Romero x Rodriguez #KathNielReads

02

TWO

CHACHA

Hindi ko na lang pinansin ung remark ni Rodriguez, nagpaalam na rin ako at inaabangan na kami ni Mama Ellie. On the way home eh dinaldal naman ni Dale na may kasama akong guy. Nako ang batang to.

"Mama, tapos sabi niya boyfriend daw siya ni Tita Cha!" Nakasingit ang ulo ni Dale in between our seats, si mama kasi ang nagdadrive.

Just to be clear, Mama Ellie and Papa Trick are not my biological parents. Papa Trick's my big brother, I was born when he's about my age today. They had a relationship when they're about to graduate highschool, so parang ako yung naging baby nila. At sila naman eh second parents ko. I was there through all their good and bad moments. Mama Ellie even risked her life for my sake.

"Bubwit, boy na friend nga lang!" I said and pinched his puffy cheek. Tinatawanan na lang kami ni Mama Ellie eh.

"Nagmana kay bebs noh, baby Cha?" I smiled at what she called me, baby Cha. I'm still their baby after all.

"Yes mama, super little Trick siya kanina. Kung nakita mo lang pati facial expressions kapag possessive sayo si Papa Trick. Grabe!"

"Ehhh!! Tapos mama, crush daw niya si Tita Cha!" Parang reklamo na niyang sabi.

"Ikaw nga crush mo yung kapatid ni Sean eh. Kari ba name nun?" Pangasar ko sa bata tapos bigla siyang namula.

"Baby Dale, may crush ka na? Pano na si mama?" Nagpout din si Mama Ellie at tinignan si Dale sa rearview mirror. Ang cute.

"Ehh! Mama bata pa ko. Di pa ko maggirlfriend." Lumapit siya kay mama Ellie at kiniss to sa cheek ng mabilisan.

This is the kind of life I would want to have. I want to be as good and kindhearted as Mama Ellie. I want to love how she loves. I know it's not supposed to be this way, I shouldn't exactly be like her. I grew up with a family filled with nothing but love and satisfaction. It couldn't be helped to want the same comfort I lived with all my life right?

As soon as we got home, nagayos na kami agad ng gamit. Sumabay sa 'kin sa pagaaral si Bubwit. Nasa sala kami pareho at nagaaral. Sometimes he asks questions, but he's a smart kid kaya nagegets naman niya agad. Smart, handsome kid. Awesome genes eh!

"Papa!" Kararating lang ni Papa Trick at tumakbo palapit sa kanya si Dale. Sakto namang bumaba si Mama Ellie na hawak hawak si Baby Kady na around 3 years old siguro.

"Hi bebs." Papa kissed mama on the lips. "Hi angel." Ngumiti pa si papa Trick at kiniss din si baby Kady sa noo. I heard Kady giggle at nagcling siya sa batok ni Papa na binuhat naman si Kady. Cute. Parang ako lang years ago.

"Oh ung una kong baby, di ba ko ikikiss?" He looked at me and poked his cheek while carefully holding baby Kady. Natawa na lang ako't lumapit kay papa Trick and kissed his cheek.

"How's school?" He asked.

"Papa!! May boyfriend na si Tita Cha!" Not again.

"Ano?!" Sigaw ni Papa Trick.

"Tama tayo baby Cha, kay bebs nga nagmana." Natatawang sabi ni Mama Ellie at nagpunta na sa kitchen.

"Explain, young lady."

"Papa! Boy na friend lang okay? Sumabay lang siya kasi sinundo niya yung little sister niya." Papa Trick raised his one eyebrow and shot me a look as if analyzing if I'm being honest or not.

"Promise!" I raised my right hand.

"Weh. Crush ka nun tita Cha eh!!" Singit ni bubwit. Hinabol ko naman at tumakbo palayo. Ang lakas mangasar!