A Little Bit Of Something (On-Going)

#48

(Cace)

"You can just cling unto me if you're scared." it was the first time I saw her getting her confidence shakened. Jonnie is a tough woman, she's not afraid of heights, of bugs and spiders, I even once saw her running after a flying cockroach with a slipper on her hand. She can take every hit and is not afraid of scratching a portion of her skin. She's not even afraid of blood. She wasn't lying when she said her top skill is survivability.

   And when she said she's not scared, she means it.

   But when she says she is, you would really see it too, because that's how transparent she is. She does not sugarcoat, she's sometimes blunt and aggressive. A what-you-see-is-what-you-get type of girl, she's always straight to the point.

     "Nanginginig tuhod ko." bulong niya noon'g papasok na kami ng pintuan.

   I was holding her hand.

     "Mom, we're here."

   Mas hinigpitan naman ni Jonnie ang paghawak sa kamay ko, nanlalamig talaga siya.

     "Nandito kami ng Dad mo!" Mom answered from the kitchen.

   Napatingin muna ako sa girlfriend ko, she's now quiet. Ang dami siguro'ng tumatakbo sa isipan niya habang palapit kami nang palapit sa mga magulang ko.

     "Welcome!" Dad greeted with enthusiasm while munching a piece of strawberry. Mom's making smoothies from those.

    "Hello po, Mr. and Mrs. Termulo."

   I showed a soft smile.

     "Mr. and Mrs. Termulo? Jonnie ha? Noon'g hindi pa kayo ni Cace, Tito ang tawag mo sa'kin."

     "Ay." nagtinginan kami ni Jonnie, "H-hindi." she stuttered, "Ano po, um, hindi po 'yun...hindi ko alam paano ilulusot sarili ko. Sorry po." natataranta siya.

     "Para sa inyo po pala, organic green tea. Gawa po ni Mama."

     "Naku, salamat dito. Tama'ng tama nagpapaliit ako ng tiyan ngayon. Pakisabi sa Mama mo salamat."

     "Opo."

   Tumingin ulit siya sa'kin.

     "Cace, dalhin mo muna siya sa lawn." si Mommy. Sa lawn naka-set up ang lunch namin.

     "You can also tour her around the house if you want to." dagdag pa nito.

     "Would you like to?" tanong ko kay Jonnie.

     "Ha? Ah...ang totoo. Pwede po ba'ng makiihi?" nagtawanan ang parents ko, "Sorry po talaga, naparami ata ang nainom ko'ng tubig."

     "Sure. Cace, samahan mo girlfriend mo." ngisi'ng reaksyon ni Mommy.

   Tumango rin ako kaagad.

     "Thank you po, sorry po ulit."

   Sa banyo ng second floor ko siya dinala, iilan'g hakbang lang malapit sa kwarto ko. I waited for her outside, and as soon as she got out of the comfort room, she looked exhausted.

   Nginitian ko siya.

   Mabilis naman siya'ng yumakap sa bewang ko, her eyes meeting mine, she was looking for my warmth.

     "Nakakahiya ba ako?"

     "Baby, no."

   She was protruding her lower lip like how a baby would when they're about to cry. With those innocent look in her eyes, she really is a big baby.