Eh Yung Hindi Naman Tayo? DATI (COMPLETED)

Clandestine - 1

When the "scheduled shoot" that day was suddenly cancelled and I could not reach any of the people involved. I knew something was up. I just didn't know what exactly.

"What are you trying to pull off now, Faulkerson?" I wondered as I started to walk back to my bedroom with my bag.

Just then the doorbell rang. "Speaking of... Malamang siya na to." I said and ran to open the door.

"Hello, gwapo." I beamed to greet you only that was not you at the door. "Kuya?!"

"Thank you, Menggay. Gwapo talaga ako pero hindi na natin dapat pinangangalandakan." Kuya Nico grinned.

I rolled my eyes and chuckled before hugging him. "Ano bang ginagawa mo dito kasi?"

"Ang dapat na tanong mo, nasaan ang tisoy mo." He said.

"Actually, kanina ko pa yun tanong. Asan nga ba yun?"

"Nasa bahay."

"Sa bahay?! Sa Bulacan? Anong ginagawa niya doon. Kanina lang nasa Belo daw." I knew my voice was probably two keys higher than my usual tone but I was too stunned with what was happening.

"Sa tingin ko? Namamanhikan." Kuya Nico stated matter-of-factly.

"Whaaaat?!" I gasped.

Kuya Nico laughed at my reaction. "Ewan kung ano pa kasi ang pwedeng itawag sa pagpunta niya doon na may pasalubong na piyesta at kasama pa si Tito." He explained.

"Ano?! Bakit di ko alam to? Bakit? RJ! Jusko! Anong sabi ni Tatay?"

"Ayun. Seryoso nga bigla. Sabi lang. Sunduin mo si Menggay. Ikaw mismo sumundo. Siguraduhin mong makakarating yun dito agad nang walang kahit isang galos o kagat ng lamok." He said, mimicking Tatay's serious tone. "Ang OA di ba? Kaya eto ako pero hindi basang-basa sa ulan." He grinned.

I chuckled at my big brother's not so subtle attempt at a joke. "In fairness ha, naitawid mo yun, Kuya." I giggled. "Pero... seryoso nga si Tatay?"

"Oo." He answered and held the door for me as I went out. "Lagot ka."

I sighed as I locked the door then walked with Kuya to the elevator, partly pissed off and partly curious why you went to our home with Daddy without telling me.

***

We arrived in Bulacan over an hour later. I took a deep breath before pulling the lever to open the car door. I stepped out and found Kuya grinning over the roof of his car. I was actually, at that point, very exhausted from having spent the entire drive with him endlessly making fun of my anxiety on the situation.

I mean calling me praning, nerbyosa and overthinker doesn't make me less of it. You just actually aggravated my already agitated self, Kuya.

"Relax ka lang. Nandiyan naman si Tito. Siguradong hindi ipatutumba ni Tatay si Tisoy." He laughed.

"Anong itutumba?!" I exclaimed and threw a leaf I found on the hood at him. "Raulo ka, Kuya."

"Hoy! Kuya mo ako. Asan ang respeto?"

"Ay sorry. 'Raulo ka po, Kuya, po." I rolled my eyes and marched to the front door with him chuckling behind me and singing in a childish tone.

"Menggay, pikon. Menggay, pikon." He chanted and I tried my best to hold it together and not throw him my shoe.

He has always been the big bully in my life growing up. Nice to know that some things never change. NOT.

Thankfully, he found the sense to shut up when we got to the front door. He opened it for me then actually draped an arm over my shoulders and smiled.

"Magiging masaya itong araw na ito. Wag kang mag-alala." He whispered and I realized that no matter how many times he made me cry by relentlessly making fun of me and pissing me off, he is still my big brother and he will always have my back.

I smiled back and gave him a quick hug before we continued to the dining room where everyone was seated around the table, getting ready for lunch. All seemed to be present except two people, you and Tatay.

I walked over to Daddy and greeted him. "Hello, Daddy." I smiled and buzzed his cheek. "Kumusta po?"

"Okay naman, nak. Eto. Dumadalaw." He grinned. "Paganda nang paganda ang manugang ko ah." He said.

"Di naman po." I blushed more from him calling me his daughter-in-law than him giving me a compliment. "Si RJ po?"

"Nasa likod kasama ng Tatay mo. May one on one talk ata." He answered.

"Menggay! Andito ka na pala!" Nanay announced in a voice that was too loud and too weird for her.

I went to her and gave her a hug and a kiss. "Opo, Nanay. Bakit parang sobrang gulat niyo po eh alam niyo namang pinasundo ako ni Tatay? Bakit daw po nandito sina RJ?"

"Hindi pa sila nagsabi, anak. Pero mukhang kinakausap na ng Tatay si RJ. Puntahan mo na."

"Okay lang po kaya?" I asked.

"Oo naman. Pumunta ka na doon, Menggay. Dali." She said in that weird tone again and gave me a little shove in their direction.

"Opo. Fine. Eto na po. Hindi niyo na po ako kailangang itulak, Nanay." I chuckled and walked to the back patio where you were sitting with Tatay.

You two looked like you were engaged in a very serious conversation and you seemed upset.

"RJ? Tay?" I called softly but no one turned to look at me, you kept talking so I just listened quietly.

"Papakasalan mo ang anak ko? Ang bata pa niya." Tatay said.

"Opo. Mahal ko po si Menggay at handa po akong i-commit ang buong buhay ko sa kanya para alagaan at mahalin siya at pasayahin."

"Eh siya? Handa na ba? Um-oo?" He asked.

"Hindi pa po. Magpaalam muna daw po ako sa inyo."

"Tsk... tsk... tsk..." Tatay sighed. "Naku..."

"Bakit po?" You frowned.

"Alam mo, RJ, alam ko namang mabuti kang bata at mahal mo ang Menggay namin kaya nga botong-boto kami lahat sa'yo kaya lang..."

"Kaya lang po ano?"

"Kaya lang kasi pag ganyan si Meng. Ibig sabihin ayaw eh kaya pinapasa sa akin ang pagtanggi." He said.

"Ano po?" You asked, your voice cracked and you blinked back your tears.

"Tay!" I gasped.

You both looked at me. You stood up and walked over to me, your eyes glued on mine with a painful expression.

"RJ..." I tried to hold your hand but you pulled it back.

"Totoo ba?" You asked behind gritted teeth and the hurt in your voice tore at my soul. "Totoo bang hindi mo ako kayang tanggihan nang harapan? Totoo bang ayaw mo akong pakasalan?" You angrily sobbed and your tears flowed.

"Hindi. Hindi totoo yun. RJ, hind yun totoo. Hindi ko alam kung bakit nasabi yon ng Tatay." I said. "Tay..." I looked to him for help but he just shrugged. "RJ please... Sa akin ka maniwala."

"Ewan ko na, Maine." You shook your head and brushed your tears away. "Ewan ko na." You repeated and strode away from me.

"RJ! Wait!" I called, with tears streaming down my face and sobs pounding at my chest, then ran after you.

To be continued...

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Unbeta'ed and not proofread. Thank you for reading. ❤️