Can We Stay Like This FOREVER?

Chapter 27

A/N: Grammatical errors or typos ahead. Sorry.

Chapter 27

Julie's POV

Nandito ako sa tambayan. May free cut kasi kami dahil may emergency meeting ang mga professor namin. As usual, yung mga kaibigan ko ay nasa canteen na naman at nagsisimulang ubusin ang mga tinda doon. Hahahaha.

Ako? Wala ako sa mood sumama sa "lamon trip" nila. Lamon, yes. Dahil hindi pangkaraniwan yung dami ng kinakain nila. Anyway, I am alone in here and listening to random songs that's in my playlist. I can't help but to remember what did happen when Babes asked for my parents' permission as well as Elmo's.

Flashback

"Ayokong masaktan ang isa sa mga prinsesa ko."

"Hindi ko po sasadyaing masaktan si Julie, Tito. Ayoko naman pong mangakong hindi siya masasaktan o iiyak dahil may mga bagay na hindi po inaasahan at hindi kontrolado. I don't want to promise anything but I'll do everything not to hurt her nor let a single tear escape from her eyes." Mahabang paliwanag ni Babes. Tapos na rin kaming kumaing lahat.

There's a long silence after that. I can feel na sobrang kinakabahan na si Babes. I gave him an assuring smile.

"Ehem." Pagkuha ng pansin ni Daddy. "You what hijo, I know you since you're a kid."

"And we know ng Tito mo na you're a good man. You're mom is our close friend." Dagdag pa ni Mommy.

"Yes. And despite you were in Canada for a long time, eh nakikita naman naming you really a grown-up now. A very fine young man." Sabi pa ni Daddy.

"Ah. Thank you po Tito, Tita."

"Kaya naman..." Mommy stared at Daddy for a while and gave him a nod.

"Pumapayag na kaming ligawan mo ang isa sa mga prinsesa namin." Sabay na sabi nina Mommy and Daddy.

"Talaga po?!" Masayang sambit ni Babes.

"Yes, hijo." Pag-confirm ni Daddy.

"Narinig mo yon, Babes?! Payag na sina Tito. Yes!"

"Oo rinig ko, Babes. Hahaha. But!"

"But?" Takang tanong ni Babes sakin. I pointed Elmo, who's beside Mommy, using my lips.

"Mr. Monasterio, nakakalimutan mo yatang isa si Elmo sa mga dapat mong mapapayag." Pagtataray ko sakanya.

"Huh?" He then scratched his head. "Pareng Moe?"

"Derrick." Moe in a serious tone.

In my peripheral vision, nakikita kong nagpipigil ng tawa sina Joanna, Jac pati sina Daddy at Mommy. Ang adik lang ng pamilya ko 'no? Si Elmo naman kasi eh. Sobrang seryoso. Tapos kung titingnan mo pa siya, mas parang siya pa yung tatay ko kung tumingin kay Babes eh.

Elmo cleared his throat before saying...

"Derrick, you and Julie's been my childhood bestfriends. Since we we're kids I already saw how you admire Julie. I saw how sad you are when you learn that you'll leave us. And now that you're back, I won't be a hindrance to your happiness. To Julie's happiness."

"Moe." That's all I can say. Sobrang nat-touch ako sa sinasabi ni Moe. I feel like I'm gonna cry. Sobrang pinapahalagahan niya ako and I am so thankful for that.