Western Heights: Casanova's Prop

Chapter 35: Intense Review "daw"

Hindi ko mapigilan ang matawa sa segway ni Big Ben. At lalo akong natawa nang pabiro siyang sinagot ni Mama Tori ng:

"Wala na expired na."

***

"Delicious. Very delicious." Kumento ni Big Ben habang ngumunguya.

"Pwede na." Habang itong apo niya, sinamaan ko na lamang ng tingin. Pwede na? Ano pwede na siyang maka-panlimang serving ng cinnamon roll ko? "Mapagtya-tyagaan." Dagdag pa niya.

Tumawa sina Mama Tori at Big Ben. Maging ako ay natawa nang makitang yung cream sa bibig ni Asher ang tinatawanan nila.

Kumunot ang noo niya, "What?"

Sabay-sabay kaming tatlo na umiling, at pare-parehong nagpipigil ng pagtawa. "Doesn't look like it's nothing." Kumento ni Asher sa mga itsura namin.

Pasimpleng umubo kunwari si Big Ben. "So Thalia, why don't you tell us something about Western Heights? How is it?" Halatang binabago na lang niya yung pinag-uusapan para malihis ang atensyon naming lahat sa itsura ni Asher.

"Okay naman po Big Ben."

"By okay she means that she's a candidate for valedictorian, acing all the tests given to us in every subject." Singit ni Asher.

"So we've got ourselves an excellent kitchen warrior and a genius. What can't you do dear?" Manghang kumento ni Mama Tori.

Ngumiti ako, "Hindi maman sa ganon Mama Tori, grabe maman." Nahihiya kong sabi.

"Hindi. It's true. You seem to be effortlessly good at everything." Tatanggi pa sana ako subalit nagpatuloy pa siya sa pagsasalita. "And you have no idea that you do."

"Indeed, these are the best cinnamon rolls I had. Well second to Victoria's of course." Pahabol ni Big Ben.

"Thank you po." Sabi ko nalang. Naiilang kasi talaga ako kapag nalalagay ako sa ganitong sitwasyon.

"Well unlike the other kids your age, you seem like a very mature person and someone who has achieved quite alot." Sabi ni Mama Tori.

Nagtaas ng kamay si Asher, "By other kids your age she meant me." Sarkastiko niyang sabi.

"Almost at the bottom of his class, never even bothered to show anyone his report card but we've seen it once and we never wanted to see it again." Kwento ni Mama Tori.

"Wow. Thank you so much." Sarkstikong maktol ni Asher.

"About to graduate, still at the bottom." Dagdag pa ni Big Ben.

Nag-make face si Asher habang kumukuha pa ng isang cinnamon roll. "I wonder if there's still hope remaining for our apo, Ben." Madramang saad ni Mama Tori.

"I don't even know Victoria... It's not like we haven't done anything about it. We've tried everything we can but still..."

"They want you to tutor me, Thalia." Walang ganang sabi ni Asher.

Tumango ako, "Tingin ko rin." Sabi ko.

Painosenteng ngumiti lamang ang mag-asawang nasa harapan ko na tila ba wala silang alam tungkol sa sinasabi namin ng kanilang apo.