NAGPATULOY ang pagkain namin sa mahabang lamesa habang nag-uusap sila. Hindi na muli ako tinanong ng kung ano na siyang ipinagpasalamat ko naman. Froilan kept on spoiling me with food. Kung ano-anong inilalagay niya sa pinggan ko na inilalagay ko naman sa pinggan niya kapag hindi ko na maubos.
"I'm already full," I said to him when he was about to put a sushi on my plate.
Nakinig naman siya at inilagay na lamang iyon sa kaniyang plato. Nahagip ko ng tingin si Claudia Vallescas na parang lawin ang mga matang pinagmamasdan kami. I smiled a little and she didn't.
"Are the dishes taste good, hija?" she asked.
Napalunok ako bago sumagot. "O-Opo."
"But you only ate a few? Ako pa naman ang nagluto ng lahat ng 'yan."
Kinabahan ulit ako. Baka iniisip niyang hindi ko nagustuhan ang mga handa niya. Bago pa ako makasagot ay naunahan na ako ni Froilan.
"She's just really not a heavy eater, Mom."
Tumango ako upang segundohan ang sinabi ni Froilan. Tumango ang mommy niya.
"I see."
"Or maybe, hindi siya makakain nang maayos because a lot of people are surrounding her?" biglang pumailanlang ang boses ni Ingrid. "She's a loner at school, Tita Claudia. She doesn't really have friends. So weird."
Tumawa pa siya at nakitawa naman ang nanay niya na katabi niya. Now, all eyes were directed at me again. Fucking great!
"It's not your business to mind, Ingrid," Reenon said with a serious tone, almost lecturing his friend.
Natatawa lamang na umirap si Ingrid. Nawala ang tingin ko sa kanila nang maramdaman ko ang kamay ni Froilan sa kamay ko sa ilalim ng lamesa.
"Don't mind her. She just wants attention," he whispered in my ear before chuckling. I chuckled, too.
"Anyway, I really thought that Froilan and my Ingrid are together," natatawang saad ng mommy ni Ingrid. "I mean, they will surely make a good couple. You know, from childhood friends to lovers."
The atmosphere suddenly became awkward. We all stayed silent, but Ingrid's mom continued talking like we all wanted to hear her insensitive remarks.
"Kung wala nga lang girlfriend si Froilan ngayon, ipakakasal ko na siya kay Ingrid."
Tumaas ang kilay ko at hindi ko na naiwasang mapasulyap dito. She still wasn't realizing that she's being already shady, wasn't she?
I heard Froilan's chuckle, so I immediately turned my gaze on him. Ramdam kong humigpit din ang hawak niya sa kamay ko. He was looking darkly on his wine glass.
"It's not for you to decide, Tita Mai," he bluntly said.
"Froilan..." mahinahong pagbabanta ni Claudia.
Mas lalong naging awkward nang natahimik na ang mommy ni Ingrid. Walang nagsalita hanggang sa marinig namin ang tikhim ni Quillon Marqueza na tatay ni Reenon. His wife laughed a bit to lessen the tension.
"Well, Froilan has a point, though. It's their choice. Malalaki naman na sila," Ciello Marqueza said.
Tumaas ang kilay ni Mai at nagsalita ulit. Aba't hindi pa talaga siya tapos? Seriously, how rude could she still get?
BINABASA MO ANG
For You, Amor
General Fiction"Only for Amor." ***** Amorette Carbonel is an introvert type of girl - close enough to be called as a weirdo. She likes to distance herself from the crowd because she always thought that everyone will just going to hurt her. Hindi naman kasi siya k...
