Hiraya Manawari

21

Joaquin

Kakadating lang naming lahat sa venue, pinakilala ko na yung mga bata sakanila. Si Kakay nakadikit lang sakin dahil nahihiya siya sa mga kasama namin. I tried giving her to Ashley but she doesn't want to, baka mawala daw kasi ako. Kami lang yung invited sa party, as well as Mavy's friends. I haven't seen Mavy yet, si Bryan lang yung nakita ko at mukhang stressed siya. May nangyari kaya?

"Saan ilalagay yung mga gift?" Tanong ni Lance. Lahat kami may kanya-kanyang regalo para kay Sayuri. Hindi ko na tinanong kung ano yung regalo nila baka kasi ibalik yung tanong sakin.

An old woman in her 70's came to us, she introduced herself, yaya ni Sayuri. Sinamahan niya kami sa table namin, nahati kami sa dalawang grupo. Yuan, Lance, Ashley, Kakay and me are sharing a table. Nasa kabilang table naman sina Gio, Renzo, Klye at Kiko. Gio is taking care of Kiko.

"Yung mga regalo niyo, sa table na lang doon." Sayuri's yaya pointed at the table next to the stage. There were a lot of gifts, from big to small paper bags and boxes. I stood up to put my gift and the kids' gift on the table. Hindi ko alam na nakasunod sa likod ko si Renzo.

"Iwan na lang kita dito, bro." Panggagago niya. Iimik na sana ako pero lumabas bigla yung mommy ni Sayuri at yung isang lalaki, emcee ata. She looked at us and smiled a bit before excusing herself, "Hi po tita!" Bati ni Renzo. Tita? Close kayo?

Sayuri's mom smiled, "Are you my daughter's friends?"

"Opo, yung isa medyo lang." sabi Renzo. Sinamaan ko naman siya ng tingin at napa-peace sign siya habang natatawa, "Opo! Opo! Friends po kami ni Sayuri. Lalo na po itong si Joaquin!"

"Are you close with my daughter?" Nakangiting tanong sakin ni Mrs. Mendoza. Gago talaga 'tong si Renzo! "May I know your name, hijo?"

"Joaquin Miguel Dela Roche po." I awkwardly answered.

"Dela Roche?" Mrs. Mendoza stared at me, "Are your parents both doctors?" I nodded, "Familiar yung surname mo because my sister recommended me a good neurosurgeon before."

"That was my dad po, he's a neurosurgeon. My mom's a cardiologist." I proudly stated, when it comes to my parents sobrang proud kong sabihin sa lahat ang achievements nila. Well, who wouldn't be?

"I haven't had a chance to talk to your father, since my late husband went on a deep slumber." Mrs. Mendoza put on a small smile even though she's telling her husband's lost. Parehas na pala silang widowed ni mom. "How is your dad, by the way?"

That caught me off guard, "Uh... He too—um... He's gone too. Two years ago."

"I'm so sorry I asked, hijo." She said and I smiled awkwardly. Hindi ko alam na mapag-uusapan namin 'to ng mom ni Sayuri and I wasn't ready to talk about this with anyone yet.

"I'm sorry din po, about your husband." I said. "Dito po ilalagay yung gifts po?" Iniba ko na yung usapan dahil ang awkward na, kahit si Renzo na natural na maingay hindi na umiimik.

"Yes! Yes!" Sayuri's mom put some of the big boxes on the ground and we helped her with that. "Don't bother na." She said.

"Kaya po namin 'yan." Renzo said and put a box down para may space yung regalo namin sa table. "Ang dami pong regalo, ang dami niyo po sigurong bisita, tita."

Mrs. Mendoza looks at the boxes on the ground, "To be honest, kayo lang yung guests ni Sayuri sa birthday niya. The gifts came from Sayuri's father, relatives and from us too."