Chapter 19
Wala akong ibang ginawa kundi ang tumawa. I don't know what it is with Julie's bestfriend pero every time she speaks, natatawa talaga ako. Maybe because she's mataray and funny at the same time. Even Julie and Harry are laughing.
"Julie, yang jowa mong hilaw baka atakihin na sa puso yan ha?" she said.
"Tigilan mo na kasi kakapunchline mo bes. Wala naman tayo sa comedy bar. Hahahahahahaha." Julie laughed.
"Hoy. Seryoso akong nagkkwento dito no! Ang sabihin mo, walang childhood yang lalaking yan kaya ganyan kababaw ang kaligayahan niya." Maqui quipped. "Hoy, Elmo. Nung bata ka ba di ka ba sinubukang patawanin ng mga magulang mo? Kahit arimunding man lang wala?"
"Huh? What's arimunding?" I asked. She facepalmed herself and looked at me annoyingly.
"Bes, laking America ba yan?" Maqui asked Julie.
"Hindi. Shunga lang talaga sa Tagalog yan. Alam mo na. Conyotic." Julie told her.
"Ay kaya pala." Maqui said. She stood up and started walking away. "Harry, ikaw kumausap diyan sa bayaw mong hilaw at dun na lang ako kay Ninang Maricar makikipag-usap."
Harry looked at her questioningly as she walked towards the kitchen. I then looked at Julie and she just smiled.
"Ganyan talaga yang si Maqui. Baliw yan eh." she said and followed her bestfriend with used plates in hand.
I stayed seated on the couch as I watched Harry play with some of his toys. He then looked at me and stopped playing with his toy soldiers.
"K-Kuya..." he called.
"Yes, Harry?"
"K-Kuya Elmo, diba ligaw mo si A-Ate Julie ko?" Harry asked as he sits beside me.
"Oo. Bakit?"
"E-Edi magkakababy na k-kayo?" he asked.
"Hindi ah! Harry, nanliligaw pa lang ako. Your ate can turn me down or she could say yes. It doesn't mean na kapag nanligaw ako, magkakaron na kami ng baby." I explained.
"Aaaaaah. O-Okay." he nodded and went on with playing his toys. "P-pero l-love mo a-ate ko?"
I was dumbfounded by his question. Mahal ko nga ba? Ewan ko. Kasi parang masyado namang mabilis yun eh hindi pa naman kami ganun katagal na magkakilala. But I'm not denying the fact that I like Julie. I like her a lot and that she has a certain effect on me. But I'm also not denying the fact that I'm not yet capable of loving someone. And I don't even know when I will be ready to finally love someone more than I love myself.
"Moe, tinatanong ni Ninang kung kumakain ka daw ng dinuguan?" Julie asked when she returned from the kitchen.
"Huh? Dinuguan?" I asked. She giggled as she shook her head.
"Sabi ko nga bano ka sa pagkain eh." she said. "Nang, hindi niya alam ang dinuguan!" she yelled at the kitchen.
"Harry, what's dinuguan?" I asked Harry.
"M-masarap yun kuya! C-color black." he just answered. Hindi na ko nagtanong pa ulit and just waited for lunch.
We were already at the table and katabi ko uli si Julie. Maqui was sitting beside Harry and she was the one taking care of him while Ninang Maricar sits at the head of the table.
"Oh ayan. Dinuguan. Dugo ng baboy yan na tinimplahan ng suka. Wag kang mag-alala. Di mo ikamamatay yan." Julie said as she gives me the said food. "Masarap din yan pag lalagyan mo ng patis na may siling labuyo." she suggested.
