Chapter 8
"Tch! Aminin mo na kasi! Gusto mo si Kaori!"
I rolled my eyes and ignored her. Nagpapanggap akong hindi siya naririnig. Nakabuntot sa likod ko si Misa na parang aso, atat na atat akong pagsalitain.
"Oh, come on! I know you like her, hindi naman siguro obvious na nag-eempake ka ngayon and for the first time in history, naibigan mong mag-absent ng ilang araw! My ghad, ganito ba ang nagagawa ng pag-ibig?"
I almost forgot something. I quickly embraced my old astronomy book and put it in my bag.
"Hayss, kahit ako ay naranasan rin iyan. In denial stage? Hay naku, hindi daw gusto pero sobra pa sa jowa kung lumandi."
I looked at her with zero interest. Misa look's okay now, her wounds are recovering. Atleast, her smiles are back. Looking like a girly teenager at the age of 32, my mother is very beautiful and kind. Walang kapintasan ang mukha, skin so delicate and fair, and a body that can seduce any man. Misa is indeed a woman of beauty, kaya nga lang sawi naman sa pag-ibig.
She smirked like she know all my deepest secrets.
"Hindi ako malandi," tamad kong sagot.
She giggled and said, "I know right! May pinapatamaan lang ako. You and Kaori reminded me of something in my past. Something about first loves and childhood sweethearts!"
"I'm not interested."
She faced me and held both of my arms. Bigla akong nagseryoso dahil sa kaniyang mga matang punong-puno ng emosyon.
"Just a piece of advice to you, son. Don't rush love. Take everything slow because love in your age don't last long."
"I told you already, I'm not inlove with anyone especially Kaori! I'm just helping her. And you don't need to remind me about that. I know my priorities and lovelife is out of the list," pabalang kong sinabi.
Malakas niyang tinampal ang braso ko. Napadaing ako.
"Sabi niya, girlfriend mo daw siya! Sinungaling kang bata ka!"
"That was a lie! I told you, she's just weird and delusional. Hindi totoo lahat ng sinabi niya."
Aamba akong aalis sa kwarto ng malakas niya naman akong hinampas. I groaned, completely frustrated. Ganito ba talaga ang mga nanay?
"Hindi pa ako tapos magsalita! But! May but! Once you felt that crazy little thing called love, don't get scared. Don't run away. Don't leave. Enjoy your youth, Yuki. Let love becomes your inspiration in life."
The perks of having a hopeless romantic mother. Always talking about love and romance. Hindi na nadala sa pag-ibig. Kahit anong oras, palaging may isisingit na words of wisdom tungkol sa love na iyan. Just imagine all my days listening to all her rants and rumors.
"Wait, saan pala kayo pupunta? Ihh, dapat iisang room kayo ha?! Nanakawin ko lahat ng baon mo para wala kang pambayad panghotel. Edi mapipilitan kayong magshare nalang!"
"Enough, Misa. I'm busy here, stop bothering me."
"Awts, wala akong pake! So ano nga, paano ka napapayag ng girlfriend mo, aber?" aniya at diniinan ang salitang 'girlfriend'.
Natahimik ako.
Hindi ko alam anong isasagot ko.
Ano nga ba, Yuki? Why didn't I say no?
"Because, she will jump on a building if I say no."
"She said that?!"
Hindi ako umimik at nagpatuloy nalang sa pag-eempake. She almost did it. Though, I know she's just bluffing, I just said yes out of my emotions. Nag-oo na lang ako bigla dahil alam kung hindi niya ako titigilan hangga't hindi niya nakukuha ang gusto niya.
"Wow, ang bangis ng girlfriend mo!"
"Yeah."
Ngising-ngisi na ngayon si Misa at tinutukso ako. Hinayaan ko na lang dahil wala siyang magawa sa buhay.
We're going to Batangas. Malapit lang kasi dito sa Maynila. Ewan ko kung bakit sumang-ayon naman ako.
She said she wanted to go to the beach. She wanted to go camping and hiking.
Iyon lang naman ang sinabi niya pero halos matunaw ako habang pinagmamasdan siyang kumikinang ang mga mata habang sinasabi ang mga ito.
I always told her to just spend it with her family and friends, not some guy she just flirted with. I feel irritated of what I'm feeling. I can just say no... But some part of me want to say yes. Because I want to know something.
Pagbukas ko ng isang cabinet ay natagpuan ko ang manipis na pulang lubid, nakatago sa gilid ng mga libro. I hold it up, staring at it for seconds.
"This is really fake. Not a chance."
Umiling ako at siniksik ito sa isang libro. I'm disappointed with all my decisions in life. I never knew that I will spend three days in a trip with a girl. At si Kaori pa ang babaeng iyon. Just what the fuck am I doing in life?
"Yuki! Good morning, boyfriend! Rise and shine!"
Umikot ako patalikod. Again. Fuck it, again with Kaori barging in my dreams. Magpatulog ka naman, babae ka!
"Nicholas Yuki, open up the door or I'll break this!"
"Shut up, weirdo!" I mumbled huskily.
"Yuki, gising na dahil aalis na tayo!"
Kumunot na ang noo ko sa iritasyon. What? Where are we going?
I woke up with my eyes wide. Mabilis akong bumangon at napatingin sa pinto. Seconds passed and the door opened. Revealing the girl in my dreams wearing a hat and a yellow dress. She give me the sweetest smile she can ever give that left me stunned.
K-kaori? Si Kaori?! Nandito siya sa bahay. Actually, nandito siya sa kwarto ko! I'm not dreaming!
"Hey, boyfriend. Morning." Then, she sweetly winked.
"Ah! I'm so excited!" aniya habang binibigay lahat ng dala niya. She said she's not allowed to carry heavy things. Of course, I obviously know that. Hindi naman ako bulag para hindi mapansin ang payat at maputla niyang katawan. Tanging dala niya ay isang violin case kaya nagtaka ako.
I sighed as I watched her weirdly amazed just because of a bus. Kumikinang ang kaniyang mata habang excited nang pumasok sa bus.
"Kids! Remember ha? Use condom!" malakas na sigaw ng babaeng nakasakay sa tricycle. Nakangisi siyang kumakaway sa amin sa malayo. Napailing nalang ako at pumasok na sa bus. Naiwan naman si Kaori na kinakausap ang aking ina.
I gently watched her from the window. My lips parted when she smiled sweetly to Misa. Kumunot naman ang noo ko habang pinagmamasdan ang mga lalaking tambay na walanghiyang nakatingin sa kaniya. Damn those bastards, their definitely oggling at her and I find it uncomfortable.
"Kaori! Get in, already!" malakas kong sigaw galing sa loob ng bus. Kumaway siya kay Misa at malamyang pumasok narin. Nakangisi siya sa akin, both hands on her waist. I raised a brow at her. She pouted like a kid.
"Ako sa bintana!"
Kumaway si Kaori sa bintana habang paalis na ang bus. My mom really love Kaori, ni hindi na ako pinansin simula nung dumating si Kaori kanina.
"By the way, I never seen your parents accompany you. You said you're dying and here you are right now, going on a dangerous trip with me alone. Don't you think it's kinda fishy that your parents are not here."
Nanlaki ang mga mata niya. Mabilis siyang tumingin sa bintana.
"So Kaori Mendez, did you just ran away from home?" angil ko, may halong galit.
"W-hat are you talking about?! M-me? I did not run away, it's just that my p-parents supported me of what I love!" her reaction was OA. I clenched my jaw.
"Liar."
I hold both her shoulders. She looked flushed when I pushed her closer to me. Halos lamunin ko ang distansya namin para ipakita na galit ako.
"Y-yuki."
Her eyes dilated. Her lips quivered and parted.
"I don't just bring dishonest girls with me. Ayaw kong sabihan ako ng mga tao na hinayaan ko ang isang dalaga na makasama ako mag-isa ng walang paalam sa kaniyang mga magulang," I whispered on her ear. Heck, I don't care anymore. Wala na akong pakialam sa mga taong nakatingin sa banda namin and thank God, we're at the back, walang makakakita.
"That's just immoral... And I'm not like that. Nirerespeto ko ang mga magulang mo Kaori, and I hope you respect them too."
And again, her watch ringed expectedly. Napatingin sa banda namin ang mga nakasakay. Napayuko si namumulang Kaori at mabilis na pinatay ang gadget. I heaved a sigh. Now I prove a point.
Umupo ako ng maayos, bumalik na ang disposisyon ko. I almost shiver because of her death glares. I looked at her stupidly and raised a brow.
She madly pouted. I like her when she's mad. She's pouting. "Fine! Tumakas ako, so what?!"
"So what? Then, let's end this trip right now. Uuwi na tayo. I don't like spending my time with a brat."
She rolled her eyes. Pikon.
"Hindi ako papayag! Hmmp! Whether you like it or not, pupunta tayo ng Batangas!"
"We will, after you call your parents."
"H-huh! Hindi na kailangan, they already know na! Hindi lang sila pumayag kaya tumakas ako!"
Tinaas ko ang aking kilay ulit.
"Call your parents now, Kaori."
"Ayaw ko nga, papauwiin nila ako! Gusto mo ba iyon?"
"Don't worry, I already asked their permission. Pinayagan nila ako. Just call them for assurance. Nag-aalala na sila sayo."
Halos mahulog ang bunganga niya sa lupa. I smirked evilly. Yes, woman. I already met your parents. Ako na ang humingi ng permiso sa kanila.
"Y-YOU WHAT?!"
"Sigurado ka ba dito, Yuki? Naku! Ang bagsik talaga ng girlfriend mo!"
"I need to ask her parents permission."
Umiling ako. Hindi alam ni Misa na may sakit si Kaori.
"Hindi siya papayagan ng mga magulang niya kasama ako. Masyadong delikado," bulong ko.
"Weh? Di mo sure? Eh, sobrang bait nga ng nanay ni Kaori! They owned a small restaurant and her father's a known chef. Balita ko, masyadong strict iyang tatay ni Kaori."
The door bell ringed. Misa rushed to the door happily. I can hear loud voices in the living room. I almost frozed when I saw a middle-aged couple.
A man in his normal jeans and shirt looked familiar. He looked formal and stern. Walang kangiti-ngiti ang mukha at masyadong seryoso. But his eyes is similar to someone's eyes, warmth yet deep. Opposite of him, a small gorgeous lady with fair skin and foreign features looked like someone I really knew. Halatang galing lang sila sa kanilang bahay dahil hindi pormal ang kanilang suot.
Damn, these are Kaori's parents.
"Ehem, welcome po sa inyo. I'm Mirasol Salazar, Yuki's mother. Uh, Yuki! Halika dito!"
"We are Kaori's parents. Ako si Mike at kilala mo na itong asawa kong si Karmina. No need for beating around the bush. We came here to talk to your son, Mrs. Salazar."
"Naku! Mukha ba akong may asawa, Mike? Misa nalang." Humingi ng pasensya si Mr. Mendez. Magiliw na tumawa ang ina ni Kaori. Nag-usap naman ang dalawang babae na halatang magkakilala na.
I inhaled and exhaled. Seryoso akong lumapit sa mag-asawa. They looked at me with their curious yet sharp eyes.
"Good evening. I'm Yukio Nicholas. Nice to meet you, Sir, Maam," kabado kong bati. His glare is obvious. Mukha akong kakatayin dahil sa nakakatakot niyang tingin.
"Oh, nice to meet you too, Nicholas! I'm finally happy to meet my daughter's boyfriend. You know, Kaori talked about you a lot," singit ni Mrs. Mendez at hinawakan ang aking kamay. I immediately blushed when she firmly held my hand and smiled sweetly, naalala ang kaniyang anak.
"Oh, come on! Don't be grumpy, Mike. Tinatakot mo si Nicholas!" Mrs. Mendez pouted madly. Bigla ko namang naalala ang anak niya sa kaniya. Tumikhim ang asawa nito ngunit hindi pa rin nawawala ang tingin sa akin.
"I don't think this boy deserves to be my daughter's girlfriend. My daughter deserves the best and he's clearly not the man for him!" bulong nito pero narinig pa rin ng lahat. Lalo na ako.
Tumawa si Mrs. Mendez. "Pasensya na talaga Kumare! Umayos ka Mike at sige ka! Papauwiin talaga kita."
"Ano ka ba, Mare! Normal lang iyan sa mga tatay kapag magkaboyfriend ang pinakamamahal na anak. Even the most richest boy will never be deserving for Kaori when it comes to Mike."
Tumango naman si Mr. Mike. Sinipatan siya ni Mrs. Karmina.
"Etong si Yukio ko, alam kong walang kwenta to pagdating sa babae kaya masasabi kong hindi naman ako naoffend sa sinabi mo, Mike," ani Misa habang tumatawa, malakas na hinahampas ang aking likod.
I immediately wiped the heavy sweat on my head. Ramdam ko ang matalim na tingin ng tatay ni Kaori sa akin.
"So, what brings you here, Mare? Is this about their trip tomorrow? Don't worry, gentleman naman itong anak ko," tumatawa niyang sabi hinahampas pa rin ang likod ko. Napadaing na ako sa sakit.
Natahimik silang dalawa. I rest my case, alam kong hindi talaga sila papayag.
"The truth is...uh,"
"Hindi namin hahayaang makasama ni Kaori ang anak mo, Misa."
Nanlaki ang mga mata namin ni Misa. May bahid ng galit ang mukha ni Mr. Mendez. Alam ko na ang kasunod.
"Anong klaseng lalaki ang hahayaang makasama ang isang babae mag-isa sa tatlong araw? And you're just teenagers! This boy right here probably just want to get on my daughter's panty!"
"Mike!"
"Uh, Mare. Ganito kasi iyon. Alam mo namang itong anak ko ay mailap sa mga tao. At wala siyang ni isang kaibigan. But when she met Kaori, I know that this is the start for him to find friends," puno ng emosyon itong sinabi ni Misa. I never knew that and I am completely stunned. Inakbayan ako ni Misa.
"The more reasons para hindi ko pagtiwalaan ang anak mo, Misa! Malay namin kong bukal ba ang dahilan ng pakikipagrelasyon niya sa anak ko!"
I heaved a sighed. I need to speak.
"The truth, Sir, is that Kaori is not my girlfriend and---"
"See! And his spreading lies already! Sa tingin mo, magsisinungaling ang anak namin? You're just not proud of my daughter kaya nahihiya kang sabihin na may realasyon kayo! This is just unforgiving!---"
"Enough! Mike, tumigil ka na. Nakakahiya na sa kanila!"
"Uh, okay lang, Mare. Naiintindihan ko naman ang punto nitong mister mo," ani Misa habang nakangiti, lumakas ang akbay sa akin na halos madurog ako. Mabilis akong lumayo sa kaniya.
Should I voice out what's on my head or not? Baka masuntok pa ako ng tatay ni Kaori.
"Nag-aalala lang kami talaga kay Kaori. She's not used to these like meeting Yuki. We're just worried about her. But I know she's stubborn. Gagawa iyon ng paraan upang makasama si Yuki."
Should I say something?
"So maybe you can do us a favor, Yuki. We made a deal with Kaori but this is getting out of hand. I just want her safe and healthy, mali ba iyon? P-paano kung... Hindi ko k-kaya..." his husband rushed to her. She was in the verged of tears pero nakaya niyang ngumiti at palisin ang kaniyang mga luha.
I know they're right. I also feel like maybe this is not right. This is getting out of hand.
I don't want to be attached. No, I don't want to get hurt.
But Kaori... Damn it, why can't you just tell it to yourself, asshole? Why can't you just be honest?
"Please, layuan mo na si Kaori. You're bad for her. You're destroying her heart! You're bad for her, Yuki. Really, bad."
Kumunot ang noo ni Misa. Nalilito. Katulad ko.
"So habang maaga pa, please end this. I don't want you hurting at a young age, Yuki. This is not the path for you. She is not the path for you s-so..." Kaori's mother is crying.
Umiling ako.
For the first time in my life, I decide to be a fucking asshole. A really selfish one.
"I fucking like your daughter..."
Mahina kong bulong ngunit alam kong narinig ng lahat. Unti-unti akong ngumisi.
I'm definitely going crazy. I hope Kaori will never know this.
"So please give me the chance to be the best man for her."
Sa sobrang bilis ng mga pangyayari ay natagpuan ko na lang ang sarili ko sa sahig, habang pinagmamasdan ang nanlilinsik na mata ng ama ng babaeng gusto ko.