Reaching Out

Chapter 28 - Surprise

It's D-day. My birthday. Kevin and I are about to pick up the greatest gift I'll ever receive at the airport. Papunta na kaming dalawa ngayon dun. The gift? It's my mom. She freed her schedule this week for me. Kuya was supposed to be the one to come here with me kaso nga medyo busy sa work kaya ayon, si Kevin ang nahila ko.

We arrived two hours early, kaya chineck ko muna yung status ng flight and we left for MoA to get some lunch. Mom's plane will arrive at 3 pm, and it's already past 12 noon. We decided to eat sa Racks because I'm always craving for a good rib and their Southern Fried Chicken is sooooooooooo good!

"So, what do you want?" Kevin asked while looking at the menu.

"Well.... Pork ribs and fried chicken." nginitian ko sya kaya natawa sya ng slight. "Oh! Tsaka Waffle Fries for sides!"

"Takaw." sabi nya ng patawa. "Southern Favorites and Waffle Fries it is, then."

"Eh ikaw? Aren't you getting something that you want?" tanong ko sa kaniya kasi yung gusto ko lang yung kinonsider nya.

"Being on a lunch date with you is enough, love." sagot nya. Ang cheesy! Kainis! Haha!

"Gutom lang yan!" tawa ko sa kanya. "Get something that you really want to eat."

Southern Favorites is a combination of Classic Pork Ribs and Southern Fried Chicken. Mmmm yum! Waffle Fries, favorite ko din yun. Himala nga daw at hindi ako tumataba sa lakas kong kumain.

Dumating yung waitress para kunin yung orders namin. Yung Southern Favorites pala good for 4 pero there's no problem. I can eat a lot. And Kevin and I decided to share na lang since it's too many. Pero he ordered his own sides, Broccoli and Cheese. WTF is that, right? I was looking at him judging-ly the whole time na umoorder sya for our drinks, which was Pink Lemonade for me and Brewed Coffee for him.

"So cool ka na nyan?" sabi ko sa kanya.

"Come on, Tan. We're 20 years old already. Kailangan na natin maging maingat in everything that we eat." sagot nya sakin.

"Whatever." sabi ko tsaka ko sya kinurot sa pisngi. "Cute mo." 

"Ako pa ba?" sagot ni Kev. Tapos nag pogi poses sya.

"Yuck! Ano ba yan!" tawang tawa kong sabi.

Tawa kami nang tawa kaya di namin namalayan yung oras, at dumating din yung orders namin. Good for 4 nga! Kaya to! Woooooh! So we ate!

Etong si Kevin, ayaw akong tantanan. Pinipilit nya kong subukan yung Broccoli and cheesy. Pero lagi ko syang tinatanggihan. Kulit hahaha!

Nung natapos kaming kumain, almost 2 pm na. So we went around muna and I bought some stuff in Nature Republic and some books in Fully Booked. If there's something about me, it's that I love reading and medyo vain ako. I love taking care of my skin. And what's the best way in skin care? The Korean way.

Hindi talaga magets nitong si Kevin kung bakit big deal yung Korean skin care. Eh parang normal lang naman daw yung mga effects. Nagkakatalo lang daw sa packaging. Ang hirap mag explain sa taong walang interes. Jusko!

So para makabawi naman ako sa pagkabored nya kanina habang nagshoshopping ako, niyaya ko sya sa Toby's. Alam kong matagal na syang nagbabalak na pumunta wala lang syang time before. Edi ayon, tuwang tuwa yung mokong. We went around the store at naghanap ng mga gusto nyang bilin. Ending, bumili sya ng bola ng basketball tsaka two similar pairs ng Tennis racket. Tinanong ko sya kung bakit dalawa, alam nyo kung anong sagot nya? Para daw matchy matchy kami. Ano bang nakakain nitong lokong to at nagkakanto?

Bago mag 3 pm, umalis na din kami baka dumating si Mommy tapos maghintay pa sa lounge. Pero ganun na nga yung nangyari. Tumawag si Mommy sakin habang pabalik kami ng airport. Nasa lounge nga daw sya at hihintaying kaming makabalik. Lumabas din naman agad sya nung sinabi kong nasa aiport na kami.

"Mom! Did you wait too long?" tanong ko sa kanya nung sinalubong ko sya ng yakap.

"No, I didn't." sagot ni Mommy sakin habang yakap yakap ako ng mahigpit. "Napaaga lang yung arrival."

"Hi po, tita!" bati ni Kevin kay Mommy.

"Ano ka ba, Kevin! How many times do I have to tell you na you should call me Mommy na din!" sagot ni Mommy kay Kevin, na kinangiti naman ng mokong.

"Haha, sorry po Mommy." sabi ni Kevin na malaki yung ngiti.

"I trust you haven't spoiled my surprise?" tanong ni Mommy kay Kevin.

Surprise?

"No po. You trusted the right person." ngiting ngiting sagot ni Kevin kay Mommy.

"What surprise are we talking about here?" tanong ko sa kanilang dalawa.

Napatingin sakin silang dalawa, lumapit sakin ulit si mommmy tapos nginitian ako.

"Tan, so... This is your birth week. And I planned on spending it with you, your brother and Kevin. We're going to Puerto Galera for three days, then Japan for the remainder. And..." paliwanag ni Mommy. Puerto Galera? Japan? OMG! Can this day get any better?!

"And?" tanong ko.

"And after that, you're coming to New York with me." sagot ni Mommy.

"You mean like on vacay? YAY!" excited kong sabi sa kanya na napayakap ulit ako kay mommy.

"No, Tan... I mean, for good." malungkot na sagot ni Mommy sakin. Napatingin ako kay Kevin na nakayuko naman. So he knew this all along. Kaya ba sya nagkakaganun?