You Belong With Me

Eleven.

"Is my dress fine?", I stopped walking to ask Chandler.

He looked down on my nude puff sleeve floral dress, hapit ito sa katawan ko pero malaya naman akong nakakagalaw dahil stretchy ang material. I just arrived at Señor Juan's mansion and he welcomed me at the front door. Nasa garden daw ang kanyang pamilya.

"Pors, pamilya ko ang makikilala mo, hindi kay Andres! Tsaka okay na 'yan... maganda ka naman parati..."

"Ano yun?"

Hindi ko nakuha ang huling sinabi niya.

"Wala! Basta, hali ka na! Gutom na kaming lahat!", hinila niya ako at mabilis nang naglakad palabas sa garden.

I cleared my throat and kept up with his pace. When we got outside, iginala ko ang paningin. A woman of Mom's age was talking to Yoyong and Dodi by the pool, a teenage girl was busy setting the table and a man, who looked like Chandler, was grilling something.

"Portia, here's my pamilee! My pamilee... its the most important thing in my life!"

Inilahad ni Chandler ang mga braso at sabay-sabay namang napalingon ang kanyang pamilya. Nahihiya akong ngumiti at kumaway.

"Oh la la! Parang artista talaga!", tawa ni Dodi.

"Magandang umaga," I said softly.

Lumapit ako sa malaking mesa malapit sa pool. The woman, together with Yoyong and Dodi, did too. Nginitian naman ako ng babae at ng mukhang ama ni Chandler.

"Magandang umaga, iha. Ikaw ba si Pors?"

Napawi ang ngiti ko. I looked at Chandler who's now hiding behind Yoyong. Binalik ko ang tingin sa ama niya.

"My name is Portia po."

"Ah! Portia, ako si Joseff, tatay ako ni Chandler, ito si Coraline, kapatid niya at ito ang pinakamamahal kong asawa at butihing ina ng dalawa kong anak, si Grace."

Kinamayan ko silang tatlo. Chandler's mom smiled at me warmly.

"Kay ganda mong bata iha! Anong skin care mo?", interesado niyang tanong.

I chuckled. She looks so young! Her skin is glowing and her hands are soft.

"Walang skin care 'yan, Nay. Kahit nga nagca-care, wala rin," sabat ni Chandler.

Masama ko siyang tinignan.

"Ikaw nalang mag-care, Bokbok!", sagot naman ni Dodi. Chandler showed him his fist which made Dodi shut up.

"Tama na 'yan, Bokbok! Dodi! Upo, Portia. Kumain na tayo!"

When I sat down, I immediately noticed the food on the table. It was all Pinoy! There was sinigang, inihaw and others that I am not familiar of.

"Ops ops! Pray muna!"

Nanguna si Chandler sa pagdarasal. After the prayer, nanguna rin siya sa pagkuha ng pagkain. I quietly sat and waited for them to finish filling their plates.

"Kumuha ka na, iha," aya ng kanyang tatay.

Tumango ako. I put sinigang on my bowl and a few slices of inihaw na baboy.

"Chandler, what's this?"

I pointed at a bowl full of... dark brown soup!

"Ah. Dinuguan 'yan. Try mo! Galing pang punerarya!"

"What?!", natahimik ako nang lumingon silang lahat. Napalakas ata ang bulong ko!

"May problema ba?", ani ng nanay ni Chandler. He just shrugged and continued eating!