ZWCS#6: Despacito

Six

Akala ni Cassidy wala ng mas isasakita pa na harap-harapan sa'yo ipamukha na isa ka lang sagabal. Meron pa pala. Meron pa palang mas masakit. May mas isasama pa pala si Nikolas.

Three days after her encounter with Nikolas, she went home to their house. Naabutan niya ang mama niya na nagluluto ng paella sa may kusina.

"Hi, Ma." bati niya pagdating niya.

Tumalon siya at naupo sa may kitchen counter at pinanood ang mama niya na magluto. "Is that for dinner?" she asked.

"Sí. Buti at nakauwi ka."

"You called like five times, Ma." she chuckled.

Humarap sakanya ang Mama niya at pinalo siya sa binti. "Kung hindi pa ako tumawag ay hindi ka uuwi? Travieso!"

"Love you, Ma! Akyat na po muna ako."

"Sandali! Tapos na 'tong niluluto ko."

"Mamaya nalang po ako kakain."

"Hindi, dalin mo muna 'to sa bahay ng Ninang Alicia mo. Hindi kasi sila makakasabay sa hapunan dahil may mga bisita silang kamag-anak sa bahay nila." Naglagay ng maraming paella ang Mama niya sa isang malaking stainless na lalagyanan.

She wants to protest to her mom. Kung pwede ba na ito nalang ang magbigay but it will raise a lot of questions and suspicions. Mabuti nga at nang magtanong ang mga magulang niya sa naging date nila ni Nikolas ay nalusutan niya kaagad at sumagot nalang ng tipid. They didn't pushed the topic any further which she was thankful for.

"O, ito na. Bilisan mo. Your papa will be home any minute now."

Hawak-hawak ang lagayan na may paella, mabibigat ang bawat hakbang niya papunta sa bahay ng mga Russo. She was about to ring the doorbell when she heard loud voices coming from inside.

"Nikolas, saan ka pupunta? Tumigil ka nga muna!" She's sure that was her Ninang Cecilia's voice.

"Mommy, aalis na ako at may shoot pa kami sa film na ipapasa namin."

"When will you ask Cassie for another date again?"

Napakunot ang noo niya nang marinig niya ang pangalan niya. Nagpanic siya nang marinig ang pag-ikot ng seradura ng pinto kaya mabilis siyang nagtago sa gilid ng bahay nila na natatakpan ng isang puno at mga bushes ng santan flowers. She took a peek and saw Nikolas storming off their house, his mom is following behind him.

"Nikolas Chase Russo!" tawag ng mama nito. They were at their doorsteps. She saw how irritated Nikolas is. He brushed his face with his palm and his lips is turned into a thin line.

"Stop this, Mom."

"Stop what?"

"This!" Nikolas gestured his hand to whatever is in front of them. "This whole matchmaking shit you're doing. Stop pairing me with Cassidy. Just stop it!"

"Nikolas! Don't you dare raise your voice at me." galit na suway ni Ninang Alicia sa anak nito.

Huminga ng malalim si Nikolas at ginulo ang buhok nito. "I'm sorry, Mom. But please, stop this. Cassidy and I are different persons now. I know that you and Ninang wants us to end up together kahit pa nung bata palang kami. Hindi kami nagrereklamo noon dahil ano ba alam namin noon? We're kids. But it's different now."

Ninang Alicia sighed and put a hand on Nikolas' cheek. "I know, hijo. But just try, Cassie is a sweet, beautiful and nice girl. If you get to know her more, then you decide."

Nikolas sighed again. "You don't get it, don't you Mom? I already decided. And I chose not to follow what you're trying to get me to do. I have my own decisions now, ganoon din si Cassidy. Don't pressure us into something we don't want. We'll date whoever we want. Why? Because it's our life, so Mommy, tigil na."