I thought it would be a normal courting…but again he is always extra with everything. Hindi na dapat ako nagulat.
Napa buntong hininga ako habang nakatitig sa sampung naglalakihang bouquets ng red at white roses sa may pintuan ng unit ako. Kinuha ko lang sa baba ang delivery kong pagkain at ito na ang nadatnan ko pagkabalik ng unit.
At ang alam ko may shooting rin siya ngayon sa isang commercial at mamayang gabi pa iyon matatapos. And how do I know about it? He just started texting me everything that he does and I guessed he just stopped because he needs to work already.
I squatted and looked at one of the notes. At halos mapangiwi ako ng mabasa ito. He is corny too, huh?
‘I hope you’ll think of me all day just as much as I think of you.’
Wala na akong nagawa kung hindi ang isa-isa itong pinasok sa loob. And maybe I should buy some vases for it. Hindi ko naman pwede hayaan na lang na malanta at sayang rin lang naman.
I will arrange the bouquet in my room for now and I’ll be buying the vases after our dinner.
Wala akong pasok ngayon dahil Linggo at may iba akong lakad. I’ll be seeing Mom today with Brianne in a restaurant. I talked to her the other day and she said ‘yes’ so I shouldn't waste this opportunity. Minsan lang siya pumayag.
Afterwhich, I ate my lunch, took a short nap and got ready for dinner.
Panay ang alert messages ko habang naghahanda at akala ko ay si Mama o Papa na iyon pero hindi. It was Pierce again who was sending me tons of messages since this morning.
I told him that I’ll be meeting my Mom today with Brianna but I never told him anything about my Mother’s identity. Sikreto iyon ng pamilya namin at hindi ko naman basta-basta pwedeng sabihin na lang iyon dahil nanliligaw siya.
At ngayon ay panay na ang tanong niya kung anong oras kami matatapos at gusto niya kaming sunduin dahil matatapos na ang trabaho niya. I told him that it’s fine and he doesn't need to bother.
Maya-maya pa ay tumunog ang doorbell ko at siguradong si Brianna na iyon at Papa. I opened my door and I was right.
I kissed my Dad on the cheeks and Brianna hugged me tightly right after.
“Pwede bang mag commute na lang kayo mamaya pakauwi niyo? I have an emergency meeting, anak.” Papa asked unsurely.
Tumango ako. Mas maganda na iyon kaysa sa magkita pa sila ni Mama at kahit alam kung gusto niya ring makita si Mama kahit saglit.
“Ako na po ang bahala.”
My Dad is an architect but he wasn't able to work very well these past few years because of his depression and health. Kaya naman ang makita ko siyang ganito ay nagpapasaya sa akin ng husto.
We bid our goodbyes and I resumed preparing for our dinner. Mag aayos lang ako ng kaunti at aayusan ko rin si Brianna.
“You got many flowers, Ate.” She commented as she entered my room.
Right. I haven't told her nor my Dad that I have a very very invasive suitor.
Huminga ako ng malalim at lumuhod sa harapan niya.
“Tumatanggap ka na po ng bulaklak sa mga manliligaw mo?” She asked curiously with a hint of disgust on it.
“Yeah…may manliligaw na ako.” I carefully answered her back.
Agaran siyang umiwas ng tingin. “If it wasn't Kuya Pierce then I don’t want it.”
Hindi ko mapigilan na mapangiti sa sagot niya at halikan siya ng marahan sa namumula niyang pisngi.
She eyed me piercingly which made me smile more.
Tumango ako. “It is Kuya Pierce.”
Her eyes went wide with my direct answer and she suddenly squealed in excitement. She is always strict with the boys around me but I guessed she had her favorites, one and only favorite as a matter of fact.
“Then we can really go to the concert, Ate. When will you say ‘yes’ to him?” The eagerness in her voice is very evident.
Umiling na lang ako. “He just started, okay? I can’t just say ‘yes’ to him. And don’t say it to Mom yet, ako magsasabi, okay?”
She nodded at me and continued asking me as I braided her long hair in two. She was so invested in it and I am sure she will talk about it in days.
Nang natapos ako sa buhok niya ay pinalitan ko ang dress niyang pambahay lang. We both wore sleeveless pink flowy dresses. Medyo magkaiba kami ng kulay at disenyo pero parang parehas na rin.
“Match po tayo, Ate.” She giggled as we both stood in front of the mirror.
I looked again at my phone as it beeped, hoping it was Mom but it was Pierce again.
Pierce:
I’m outside. Let me in, please.
Napabuntong hininga ako. It's almost six and I thought he would be finished by ten. Naglakad ako sa may pintuan at binuksan ito. And there he is, smiling widely at me but he quickly erased it as he looked at me from head to toe.
Pinapasok ko siya sa loob at nakitang palabas na rin ng kwarto ko si Brianna. Her shy look gave way as she looked at Pierce still eyeing my fit.
"My sister is here." Paalala ko sa kanya.
He quickly averted his gaze on me and looked at her. Tumakbo naman si Brianna papunta sa akin at nahihiyang nagtago sa likod ko.
Pierce kneeled to level his eyes to Brianna and gave her a sweet smile.
"Good eve, Brianna." Malambing nitong bati.
Mas lalong nag sumiksik ang kapatid ko sa likod ko. "Are you courting my Ate?"
Piece looked at me with his confident smile then back to Brianna again.
"Yes, I am. Is it fine with you?"
"How about my tickets? If Ate will say 'yes' will you give me the concert tickets?"
Nalaglag ang panga ko sa klase ng tanong niya. Is she selling me or what? Are concert tickets more important?
Pierce chuckled at her questions. "Of course, bibigyan pa rin kita kahit hindi pa ako sinasagot ng Ate mo."
Para kong tanga na nakikinig sa usapan nila. And they are talking as If I am not here with them. My sister is just basically urging me to say 'yes' to him already soley for her reasons.
I looked at them both as they are now both giggling on the sofa. Panay ang tingin nila sa akin at hahagikgik muli pagkatapos na para bang hindi ko sila kita. I grabbed my shoulder bag and texted Mom that we will be on the way.
"Ako na maghahatid sa inyo." Pierce insisted again.
Wala naman sigurong problema iyon at hindi naman kami makikita ni Mama kung sakali, at hindi rin naman niya makikita si Mama. We will have our dinner by eight and Mom will be thirty minutes late for sure.
"Sige." After I answered, both of them high five in front of me at napailing na lang ako. They are too close already.
His vehicle was park outside at may isa pang sasakyan sa likod na siyang securuy niya. I opened the backseat for me and Brianna but she shook her head and pointed out the front seat.
"Sa front seat ka, Ate." She insisted.
Okay. She loves it when she is seated beside me but okay. Pierce opened the front seat for me with a satisfied smile on his face as he looked at my back. Napunta ulit ang tingin ko kay Brianna biglang binura ang ngiti sa labi at umiwas ng tingin.
Napabuntong hininga ako at sumakay na. Fine, I get it now.
Our ride was smooth and the two of them kept the conversation to the both of them. Hindi na ako nakisali at hinayaan na lang ang dalawa.
He stopped his car in front of the Filipino restaurant that my mother chose but I am sure she reserved a private room for the three of us. Of course, we can't be seen together in public and we are not to call her ‘Mom’ in public too. That is her number one rule for us.
Sanay naman na ako sa ganoong sitwasyon ko pero hindi sa kapatid. Ayoko siyang magaya sa akin kung sakali pero nangyayari na.
"I'll fetch you two." Piece stood in front of us with his cap and mask on.
Umiling ako at hinawakan ang kamay ni Brianna. "Huwag na, we can manage. And you should rest, galing ka pa sa trabaho."
Alam kong sumilay ang ngisi sa labi niya kahit na nakamask pa siya.
"Are you concerned?"
I rolled my eyes at him and walked away from him as I pulled Brianna with me. Bahala na siya kung ano gusto niya paniwalaan basta ako alam ko kung ano intensiyon ko.
Pumasok kami sa loob at hinatid kami kaagad sa isang pribadong kwarto. Pareho na kaming sanay ni Brianna sa ganitong setup pero hindi ko pa ring maiwasang kabahan ng kaunti.
It was a four seater square table and we were both seated. I texted that we were already in the restaurant and for the next few minutes, we both waited for her.
The door swung open after twenty minutes, revealing Mom and Andra. Hindi ko naiwasang magulat dahil kasama siya ngayon.
“Mama!” Brianna ran towards her and hugged her right away.
I stood up too and smiled at Andra but her unpleasant expression made me a little bit uncomfortable. Kahit na gusto kong makisama ng maayos sa kanya ay wala akong magagawa kung sadyang ayaw niya.
Ilang taon na rin magmula noong pinakilala siya ni Mama sa akin pero hindi na nagbago ang pakikitungo niya sa akin, sa amin. I am always trying to be friends with her but I have no avail.
And this is one of the few reasons why I wouldn't want Pierce too, to court me. She obviously likes him…and I am sure once she knew that he was courting me…it probably would end everything between us.
Pero may iba pa akong dahilan. I still need to do something.
I kissed Mom on the cheeks and we were all settled. The waiters brought our food and went out immediately right after.
“I saw you with Pierce, hinatid niya kayo?”
Hindi ko mapigilan na magulat muli sa tanong niya pero sa loob ko na lang iyon. Hindi ako nagpahalata.
She looked at Mom. “I saw her Mom, gamit nila ang sasakyan ni Pierce kanina, and I even saw Pierce.”
Nabitawan ko ang kutsara at tinidor ko at napatingin kay Brianna na nanatiling tahimik sa tabi ko.
Huminga ako ng malalim lalo na ng sumeryoso ang tingin ni Mama sa akin.
“Yes, he did. Saktong natapos na ang trabaho niya at nagprisinta siya.” I simply answered back.
Andra gasped at my answer and pointed her fingers at me.
“See, Mom! She likes Pierce too!” She exclaimed horrifiedly.
Mom looked at me disappointedly and just like that, the confidence that I was carrying gave in. Mahirap pa rin pala kahit na ilang beses ko na itong nakita sa kanya.
“She should've said no.” Adra added more frustratingly.
I licked my lips and heaved out a heavy sigh. I am not planning at all to hide at all that Pierce is courting me. Malalaman at malalaman rin naman nila sa huli. Hiding it has no use.
“Pierce is courting me.” Diretso kong salita.
Andra stood up from her seat and Mom's shocked face was all over her. Just like what I have expected.
“Mom! Did you hear her?!” Andra asked unbelievably as she pointed her fingers at me again.
Mom fixed her posture and looked at Andra worriedly, then back at me again still looking so surprised. She then pulled out her phone and called someone. Wala pang ilang sengundo ng dumating ang pamilyar an sekretarya niya na palagi niyang kasama.
Mom looked at Brianne strictly as she remained on her seat, watching us all.
“Steve, get her out of here for a moment.” Matigas na sambit nito.
Huminga ako ng malalim. Brianna looked at me hesitantly but when I nodded my head, she went out of the room with Steve.
And upon closing the door, Andra started firing her accusations.
“Did you seduce him, huh? Maybe you have choose that fucking job just to seduced him. Alam mong matagal ko na siyang gusto! Ano? Gumaganti ka ngayon?!”
I remained looking at her plainly. Just like what I have said, I have expected this kind of reaction already.
She walked back and forth frustratingly. And anytime now, I believed she might break down or she will get physical. I just hope it’s not the latter.
“Liberty…alam mong matagal na na gusto ni Andra si Pierce!” Mom said accusingly.
Umiling ako. “No, Mom. Ngayon lang…after I saw her with Pierce.”
Adra let out a sarcastic exaggerated laugh. But what I am saying is true.
Hindi naman ako nakikialam sa ganap sa buhay niya. I don't watch or read any news about her career or lovelife. Nalaman ko lang rin ang mga ito matapos ko silang makita na magkasama. And Pierce never mentioned to me that he is courting her or that they are in a relationship. He never mentioned her to me.
Mas lalong tumigas ekspresyon ni Mama at maya-maya pa ay tuluyan na nga naming narinig ang hikbi ni Andra. She stopped walking back and forth and sat on the floor as she cried harder.
Mom panics as she looked at her. Kaagad niya itong dinaluhan.
“I’ll fix this, Andra. Please don’t cry.” She tried consoling her while I remained in my seat, watching the two of them.
Nagbuga ako ng malalim na hininga. I am determined on this one and this is a perfect opportunity.
I looked at both of them seriously. "Patitigilin ko siya...pero may hihilingin ako."