Always You

12

Happy New Year!

"I don't want you or Iggy to be minding on your dad's company!" Mom was furious on the idea that dad's pushing me to go for a business course in college.

"Choose a course you really like, at hindi yung idinidikta ng ama mo!"

I accidentally told mom about dad's idea. Gusto kasi ni dad na kumuha ako ng business course. And when mom asked me what school and course I will be taking for college, bigla kong nasabi ang gusto ni dad. Kaya heto, nagalit ng husto si mom. Alam na man niya yung tungkol sa nangyari noong summer, at hindi na man siya nagalit when I spent my summer vacation helping in dad's company. Ang ikinagaglit siguro niya ay yung pagpupumilit ni dad sa course na hindi ko naman gusto. Sa totoo lang, ayaw ko din ng business course, gusto ko kasing maging architect.

"Sabihin mo sa kanya na hindi ako pumapayag sa course na gusto niya para sa iyo. So manipulative!", mom's voice is beginning to get shaky.

Nakikinig lang ako ngayon sa kanya over the phone. Hanggang ngayon, alam kong galit si mom kay dad. I really don't have any idea what was the reason why they separated. Mom never told me and so did dad. But I have this weird feeling na may third party involved, and that it was dad's affair with another woman that made my mom left and worked abroad. Eventhough he's rarely staying in the house, wala na man akong evidence to confirm kasi wala na man akong nakikita o naririnig na 'other woman' ni dad. Iniisip ko na lang minsan that they have different perspectives and ideals in life kaya they separated.

"So, what do you really want to pursue in college, Andrea?", pag-iiba ng topic ni mom. "You can study here in Japan, and get a job here."

That sounds interesting and convincing, but I declined. Ayokong iwan si Iggy. He's all I have, at alam kong ayaw din ni Iggy na umalis ako. Despite what happened to our parents, we manage to surpass that feeling of unwantedness. I am very protective of Iggy, and I want to make sure that he's not going to turn out just like me, unsure of myself and not confident. Isa pa ayaw ko rin na iwanan si Zeke, ngayon pa na alam kong he is serious about me.

After our conversation, dad asked us to join him for a lunch at ate Maica's house. Sunday kasi ngayon, and he said that ate Maica wants to see me and Iggy. Again, first time na naman ito for us. Tila napapansin ko na isinasali na kami ni Iggy sa family nila, kahit na naa-out of place kaming magkapatid.

We arrived at ate Maica's house. Malaki ang bahay nila--- I mean mansion. It is a two-storey Spanish styled white house. We were guided to the garden at the back. Sobrang namangha ako sa landscape ng garden. It's a zen themed garden and there's a pool beside this big gazebo where our lunch will take place. When we got inside, ang daming pagkain. Nagpa-cater ata sila. Ganito ba ang Sunday lunch ng family ni dad? Ang bongga naman.

Nakita ko yung mga familiar faces last time sa binyag. Nakita ko rin si Trisha, so beautiful and bubbly na kumausap sa kanila, except sa amin ni Iggy. Hindi ko maiwasang mamangha sa kanya, maganda naman talaga siya. Her face is small and round, with a deep set eyes and fuller lips. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit hindi siya gusto ni Zeke. He keeps on telling me that he's not interested kay Trisha, and that it's me he likes. He is courting me, but we kept it a secret. Si Olly lang talaga ang nakakaalam ng sekreto namin.

"Are you okay Andrea?", kuya Tony worriedly asked me. Hindi kasi kami umiimik ni Iggy. Wala din namang kumakausap sa amin. Kausap ngayon ni dad ang tito nila kuya sa labas ng gazebo. I answered kuya with a nod.

"Pasensya na kayo ni Iggy, Maica insisted kasi na pumunta kayo dito, tapos hindi naman kayo kinakausap."

"It's okay kuya Tony. Thank you for inviting us."

Mabait naman si kuya Tony. Noong nagkaroon ako ng chance na makapagwork sa department niya ay lagi akong tinutulungan. Intimidating lang siya kung titingnan pero comforting siya kung magsalita. Mas matanda sa kanilang dalawa si kuya, pero hindi pa siya nag-aasawa. Maybe he's enjoying being single. Bata pa naman ang edad na 33.

He excused himself to welcome their other visitor, sina Tita Stella and Zeke as they enter the gazebo. Kahit hindi sila blood-related, kapansin-pansin na halos lahat ng family gatherings ay present sila. Yumuko ako para hindi makita ni Zeke at nagkunwaring nanood sa paglalaro ni Iggy sa kanyang mobile phone. They were exchanging conversations when ate Maica interrupted them at kakain na raw.

Nakikita ko na halos linta kung makadikit si Trisha kay Zeke. At ito namang si Zeke walang reaction sa pagpapapansin ng babae. May kirot akong naramdaman sa puso ko, but I ignored it. Ayokong makita niya ulit na affected na naman ako. When lunch is served, umupo na kami. Tumabi pa talaga ang babaeng yun sa kanya, at lahat ng tao dito ay tinutukso silang dalawa.

"When will the two of you go on a date?", Tita Stella asked. "So that I can reserve a restaurant for you." Hindi pa rin talaga natatapos ang matchmaking niya sa dalawa.

"I'm sorry mom, but I think I have to decline that idea of yours", Zeke answered.

Lumingon lahat kay Zeke at nagulat sa sinabi nito. Pati rin si Trisha ay mukhang nadismaya sa narinig.

"Huwag mong idadahilan sa akin yang trabaho mo ha", paalala ni Tita Stella. "Masyado ka nang workaholic."

"Kaya wala ka pang girlfriend kasi focused ka masyado sa work. Hinay-hinay lang", ate Maica commented.

Everyone laughed.

"Mukhang kaagaw ni Trisha ang trabaho ni Zeke", narinig kong may nagsabi.

"I'm courting someone right now, so there's no need to set a date."

Halos nagulat kami sa sinabi niya. Nagsimula na akong kabahan. Alam ko sa sarili ko na ako iyong tinutukoy niya.

"Excuse me?", his mom was caught surprised. Lalo lumakas ang kaba ko sa dibdib. What if sasabihin ni Zeke ang tungkol sa amin? Nandito si dad, ano na lang sasabihin niya? Hindi ko siya kayang tingnan, ayoko.

"And who is that lucky girl?" It was kuya Tony's turn to ask.

"You'll know. She's very special to me."

This time I looked at him, and our eyes met.

All throughout our lunch, hindi talaga ako mapakali. Everyone's intrigued sa girl na tinutukoy ni Zeke. They even have a lot of guesses kung sino ang mga iyon. Napansin ko rin na nag-iba ang mood ni Trisha. Kung kanina'y malambing at masayahin, ngayon ay kabaliktaran na.

I asked dad where the restroom is. Tinawag ni dad ang housemaid upang samahan ako. Nasa kabilang side iyon ng pool, katabi ng shower area nila. Nagpasalamat ako after niyang ituro sa akin kung nasaan iyon. When I went out of the restroom, my phone rang. Zeke's calling. I immediately cancelled his call.

"Not today please", I whispered.