Letters to Cleo #Wattys2016

Chapter 18

"Saan kayo natulog?"

"Lahat po kami sa living room lang natulog. And I know what you're trying to say. Wala pong ganon. 'Nay, wholesome fun lang po ito."

Nakita kong lumaki ang mga mata ni Ailee. She probably understood what my mom and I are talking about. Then suddenly I noticed how her cheeks turned red. She bowed her head to maybe hide it. I smiled at her and pinched her red cheeks. When she looked at me I mouthed the word sorry.

"Ah 'Nay, Ailee's blushing right now. Nakakahiya na po kasi itong usapan natin eh," ang pabiro kong sabi. This made her throw dagger looks at me.

"Ganun ba? Nandyan ba s'ya sa harap mo?"

"Opo."

"Can I talk to her?"

I gave my phone to her. Nanlaki ulit ang mga mata n'ya. "Nanay wants to talk to you."

"Ha?" she said in panic.

"Sige na."

She slowly took my phone and placed it on the side of her head. "Hello po? Good morning po ma'am... opo... okay lang po... hindi po..."

Tinignan ko lang s'ya habang kinakusap n'ya si Nanay. Maraming opo at hindi po ang narinig ko. There was even one time that she chuckled. I guess the conversation's going well.

"Opo.... Ah sige po kung okay lang po kay Inigo.... Kakausapin ka raw," she said while handing me my phone back.

"Nanay?"

"Anak, I've invited her to your birthday dinner."

"What?" Tumingin ako kay Ailee. She just shrugged. Binraso 'ata ito ng nanay ko kaya hindi na nakatanggi. My mom is like that, she has this was of making people go with what she wants. Haaaay.

"She said it's okay if it's okay with you. And I know it's okay with you so bring her here."

"How'd you know that it's okay with me?"

"Bakit, hindi ba?"

"Ah... hindi naman po sa ganun. Pero..."

"Wala nang pero pero Inigo. She said it's okay so bring her here."

"Okay 'Nay."

"Good. Now, the two of you go get ready so you can have breakfast with us."

"Bye Nanay."

After I ended the call ay nagtinginan lang kami ni Ailee. Hindi naman sa ayaw ko s'yang isama sa amin pero nahihiya ako. Nahihiya ako sa kanya. I don't want my family to assume anything about us but knowing them, kahit ilang beses kong sabihin na wala kaming relasyon ay 'yon pa rin ang iisipin nila. At 'yung parte na 'yun ang nakakahiya. I don't want to drag her into this.