"REGINA MIKELA CONSUELO!" Tatay's voice boomed over their video chat. Niko, who was outside the bedroom, came rushing in. Riki looked at him; she was pale and wide-eyed.
"Dong! Diosdado! Kumalma ka. Scooter lang yan, hindi motorsiklo...teka anak, ano ba yang scooter na sinasabi mo?" Nanay's voice was calmer and she looked at Riki with concern. Tatay had stormed off and slammed the door behind him.
"Kung hindi ka lang nagttrabaho dyan sa Maynila, pauuwiin na kita dito e!" Tatay said after a long pause. He was now pacing behind Nanay.
"Tumahimik ka nga muna dyan!" Nanay admonished Tatay.
"Sige, kampihan mo pa yang anak mo. Pag yan nasugatan at na-ospital..."
"Hoy! Wag kang OA. Safe naman siguro yang scooter-scooter, ano?" Nanay said looking back at Riki.
"Opo...nag-order na po kami ng helmet at mga pads"
"Ayun naman pala e..."
"...at sasamahan po ako ni Niko papasok at pauwi..."
"Ha? Iaangkas ka?"
"Po? Hindi po. Pang-isang tao lang ang scooter, Nay. Para syang skateboard na may hawakan at de-kuryente...china-charge parang cellphone..." Riki explained as Niko looked for a picture on his phone to show Nanay.
"Ayan naman pala, o Dong." Nanay said after looking at the picture of the scooter which Riki shared. "...at diyan mo lang naman ata gagamitin yan sa paligid ng lugar nyo?"
"Opo...dito lang po kami sa area namin..." Niko interjected. "Ayaw ko din pong ibiyahe ni Riki yan sa may maraming sasakyan at bus...delikado po..."
"Mabuti naman kung ganun..." Nanay replied.
Tatay was still annoyed at the idea of Riki owning and using a scooter. "Ikaw Nicanor.."
"Sino si Nicanor?" Nanay asked.
"Ano ba pangalan nyan, hindi ba Nicanor?"
"Niko po...Ricardo Antonio po ang buong pangalan ko'' Niko said.
"Paano naging Niko?" Nanay asked.
"Hindi ko rin po masyadong alam" Niko said.
"Ah...may mga kapatid ka ba? Sinong mga magulang mo?" Nanay asked calmly. Tatay was slowly calming down and sat beside Nanay again.
Niko talked to Nanay and Tatay. It was the first time they'd really 'sat down' and talked with him since having been introduced to each other just barely a month ago. He told them how he got attracted to Riki after seeing her dancing from his window.
