Between the Spaces

Kabanata 11

Donny

Bilis lumipas ng araw. Still the same at school, acads is life, as always, tapos may practice, ilang araw na din akong nakikikain ng breakfast kila Kisses and then I drive her home pagkauwi namin galing school. Parang nasanay na din naman yung mga school mates namin na nakikita kaming magkasama, including Markus. Inaasar padin naman nila kami pero hindi na masyado. I also met Tito Gilbert one time I drove Kisses home. We were caught up in a conversation about my future plans including our family business. Tita Carrie naman is also very welcoming na parang ayaw ko nalang umuwi at gusto ko nalang magpaalaga sa kanya. Dejoke.

The day after kong sabihin kay Kisses na may family gathering kami, Dad told me that he already talked to Tito Gilbert about Kisses joining us. At first parang nagulat daw. Hindi naman daw kase niya alam na magkaibigan pala kaming dalawa ni Kisses, which my dad has agreed on Tito Gilbert's thought about us too. 

Totoo nga naman. Who would have thought. His dad entrusted her to our family, for the said gathering. Giving my dad a piece of advice on how to welcome Kisses because he knew that she will be too shy to talk to everyone when this day will come. 

"Masaya naman si Gilbert. Mabuti nalang daw at kahit papaano ay may makilala namang iba si Kisses maliban sa mga pinsan niyang busy na sa kani kanilang buhay." sabing ganun ni Daddy, 

"Mabuti naman kung ganun Dad. I'm sure Kisses will enjoy our family." sabi kong ganun sa kanya, tumango naman siya at ngumiti

"Oh, alis na tayo agad ah. I'm sure your tito is already really excited to see everyone." sabing ganun ni Daddy, "And Donny..." tawag niya sa akin nung babalik na sana ako sa room ko to get my stuffs, "We'll use the family van? Para iisa nalang yung sasakyan natin papunta?" tanong niyang ganun sa akin

"Paano si Kisses dad? I told her i'd pick her up." sabi kong ganun sa kanya

"Daanan nalang natin. Isang sasakyan lang tayo para masanay na sya sa kakulitan ng pamilya palang natin. Tsaka para makita narin ni Gilbert na hindi natin ina-out of place yung unica hija niya." sabi niya which I also agreed. I'm sure mahihiya si Kisses pero she will manage. 

Nakasakay na lahat sa loob ng sasakyan. Ella and Hannah are seatmates, nasa likod sila ni Mommy and Daddy na nasa front seat. Si Benj naman at Solana yung magkatabi. Ako naman yung nasa pinaka dulo ng sasakyan. Habang papunta na kami sa kanila, I DM-ed Kisses informing her we are about to pick her up already. 

Donny: Kisses, we are on our way. 

Kisses: We?

Donny: Yep. Whole family. 

Kisses: Hala. 

Donny: Why?

Kisses: Nakakahiya. Baka pwedeng mag back out?

Donny: hahahaha. No. With parents consent ka na kaya!

Kisses: Haaaaay. 

Donny: Sige na. We'll be there in a few. I'm sure they will love you so don't worry too much. 

Kisses: :/ >.<

Maya maya lang, nasa harap na kami ng bahay nila. Nauna namang bumaba si Daddy sa sasakyan and called up Tito telling him na nasa labas na kami ng bahay. I breathed slowly. Bumukas yung gate nila and I saw Kisses with Tito na naglalakad palabas. 

"Anthony!" sabing ganun ni Tito kay Daddy, "Alam ko namang safe yung anak ko sa inyo." 

"Of course! Kami bahala sa kanya." tumingin naman si Daddy sa akin kaya lumapit ako kay Tito and greeted him, 

"Good afternoon po Tito. Hi Kisses." 

"O sige. Umalis na kayo bago pa magbago ang isip ko." biro niyang ganun sa akin, both our dad bid their goodbyes. Habang papalapit kami sa sasakyan, I can feel that my family inside the van is already really excited to meet Kisses, formally. Pagkabukas palang ng sasakyan, tumambad na agad si Ella at Hannah na niyakap na agad si Kisses. 

"Oh my God! Finally!!!!!" sabay nilang sabi, "We have so many kwentos about you and for you later!!!" dagdag pa ni Hannah

"Hello Kisses!" Benj greeted him, "Hi Ate Kisses! You're my new sister already!" Solana also went up to her and kissed her cheeks. 

Kisses obviously was overwhelmed. Pero bago siya pumasok sa loob, pumunta muna siya sa harap and went up to my mom and kissed her. Like how she used to. 

"You are still very pretty Tita!" Kisses told my mom. 

"Awww! You're still as sweet as ever like you were still 5 years old anak!" sabing ganun ni mommy sabay yakap sa kanya, napapailing nalang ako. This pretty girl don't know what she has gotten herself into. 

Pagkatapos nilang magyakapan, I guided Kisses sa upuan namin sa loob ng sasakyan. Kaso bago paman sya makaupo, inagaw na siya agad ni Hannah at Ella and told her to seat with them. So ang nangyari, ako lang mag isa dun sa likod. Tsk. 

Bago kami umalis, Kisses bid her dad a goodbye kiss. We all watched her do it which made us smile. 

"Welcome to the family Kisses." Daddy told her

When we heard that, it felt different. We knew what it really meant. Narinig ko pa si Ella and Hannah giggling on their seats and the history of them three started. Sumisingit nalang ako minsan kapag may naririnig akong nasasangkot yung pangalan ko. Pero parang hindi naman nila ako napapansin. 

Nakikisali din si Benj mang asar sa kanila. Solana was smiling while observing Kisses and her two other sisters. I can see mom and dad taking a peak at the rear view mirror, smiling while looking on how close they already were when it was just about 20 minutes ago when they were officially introduced. 

After almost an hour drive to Tito Kiko's house, we finally arrived. They were all ready and giddy about Kisses meeting the 27 other cousins of the family. 

"Girls, hinay hinay naman kay Kisses. Baka naman magulat kanina pa kayo sigaw ng sigaw eh." sabing ganun ni Daddy sa kanila, nagtawanan lang sila ulit. And here I am, halos hindi makasingit sa bonding nila. 

I'm actually excited for Kisses to meet everyone. Bago paman kami nakapasok, I get to walk up to Kisses and ask her if she's still okay. Nakangiti naman siyang tumingin sa akin, "Yes. I am. Kulit nila Hannah no." sabi niyang ganun, napataas naman yung kilay ko at ngumisi, "Told you!" 

"Are you nervous?" tanong ko sa kanya

"A little bit." sabi niyang ganun, papasok na kami sa loob ng magpaalam sina Hannah and Ella na mauna na dahil sobra na talaga nilang excited to see the family. Same with Benj, Mom and Dad. Naiwan naman si Solana na karga karga ko at si Kisses na nasa tabi ko lang. 

"Solana, do you want to walk? Ang bigat mo na baby girl." sabi ko sa kanya, umiling lang siya, napangiti naman si Kisses kay Solana. 

Kisses was really pretty today. At kahit hindi kami nag usap kung ano yung susuutin, match na match yung suot naming dalawa. We were both wearing a striped white and blue long sleeves and jeans, Kisses in her no make up look. No heels but flats. Which emphasized our height. I am too tall standing close to her. And to tell you, we are like a family, Kisses me and Solana. Or wait, Am I just assuming? Or dreaming? Okay. haha. Sorry. 

"Are you ready?" I asked her, tumango siya kaya binuksan na namin yung pintuan ng bahay nila Tito Kiko

As expected, ang gulo na nila agad, as expected, kinuha na nila agad si Kisses sa akin, taking away also Solana. 

"Do you want to go with Ate Kisses?" tanong ko kay Solana

"Yes yes!" 

And there it happened. They didn't liked Kisses the first time they saw her. 

They loved her. And it warms my heart seeing Kisses being happy with this kind of chaos in my family.