"Really? I didn't know your mother grew a lot of these..."
"She spends her free time gardening."
"Oh, really? A lot of dirty work, huh…"
Dahan dahan akong bumaba. It's Sunday and I was about to have my practice today. Nakabihis ako para tumungo doon.
Bumungad sa sala si Hugo na nakaupo at si Mommy na inaamoy amoy ang dilaw na tulips. Nakangising nakayuko si Hugo hanggang sa mapansin niya ako. His smile faded and he immediately stood up.
"You're finally awake!" Mommy saw me. "I mentioned to Hugo that you don't have any plans today, hija." hilaw na sabi niya.
Nagkatinginan kami ni Hugo.
What?
He checked me out. I was wearing a white shorts and white loosed polo long-sleeved shirt. Dala dala ko pa ang bag ko kung saan nakasabit ang bagong drumstick ko.
"May practice ako ngayon..." kumunot ang noo ko. "What are you doing here, Hugo?"
"Don't be rude!" si Mommy. "He brought you flowers. I thought you're not going somewhere so I told him to tour you around their garden."
She what?
Umawang ang labi ko.
"It's okay. Dinala ko lang sana 'yong bulaklak."
"Oh, no, no!" hilaw na tumawa si Mommy at sinaksak sa dibdib ko ang bulaklak. "She can cancel her plans today. She's going!"
I'm going?
Nilingon ko si Mommy. "What, Mom?"
Tinapik niya ako. "I told Hugo you love flowers. He mentioned that he's helping his mother in their garden. Isn't that great?"
Kulang na lamang ay kurutin niya ako, mapapayag lang. Hugo raised his eyebrow. I don't know if he's enjoying this show. Humalukipkip siya at tumaas ang dalawang kilay.
"But Alonna's—"
"Screw that!" She pushed me. "Go ahead, hijo. Nichoella will be very pleased." She gave me a look.
Kumunot ang noo ko.
"Mom, what the hell are you doing?" bulong ko.
Kinurot niya ang tagiliran ko. Namilipit ako ng kaunti pero mabilis niya namang inalis iyon.
"I'm doing the best I can to make him like you, Nichoella."
What? Hindi ba ako kagusto-gusto sa lagay na ito?!
"Well, not now?!"
"Yes, now, hija." she faked a laugh and pulled me. Timulak niya ako patungo kay Hugo. "Take care!"
Matalim ko siyang tinignan at umirap.
Kulang na lamang ay isaksak niya ako sa loob ng sasakyan ni Hugo. I didn't have time to even put the tulips in a vase. Pinagbilin ko na lamang iyon sa mga katulong.
Hinilot ko ang sentido ko habang nakaupo sa sasakyan ni Hugo.
"I'm sorry… she's just very thrilled sometimes."
He smirked. "It's okay."
My eyebrow creased. "She's obsessed with setting me up to men."
"Nothing worked from those guys?"
I smiled. "Wala. I purposely didn't work it out."
"You never liked anyone?"
Umiling ako.
