"I really hate gatecrashing into your family dinner, you said it was a family dinner, right? Hindi naman ako parte ng family mo." Nagkibit balikat ako, nagdadalawang isip kung papasok ba ako kasama siya sa loob ng restaurant na ilang metro lang ang layo sa amin o aalis na lang ako. Why is it even a big deal to her when I just replaced the tire of her car in the middle of nowhere?
"Ano ka ba, inimbitahan kita, basically you are not gatecrashing." Sagot ni Alison, "saka you followed me all the way here tapos 'di ka naman pala sasama?" Lumabi siya at mabilis na hinawakan ang kamay ko kung nasaan ang map tattoo, I don't know why but her touch made me feel a familiar weird sensation. "Let's go." Aya niya.
Nagbuntong hininga na lang ako at nagpakaladkad kay Alison, nang nasa loob na kami ng resto ay sinalubong kami ng isang waiter, mukhang kilala nito si Alison-maybe because she is the city mayor's daughter as she said or maybe regular costumer siya ng restaurant, bumati ang waiter kay Alison at saka tumingin sa akin, "sorry Sir pero naka-reserve lahat ng tables." Saad ng waiter.
"Actually, he is going to have a dinner with us." Ngumiti si Alison sa waiter na kumunot noo pero agad namang tumango saka naglakad na para igiya kami, muli akong hinila ni Alison habang sinusundan namin ang waiter, her skin pressed against mine just felt really nostalgic.
Tumigil si Alison sa pahabang mesa sa may tabi ng bintana ng restaurant, mula roon ay nakita ko ang mag-asawa na mukhang mga magulang niya na nakaupo, kasama ng mga magulang niya ay isang babaeng nakatutok ang mata sa screen ng cellphone at isang batang babaeng prenteng nakaupo na nakatanaw sa bintana, so she have two sisters. Huh?
Bigla akong na-self conscious, naka-formal attire silang lahat habang ako nakapawad lang at shorts, damn it was really a bad idea coming with her, I can afford my own dinner so why did I agree on this? Nagmumukha akong kawawa dito.
It's not yet too late to back out, Cloud. Not yet.
Akmang magsasalita sana ako para magpaalam kay Alison nang naunahan niya ako.
"Dad, Mom, sorry for being a little late, nasira ang gulong ng kotse ko, but this guy beside me with a map tattoo on his hand named Cloud Apolonio de Mayor became my hero for today so I also invited him to have a dinner with us as a way of saying thank you." Walang hintong pagpaliwanag ni Alison sa kanyang mga magulang.
Lumikho ang tingin nila sa akin kasama ang kanyang mga kapatid at agad akong sinuri, mas lalo akong na-conscious at paranoid sa sarili ko, iyong tingin kasi ng mga magulang niya kakaiba na parang habang tinitignan ako ay nakikita ang mismong pagkatao ko, or maybe it is just me and my imaginations.
"Apolonio de Mayor?" Ngumiti ang lalakeng may katandaan who is for sure Alison's Dad, he carries a very powerful aura a mayor should always have, the way he carries himself makes me feel like I'm a prey and he was the predator, "kaano ano mo si Don Hernandes?"
Napakurap ako dahil sa tanong niya, "kapatid po siya ng tatay ko."
"Sino? Si Cassandro, Carlospein, o si Saturnino?" Sumbat ng babae, she's Alison's mom for sure. She have a sweet aura, mukha siyang anghel dahil sa kanyang ngiti, I can say she was prettier during her youthful days, Alison's parents are stunning. Really stunning.
"Cassandro." Tipid na sagot ko, "bakit niyo po sila kilala?"
Alison's Mom smiled, "of course we know these four brothers, we used to be good buddies during our days." Tinignan niya ako sa aking mukha, "you've got your blue eyes and pointy nose from your father, I heard you have a brother, right?"
I nodded, "Ice. Tatlong taon po ang layo ko sa kanya. I'm 25."
Ngumiti ang tatay ni Alison, "we also heard from Hernandes na kasal na ang kapatid mo? I thought the eldest son was the one who got married which was you pero nagkamali pala kami, naunahan ka ata ng mas batang kapatid mo? Tatlo na rin raw ang anak niya!"
