YELO (P.S#6)

37

“I- I thought you'd be alone,”

Alanganin ang aking naging ngiti ng marinig ang tinuran ng aking ina. She was eyeing the both of us suspiciously kaya naman bahagya akong nahiya kay Alexander. Alam ko namang hindi sasabihin ni kuya ang tungkol sa kanya but I was hoping Mom will not be indifferent towards him like how she used to with my other guy friends. Ganoon na kasi talaga si Mom kahit sa mga kaibigan ko noon. But I am an adult now. Akala ko ay magbabago na ang pakikitungo nito sa mga lalaki sa paligid ko.

“It's nice meeting you, ma'am,” bati ni Yelo rito but my Mom did not even return a smile. Napabuntong hininga ako  I saw my Dad from the corner and caught that mischievous smile showing in his lips.

At least Dad was always cool about it. Sabi niya noon na normal naman daw na may magkagusto sa'kin dahil maganda raw ang anak niya. Mas hindi niya raw matatanggap na wala. Yep, way too boost my confidence.

We ended up having dinner with only Dad and I talking. Mom was silent but I can see her sparing quick glances on him. Hindi ko sigurado kung naiilang ba si Yelo o mas pinili niyang huwag na lamang pansinin ang mga ikinikilos ng aking ina.

This is probably the only time I am being thankful na madalas na walang pakialam sa mundo si Yelo. At least it makes it a little less awkward for me. Nakakahiya rin kasi.

Mabuti na lang rin at hindi namin isinama si Taias. That kid is very observant especially of it's anything about his Dad. I don't want this to get any more awkward than it already was.

“Wala kang dalang gamit, hindi ka ba rito matutulog?” Mom asked as we all sat on the couch. Si Dad ay nagkakape like Alexander. Tila wala lang rito ang pakikitungo sa kanya ni Mom.

Ngumiti ako ng alanganin ngunit bago pa ako makasagot ay nagsalita na itong muli.

“It's okay. You have a lot of clothes in your room naman. How long will you stay here, a week? A month? I can't believe you finally had a vacation!” she was looking too excited ngunit pumapasok sa isipan ko ang pakikitungo niya kay Alexander.

Sinubukan kong pakalmahin ang aking sarili. I just saw my mother. I don't want us to fight over this. And I know she probably just miss me. Kasalanan ko rin naman dahil bihira akong umuwi.

I gave her a small smile before responding, “I can't stay, Mom, next time na lang,” naipatong ko ang aking kamay sa hita ni Yelo sa kaba. Why do I feel like going home with him is not a good idea? Dapat kaya ay nagpakita muna ako kay Mom at ikinwento siya bago siya isinama rito?

“But why? Surely, this man here can leave on his own. I haven't seen my daughter for so long. I am even upset to find out na matagal ka na rito sa Pilipinas at ni hindi mo ipinapaalam sa'min ng Dad mo,”

Isang malalim na buntong hininga muna ang aking pinakawalan. “Mom, you and Dad were out of the country,”

Bigla rin akong nakonsensya. Nawala na rin talaga sa isip ko ang aking mga magulang sa dami ng aking naging isipin.

“Pero last week pa kami nakauwi. Kung hindi ko pa tinawagan si Zarah ay hindi ko malalaman na naririto ka,” bigla ay ibinaling nito ang tingin sa gawi ni Yelo. “Where are you staying?”

Napalunok ako. Should I tell her? I look at Dad's direction at napansin na wala itong paki at patuloy lamang sa pag inom ng kape.

Napalingon ako sa gawi ni Yelo ng hawakan nito ang aking kamay na nakapatong sa kanyang hita. I stared at him and saw him smile. That gave me a bit of confidence.

“I stayed with him and Matilda's son when I came back. Now, I am staying at their ancestral house with his family. That's also the reason why I can't stay, Mom. Naghihintay na sa amin ang bata,”