Let's Talk About Us [Completed]

18. Family Tree

18. Family Tree

"What did you say back there?"

Natataranta ako. Gosh, para tuloy akong buntis na hindi mapaanak sa kakalakad ko ng parit-parito. Nakaka-stress 'tong batang 'to! Seryoso ba talagang 5 years old lang siya??

"Are you deaf or what? I said we're gonna have our baby soon..." mataray na sagot niya bago kumagat sa pizza na tinake out ko kanina.

Nandito kami ngayon sa garden ng school campus nila. Buti nalang, walang masyadong tao rito kaya malaya akong magpalakad-lakad dito habang ang bata namang si Venice ay sitting pretty lang sa bench.

"You didn't know what you're saying, aren't you?" Pinilit kong maging malambing pa rin ang boses ko. Ayoko naman kasing matakot siya sa akin. As much as I wanted to freak out and throw things away (dahil ganun ako magfreak out), I still managed to speak softly.

"Of course, I know, Mom."

MOM! As in, M-O-M? Napatakip tuloy ako sa bibig ko. Did she just call me MOM? Teka. Nabingi yata ako. "You called me mom?"

"Opo," she answered expressionlessly and shot me the look. "I'll call you mom and you give me a baby sister in return."

Huminga ako ng malalim. Seryoso, naloloka ako sa batang ito. Kung makahingi ng baby sister, akala mo nanghihingi lang ng gatas. "Venice, making a baby sister is no joke."

"I'm not joking."

Lunok. Kalma. "Why do you want to have a baby sister? Would it be better if you're the only baby in our family?" Oh yes, Alison. Kaunting lambing pa.

Nilunok muna niya ang kinakain niya bago niya ako tinugon. I wonder if she and her real mom are the same. Seryoso din kaya siya gaya niya o baka naman puro genes ni Arthur ang nakuha ng batang 'to? "I've been wanting to have a baby sister. I honestly envy Claine," sabi niya at umismid pa.

Kumunot tuloy ang noo ko. "And who's Claine?"

"Tita Chloe's daughter."

"Uh... and who's Tita Chloe?" Malay ko ba kung sinong binabanggit niya. Hindi ko sila kilala. Wala akong idea.

She shot me a smug look. "Tita Chloe is Tito Dustin's wife and Tito Dustin is my ninong and my dad's friend. Claine is their daughter and we're best of friends. So... why doesn't my mom know them?"

Natigilan tuloy ako pero hindi ko lang pinahalata. Tanggap niya ba talaga ako o sinusubukan lang? In fairness, mas nakakaintimidate siya kaysa sa daddy niya ah.

"Ah! Hehe. Si Chloe!" I tried to laugh but it turned to be an awkward one. "Naku, how couldn't I know her? Ninang mo yun. Um-attend pa nga siya sa binyag mo nung baby ka pa. Sorry, ang dami ko kasing friends na kasing name niya."

Napa-cross fingers nalang ako ng palihim. Bumenta ka. Geez, aatakihin na yata ako sa puso nito.

"You know her?"

"Oo naman," sagot ko at pilit na ngumiti. Pinakita ko pa nga yung cross fingers ko. "We're close like this, baby." Whoever she is, I need to befriend her. Maitanong nga mamaya kay Arthur.

She shrugged and resumed on eating her pizza. Nawalan na tuloy ako ng ganang kumain. Nalipasan na ako ng gutom e. "And oh!"

"Yes, Venice?"

"The reason why I also wanted to have a baby sister is that..." she trailed off and pulled something out from her bag. "This. I wanna put a lot of pictures on it."