Maybe You & I

DAN

"Pare its your inaanak's birthday on the 30th, siguro naman pupunta ka na at pagbibigyan mo na ako? Tapos na birthday ko, tapos na din birthday ni Ayet, baka di ka na naman pupunta."

"Ang galing mo talaga mag pa guilt trip eh."

"Of course pare, matagal ka na sa Pilipinas di ka oa nagpapakita sa amin. Ano ba yan Daniel Antonio?"

"Sige pare punta ako. Nakakahiya naman sa inaanak ko."

"Pare, dalaga na siya. 15 na."

"Hahaha ang tanda niyo na pala ni Ayet eh."

"Masaya ka at palibhasa sa ating magbabarkada ikaw pinaka bata."

"You forgot about Jako pare. He's 2 years older lang."

"Yun naman kabaliktaran mo. Babaero yung batang yun. Ang bagong girlfriend yung anak ng isang Cabinet Secretary na 17 years old. In love daw yun eh"

"Baliw talaga yun."

And we continued talking about the group. Jonathan is 45 years old, the others are as old as he is. Fred is 42, Louie is 49, the oldest Jako is 25 and I am 23. Dahil bata pa ako nung ipinanganak si Roxie, kinuha niya akong Ninong sa kumpil nung 19 ako. I was just hanging around Dad's office when they took me in sa barkada nila. From then sumasama na ako sa kanila. Actuallu mga barkada sila ng tatay ko pero dahil Daddy is so busy, ako na kinukulit nila. Now that Dad, the famous Engr Rafael Antonio (My Step Brother, the Billionaire book)  decided to manage the business branch in London, I get to stay in Manila and do the kitchen work. I know naman that he and Mom wanted to live away from their grown up children, para parating bagong honeymooners. I really don't mind though. My siblings are in college na  and they are not in the Philippines. Our only sister is home schooled and with my parents. She's 10 years old.

"So Dan, I'll see you on Saturday huh. Dinner time. 7 pm at Shangri-la EDSA."

"Ok pare. I'll see you."

So I have no fucking way out of this already. Napasubo na eh. I'll ask Theresa to just buy the gift na bagay sa inaanak ko. And damn!!! I forgot to ask her name.