CHAPTER 10
Sunday night will always be my family’s night. We get go shopping together until the mall closes or spend the night together or play some board games or just like now, we watched 3 movies since 4pm now and we’re down to the last one. Buti na lang at 10 am pa ang unang klase ko bukas.
“Until what time ang class mo bukas, Maxine?” Mom suddenly asked.
“4, my.” Sagot ko habang hindi inaalis ang tingin sa TV.
“Great. Wag mo na gamitin ang sasakyan mo bukas. Your dad and I will just drop you off to school. Then dad will pick you up after your class so your class so you could be here earlier. Para saktong kasabay nyo na rin si Jemimah pauwi.” Aniya na nakaagaw ng atensyon ko.
“Bakit, my? Anong meron?” Jemimah asked.
“One of my patient’s family just inviTed us for dinner.” Sabi ni daddy. Napataas ang kilay ko.
“But I said, I think it would be better kung dito na lang sila kakain. I’d be glad to cook for them. You know I missed preparing for events other than weddings.” Mom said before eating popcorn.
“Pumayag sila, my?” My sister asked.
“Of course. Kaya nga they will be here tomorrow at 7 pm and I need the both of you to be here right after your class.” Mommy said.
“Formal ba yun, my? What should i wear?” My 15 year old sister asked.
“Casual lang, anak.” Dad said.
I sighed. Looks like we have visitors tomorrow then. I have to cancel my meryenda date with my two bestfriends.
“Ugh, di ako makakasama ngayon ha. I need to be home early. May bisita eh.” Sabi ko sakanila habang nagaayos ako ng mga gamit ko.
“Ay, sakto! May practice din kasi kami for cheerdance eh.” Sagot ni Roxy.
“Looks like bukas na lang tayo magmeryenda?” Faith asked and then after that, we all agreed na bukas na lang nga kami magmeryenda.
I was literally exploring the whole parking lot looking for my car when my phone rang. Ugh, san ba ako nagpark?
I took a few steps more before taking my phone out of my pocket. It’s daddy.
“Dy?” Nagtatakang bati ko kay daddy habang lumilingon lingon at patuloy na naghahanap ng kotse ko. Nasan na yun?
“Maxine, nasaan ka na?” Tanong nya. Nagtataka pa ako nung una but then I remembered na susunduin nga pala nya ako ngayon and I didn’t bring my car. Shit!
“Yes, dy, papunta na po!” Nagmamadali kong pinatay at tinago ang phone ko sa bag ko. Why did I forget that?! Ugh.
I was running but I stopped on my track when I saw a red hot sports car. Literal na napa-nganga ako nang nakita ko yun. Oh god. Ang galing! But damn alright, this isn’t the right time to drool over a fancy car.
When we got home, busy si mama sa pagluluto. She was almost done with her desert. I guess we’re no help in the kitchen now. Jemimah and I helped mom fixingthe table then after that, we starTed getting ready. Since dad said we’re going casual, I chose to wear a casual dress. Hindi naman ganun ka-casual, talagang presentable pa.
It was 6:55 nang may narinig kaming nagdoorbell and that was when I starTed feeling nervous. Bakit nga ba ako kinakabahan?
“Maxine!” NArinig kong tawag sakin ni mommy.
“Yes, my! Andyan na po!” I shouTed back.
When I was on my way down, nakita ko ang unti unting pagbukas ni nanay Cora sa pintuan. I stopped going down nang nakita ko ang pamilyar na mukha. It was Mr. Sebastian, sunod na pumasok ang kanyang asawa.
Nginitan ko sila. They starTed the greet and meet and I greeTed them the same way. So, Rose Sebastian pala ang pangalan ng asawa ni Mr. Edgar Sebastian.
“Oh, my son is still outside. Pinapark lang ang sasakyan.” Mr. Sebastian said and my tummy starTed feeling something weird again.
“And I thought hindi nyo sya kasama.” Dad said.
That was when we heard the doorbell again.
“Oh, ako na po!” My sister volunteered.
I watched my sister walked to the door and opened it. My heart literally starTed beating faster, my breath was cut for a while until I saw him entered..
Dylan.
Hindi ko alam kung sakin lang ba or talagang awkward lang ang paligid.
“Dylan, anak. Halika dito.” Her mom called.
“Divine, Enrico, this is our one and only son, Dylan Luis.” Pagpapakilala kay Dylan.
“Good evening po.” Magalang na sagot ni Dylan.
Hindi ko na sigurado kung ano pa ang itsura ko. Naipako na lang ako sa kinatatayuan ko habang naninigas ang buong katawan. Bakit ba sobrang apektado ko naman ata?!
“I heard you go to the same school as Maxine?” My mommy asked.
“Yes, ma’am. In fact, we know each other.” Aniya sabay ngisi sakin ng nakakaloko. Uh-oh. What is his game?
“Really? That’s great! Remember, Maxine, when I said you might know my son noong nasa hospital pa tayo? Sayang, I didn’t had the chance to tell you his name edi sana noon ko pa nalaman na magkakilala kayo.” Tita Rose said.
“Ah, oo nga po.” Wala sa huwisyo kong sabi.
“Since when did you know each other?” Tile interesTed na tanong ni mommy.
“Oh, we’ve been friends since her first year in school.” NAkangiting sagot ni Dylan. Ang sarap lang alisin ng ngiti nya na yun!
“Ah, oo pala, graduating ka na pala ano?” Daddy asked.
“Yes, sir.” Magalang nitong sagot.
“Can we just all drop the formality? Call us tito and tita.” My mommy said.
“Dinner’s ready!!!” All of our heads turned to Jemimah. Dumiretso kasi sya sa dining kanina matapos nyang buksan ang pintuan.
We all ate habang naguusap usap sila tungkol sa maga bagay bagay – hospitals, mommy’s business, Sebastian’s business. Only son pala itong si Dylan and that their family owns some business.
“You have a great home, Divine.” Tita Rose complimenTed.
“Thank you. Actually bago kami lumipat dito sa bahay, Jemimah and Maxine helped me decide what to do sa interior.” Mom proudly said.
“Wow! I wish I have a daughter para may kabonding din ako. Alam mo na, Dylan and his Dad.. naku, OP ako!” Tita Rose said at natawa naman kaming lahat.
“Ate and I will be glad to help you redesign your house, tita Rose!” MAsiglang suggestion ni Jemimah. I swear, kung wala lang kaming bisita ngayon, kanina ko pa to nasabunutan! What the hell is she saying!? Hindi ako ‘glad’ na magpunta sa bahay nila!
“Oh! Oh! Really?” Tuwang tanong ni Tita Rose.
“Actually, magandang idea yan.” Mom said and I lost all my hopes.
“Are you sure okay lang ito, Divine, Jemimah, maxine?” ExciTed pang tanong ni tita Rose.
All of them nodded. And when they did.. of course, I didn’t have any other choice. Pumayag na rin ako.
After eating, they decided to stay in our living room for some talks, they were drinking wine. Dapat ay kasama kami dun ni Dylan but both of our parents insiTed that we should go somewhere else dahil daw usapang matanda ang paguusapan nila and we’ll just get bored to deth.
“Bakit ka pa kasi sumama?!” Inis kong tanong sakanya.
“Whoa! Chill, Maxie.” Nakakaloko nitong sabi. “Hindi mo ba ako namiss?” Pangaasar pa nito.
I glared at him. “And why would I miss you?!”
Tumawa muna ito ng mahina. “You know what, I’d like to think that you were just jealous of Tessa. Selos ka kasi sya ang unang nakakuha sakin.”
“What?” TAas kilay kong tanong. “What’s your point?”
“Oh, simple lang. You like me.” Confident nitong sabi.
Nalglag ang panga ko at lalo akong nainis. Ang yabang naman! Ang feeling! Hindi ba sinabi ko na noon na kaya ko sya gustong lumayo sakin kasi lagi akong napapahamak eh!
“Ang kapal kapal ng mukha mo!” pikon kong sabi. Tinawanan lang nya ako. Sa sobrang pagkainis ko sakanya ay pinili kong umakyat na lang ng kwarto. And hindi na ako umalis hanggang sa nakaalis sila.
I was awaken by a knock on my door. “Maxine.” Narinig ko ang boses ni mommy.
Ugh. Nakatulog pala ako? Hindi ko namalayan yun ha. I lazily got out of my bed and checked my clock. It’s 10:30 in the evening. Tamad kong binuksan ang pintuan.
“My?” I asked.
“Dylan said you’re not feeling fine kanina.” She said. Ano daw?
“ah, opo.”
“Okay ka na ba ngayon?
“Yes.” Sagot ko.
“Great. Halika na muna, aalis na sila.” She said sabay hawak sa braso ko.
Ano? Aalis pa lang sila? But it’s already 10:30 and I am feeling so sleepy to go down. Halos wala na nga ako sa katinuan na naglakad patungo sakanila sa pintuan.
“Oh, Maxine, hija, magpagaling ka.” I heard tita Rose said. Tumango lamang ako sabay salubong ng beso nya sakin.
“We’ll go ahead.” Pagpapaalam ng daddy ni Dylan.
“See you at school, Maxine.” I heard Dylan say. Dylan. Dylan? Oh! Dylan! And before I could react, naramdaman ko na ang pagdampi ng kanyang labi sa noo ko. Oh my.. what did he do? What did he do at bakit bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko.
I was stunned with what had just happened. Hinalikan lang naman nya ako sa noo ko sa harap ng mga magulang namin at sobrang bilis na ng takbo ng puso ko ngayon. Nakatitig lamang ako sakanya habang pinapanood silang sumakay sakanilang sasakyan.
And my parents didn’t even say anything about it!