I Could Fall

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Natigil ang usapan nang dumating ang mga kapatid ko. They were complete. Kahit na si Ate Laurene na madalas absent ay kasama namin ngayon nang sabihin ni Mommy sa kanya na si Ali ang special guest namin para sa dinner na ito.

Ate Laurene flashed me a haughty smile as she eyed Ali and me with approval and settled on her seat beside me. Nag-agawan pa si Kuya Hadeon at Kuya Zeno sa upuan na katabi ni Kuya X dahil ayaw nila na nasa dulo.

Kuya Zeno ended up losing though. Kuya Hades mocked him for it. Sinuway naman ni Mommy ang dalawa.

"Children," Ate Laurene snorted.

Hindi ko mapigilan ang pagtawa. My heart is so full right now. Pakiramdam ko ay bumalik kami sa dati. My family is complete and a bonus because Ali is here with me.

"Let's eat," Daddy announced. Sumunod naman ang lahat. While fixing some food on his plate, Dad started the topic, "Ali, ilang taon ka na ulit?"

Napaubo si Kuya Hadeon at si Kuya Xavi naman ay masigasig na humalakhak.

"I'm twenty-four, Sir," Ali casually answered.

"How long have you liked my daughter?" Dad asked again and I wanted to face palm so bad. Sobrang nakakahiya hindi ko magawang tingnan si Ali.

"Since she was sixteen," Ali replied without stuttering.

That made me look at him. Really? He already liked me when I was sixteen? Hinihintay ko siyang tumingin sa akin pero nanatili ang mga mata niya kay Daddy.

"Does that mean three years mong niligawan si Hyon?" Mommy asked.

"My, hindi. It was Hyon who courted Ali when she was eleven years old," Kuya Xavi laughed.

Ate Laurene pointed at me in accusation and gasped. "That's why you used to watch Kuya Xavi's practice! 'Cos Alister was there!"

"Oh, yeah... I remember," dagdag ni Kuya Zeno.

"How come I didn't know about this?" nagtatakang tanong ni Kuya Hadeon.

I swear I feel like my face is going to catch fire because it's so hot with embarrassment. I heard Ali laugh beside me which made me even more embarrassed.

"Is that so?" my father stated in a disapproving tone. He was throwing a deathly stare at Ali. "Bakit ang tagal bago mo sagutin ang anak ko? We even bought Gatorades for you."

"Oh my God!" Ate Laurene laughed out loud. Sinabayan 'yon ng iba ko pang mga kapatid. Even Kuya Zeno looked so amused.

Wala na akong nagawa kundi takpan ang mukha ko gamit ang dalawang kamay. They are ganging up on me!

"Stop making fun of Hyon," Mommy scolded, glaring particularly at my father. Dad just boyishly grinned at my mother. Umiling si Mommy at seryoso ang mukha nang bumaling kay Ali. "I hate to be a spoilsport but the main reason why I asked you to come here is because of your brother."

The silence followed after my mother's statement. The utensils clinking to the plate seemed too loud.

"What's your parents' opinion on this?" tanong ni Mommy.