The heat of the sunlight woke me up. I immediately stand and stretch my body for a while then walk towards my balcony. As soon as I opened the sliding door, I felt the fresh air running through my body.
"Wow! Ngayon pa nag-emote! Baba! Kakain na!" I absentmindedly roam my eyes and search where the familiar voice came from.
"Hoy! Gusto mo bang buhatin pa kita paibaba?" When my eyes found his, It began to water. I missed him!
"Kuya!" I shriek as loud as I can and rushed to where he is standing. Then pulled him for a hug, I can cleary hear his heartbeat in this position.
"You missed me?" I nodded. He wiped my tears using his thumb and he mockingly laugh.
"Tara na. I can't wait to beat up your suitor! HAHA!" I almost forgot that Wonwoo is here! Dali-dali akong bumaba at sinundan si Kuya papuntang kusina! Bigla akong kinabahan dahil dun sa sinabi niya!
"He's not my suitor!" I defended myself.
"Really? Let's see!" Biglang lumapit sa akin si kuya at hinawakan ako sa aking pulsopulsuhan tsaka ako hinila papasok ng kusina.
"Good morning." Bati sa akin ni Wonwoo ng makaupo ako sa tapat niya. How can he smile in front of my Dad?! Kaunting maling galaw ko nga lang sa harap ni Papa, para na akong aatakihin sa puso.
Instead of replying, I bobbed as my response. Natetense ako kay papa eh, mamaya bigla akong dalhin nito sa supreme court!
"Let's start eating." Dad annouced. Kabado akong kumuha ng pagkain ko habang yung dalawang kapatid ko ay nagpipigil ng tawa.
"Lagot ka ate." I rolled my eyes when I heard what my younger brother said.
"Lagot talaga 'yan." Dagdag pa ni Kuya habang tumatawa tapos nag-apir pa silang dalawa.
"Shut–"
"Quiet, the three of you." Agad kaming napaayos ng upo at natahimik ng marinig namin ang boses ni Papa. Minsan lang siyang magsalita kaya sinusunod na namin agad ang sinasabi niya, tsaka iba siyang magalit.
"Ivy, Immanuel and Ishmael? Anong lagi kong sinasabi sainyo?" Mom said, kahit siya ay ayaw na nagagalit si Papa. Hindi naman siya takot, yet she fears seeing Dad being angry.
"Sorry ma." Paumahin naming tatlo.
"What are your plans after you graduate? I heard that your Dad own a big company." Tahimik lang kaming nakikinig kay Papa habang sinusubukan niyang kausapin si Wonwoo. How did he know about that? Ako nga na kaibigan ni Wonwoo, hindi yun alam.
"You know that?" My kuya whispered.
"No." I replied.
"Hindi sa atin sinabi ni papa, stalker pala siya." I almost laugh on what kuya said but I tried my best to stop it.
"Yes po. But I decided to go to law school to master my degree." I didn't sense any fear in his face, he's calm. How can he do that?
"Degree? What is your chosen degree? It is true that you've been Ivy's classmate for the past 3 years?" He asked, Dad seems interested with him since he's also an attorney.
"Yes sir, but it happened that we just became close this last month because I bumped into her. My first choice was classes in english but UP Diliman don't offer that degree so instead of it, I choose to take BA Philosophy. Same as Ivy's degree." He explained it clearly. I'm about to give him an around of applause and shout "Very well said Mr. Jeon."
"That's good. Tell your father that I said hi." Dad said, wearing his best smile on his face.
"I'm impressed. I'm impressed." Napatingin ako kay kuya na ngayon ay humahanap ng tiyempo para makausap si Wonwoo. I diverted my eyes to him and stare at him for a minute. His face was saying that I don't need to worry about him, that he can handle it so I can just focus my attention on the food right in front of me.
Nabuo ng katahimikan ang buong hapag kainan ng matapos ang kanilang usapan. Imbis kasi na sa pagkain kami mag-uusap-usap na pamilya, mas pinipili ni papa na magkaroon kami ng Family day. No cellphone allowed.
"Dad, Ishmael, Immanuel may gusto daw ipaalam si Wonwoo sainyo. Go ahead ijo." Ngiting sabi ni mama.
"Bakit sakanila lang? Hindi ba ako–" Naputol ang sasabihin ko ng patahimikin ako ni Papa para hayaang magsalita si Wonwoo.
Marahan kong itinikom ang bibig ko at nagpatuloy nalang sa pagkain. Silence enveloped us, it almost made me deaf.
"Gusto ko lang po sanang ipaalam. Can I court Ivy? If she's not allowed it's okay po. I'll wa–"
"No, it's okay with me ijo." Wala sa sarili kong nabugha iyong tubig na iniinom ko ng marinig ko ang sinabi ni Papa.
"Sorry." Napasapo ako sa aking noo ng makitang may kaunting basa ang damit ni Wonwoo.
"Kadiri ka ate." Immanuel said with an evil laugh.
"It's fine with me. Basta huwag mong sasaktan iyong kapatid ko. Once na makita ko 'yang umiiyak, ako mismo ang babawi sakanya mula sa'yo." Kuya Ishmael said as he drink the water.
"Ayan! Umiiyak na si ate Ivy, kuya! Bawiin mo na!" Dagdag pa ni Immanuel, agad ko siyang hinatak papalit sa akin tsaka siya hinampas.
"Ayan, diyan ka magaling sa kalokohan!" Saway sakanya ni Mama. Imbis na matuloy ang pagbagsak ang luha ko, napalitan na agad ito ng tawa dahil kay Mama.
"Just make sure that you're courting her wholeheartedly. I can send you to court, Wonwoo. She's our princess so please take care of her. All right? I'll put my trust on you." Dad said at tuluyan ng nagbagsakan iyong luha ko. I never felt this happiness before. Nakakagaan ng puso.
"Papa, umiiyak na si ate oh kala mo talaga pumayag na." Biro ni Immanuel. Unti nalang talaga makakatikim na 'to kay Papa e.
"I'm willing to give my best to her, I'm willing to give my life if she needs it. I love her, I have no intention to hurt her even if she's the one in the wrong. I can't promise to be the good partner that she could ever have, But I can promise that when she's with me, she'll be happy. She's my bliss, my universe, my everything." Wonwoo said, looking at me in the eye.
My heart beat start to pound wildly, it beats triple times than my normal heart beat.
"Ivy, Can I court you?" My world turned into slow motion as the word processed into my mind. I used to imagine this before, but now? It's already happening.
"Yes."
