Unleashed in February (Behind The Month #1)

10

10,  In my head

A bark of laughter escaped from Kuya Oxenn's mouth. Tumiim ang bagang ko. I could feel my cheeks burning. Hindi ito dahil kinikilig ako kun'di dahil hiyang-hiya ako.

My gosh, never in my entire life, have I expected all these things to happen. More so, my long time friend... to say such words. Nakakapangilabot!

Pumikit ako nang mariin. Pagdilat ko ay marahan ng pinupunasan ni mama ang bibig niya. She's now done with her food. She roamed her eyes on the others first, who are still laughing about Hope's unexpected declaration before it stopped on me.

"Mahal mo ang anak ko?" she asked in a tone so serious, lifting her gaze to the man beside me.

Natigil ang pagtawa ng mga kasama namin. Malamang ay nagugustuhan ang nangyayari ngayon.

"Opo, tita. Matagal na." Hope answered straightforwardly again.

My eyes went to him in an instant. Sana pala'y nag-practice kami para hindi ako nagugulat nang ganito!

"Matagal na? What kind of love is that? A love for a friend?" mama clasped her hands on the table. "Hindi ba't matalik lang kayong magkaibigan?"

Napakurap ako. Nakita ko ang pagtaas niya ng kilay habang nakatitig lang sa aming dalawa. Yumuko ako dahil hindi ko matagalan.

"Matagal ko na pong gusto ang anak niyo, tita." He declared once more.

Pumilyo ang ngisi ni Kuya Oxenn. "Finally took you enough courage to admit it, huh?"

Hindi nagsalita si Hope.

"I want to hear it from you. Ano na ang relasyon mo ngayon sa anak ko?" si mama.

"Girlfriend ko na po ang bunso niyo, tita."

She scoffed. "For how long? Since last week?"

"Ma..." natural ang pagpigil ni Ate Apple.

Hindi siya pinansin ni mama dahil ang atensyon nito ay nakatuon pa rin sa amin ni Hope.

"Because if you don't know, just last Sunday, Erin made us so upset. I won't get into the details because it's so personal and I'm not sure if you know anything about it either. Nonetheless, it was something I can never accept." mom's voice was filled with disgust. "I already had a row with her, Hijo. Ayoko ng panibago, kaya sabihin mo, totoo ba ang lahat ng ito or are you just trying to cover her up from her recklessness?"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Suminghap si papa at pagak na tumawa.

"Anastasia..." he called slowly. "Take it easy, please."

"Ayos lang, tito." Hope calmly said. "Alam ko pong biglaan ito pero... seryoso po ako, tita... tito. Matagal na ho kami ni Erin. Hindi lang namin masabi dahil maging kami ay naninibago rin. Halos alam ng lahat na magkaibigan lang kami."

Kuya Benj arched his brow. "Seryoso ka ba sa kapatid ko? Kasi kung hindi, mas maganda nga siguro kung manatili na lang kayong magkaibigan."

Hope tilted his head a bit. A smile crept on his lips. "Halos sampung taon na ang pinalipas ko, kuya. Mukhang... imposible 'yan..."

Agad na tinampal ni Ate Mirrae si Kuya Oxenn nang muli itong tumawa nang malakas.

"Hon!" baling ni Kuya sa asawa. "Sorry for laughing! Hindi ko mapigilan! Ganitong-ganito ang na-imagine kong mangyayari..."

"So you and Erin are now officially together? Is that what you're trying to say?" ani mama.

"Paano naman..." tila hindi napigilan ni Ate Apple ang sumabat.