I Could Fall

Chapter Twenty-Five

"Hello," I anxiously said on the phone as soon as I answered the call. I walked towards my bed and sat.

Ilang texts na ang napadala ko sa kanya para itanong kung kasama siya sa pupunta ng dinner namin at kung may alam siya tungkol doon.

"I was facilitating a meeting and it extended a bit. My mother only sent a text about the dinner two hours ago."

I pursed my lips. Kaya pala hindi siya nag-text sa akin nung sinabi kong pauwi na ako.

"Are you going to come with them?"

He heavily sighed. "I'm on my way to your house now."

That means my parents will officially meet him? Why am I nervous all of a sudden? It's not like he'll be coming because I'll be introducing him as my... someone?

It's just a family dinner that's overdue. Graduation pa lang namin nung highschool, they already promised a family dinner.

"O-Okay. I'll see you later," I shyly murmured.

Ali didn't say anything but he didn't say goodbye either. I thought of something to say but nothing's coming to me at the moment.

"Uhm... Ingat sa pag-drive," I lamely said as soon as it occured to me. My lips puckered in disappointment when he still didn't utter a single word. "Uh... I'm gonna hang up now."

"Hyon," Ali called before I can move to end the call.

"Yeah?"

"I'm waiting for you," he softly crooned from the other line.

Why does it feel like he means something else whenever he uses those words to me?

Maybe it's just me. But even if it doesn't mean anything else, it's still enough to free the butterflies in my stomach from its cages.

"I know." My lips stretched into a bright and saccharine smile. "I'm waiting for you, too."

He deeply chuckled. "See you."

"Bye," I replied with a tiny voice before ending the call.

The smile on my face never left as I walked towards my white built-in closet to check myself through the full body mirror that served as one of its doors.

I smoothed my palm over my yellow mustard casual buttoned up dress with fluffy short sleeves. Not too flashy, but decent enough for a dinner.

Aside from some blush and tint, I didn't wear more make up. I just ironed my hair a bit for a beach curl effect.

Bumaba na rin ako matapos mag-ayos. Nakasalubong ko si Kuya Zeno paakyat ng hagdan. A bag was lazily placed on his shoulder. It looks like he just came home from school.

"Mom told me to call you. The guests are in the living room," sabi ni Kuya, medyo kunot ang noo. Mukhang may gustong sabihin pero hindi itinutuloy.

"Okay, Kuya. Hindi ka ba sasabay sa dinner?"

"I will. Magpapalit lang ako."

Tumango ako at ngumiti. "Okay."

I got a little nervous when I reached the last step. I had to walk a bit to see our living room. They were all on their feet and staring at the frames on the wall as if they were on a museum. There were sofas but this isn't really our sitting area.

Hindi nila nakita ang pagdating ko dahil lahat sila ay abala sa pagtitig sa mga nakasabit sa pader. On the wall were photos of us taken by Mommy herself. Isang malaking frame lang ang buo kami at kuha ng ibang tao. She usually takes it during our family outings or events.