"Nila Tita Nikka?!"
"Ay kaloka si Ate. Opo si Mommy at yung Tita Nikka mo. Mama ang tawag namin sa nanay namin."
Napatawa na lang ako dito kay Ysme. Ang pinakabaliw sa quads.
"Hindi ako nakabili ng gift. Hindi ko naman alam na anniversary pala nila."
"Ay! Wag kang mag-alala Ate, wala din kaming gift ngayon. 3 months from now, anniversary ulit nila! hahaha."
"Ha?"
"Alam mo kasi Ate, ang kwento sa amin ni Mama, sobrang mahal daw ni Daddy si Mommy kaya 3 times sila nagpakasal."
I smiled at her. I always admire the couple and learning a bit of their love story, I admire them more. Ako kaya? Will I be able to find someone who'll love me too?
I saw Tita Nikka talking with 2 ladies of her age. Pare pareho silang mukhang alta sa ciudad. Ang kanilang mga hitsura'y nagsusumigaw ng rangya at kaligayahan. Mga ginang na kontento at masaya sa kani-kanilang mga buhay.
"Tamara! Halika, ipapakilala kita sa mga kaibigan ko."
"Tita, Happy Anniversary po. Sorry po wala akong regalo." Bati ko
"Ay, naku, kebs lang, okay lang Mara. Wag mo intindihin. You being here is already gift to me. Buti talaga sinama ka ng anak ko. Nga pala, silang dalawa ang bestfriend ko. Si Zea Lewis at si Elle Pierre. Heto nga pala ang girlfriend ni Matti."
Girlfriend? How I wish.
"Hello po." Bati ko.
"Hi Mara, you know, Kaela's so fond of you! She keeps bragging you."
"Kaela po?"
The other lady laughed lightly. Pati ba pagtawa nya'y pangmayaman din?
"Ay naku Zea. Hindi nya alam ang buong pangalan ko. Anak, ako din yung Kaela."
"Dear, your mother-in-law's name is Nikkaela. The two of us calls her Kaela."
I smiled at them.
Oh. Ang ganda ng pangalan ni Ma'am Nikka. Kapag babae ang anak ko, ganun din ang ipapangalan ko.
"Matti knows how to pick a girl ha."
"Syempre no! Tsaka love na love ko talaga ang batang ito. I can't wait to make her my daughter."
"Bata pa sila Kaela."
"I know, but can't an old lady wish?"
I smiled. That would be the best gift I could ever have, yung magkaroon ako ng pamilyang magmamahal sa akin.
"Where is my daughter-in-law?"
Tita Nikka laughed loudly. "Jake's so proud of Matti bringing Mara home. Alam nyo naman yang asawa ko. Hindi nya lang gustong kamukha ang mga anak nya, gusto nya ring maging kasing ugali nya."
All of them laughed including me. If I could have one more wish, I want this all to be real.
Binati ko si Tito Jake ng Happy Anniversary at nakipagkwentuhan pa kina Tita Nikka. Nadiscover ko din na malapit pala sa pamilya ni Matti yung artistang maganda, si Ms. Elle Suarez. Sobrang pagka idol ni Tita Mercy dito. Naku pag nalaman ni Tita Mercy na nakasalo ko sa pagkain at nakakwentuhan ko pa si Ms. Elle, baka patayin nya na talaga ako sa sobrang inggit.
The whole time, we're here, I felt noting but overflowing happiness. Dinadasal ko nga na sana wag na matapos ang araw na ito dahil sobrang saya. Kaya lang Matti wanted to bring me home after dinner.
"Umuwi na tayo." Matti
I just nodded at him. May magagwa ba ako laban sa kanya?
"Mommy, ihahatid ko na po si Mara pauwi."
"You both should just stay. She can sleep with Annika." Tita Nikka suggested
"Yes yes please! Ate please stay." Annika seconded
"May pasok sya ng maaga bukas Mommy."
"Wala akong pasok kapag Mondays Matti." bulong ko sa kanya because I really wanted to stay.
"Tumahimik ka jan. Magkikita pa kami ni Trisha." bulong nyang pabalik.
I just swallow the invisible lump in my throat. What else can I do diba? I must not forget who I am in his life.
"Ate, please stay." Annika pleaded
"Sorry baby, may work pa kasi si Ate early tomorrow eh. Tsaka may practice si Kuya ng basketball. Next time na lang ha baby."
Annika hugged me and said good bye. Inihatid naman kami ni Tita Nilka hanggang gate.
"Matteo, iuwi mo ng maayos si Mara ha. Mara ingat kayo."
"Una na kami Mommy."
"Thank you po Tita at Happy Anniversary po ulit."
"Can't wait for you two to celebrate anniversaries too. Mag-iingat ka ha."
"Mommy, bitawan mo naman na si Mara! Kapag di mo pa binitawan yan, gagawaan ka na namin ng apo."
Tita Nikka knocked Matti's head and finally let us go.
"Matteo, gusto ko na ng apo pero ang kapal ng mukha mo. Ni wala ka ngang pambili ng brief mo, diaper pa kaya ng magiging anak mo?! Umayos ka ha! Hayaan mo munang matupad ni Mara ang mga pangarap nya. Dealing with you is hard enough pag dumoble ka, mas nakakapagod yun."
"Mara ha, finish your studies and build your own dreams before jumping to another life stage, okay? I am excited but I still can wait."
I just smiled at this very beautiful lady. How can I ever be half of her?
Tita kissed us and we left. Even I really want to stay.
"Matti, thank you."
"Hindi yun para sa'yo."
"Alam ko, pero salamat pa din."
"Then pay me."
Because I was too happy, I gave my all tonight. I give him myself like he was the only person who could love me. I gave him my all. I have loved him too much to hide it tonight.
