Bedroom Negotiations Classic (Published)

Chapter 19

We all agreed to use Lee Ann's SUV and just leave our cars at the office. I actually changed my mind the moment we walked out the restaurant's door—Alexa was pregnant and Lee Ann was just a child. Bakit ko naman idadamay ang mga kapatid ko sa mga kagagahan ko? Paano kung may isang batalyon ng supporters pala itong si Freda at nagkagulo?

I didn't want to risk my sisters, I would rather face that witch alone.

"Ako na lang ang pupunta, h'wag na kayong sumama. Hintayin n'yo na lang ako dito at i-mi-message ko na lang sa inyo ang blow-by-blow account ng kaganapan," I said and they both stopped walking to frown at me.

"Bakit?" Alexa asked. She had her brow arched as if she was ready to refute whatever reason that would came out of my mouth. "Bakit mag-isa kang pupunta?"

"Uy, teka lang, ha, h'wag mo akong gagamitan ng ganyang katarayan at wala akong panlaban sa excellent reasoning skills mo courtesy of Harvard," I tried to joke but instead of smiling, her frown deepened.

"Bakit hindi ka namin sasamahan? Ano 'yun, hahayaan na lang natin na susugod-sugurin ka ng kahit sino? Hindi ko nagustuhan na pinuntahan ka pa n'ya talaga rito sa building na tayo ang nagmamay-ari para lang insultuhin, Ate! Hindi ako papayag na bastusin ang kahit sino sa pamilya ko ng isang bwisit na—"

"Kalma, buntis, masyado kang hot!"

I laughed.

"Sobrang touched ako but I am worried about you and Lee Ann. Baka mamaya magkasabunutan d'un, magkaroon ng umaatikabong action scenes at pagkatapos ay may car chase pa, eh, buntis ka at si Lee Ann naman ay hindi pa nakakatikim ng luto ni Nickolai, paano na lang ang mga future ninyo? Ayoko na kayong idamay."

"Ate naman!"

"Liability talaga itong innocence ko..." Lee Ann dramatically sighed and Alexa looked at her.

"May balak ka?"

"Wala po, Ate!" My youngest sister quickly replied shaking her head.

"Alexa, unfair ka, eh! Gusto mong ikaw lang ang nakakatikim." I laughed again. "I am not encouraging you, ha, Lee at baka kalbuhin ako ni Alexa rito but let's not put double standards and labels because just like everything else, losing one's virginity is a choice. As your sister, I want you to keep or lose your virginity for the right reasons."

"Ano ba naman 'yan..." Lee Ann mumbled blushing.

"Lee, what Ate Lia said is exactly my point. If you're going to lose it ay hindi dahil naiinggit ka, or trip mo lang o gusto mong i-prove 'yung worth at pagmamahal mo d'un sa lalaking pagbibigyan mo n'yan. One's virginity is not something that you use as a banner to announce your value as a woman, Lee Ann. Tatandaan mo 'yan, it's a piece of flesh that does not define who you are pero hindi rin nangangahulugang ilalako mo na lang 'yan. Lose it, I hope not very soon, for the right reasons."

"Ang haba ng lecture, hihingi na ba ako ng tawad?" I asked and the three of us laughed. "Pero tama si Alexa, Lee Ann, kung ano man ang right reasons na 'yan, alam mo na 'yun, you're a smart young woman."

"Opo, mga Ate."

"Ate, tumuloy tayo. Saan ba nagtatrabaho 'yung Fredang 'yun? Ayokong sa tingin ng kung sino mang bruhang 'yun na pwede ka n'yang api-apihin."

"Oo, nga po, Ate. Tama si Ate Alexa. Baka akala ng babaeng 'yun na may karapatan s'yang bastusin ka o kahit sino man sa atin kung hindi tayo papalag."

"Papalag naman ako, eh, kaya nga pupuntahan ko, 'di ba?"

"Dapat kasama kami. Hindi pa sapat 'yung pagtataray ko kanina, bitin ako," Alexa complained.

"Okay, fine. Papayag ako, pero kalma lang kayo."