Thirty-Eight: Tyler Osmond
THE first week of my operation winning Vanessa's yes was...okay. That's the only proper adjective I could find to describe it.
For a week, I brought her different breakfast. Siyempre, lahat bili lang since I can't still cook. Hinahatid ko pa rin siya hanggang sa harapan ng building nila. Never in her classroom because she always insisted I was going to be late if I did that.
But our lunch together was not consistent since she has to eat lunch with her friends and same with mine.
Nevertheless, so far, so good. But honestly, I still don't know where will I get that yes. Kung malapit na ba o hindi. But that's okay, I'm willing to give Vanessa all the time she needed to think it over. Ayaw ko rin namang madaliin ang lahat.
Today's Saturday and I was actually planning something special for Vanessa and me. Kaso, ang Daddy, nagpatawag ng biglaang family bonding sa bahay. And since Ate Teriz and the kids were going, it was a no no to decline Dad's invitation.
And Vanessa wouldn't agree too that I would ditch our family bonding just to be in a date with her. And I couldn't be in her bad side right now.
Good thing there's a mobile phone. Kahit hindi kami magkasama ngayon, I could still feel she's here as we exchanged messages.
Vanessa: If I were to babysit your pamangkins too, I'd do it any day. They are just too adorbs. Should you focus on watching the kids right now? Anyway, why do you keep on texting me? You're not doing a good job, Mr. Villaruiz.
My lips automatically curled up after reading that. I bit my lip, stopping myself from smiling more. Damn. I've never knew that a simple text like this could affect me so much. Especially that last part.
I shook my head disbelievingly. Ilang beses ko na bang narinig na matawag ako sa last name ko. And this time it was merely a text yet it was making me feel so much.
Ugh. Am I really turning soft for her?
I started to type back a reply: I can't help myself. Can you blame me? I'm just missing you so much.
And I was about to hit send when my phone was pulled out of my grip. I looked up and like a lightning, Haru already ran away. And he was laughing like a maniac at me.
"Haru, give me back my phone."
Umiling-iling siya. "I don't want to, Tyos. You're ignoring us because of this." Napanguso pa siya. "Who are you talking to?"
"Read it," malakas na sabi ni Nali na nakaupo sa katapat kong sofa, abala pa rin sa coloring book niya.
At kung hindi ko lang ba narinig nang malinaw, iisipin kong guni-guni ko lang na nagsalita siya dahil sobrang focused niya sa ginagawa.
"I can't see it now. Tyos' phone is locked," sagot ni Haru sa nakakatandang kapatid. Then I saw him tapping something on my phone. "Oh. But there's a picture of a girl here. Come and see, ate."
And the next thing I knew, Nali got up from her seat and walked hurriedly to Haru. Napakamot naman ako ng ulo. Itong dalawang batang 'to.
Tumayo na ako at lumapit sa kinaroonan nila, sinamantala na abala sila sa pagtingin sa cellphone ko.
"Aha, Tito Tyos," Nali exclaimed, getting the phone from Haru's hold and moved her eyes up, meeting mine. "Do you have some secret to spill?"
Nali even had the urge to smirk at me. Napailing ako.
Okay. So my lockscreen's Vanessa's photo. It was when I was still staying at her place and she was so tired that she went to sleep first. I kind of watched her at that state. At hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko't kinuhaan siya ng picture.
I started using that since the day I admitted my feelings for her with the hopes she would notice it. Dagdag pogi points ba. But she never did though. At ang una pa ngang nakakita ay itong mga pamangkin ko.
"Who is this girl, ate? She seems familiar," singit naman ni Haru.
At nang hindi pa rin ako nagsalita ay sinagot na ni Nali ang kapatid niya. "She's Teacher Vanessa from my music school. You've seen her na. Nana's birthday. Have you forgotten already? And she's there also during Granddaddy's party."
Tumango-tango si Haru. "Okay. But what's her relationship with Tyos?"
"Tito Tyos," pagtatama ni Nali sa kapatid. "And for your question, why don't we ask Tito Tyos himself?"
Halos magkasabay pa silang napatingin sa aking dalawa.
And it looked almost comical. If I wasn't cornered like this, I have laughed at them already. I blew out a breath instead and answered Nali finally. "She's a friend, a close one."
A very special one, I wanted to correct. Pero hindi ko na ginawa pa. It's not like these kids would notice the difference.
But, maybe I underestimated Nali. Dahil agad siyang sumagot sa akin. "Just a close friend?"
"What are you three doing here?"
Tumingin ako kay Ate Teriz na ngayon ay kasama si Dad.
"You're not bothering too much your tito, kids, are you?" pahabol ni Ate Teriz.
I smiled at that. Ako na lang ang sumagot. "They are not, ate. Don't worry about it."
"Tyler, can we go to the study?" singit naman ni Daddy nang hindi sumagot si Ate Teriz.
Napunta dito ang tingin ko saka tumango. And he nodded back before he already walked away.
Kinuha ko naman kay Nali ang phone ko, mapaglarong ginulo ang buhok nilang magkapatid saka sumunod kay Dad.
Nang pumasok ako sa office niya'y naroon na siya nakaupo sa likod ng table niya. Naglakad ako papunta doon at inokupa yung isa sa dalawang upuang nasa harapan.
"What's up, Dad?"
Nginitian lang ako ni Daddy, binuksan iyong drawer niya't mayroong kinuha doon. Nang ilapag niya ang kamay sa ibabaw ng mesa ay mayroon na itong hawak na envelope. And he was giving it to me.
"Ano po ito?" tanong ko pero kinuha na rin iyon.
Dad shrugged. "I got you a brand new card. You can use that to whatever you want."
I smiled. Hindi ko ito inaasahan. I looked at the envelope, thankful for it. Pero gusto ko lang ipagpatuloy kung paano ako ngayon. I know there were a lot of times how I badmouthed Dad for cutting his support to me suddenly.
Pero marami rin naman akong natutunan sa nangyari. I learned to be responsible and to value money.
"Thanks for this, Dad," sabi ko sa kanya. "But I'm sorry I can't accept it."
Binaba ko ang envelope sa mesa saka itinulak papalapit kay Daddy. Both of his brows were lifted, obviously questioning what I just told him.
Ngumiti ako sa gawi niya. "I just want to be more responsible when it comes to resources especially money. And I'm good. 8ight is doing well kaya may pagkukunan naman po ako."
Napahinga nang malalim si Daddy bago nangiti na rin. "I never thought I'll be hearing you saying these things. I mean this early when you're just a student and supposedly just thinking about his studies. But you've already grown, my son. And the least thing I can say is that I'm proud."
Napatigil ako, hindi inaasahan ang mga salitang iyon mula kay Dad. Pero dama ko rin ang saya sa puso ko dahil doon. It's just really something to hear that from Dad.
"But at least let me pay for your tuition fee. Ilang semester din ang hindi ko naibigay ko sa'yo. At least, make me feel like I'm your father supporting his child with that. Please, Tyler?"
At wala na akong nagawa pa kundi ang tumango.
"Thank you," Dad replied smilingly. "But I'm really happy to see this version of you now. Being this responsible and all. And to be honest, kung magpaalam ka nga ngayon na mag-aasawa ka na, baka payagan na kita."
Natawa ako roon. "I need to graduate first, though, Dad."
"So, you're actually thinking about having a family now?" Dad immediately countered back, his eyes were shining.
Hindi lingid kay Daddy kung paano ako naging sa mga babae. At siguradong nabigla rin siya sa narinig niya mula sa akin.
Hindi naman ako nakasagot. I just flashed him an embarrassed smile. Hindi ko lang alam kung anong sasabihin. But he actually got it.
He smiled back at me, nodded once before responding, "I am very curious now what made you change your mind like that. But no pressure, son. Gonna wait whenever you're ready to share about it."
Nang matapos kami sa study ay doon na kami sa dining area dumiretso para sa dinner. Everyone was there including Tita Juliet and her son, Quentin. Na ilang lingo na lang mula ngayon ay magiging kapatid ko na rin.
"Ah, Quentin. Have you talked to Tyler already?" biglang tanong ni Daddy nang kumakain na kami ng dessert.
He was talking to Tita Juliet and Ate Teriz a while ago when he suddenly asked that.
"What about po, Tito?" tanong naman pabalik ni Quentin.
"Your Mom mentioned there's a girl you want to pursue and you want Tyler to help you?" balik ni Daddy.
At natigil na ako sa pagkain ng ice cream. Mayroon na akong ideya kung saan ito papunta. Kay Quentin na napunta ang tingin ko, hinihintay ang magiging sagot niya.
"Baka hindi na po ako kailangang tulungan ni Tyler, Tito," sagot ni Quentin.
Mas lalo akong natigilan. What is this guy talking about?
"Why?" Dad inquired.
Napangiti si Quentin at hindi ko masabi kung para saan ang ngiting iyon. "Well, the thing is Vanessa and I agreed to just be friends for now."
"Oh, I see," Dad answered back. Halatang nasorpresa sa sinabi ni Quentin.
Nakahinga naman ako nang maluwag. Ayaw ko mang aminin pero medyo kinabahan ako kanina sa sasabihin niya.
Inalis ko na ang tingin kay Quentin at nilipat kina Daddy at napansing tahimik lang si Tita Juliet. Maybe she knew about it already.
And at the silence, that was the moment Haru decided to open his mouth. "Vanessa? Isn't that your close friend, Tyos?"
Gulat akong napatingin kay Haru, hindi agad nakasagot. But I was aware that all eyes were on us now. The last time, they only knew Vanessa and I was staying at the same residential building. Pero ngayon, close friend na. If that isn't something fishy. Unless I would say Haru's talking about another Vanessa.
"Don't meddle with adult's talk, Haru. You know that's impolite," si Nali ang sumunod na nagsalita.
Haru just pouted and looked sad with that, though. And I felt guilty. Kung sumagot na lang sana ako.
But I didn't have to do that since Dad already talked, comforting Haru that it's okay. And we resumed eating like nothing's happened.
Pero hindi rin iyon nagtagal nang bigla akong lapitan ni Quentin sa pool ilang minuto matapos ang dinner.
I was sitting at one of the wooden chairs facing the pool when Quentin suddenly appeared next to me.
"Can I sit here?" paunang tanong ni Quentin, tinutukoy iyong upuan sa may tabi ko.
"Sure," I replied, gesturing him to just take the seat.
"So, you and Vanessa are really close friends?" sunod na niyang tinanong.
I smiled at his forwardness. Iyon talaga agad ang pinunto.
"We are," diretso ko na ring sagot, tumingin na sa kanya ngayon. There was no point in denying it, anyway. But I won't say more. Since I don't know if Vanessa wanted to share about us to others.
"Oh. I didn't know about that. I just heard you guys are staying at the same condominium," sabi ni Quentin.
I let out a deep breath first before answering. "I know her since I'm in high school. Her brother was a close friend of mine."
Tumango-tango naman siya bago ibinaling sa tubig ng pool ang tingin. Akala ko doon na natatapos ang pag-uusap namin pero bigla na naman siyang nagsalita. "This is direct again but I'm really curious," huminto siya't ibinalik sa akin ang tingin. "Are you planning to be just close friends with her?"
Hindi ako sumagot at basta tiningnan lang siya. Then I thought, fuck about not saying more. I just wanted to be true to what I feel.
I smiled at him. "If I said I wanted more, will you beat me up?"
Bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata ni Quentin pero agad rin siyang nakarecover saka siya natawa. Napabuntong-hininga. Umiling-iling. "I don't think beating you up will even change a thing. So, not even gonna try that. Good luck with that, though. I hope you won't get the same destiny as mine."
Ngumiti lang ako, hindi na sumagot pa.
But in my mind, I knew I would not get the same fate.
There's no way I'd stay in the friendzone.
Because I jut know Vanessa and I are meant for more. Definitely for more.