"Moon, anak, andyan ka ba sa taas?"
Moon and I broke our staring situation when we heard that voice. Hindi pa ako nakakarecover sa confession nya. Ang dami kong gustong sabihin, but I can't seem to find the right words to say. At ngayon mas lalong lumakas ang kabog ng dibdib ko dahil kung hindi ako nagkakamali, nasa baba ang mommy ni Moon.
"Yes mom, I'm here." She said, looking at me again, and kissed the temple of my head. "I made you speechless again, right?"
I gently nodded. "You always do, Moon."
"Oh, believe me, I could make a long list of the things I love to do with you, but now's not the right time. Mom's finally home and I can't wait for you to meet her."
Tumayo sya at hinawakan ng mahigpit ang kamay ko. "I mean, o-okay lang ba sayo na makilala si mommy kahit—"
I get what she's saying, given her recent confession about her mom, so I stood up and gave her a little peck on the cheeks. "That would be the least of your worries. I can't wait to meet your mom."
She giggled out with a grin.
Bumaba na kami sa treehouse at nakita namin agad yung mommy nya na may kausap na sa phone.
Her mom looked really nice sa suot nitong floral dress. Kahit pa nakatalikod ito ay kita ko na yung ganda nya. She's indeed an epitome of elegance and sophistication.
Napansin nya ata na palapit na kami kaya humarap na ito. And I was right.
She greeted us, spreading out her arms with a beautiful smile. "Hey baby, I missed you."
"Mom..." Mahinang reklamo naman ni Moon pero niyakap din naman nito pabalik yung nanay nya.
Tumingin sa'kin yung mommy nya at nginitian ako. "Who's this pretty girl with you, Heather?"
Ang cute, ngayon ko lang narinig na may tumawag kay Moon sa second name nya.
"Mom..." Lumapit ito sa'kin at hinawakan ulit ang kamay ko. Automatic naman na napatingin ang mommy nya dun. "This is Calliope — my girlfriend."
Is it just me or kahit konti hindi nabakasan ng pagkagulat ang mommy nya?
"Oh my." Humawak pa ito sa dibdib nya at tiningnan ako ng paghanga. "Eto na ba ang magiging daughter-in-law ko? You really have a great taste, anak."
Namula naman ako sa sinabi ng mommy ni Moon. Unti-unti na ding nawawala yung kabang nararamdaman ko dahil parang maganda naman ang kinalabasan ng biglaang pagpapakilala ni Moon sa'kin.
"Come here." Nilapitan nya ako at bineso-beso. Ang tangkad nya, I guess sa kanya nagmana si Moon. "Call me Tita Hazel, or you can call me mom. Whichever you're comfortable with, dear."
"Good afternoon po tita." Syempre nakakahiya naman kung mom agad tawag ko sa kanya diba.
Napapailing naman si Moon sa kakulitan ng mommy nya. Para nga lang silang magkapatid kung titingnan eh.
"Will you stay until dinner iha? I'll cook for you."
Napatingin ako kay Moon na tumingin din sa'kin. Alam naman nya na hanggang six pm lang yung curfew ko.
"Ahh mom, baka po mapagalitan si Calliope, her curfew's until six."
"What? No, I insist. Gusto mo ba ako na tumawag sa parents mo, Calliope?"
"Calli nalang po tita. Tsaka ako nalang po tatawag, I'll try to convince my parents po."
"It's settled then. Sige, dito na muna kayo at ipaghahanda ko kayo ng pagkain. It's not everyday my baby get to bring home a girlfriend. You're the first one iha."
"Mom!"
Tumatawa naman si tita at kinindatan ako bago pumasok.
Dinala naman ako ni Moon sa terrace nila at umupo. "Are you sure okay lang sayo na mag-stay hanggang dinner? I can tell mom—"
"Wala ka atang bilib sa convincing powers ko eh. Wait ka lang dyan, I'll call my parents."
Tumango naman ito kaya tumayo na ako para tawagan si mommy. Sa kanya muna ako magpapaalam kasi alam ko namang sya na din magsasabi kay dad.
Buti nalang din may lakad ang parents ko tonight, meron silang aattenan na party somewhere kaya pinayagan nila ako hanggang eight ng gabi.
Ngumingiti ako habang naglalakad pabalik kay Moon at napapangiti na din ito habang umiiling.
I walked beside her and bumped into her shoulder. "Ano? Bilib ka na ba sa'kin?"
"Yes boss." Sabi nito sabay akbay sa'kin.
I love it. I love it when she's near me, when I can smell her, when I can hold her hand anytime I want, when I can make her smile.
"Moon?"
"Hmm?"
"What do you want to be in the future?"
Hindi sya sumagot kaya akala ko hindi nya narinig ng maayos ang tanong ko, pero nakatingin lang sya sa langit. The moon is slowly rising in the sky.
"I-I haven't really thought about it."
Tumango ako. Kahit ako din naman.
"But I've always wanted to be a doctor since I was a kid. But then again, everyone wants to be a doctor when they were at that age."
"That's not true. I've wanted to be a teacher when I was a kid." Napatingin naman ako dito at inipit yung mukha nya sa dalawang kamay ko. Ang cute nya nakakainis! "Doctor Moon Heather Carter.... hmm bagay!"
Natawa naman ito at inipit din yung pisngi ko. "Mas bagay tayo."
"Ang dami mong alam!" I said, hiding my tomato face.
Bigla naman syang sumeryoso at napatingin sa buwan. "But seriously, I really don't know what path should I take. One of the scariest things for me is change. A lot of times I find myself stuck with one thing because I'm scared of what the future holds for me."
I nodded. I guess I could say the same thing. "Uncertainty is such a scary place, Moon. But as scary as that is, I am also excited what the future has in stored for us. We shouldn't let it keep us from enjoying the present and dreaming great things."
"You're right." She looked at me again, this time with a wide smile and her hand wrapped around my waist. "As long as you're with me, I won't be afraid."
Me too, Moon. Me too. I never thought I could be this brave. Simula nung nakilala kita, mas napatunayan ko na isa sa mga matatapang na tao ay yung mga taong nagmamahal na hindi tumitingin sa kasarian. You made me so brave that my only fear left is losing you.
"Moon?"
"Hmm?"
"Bakit magkaiba yung kulay ng mga mata mo?" Di ko na napigilang itanong habang magkatitigan kami.
Bigla naman syang nag-iwas ng tingin na parang nahihiya. "I—I really don't like my eyes."
"What? Why? I have never seen such beautiful eyes as you have. Sometimes I had to blink to make sure you're real. It's one of the things made me drawn to you."
"God, Calliope." Napapailing naman ito habang napahawak sa batok nya. She looked so shy right now. Hindi ko ineexpect na kaya ko din pala mapa-blush si Moon. "I've been bullied before because of my eyes. Nadiagnose ako ng center heterochromia nung bata pa ako. Alam mo naman dito sa'tin, kapag may kakaiba sayo, they'll make it sound like you're weird. But after hearing everything you've said, I guess I'm starting to love my eyes."
"Hey lovebirds, dinner's ready."
"Gosh mom! You scared us!" Parehas kasi kaming nagulat nang biglang nagsalita si tita na ikinatawa lang din ng huli.
"You're not doing anything funny, right?" Pang-aasar pa nito.
"Mom!"
Natawa nalang si tita at pumasok na. Sumunod naman kami para tumulong sa pagprepare ng table.
"Calli, sana magustuhan mo ang niluto ko. I'm sorry hindi ako masyadong nakapag-prepare. Hindi kasi ako ininform ng baby ko."
"Mom, seriously, I'm not a baby anymore."
"But you are." Bumaling ulit ito ng tingin sa'kin. "Dear, Heather might act like she's a grown up, but believe me, she's still such a baby. Mamaya for sure tatabi yan sa'kin matulog."
Natatawa nalang ako dahil inis na inis talaga si Moon sa mga kwento sa'kin ng mommy nya. Ang cute lang talaga nila kasi para lang silang magkapatid eh. Pero asikasong asikaso ni tita kaming dalawa ni Moon. Nilalagyan nya kami ng food parehas sa plates namin.
Nakakatuwa lang na maka-bonding yung mom nya. Dahil sa new experience na'to, alam ko na mas napapalapit ako lalo kay Moon at ganun din sya sa'kin.
Sobrang bait ni tita at kahit pa wala sya parati sa bahay nila ay parang walang nagbago sa treatment nila sa isa't isa. Lalo tuloy akong humahanga sa kanya dahil napalaki sya ng maayos. She's responsible, patient, independent and selfless. She's actually the most understanding person I know.
Pagkatapos naming kumain ay nagvolunteer si Moon na sya na ang mag-huhugas at ayaw nya pa kaming patulungin. See? Ganun sya ka responsible at independent na tao.
Andito na kami sa sala ni tita Hazel at pinapakita ang baby pictures ni Moon. Ang cute cute nya talaga kahit noong bata pa sya.
"Oh, look this one was during—"
"Mom, what are you doing?"
Parehas kaming napatingin ni tita kay Moon na nakapemewang na sa harap namin.
"Come here baby, pinapakita ko lang sa girlfriend mo yung baby pictures mo."
Tumango naman ako at ngumiti. "You're such a pretty baby, Moon." I said, showing a photo of her in her birthday suit.
"What!! Oh my God! This is so embarassing!" Pilit kinikuha ni Moon yung picture na hawak ko. Gosh, ngayon ko lang din narealize na... Technically, I already saw her naked nung bata pa sya.
Natatawa lang naman si tita sa'min na may halong kilig pa.
"Tara na Calliope, ihahatid na kita, it's almost eight." Naiinis pa din na sabi ni Moon.
Napatingin ako sa watch ko at tama nga sya. Urgh! Ang bilis naman ng oras.
"Tita, thank you po sa masarap na dinner." Nakangiti kong pasasalamat sa mommy ni Moon.
"Sure thing dear. You're always welcome here." Tumayo na ito at niyakap ako. "Wait, what's your family name nga iha? I'm not sure kung namention ng anak ko kanina. I'm really getting old I tend to forget things easily."
"Martin po tita. I'm Calliope Jacinta Martin po."
Bigla naman itong parang natigilan saglit pero ngumiti din ulit. "Alright, Heather be careful ha? I know you're independent and you can manage yourself, pero nanay mo pa din ako. Uwi kaagad, okay?"
Tumango naman si Moon at humalik na sa pisngi ni tita. Humalik na din ako sa pisngi nya at nagpaalam na.
Magkahawak lang kami ng kamay ni Moon habang naglalakad pabalik sa school. Dun lang kasi ako nagpasundo ulit kay manong Alvin. Tinawagan ko din sya kanina para umuwi muna at magdinner.
Kapag ganitong naglalakad kami ni Moon ay mas ramdam ko yung height difference namin. But despite it, feeling ko it was meant to be like that para madali lang nya akong yakapin at halikan sa noo at the same time. Forehead kisses from her are my favorite.
"Moon?" I called her.
"Hmm?"
"N-nothing."
Hindi na din sya nagsalita. Pero kasi may sasabihin sana ako pero wala akong lakas ng loob na sabihin sa kanya.
"Your hand is cold. Nilalamig ka ba?" Concern nyang tanong at umiling naman ako.
Hindi naman talaga ako nilalamig dahil malamig, pero nilalamig ako dahil sa kaba na nararamdaman ko. Alam mo yung may gusto kang ilabas pero nauunahan ka ng kaba?
"M-moon?"
"Hmm?"
"Ummm... n-nothing."
Tumigil sya sa paglakad at hinarap ako. Sakto kasing andito na kami sa parking lot, malapit sa kotse kung nasan si Manong Alvin.
"May sasabihin ka ba?" Nakangiti nyang tanong.
Oo, meron pero umuurong naman kasi tong dila ko eh.
Yes Moon, ang dami kong gustong sabihin sa'yo. At sa mga oras na tinatawag ko ang pangalan mo, isa lang ang nasa isip ko. Mahal kita.
She gave me her warmest smile and hugged me."Thank you for tonight, Calliope."
"No. Thank you, Moon."
She kissed my forehead again then bid her goodbye.