Evicted (TLS #2 - COMPLETED)

Article 2 - Section 25

And for the first time I'm with them. I felt whole. My heart was broken, but it felt warm.

"You eat this. I asked Manang to teach me how to cook this since this is your favorite." Mom said as she put some Menudo on my plate.

Nakangiti naman ako ng sumubo ako para tikman ang luto niya. She was staring at me, waiting for my judgment.

Truth is, the food was bland. Walang lasa, pero pakiramdam ko yun na ang pinakamasarap na menudong natikman ko sa tanang buhay ko.

My mom cooked for me. For the first time. She cooked, and it was for me.

Agad kong itinaas ang dalawa kong kamay at nag thumbs up sa kanya. Daddy tried it too after seeing my reaction pero halos ubuhin na ko kakatawa ng makita ko ang reaction niya.

"Why?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Mommy at nagpalipat-lipat pa ang tingin saming dalawa ni Daddy.

"Uy! Mag-share kayo! Ang dadaya niyo!" Maktol ni Mommy ng tawanan lang namin siya ni Daddy.

My eyes were heavy and puffy because of crying last night but I felt better. My parents are trying so hard to make me smile and laugh.

Daddy decided to take the day off his work today. Something he doesn't usually do before.

"Ayaw pa kasing tumakbo! Takbo na!" Wala na sa movie na pinapanood namin ang atensyon ko, nakangiti ko na lang na pinapanood si Daddy na parang tangang sumisigaw ng mga dapat na gawin ng characters.

"Maabutan pa yan---sinasabi ko na nga ba eh!" Para siyang announcer. Kahit hindi mo na panoorin ay malalaman mo na yung nangyari.

I never imagined my Dad, who was so strict and controlling to have this type of personality. Ang cute lang.

Natigilan siya ng isandig ko ang ulo ko sa balikat niya. His arms automatically went to my shoulders. Naagaw ko narin ang attention niya mula sa movie na pinapanood namin.

"Are you alright?" He asked worriedly.

"I will be, Dad. Just give me some time."

"Can I ask what happened?" Napangiti ako sa narinig na pag-iingat niya sa mga tanong niya.

"Shits happened, Dad. My boyfriend---"

"Brent Hernandez?" Napahiwalay ako sa kanya at tinignan siya ng nagtataka. He never met Brent. But he talks like he knew him well.

"You know him?" I asked.

"Your mom's a blabber, Arci. And of course, I needed to do my research about the guy you're staying with." He said as he pulled me back and had my headrest on his shoulder again.

"And I don't know if this would mean something else for you, but I already met him."

"Kailan po?"

"A few months after you left home. He set an appointment with me." Nanlaki ang nga mata ko dahil doon.

Hindi ko alam yun!

"He talked to me about you. He told me that he was seriously thinking of a long term relationship with you. And if I was trying to get you back, I'll have to face him too. The audacity!" Seryoso ang pagkakakwento ni Daddy pero rinig ko ang paghanga sa boses niya.

"He told me that I shouldn't be worried about you. That he would take care of you. I really saw a man deeply in love while I talked to him."

"Dad."

"Hmm?"

"Pano mo nalamang in love?" Natatawa kong tanong. Kakaloka naman kasi. I just never imagined hearing those words from Kiko Alarcon.

"Arci, I love your mom. Hindi man halata, pero mahal ko ang Mommy mo, mahal ko kayo." I was stunned. Hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko.

"Dad, Fryje and Tita Arlene would be insanely mad if they hear you say that." Sinubukan kong magbiro pero hindi tumawa si Daddy.

"Nilalayo mo ang usapan natin, Rebekah Claire." He said in a stiff voice. Humaba ang nguso ko dahil doon. I don't want to tell him about my sister's involvement this time.

I hate this on-going competition between us. Look where it brought us?

So I just remained silent there, acted like I was preoccupied with the running people on the suspense movie that we were watching.

Hindi na ko nagsalita. Less words, less mistakes. Tama ng kaming tatlo na lang ang nakakaalam sa totoong nangyari.

"I love you, Dad," I whispered as I encircled my arms around his body.

"I love you too, princess." He whispered before I felt a soft kiss on the top of my head.