Twice Mine

Chapter 15

"Please, princess? Dad is eager to meet you." He pleaded.

"Pero.. kinakabahan ako. Saka bakit ba bigla kang nagyayaya? Hindi ako prepared."

"Ano ka ba, wala ka naman dapat iprepare ha? Just be yourself. Your wonderful self."

"Eh, baka hindi niya ako magustuhan eh."

"I highly doubt that baby. Ako nga nagustuhan kita in an instant, yung ibang tao pa kaya? Sa bait at ganda mong yan, imposibleng hindi ka magugustuhan ng iba, noh."

"O sige na nga." I finally agreed.

One tricycle ride away lang ang bahay nila mula sa school. Pero tuwing papasok at uuwi si Lau ay nilalakad niya lang ito para daw maexercise narin ang katawan niya.

Nang makarating na kami sa gate ng subdivision nila ay kumakabog ang puso ko. Syempre ngayon ko lang maeexperience yung ganitong ipapakilala ako sa magulang at wala ako totaly idea kung ano ang dapat at hindi dapat gawin. Pero sabi nga ni Laurent, just be myself.

"Dad, I'm home na po!" Wika ni Lau pagpasok namin sa main door ng bahay nila. Siya namang paglabas ng isang tila 40-year old version ni Laurent. It must be his dad.

"Siya ba anak?" Tanong niya kay Lau habang nakangiting nakatingin sa akin.

"Yes, Dad. Meet Kristin, Kristin, this is my father." He introduced us to each other.

"Good afternoon po, Sir." I politely greeted.

His Dad laughed loudly. Nagtaka naman ako, thinking if I did or said anything funny. "Don't call me Sir, please call me Dad." Humalakhak siyang muli. "Ayoko namang iaddress mo akong tito dahil hindi naman kita pamangkin but you can be my daughter since you are my son's girlfriend." Ang cool naman ng papa niya.

"Okay po Sir, I mean, D-dad.." I shyly said.

"Yan. That's more like it." He smiled. "Have you had your lunch?"

"Yes, Pa. Tapos na po." Laurent answered for me. "Where's Tiff?" Tanong niya kay Dad.

"Nasa taas sa kwarto niya, naglalaro yata ng Barbie. Upo muna kayo." They may be referring to Lau's only sibling.

"Tiff! Come downstairs, we have a visitor!" His dad called out.

We heard footsteps coming from the stairs.

"Ate Kristiiiiiiin!" A voice called my name. Tumingin ako nang may pagtataka sa pinanggalingan ng boses na yun and saw a familiar kid almost running towards me with her little arms wide open. Pagdating niya sa harap ko ay niyakap niya ako. Oh I remember her. The little girl I brought to the infirmary a few weeks back. I hugged her as well.

"You already know her?" Halata ang pagtataka sa mukha ng daddy nila at ni Lau.

"Opo, Dad. Ate Kristin helped me go to the nurse po nung nadapa ako sa school. Hinatid din po ako sa gate nun nung sinundo mo po ako, pero hindi mo po yata siya nakita." She explained.

She faced Lau and asked, "Siya girlfriend mo po, Kuya?"

"Yes. She's my girlfriend kaya call her 'Ate', okay?"

"Opo, kuya. Ate ko po siya." She smiled happily. Now I see their resemblance. Parehong naniningkit ang mga mata nila tuwing malapad ang ngiti.

Nagpakandong si Tiffany sa akin nung nakaupo kami sa sala. We were in that position while she dresses one of her barbie dolls.

"How come I didn't know she's your sister?" I asked Lau.

"Coz we don't happen to see her at school dahil ibang oras ang recess at dismissal nila sa atin kaya hindi kita maipakilala sa kanya doon. But I recall her na kinukwentong somebody helped her to the clinic nung time na nadapa siya. She even told me to find that certain 'Ate' para ligawan dahil gusto niya daw maging ate yung tumulong sa kanyang yun. I had no idea it was you. I thought I heard her say 'Kristel' or something kaya hindi ko na lang pinansin."