Begin Again #Wattys2015

Family Ties

Geoff stared at Adela's face as she fixed his neck tie and folded his collar neatly over it. Nailang tuloy si Adela at nilamukot ang mukha ni Geoff na nakatitig sa kanya.

"Babe, baka matunaw ako, sige ka, wala kang kasama sa dinner ninyo," she played with her boyfriend's ears as she winked at him.

"Baby, ninenerbyos ako."

"Bakit?"

"Kasi my whole life akala ko wala akong ama, na iniwan nya lang kami ni Nanay, tapos ngayon, meron pala, and the story is a lot more complicated than I thought."

"Kaya nga maguusap usap kayo, para maliwanagan na ang lahat."

"Nandun din si Ethan," Geoff pulled Adela closer to him.

"Huwag ka nang magselos," Adela slid her hands up his chest to rest on his shoulders. "We only lasted one month," she winked.

"One month?" he was surprised sa kanyang narinig.

"Oo. Sa totoo lang, sinagot ko lang sya kasi natakot akong harapin ka sa reunion. Paano kung may asawa ka na, di ba? Eh di ako nanaman ang talo? Tsaka sabi ko nga, kung ganun nga, eh di at least I started giving it a try with someone else. At hindi rin ako nagkamali, dahil may super magandang model girlfriend ka nga pag uwi ko dito," she laughed.

"I can't get married...unless it was to you."

"Pero grabe, pinagpalit mo talaga sya sa akin ha," humagikgik si Adela.

"Ewan ko ba kung bakit hindi mo nakikita ang kagandahan mo."

"Compared to a model?"

"Compared to any one...you are the most beautiful girl in the world."

"Naks! Kaya napapa believe ako sa yo eh, kse sobra mo kong mahal."

"Yes, baby, sobra sobra sobra kitang mahal," he kissed her on the lips.

"Babe, ang lipstick ko," she giggled against his lips.

Humingi ng paumanhin si Geoff at pinunasan naman ni Adela ang labi ni Geoff gamit ang kanyang thumb. Kumalas na sya sa pagkayakap ng kanyang boyfriend at kinuha ang blazer nito. She also reached for her purse and reached for his hand para makaalis na sila.

Geoff helped Adela into the car and shut the door for her bago umikot at sumakay na sa driver's seat. Sinundo pa muna nila Geoff at Adela si Vera sa bahay na binili ng binata para sa nanay nya. Hindi kasi nakatira si Geoff sa bahay ng kanyang ina dahil may sarili na syang condo. But the last couple of nights ay nasa bahay ni Adela sya natutulog dahil ayaw nyang mag-isa lang ang kanyang girlfriend at dahil masyado na nga silang inseparable. Adela made reservations for them sa isang mamahaling steak restaurant. She wore a blue dress, his favorite color on her, and curled her hair lightly, and kept her make up simple. He handed the keys to the valet and held Adela's hand with one hand while guiding his mother by holding onto her back with the other. Nakita agad ni Adela ang nakatalikod na si Richard at Ethan na mukhang kararating din lang.

"Richard," she said to him causing him to turn around.

"Hello, Ada," Richard shook her hand. His eyes traveled from Adela to the man and woman standing next to her. "Vera...Geoff," he shook both of their hands as well.

"Did you just get here?"

"Just about. Ethan is just in the rest room."

"Okay," Adela smiled and nodded. "There he is," she saw Richard's other son from behind his father's shoulder. She walked over to him and gave him a hug. "How are you?"

"Doing good, why?" Ethan gave her an awkward smile.

Adela raised an eyebrow up like she knew that Ethan was still in the dark. "Oh, nothing, just asking."