Matagal na ring hiwalay parents ni Andy, her mom is the one in Australia. And this?! I didn't expect this! Wala akong ibang nagawa kung hindi tingnan lang yung nanay ko.
Tumingin ako kay kuya and he says nothing.
This was what my mom meant when she said, no kids?
"Reena, this is Ted Villanueva, pamangkin niya si Andy so stop what you're thinking." My mom smiles at me. Oh thank God! I let out a long sigh of relief. Don't assume unless it is stated.
Naririnig ko yung pagtawa sa ni Kevin sa side ko. Eh what would they expect me to think?
Why is Andy here then?
"Ted, this is my daughter, Reena and her boyfriend, Kevin Lim." Pagpapakilala sa amin ni mommy at napatingin ako sa direksyon ni Andy, at parang nairita siya and she just looked away.
I feel for her but why would she even go here in the first place? Masokista ata talaga siya eh.
"Reena, he's my fiancée." She smiles and I shook his extended arm for me as he does to Kevin too.
He also shook hands with Kuya though hindi na nagpakilala sa kanya. I suppose na meet na niya nung dumating kami dito. Well, ayoko ng malaman.
I'll be polite then.
We started our lunch with mom and her fiancée, once in a while, asking me for opinion on planning for the date of their wedding. Hindi naman ako nagsasalita while Kuya's discussing something with Ate Nadine.
Kevin's beside me while Andy's seating across us.
Hindi ako mapagsalita eh. Naco-conscious ako kay Andy. Tss. Hindi ako komportable kaya lalagyan ko na lang ng pagkain plato ni Kevin. He looked like he liked the food but he didn't touch the shrimp.
"Here, try this." Paglalagay ko ng shrimp sa plate niya.
Magsasalita pa lang sana siya pero naunahan siya ni Andy.
"Reena, he's allergic to shrimps." nakangiting sabi ni Andy.
"Oh..." Pagbabawi ko sa nilagay ko at nilagay na lang sa plato ko.
Wow, pahiya ako dun ah? So, siya na. Siya na ang may alam ng lahat ng tungkol kay Kev. Siya na ang girlfriend. Tumahimik na lang ako nung bigla namang hawakan ni Kevin yung kamay ko sa baba ng table.
"You okay?" He whispered at me.
No, I'm not.
"Yeah, excuse me for a while." Palaam ko sa table at binawi yung kamay ko mula kay Kevin.
Hindi ko na tinignan yung mga mukha nila nung tumayo ako.
Dumeretso ako ng kitchen, kumuha ng wine at wine glass at lumabas papunta ng garden sa likod.
I don't feel great. Really? Parang kailan lang nung nagpunta siya ng unit ko at nag-sorry siya sa'kin as her friend and she does something like that and that's not okay.
I poured a wine on my glass, umupo ng bench and sipped some.
Huminga ako ng malalim kasi parang may masakit na naman sa dibdib ko.
I just closed my eyes but it's not helping me clear my mind.
"Reena, he's allergic to shrimps." Shit.
I squealed in frustration! Hindi ko talaga mapigilan yung inis ko. Kaibigan ko ba talaga siya?
"Don't misunderstand that." biglang may lalaking nagsalita sa likod ko. Oh well, who else could it be? Hindi ako lumingon hanggang sa makapunta siya sa harapan ko.
