"I've come to terms with the possibility that I will be having grandchildren from Layla and Carina first, before you." Mom suddenly said, while consuming her salmon.
"I agree. You're almost in your 30s, Elara, but you're not considering settling. You're not even dating anyone right now." Panggagatong pa ng Kuya ko.
I sighed.
I knew this late lunch would be like this. My mom would invite me to come tapos it's either papaguilty-hin niya ako na bakit pa ako nagresidency or kaya naman ipipipressure niya ako na mag-asawa na, dahil tatanda daw akong dalaga. Para pang sirang plaka yung kuya ko na uulitin pa sasabihin ni Mama.
Natigil ako sa paghiwa ng steak at tinignan sila.
"Ang OA, ha? Para namang hahayaan niyong mauna si Layla na mag-asawa at mag-kaanak sa'kin edi pa nga 'yun legal age." sagot ko.
"'Eh sa ang bagal mo, anak. I might consider, 'no? Tatlo na magiging apo ni Dad kay Kuya Aries mo, si Kuya Apollo mo nag-aasikaso na 'rin, si Carina may pinakilala na sa aming manliligaw KAHIT nasa medchool na s'ya. Eh ikaw ba? Do I still have to introduce you to some men from your Kuya's law firm?"
I flinched. Si Kuya Aries, nagpipigil na ng tawa. Masyado siyang nageenjoy na ako ang pinupuntirya ni Mama dito. Asar.
"I beg you not to do that, Mom. I've been telling you for years now that I don't need a man as of the moment. I wanna focus on finishing my residency first."
"But, anak. There's no harm in trying to meet other people. Please," She sounded just like Kuya Io.
"Mom's right. It's not like you're not meeting men in your work field... right?" Kuya meaningfully looked at me. Loko to ah.
I sighed in defeat.
"Fine, if it will all help you sleep at night, I'll try my best to date, okay? Just don't force me with men that I don't even like. I'll find from my workplace, maybe." Sabi ko na lang. Tinanguan na ako ni Mama at tinuloy ang pagkain niya. Buti naman.
They are all getting on my nerves. After Leo, 'di na ako nagpakilala ng sumunod pa na boyfriends. Their identities remain hidden until now. It was easier for me kasi walang nagaganap na interrogations, tulad ng nangyari kay Leo. All I thought before na dahil they were open towards us dating, e-easyhan nila , pero hindi. Masyado pa 'rin silang maselan sa mga dinidate namin kaya pahirapan 'din na magdala ng manliligaw. Lalo na si Kuya Io. Kahit sa facetime or Skype lang siya nakakapag obserba, umaapaw pa 'rin ang pagkapasmado ng bibig. Buti naman, pumasa si Leo sa kanila pero we had to break up eventually so bad shit tuloy. They knew we broke up but I didn't tell them the reason behind it. Which, made it worse kasi for quite sometime, ayun 'yung naging topic sa bahay. Kaya kahit na I was already dating someone else in college back then, 'di na ako nag effort na magpakilala ng kahit sino pa-- unless seryoso na. Though, they met Yandro in one of my birthday celebrations before, but we're just friends then plus I have no intention of telling my parents na EX ko siya.
"Sino dun? Eh puro ex---" tinagdiyakan ko si Kuya at minatahan.
Well except for Kuya Aries. He knows every one of my exes, kasi para siyang mokong. Kahit si Kuya Io alam. Bukod sa nagk-kwento ako, walang preno 'din ang bibig ng kakambal niya.
"Pardon, 'nak?"
"Ah, hehe I mean, Elara has two guy friends who she spends a lot of time with. " He casually said, pero alam kong may halong pang-aasar.
"Oh, ayun naman pala eh. Why not date one of them? I believe naman na you have taste in friends which means, they qualify? Have I met them both before?"
"Yep... you have," Kuya whispered.
I just ended up pursing my lips. Loko to si Kuya ah. Binubugaw ako sa mga ex ko.
