And For Ever More

Lovefool (The Cardigans)

AN: For this chapter, I collaborated with @noodlesbychi on most of the dialogue with Nanay and Tatay. Thank you so much, chichu. I don't know what this bulol Englisher would do without you.

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They win, of course, just like I knew they would. 86 to 79, and RJ was on fire. He tore up and down the court, the expression on his face a mix of razor sharp focus, fierce determination, unbridled passion and pure joy—it was beautiful to watch. I screamed myself hoarse cheering him on as he scored basket after basket. I sneaked some glances at my family up in the stands a few times, and was pleased to find them cheering loudly, too. It made me smile and feel all warm and cozy in my chest.

After the game, Tatay invites us to dinner nearby. I guess a lot of our schoolmates had the same idea—I spot Liz and Pabs from Campus TV, as well as Tiffanee and her boyfriend, Vince. Dean and Kuya Nico beg off to go watch a movie, while Ate Niki and Colleen go on a double date with their boyfriends, John and Mike.

Nanay brings up my courtside reporter stint as we're munching on gooey, hot mozzarella sticks, spicy buffalo wings, and grilled steak and chicken fajitas.

"Ano ka ba, Menggay? Bakit naman wala kang pasabi na ikaw pala ang courtside reporter ng school niyo? Sus, kung alam lang sana namin ng Tatay mo eh di nasabihan ko dapat ang Tito Henry at Tita Gertrude mo ng mapanood ka nila sa TV!"

I shift uncomfortably in my seat as RJ looks at me reproachfully. "Ay, talaga po? Hindi niya sinabi sa inyo tungkol sa courtside reporting niya ngayon?"

I give him a swift kick under the table and he stifles a grin as my mother lets out a theatrical sigh. "Ni hindi nga namin alam na parte na siya ng TV station ng school?"

"Nay," I say in my sweetest, most humble tone, "Hindi naman po kasi yun totoong TV station. Maliit na bagay para banggitin pa."

At this, my dad raises an eyebrow at me as he pierces a mozzarella stick with his fork. "Hindi mo dapat tinatago samin mga ganyang bagay, anak. Proud kami ng Nanay mo sa lahat ng ginagawa mo."

Praise from my Tatay is sporadic and hard-earned. To hear him say he's proud of me in front of RJ makes me unspeakably happy. I feel like I'm literally glowing, and I reflexively bring my hand up to my face and touch my cheek self-consciously.

"Salamat po, Tay," I say, looking down at the tablecloth shyly, my voice almost a whisper. "Alam ko naman po yun, kaya laking pasalamat ko talaga na sinusuportahan niyo ko."

I suddenly remember why I'm even part of the Campus TV team in the first place. "Pero Tay, alam mo ba na itong si RJ ang kumumbinsi saking i-try tong pagrereport sa TV?"

This impresses my dad, and he turns towards RJ nodding slowly, the corners of his mouth turned down in approval. "Alam mo RJ iho, magandang impluwensya ka dito kay Menggay. Aba simula ng makilala ka nito eh unti unti ng nagkakalakas ng loob harapin ang mga takot nya. Eh baka naman pwede mong kumbinsihin tong tanggapin na yung nakalaang internship nya sa New York."

Oh, God. He had to bring that up. Even without looking at RJ, I can feel his eyes on me, and I know he's studying me carefully.

"What internship?" He asks, his voice mild, but I'm sure he's just bursting with curiosity.

"The New York Times' summer internship," I tell him lamely. "It's a ten-week program that starts in June. It's paid, and you could try out for reporting, or interactive journalism, or copy-editing..."

"Well, that's amazing! You should definitely apply! Kelan ba yung deadline for applications?"

"Um, October 31st."