? Mommy and Daddy know about the Jimenez. They know every charity events that Jimenez's or Salvador's will have. Siguro naman may alam sila? I am just guessing.

Fingers crossing!

Mother sat beside me. Kinuha niya ang libro sa lamesita.

"Mommy?" I called out.

Lumipad ang atensyon niya sa akin.

"Any occasion?" My nose crinkled.

"This week?" Mother put a finger on her chin, thinking. Napatingin siya ng maigi sa aking mukha. Lalong napakunot ang noo ko sa tinging binibigay niya sa akin. But Mommy carressed my forehead not to wrinkled this much. I smiled. "Your Dad invited the Jimenez this Sunday..." Hindi ko na nasundan ang susunod na sinabi ni Mommy nang paulit-ulit na umecho sa aking isipan ang mga salitang iyong.

I was blinking multiple times...spacing out.

They will be here this Sunday!

Oh my God!

Yes!

Whaaat?

"Nathalie?" A hand on my arm.

"Uhmm..." I don't know what to say? What should I say? "Is it just Mr. and Mrs. Jimenez?"

"I'm not sure if their sons will be here...but I'd hope so, you know..." Dinunggo ni Mommy ang balikat ko. Nanlaki ang mata ko sa ngiting pinapakita niya sa akin.