Next morning inutusan ako ni dad na icar wash yung kotse nya. Day off nya kasi and he's taking my mom out for a date later. That's why I believe in fairytale. That they exist, in my parents.
Habang naglilinis ako ng kotse ni dad. Napansin ko si Jules na palapit sa akin, with her usual get-up. Tank top, short shorts and flip flops. With her hair tied up to a ponytail.
"Good morning prince Liam!" bati nya, ever since nung play nung elementary. Prince Liam na ang nickname sa akin ni Jules, F na F ko daw kasi maging prince that time.
"Good morning, little miss America!" bati ko din sa kanya. "you look nice today," sabi nya. Napatingin naman ako sa suot ko. Oversized shirt, shorts and slippers. Nothing special, I think she's teasing me. "Thank you. So do you," sabi ko naman sa kanya.
nag wave lang sya ng kamay nya sa akin tapos may ginawa syang gesture na akala mo hinahawi nya yung buhok nya from side to side. "It's no big deal. haha..." tawa nya.
"tss... conceited." bulong ko pero medyo malakas para marinig nya. "I heard that!" sigaw nya sa akin. Patuloy lang ako sa pagscr-scrub ng kotse ni dad. Hindi ko na sya pinansin. "I told you, you look nice today right?" tanong nya. Hindi ko sya sinagot. Napatuloy lang ako sa ginagawa ko.
"you know what will make you look better?" tanong nya, this time napatingin ako sa kanya. May hawak syang tabo at nagulat ako ng bigla nya akong buhusan ng tubig. "Water. You look better wet! hahahaha..." tawa sya ng tawa! Ah ganun?! Akala nya ah!
Kinuha ko yung hose hindi kalayuan sa akin tapos tinapat ko sa kanya, tapos binuksan ko yung faucet. Nagulat din sya nung tumama sa katawan nya yung tubig. "So do you. hahahaha" sabi ko sa din sa kanya. "AAAAHHHH!!!!" sigaw nya din at dun nag umpisa yung basaan at harutan namin.
"I'm gonna kill you!! This is my favorite shirt! AAHHRG@@!?!?@!?!" sigaw nya habang hinahabol nya ako paikot sa kotse ni dad. "Try to catch me loser! hahaha..." sagot ko naman sa kanya.
Napatigil lang kami nang makita namin si dad and mom na nakatayo malapit sa kotse at pinapanuod kami habang nagbabasaan. Huminto kami parehas sa harap nila na basang-basa.
"Good morning, tito and tita." bati ni jules sa kanila. Nginitian din sya ng parents ko. "Good morning. Looks like both of you are enjoying carwashing a. You should do that more often Liam." sabi ni dad. Napayuko naman ako, nahihiya. "By the way Juliet, I'm inviting you to join us for lunch. And I won't take no for an answer." sabi naman ni mom.
"I will, thank you." sagot ni jules. "Okay, we must be going. We don't want to interrupt you guys" sabi ni dad tapos umalis nadin sila ni mommy.
Nagpatuloy na ako sa pagca-carwash ng kotse ni dad and since we're both still damp, Jules decided to help me. "Your parents are sweet." sabi nya. Nakita ko na naman yung malungkot na expression ng mukha nya kahapon. Bakit kaya? "I told you, fairytale do exist." sagot ko naman sa kanya.
Hindi na sya sumagot sa sinabi ko. Nagpatuloy nalang sya sa pagscr-scrub. Ano kayang meron sya? "Why haven't you introduce me to your parents yet? I barely know them." tanong ko, hindi ko pa kasi talaga nakikilala yung parents nya kahit na mag neighbors lang kami, ang alam ko lang tungkol sa kanya is: She's living with her stepdad. That's it! Dito kasi sya madalas sa bahay tumatambay. And wala naman syang naikukwento sa akin.
"Do I need to do that?" tanong nya. Napafrown na ako sa kanya. "Of course! We're friends! Friends introduces their friends to their parents! Haven't you read the book of friendship?! It's in the rules!" sabi ko sa kanya, wala naman talagang 'book of friendship' imbento ko lang yun.
"Ok, Ok! mr. wide reader! Do the honor of introduce yourself to them. I don't wanna do it for you" sinabi nya tapos binitawan nya yung hawak nyang foam tapos nag umpisa na sya maglakad palayo. Nagalit ba sya?
"Wait." pagpipigil ko sa kanya. "I'm gonna go change my clothes, and I'll come back for lunch." sagot nya kahit hindi nya pa nalalaman yung gusto kong itanong.
Nung lunch, ok na ulit yung mood ni Jules, her usual. And she smiles a lot just looking at my parents being sweet during lunch. And I found myself fixated on her smile.
She caught me looking at her, even saw me smiling. That makes me blush a little, and I don't know why. Pero bigla akong nahiya.
Pagtapos ng mag lunch, hinatid ko lang si jules palabas. "You want to meet my parents?" all of a sudden, bigla nyang tanong.
"Yeah," sagot ko. naexcite naman ako ng konti. "Ok, U'll let you meet them, in one condition!" sabi nya.
"What condition?" tanong ko.
"Wear something nice, and I already set up another date for you, and you're going." sabi nya habang nakakalokong nakatingin sa akin. Nag frown naman sya sa akin. "I thought you said One Condition?!" sigaw ko sa kanya.
"I mean conditions, take it or leave it." sabi nya nung nasa labas na sya ng pinto ng bahay namin. "Ok I'll do it, but I also have conditions!" sagot ko din sa kanya. "What?" sagot nya, this time tinaas nya yung isa nyang kilay, seems like she's challenging me. "You're coming with me on that date and you're gonna wear something nice too." sabi ko naman, "Chicken! I always wear nice clot--" natigil sya sa pagsasalita nang magsalita na ulit ako. "Princess like." natutula sya ng saglit. Pinaprocess nya yung sinabi ko. I know princess isn't her thing, it's gonna be hard for her.
"Princess is not really my thing, but challenge accepted" she offers me her hand and I take it. Just to close the deal. I just give her a smirk. And she left.
