Kiss or Slap

Z

_____________________Chapter Z

Mecho's condo was like a penthouse. Iyong design ng kanyang furnitures, iyong ayos ng kanyang mga gamit, the dark colors around, and the waffle ceiling. The floor was also a mosaic of tiger eye.

Nang makapasok kaming dalawa ay agad kaming sinalubong ni Elaina. In fact, I was remarkably shocked and in pure...bizarre! Elaina was almost as tall as me, and...she looked older than she looks! Ibang klase talaga kapag sa ibang bansa ka lumaki.

"Hello, Ate Isha!" Nanlalaki pa ang mga mata ko noong bineso niya ako. "How are you? You didn't grow at all!" She bluntly added.

Wow, matutuwa na ba ako?

"Hi. I'm fine," I smiled. "Look at you! You grew so much."

She smiled sweetly at me, pleased by my remark. "Yes. In fact, I now have my own social media accounts! I even started vlogging, I hope you follow my YouTube channel!"

"S-Sure." Hilaw akong ngumiti sa kanya.

Tumingin ako kay Mecho at ngumiwi. How old is she again? 8? 9? How could this little girl be this... spoiled? I mean, yeah, binalaan na ako ni Mecho kanina...but did he really...?

She smells like a high school student, she dresses like a high school student, and she...is in like...Grade 1? Grabe. Akala ko naman saktong 'spoiled' lang.

I may sound exaggerating, but yes, Elaina is nearly as tall as me.

"I wonder if you still tie her hair like the usual," bulong ko kay Mecho nang natabihan.

Elaina went to the kitchen first. Maybe the lunch is already served.

"I still do," Mecho smiled sideways and raised a brow at me. "For practice." He winked at me before finally turning around.

Nalaglag ang panga ko. Am I the only one who got it? His point? I was currently facing his broad back when he pulled a chair from the glass table. He motioned his head to me while Elaina was sitting on the opposite side.

"Thanks." Hilaw akong ngumiti kay Mecho.

Nakita ko pa ang pilyo niyang ngiti bago tuluyang umupo sa kanyang upuan, sa gitna namin ni Elaina.

"Graduating ka na pala, Ate?" She asked. Even her accent in tagalog sounded raw and ignorant, halatang nasanay siya sa araw-araw na ingles.

I nodded. "Yup."

I was stunned when I saw Mecho switching plates with Elaina. Kinuha niya iyong beef steak ni Elaina na hindi pa nahahati-hati sa maliliit na piraso, at ipinalit iyong kanya na nahati-hati na.

After that, he glanced at me and raised a brow. I raised back my brow at him, then I nodded at Elaina.

"Yes, ga-graduate na ako soon," I smiled, serving myself.

"Oh! That's nice! So, ngayong nagkita na kayo..." she glanced at Mecho first, bago bumaling sa akin. "Hindi pa ba kayo magpapakasal?"

Kasal...what?

Napaubo ako nang maramdaman ko ang biglaang pagkabara ng kinakain sa lalamunan. Ni hindi pa nga kami nagkakabalikan, kasal na agad?!

Inabutan ako kaagad ni Mecho ng tubig habang nag-iigting ang magkabilang mga panga. Tendons on his arms didn't escape my vision.

Elaina looked at Mecho curiously. "Kuya? Are you serious? Sabi mo sa akin, pag-uwi mo, magpro-propose ka na?!"

What?!

He— what?!

Pinandilatan ko ng mga mata si Mecho na kalmado lang na kumakain. He looked unbothered by Elaina throwing shade about that marriage thing!