Ang Nakaraan

26: Debut

For her thirty-second birthday, Lena introduced me to her Tita and cousins not as a friend but as a girlfriend.

Iba talaga ang pakiramdam.

I felt as if our relationship was like a bird that was finally able to spread its wings and slowly begin to take flight.

Nakita ko sa mukha ni Lena ang tuwa.

She was standing a little taller that day.

Nakataas ang noo at hindi maalis ang ngiti sa mga labi when she welcomed me back to her aunt's house for the second time.

Magiliw ang pagtanggap ng Tita niya sa akin.

Ang sabi pa nga niya, ako daw pala ang pinagmamalaki ng pamangkin niya.

Hindi niya daw masisi si Lena dahil bukod sa maganda daw ako, mukha naman akong mabait.

My cheeks warmed a little not from false modesty.

It was different when the compliment was given by someone valued by my significant other.

The only thing I could do was to thank her for being kind.

Sila ng mga anak niya ang naghanda ng konting salo-salo.

Ang gusto nga sana ni Lena ay lumabas na lang kaming lahat para hindi na magluto ang Tita niya pero nag-insist daw ito na sa bahay gawin ang celebration.

"Namimiss niya na daw ang mag-entertain ng mga bisita." Sabi ni Lena.

Bukod sa kanilang mag-iina, dumating din ang fiancé ni Ate Mercy na si Carlo.

Kasama naman ni Ate Clara ang girlfriend niya na si Eileen.

Lena warned me about their secret.

By looking at them, I sensed na they were  so in love with each other.

Ilang beses kong nahuli si Ate Clara na pinupulupot ang pinkie finger nila tapos bigla ding babawiin.

The two of them would smile at each other as if they were the only people in the room.

Lena and I used to be like that.

Kapag nagtatama ang tingin namin, it was as if we could read what the other was thinking.

But that was before.

As thrilling as it sounds, I am finally happy that I don't have to hide behind the disguise of friendship.

Nakakapagod din ang laging on alert.

For once, it was a relief to be able to hold her hand without the fear of getting caught.

Ako lang ang nakapunta sa birthday ni Lena.

Walang mahanap na kapalit si Maddie kahit anong pambobola ang gawin niya sa mga kasama namin.

She even offered to do a full-week night shift pero wala talagang takers.

Disappointed na inabot niya sa akin ang regalo para kay Lena.

Bukod sa Filipino party staples tulad ng pancit bihon, lumpiang Shanghai, pork barbecue, fried chicken, leche flan at gelatin, nagluto din si Tita ng pan fried shrimp at lechon kawali.

I noticed during dinner na malakas palang uminom si Tita at ang mga anak niya.

The amount of booze equaled that of the food.

May sariling table ang mga alak kung saan nakahilera ang mga ito.

Malbec ang favorite ni Tita.

Carlo brought a bottle of the California red wine at tuwang-tuwa niyang hinalikan ang future manugang.