Pagpasok sa bahay ay nakatayo si Mama sa taas ng hagdanan.

"Is this Aly?"

"Hello, Mrs. Flores." Kumaway siya.

"You're very tall. What's your height, hija?"

"6'2", Mrs. Flores."

"Oh my goodness. Jane looks very small next to you."

Tumawa si Aly at napailing na lang ako.

Noon pa man ay malaki na talaga ang height difference namin.

Lumuhod siya para tanggalin ang suot na boots.

"You don't have to do that. Just come up," Sabi ni Mama.

"It's okay."

Hindi pa rin pala niya nakakalimutan ang magtanggal ng sapatos bago tumuloy sa loob ng bahay.

Karamihan sa barkada namin noong high school ay puro Pinoy.

Nang unang sumama si Aly sa bahay nina Mel ay nakita niya na hinubad namin ang mga sapatos bago pumasok sa bahay.

Hindi naman namin siya sinabihan.

Pero ganito rin ang gawain niya sa sariling bahay.

Pagkaakyat ay nagmano ako kay Mama.

"Where's Dad?"

"He's sleeping already. His back hurts again."

"Has he been moving the plants around?"

"You know it. He's very stubborn."

Tumingin siya kay Aly at inalok niya ito ng maiinom.

"I'm good. Thank you."

"Are you sure? We have water, pop, I can make coffee if you like."

"No, really. I'm okay."

"Ma, this is from Mel."

Inabot ko ang reusable bag na puno ng pagkain.

"What is this?"

"There's barbecue, lumpia and buko pandan."

"Okay. Why don't you and Aly go to the living room? I'll put this in the fridge."

"Okay."

***

Ang gusto ko kay Mama kapag dumarating ang mga barkada namin ay nage-English siya lalo na kung may kasama kami na hindi Pinoy.

Kaya mahal na mahal siya ng mga barkada namin dahil hindi nila naramdaman na excluded sila sa conversations.

Pagbalik niya sa sala ay may dala siyang serving tray na may bagong timplang iced tea.

"Here," Pinatong niya ito sa coffee table.

"You shouldn't have bothered."

Napatingin sa akin si Aly pero ngumiti lang ako.

"You need refreshments. Did you and Jane drink?"

"No. I drove so I can't."

"That's good," Umupo si Mama sa tabi ko.

"How come it's only the first time I'm seeing you? Jane said you were classmates in high school."

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Don't call me Ma'am or Mrs. Flores. You can call me Tita Lydia."

"Okay."

"I met all of Jane's friends in high school but not you. Why?"

Tumingin muna sa akin si Aly.

Nag-isip ako ng idadahilan kay Mama kung sakaling hindi niya alam ang sasabihin.

"I was always busy with soccer practice."

"Are you good?"

"Yes, Ma. She was the team captain." Sumingit ako.

"How did you become friends with Jane? Did you know that she's afraid of balls?"

"Balls?"

"Sports. I'm not into anything that involves running after balls."

"Is that why you study a lot?"

Natunugan ko ang panunukso sa tono niya.

"She's my smartest child. Don't tell my oldest daughter or my son."

Nagtawanan kaming tatlo.

"What do you do now, Aly?"

"I'm a police officer."

"Like Regi. She's the wife of Aira. Do you know her?"

"No. Is she in BC?"

"Yes. They live in Kelowna. Where do you live?"

"I live in Coquitlam."

"Were you born there?"

"No. I was born here in Calgary."

"Really?"

"Yes. After high school, I moved to BC to study and never really left."

"What about your family?"

"My mom still lives here. She and my father divorced when I was twelve. He lives with his new family."

"Do you still talk to him?"

"Not really. He wasn't a nice man. I was relieved when they divorced."

Tahimik ako na nakikinig sa usapan nilang dalawa.

Alam ko na divorced ang parents ni Aly pero hindi ang detalye.

Hindi naman kasi siya nage-elaborate tungkol dito kaya hindi ko rin siya kinukulit.

"Is your mom still working?"

"Yes."

"What does she do?"

"She's an emergency nurse at South Health Campus. But she wants to retire soon."

"It's a difficult job. My youngest, Jericho, is also a nurse."

"Really? Where?"

"At Foothills. The NICU department."

"Does he like it?"

"He says there are good and bad days but he likes taking care of babies. Jec said it's better than dealing with adults."

"I could imagine."

"Do you like your job?"

"I do."

"But it's dangerous isn't it?"

"There are days, yes."

"Don't you get scared?"

"I do. But I went into this knowing the risks involved."

"You should be careful. Jane will be sad if something happens to you."

Nagulat ako sa sinabi ni Mama.

Saan galing iyon?

"I'd better leave you two so you can talk. It was nice meeting you, Aly."

"Nice meeting you too, Mrs...er...Tita Lydia."

"Good. Don't forget that, okay?"

"By the way, Tita, I invited Jane to my mom's birthday party on Sunday. I hope it's okay with you."

"What time is the party?"

"It's at 6. I'll pick her up and drop her off after."

"No worries. As long as you take care of my daughter, we're good."

"I will."

"Alright. I'm going to play Candy Crush. Thank you for picking up Jane."

"You're welcome."

***

Hindi rin nagtagal si Aly dahil humikab ako bigla.

Hinatid ko siya sa gate pero hindi siya kaagad sumakay.

"I like your mom. She's nice."

"She is."

"The lilac tree is still here."

Tinuro niya ang puno na nakatayo sa front yard.

Namumukadkad ang pink flowers at humahalimuyak ang amoy nito.

"You still remember the tree?"

"I do."

"I'm sorry about that night."

"We were young then. We should put it behind us."

"I shouldn't have said no."

"Jane, it's okay. Really."

"I have to tell you my side of the story."

"Why?"

"Because I carried the pain in my heart for years."

"But you don't feel the same way for me back then."

"Is that what you think?"

"I don't know. You were confusing. One day you'll be sweet and then the next it's like you don't want to be near me. I was always sure about what I feel about you. You just didn't reciprocate."

"That was one of my mistakes."

"Why are you telling me now?"

"Because I want you to know the truth."

Huminga siya ng malalim.

Dama ko ang bigat noon dahil ngayon na magkaharap na kami ulit ay bumalik ang mga ala-ala na akala ko ay nakalimutan ko na.

Summer noon.

Hinatid niya ako sa bahay kasi ginabi ako sa panonood ng laban nila.

Sila ang nanalo.

Aly was on cloud nine.

Pumarada siya lampas sa bahay namin pero hindi kami bumaba ng sasakyan.

Nakatingin ako sa side mirror at nag-aalala na baka may lumabas sa bahay at may makakita sa amin.

Hindi ako mapakali at nagsabi na aalis na pero hinawakan niya ako sa kamay.

Nagtanong siya kung puwede niya ako maging girlfriend.

Hindi ako pumayag.

Napalitan ng lungkot ang saya sa mga mata niya.

"I'm sorry Aly but I really have to go."

Nagmamadali na bumaba ako ng sasakyan.

Mabigat ang paa na lumakad ako pabalik sa bahay.

Paglingon ko ay wala na ang sasakyan niya.

***

"What is the truth, Jane?"

"Do you really want me to say it?"

"I do."

"Why?"

"Because all those years, I always wondered if I ever meant something to you."

Nalungkot ako nang marinig iyon.

"You did."

Isang malalim na buntong-hininga ulit ang pinakawalan niya.

Pero hindi katulad kanina na mabilis ngayon ay dahan-dahan na parang ninanamnam niya ang bawat paghinga.

"Why are you smiling like that?"

"Mystery solved."

"Come on. Don't tell me you didn't noticed anything back then?"

"I did but I didn't know what to make of it. It's like we're together but not really. You were jealous a lot of the cheerleaders though."

"Flirts."

Natawa siya.

"What are we going to do now?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"Yes. You have a girlfriend, remember?"

"I haven't forgotten."

"Good. Now, you've better go. It's getting late."

"Do I have to? I mean, look at this. Isn't it romantic? The moon is out, the flowers smell so good. We're together."

"We're together but not together. Don't forget that."

"Fine. I'm gonna go."

Pinindot niya ang susi at nagbeep ang sasakyan.

"Thank you for tonight, Aly."

"Thanks for the truth, Jane."

Ngumiti siya at pumasok na sa sasakyan.

Nanatili akong nakatayo sa tapat ng bahay at hinintay na makaalis siya.

Nang wala na si Aly ay tumingala ako sa langit.

Why does it feel like the truth didn't really set me free?