Chapter 11

I can't drive

There's this thing I'm feeling that I couldn't help myself but to worry about it, I just felt bothered sa mangyayaring dinner mamaya. I really don't expect that he will come kasi sino ba naman ang aasa without the assurance of it diba? Kahit na sinabi niyang pupunta siya, boys are still boys, some of them doesn't really bother to do it because they would think it's just a game.

I keep re-reading his respond to me and I was really hoping that he would show up and how my parents were so giddy to what will happen and I really reminded them that they should not cooked at least five dishes baka kasi in the end, kami lang din ang kumain noon and I don't think Reddy will each that much because of his good physique, he's on his daily practice that's why he's body is so fine and right.

Nang bumaba naman ako to see my parents but when I roam around the house, hindi ako mapakali dahil wala sila. Hindi ko alam iyong feel pero nakakapanlumo talaga and I want to know what will happen later if Reddy didn't come and have themselves disappointed because of hoping too much?

Or is it just me thinking too much that this dinner would end up, in not so good situation.

Pumunta naman ako sa kusina to see if they already prepared to what they'll serve in dinner later, there are no raw ingredient can be found even on the refregirator? Baka naman nakalimutan nila and they were really joking sa dinner na iyon at ako naman itong uto-uto para sundin ang sinasabi nila sa akin, can't really think straight right now, hindi ako makomportable.

But gladly I found some breakfast on the table, kumain naman ako and I couldn't help myself to think what will happen into this very table kung saan maghaharap ang parents ko at si Reddy. I know I shouldn't worry about this too much pero hindi mo rin naman maaalis sa akin ang ganitong feeling lalo na't one of the popular person itong inimbitihan ko sa bahay.

Mayamaya lamang ay narinig kong may pumasok sa pinto, dali dali rin naman akong napatayo sa kinauupuan ko at tingnan kung sino iyong dumating. I bound to found Mom overhauling a lot of grocery goods. Agad ko naman siyang tinulungan para dalhin rin iyong mga pinamili niya sa kitchen. I checked every grocery bags to know what she's preparing later but I don't know it all these ingredients for.

"What dish you'll cook Mom?" I asked her.

She just smiled on me, "I would keep it as a secret muna at hindi ka naman mapapahiya because of it, you will find him na baka mag-take out pa siya no'n." and shew winked on me.

I grunted the feeling out of me, "'Yong totoo Mom? Don't make this thing really embarrassing for me, wala na akong maihaharap na mukha sa kanya kapag nagkataon."

She hugged me then, just to comfort me because of frustrations na nararamdaman ko. "Don't worry about it Hon, we'll help you and him to get to know more."

"Mom!" I said, trying to pull out this as a joke but she was chill and excited about it, siguro iyon talaga iyong feeling kapag alam mong may darating na lalaki for your daughter. "What about Dad? Nasaan siya, hindi mo kasama sa pag-grocery?"

"He visits our Laundry shop and other branches."

"Why now?" I asked."

"When do you think business needs it time, Alex?"

Napakibit balikat na lang din naman ako sa sinabi niya,at napiling na lang din to get clear out the thoughts. "Whatever Mom, basta, don't expect him to come and if he did, make this dinner not too personal about me, okay?"

And she just nodded, and not really convincing.

I stayed on my room and procrastinate all day and waited 'till the evening comes. I keep walking back and forth sa closet ko kung anong pwede kong masuot. I know this is not really beyond the formal dinner, isa lang naman itong isang simpleng dinner na dadaluhan ni Reddy and I shouldn't matter so much dahil alam kong wala naman dapat ika-big deal dito pero I can remove the feeling na may masasabi at masasabi siya sa akin. Just because I was really not into the sophistication, doesn't mean wala na akong ibubuga, I can be also be their weakness too.

"Alex!" I heard Mom's calling me from downstair, hindi naman ako nagpatumpik-tumpik pa at bumaba na rin naman ako para makita na rin ang hinahanda nila.

When I reach the kichen and see their totally busy preparing for this dinner, when they notice my presence, they looked at me from head to toe and could even say that their eyes were glowing with diamonds and I'm loving it.

"Look how gorgeous you are, Alex." Mom said, and it's really a compliment kapag nanggaling sa sarili mong mother because they were really saying the truth no matter what happens!

"Can't believe I made you." Father said, napakunot noo naman ako sa sinabi niya.

"We both did, Hon." Dagdag naman ni Mom at napailing na lang din naman ako sa kanila. Nang lalapitan ko naman sila ay kanila naman nila akong pinigilan dahil baka daw ay marumihan ang suot kong damit lalo na't putting puti pa itong dress ko. More likely, parang ito 'yong mga sinusuot ng mga bata when they actually role play an angel minus the ruffles and wings on mine, syempre.

"We'll clean up after we prepared this, okay?" Mom said.

Tumango na lang din naman ako, "yes, bilisan niyo na lang po baka dumating na siya."

"We will!"

And because they forbid me to go through the kitchen, dumiretsyo naman ako sa sala just to wait for him. I really don't have any idea kung anong inihanda ng parents ko but I think they want the best for their child at iyon naman ang nakikita ko sa ginagawa nila ngayon. I know they would not let me embarrass infront of those persons, nakakahiya rin.

I opened our conversation again and I couldn't still believe that he's really into it but I can't still help the fact that he might never show up to this. I wanna leave a message to him pero baka sabihin naman niyang masyado na kaming feeling close kung pati ba naman dito ay kukulitin ko siya. And I should just wait for him, kung darating man siya.

I stayed on the porch, naupo lang ako sa couch doon habang palalim na nang palalim ang gabi. Kakabahan ka talaga to the point na baka wala ka naman talagang inaabangan at masyado ka lang hoping sa mangyayaring dinner na ito. But let me put away those negative vibes at isipin na lang natin na magiging worth it for both side ang dinner na ito even though there will be consequences after it and I should prepare for that.

And the night go by so very slow... and I know I'm all alone.

Panay naman ang tingin ko sa convo naming dalawa, hoping that he'll be reminding me na papunta na siya dito but when the times goes every after, hindi ako makapali. Nakakaantok man maghintay pero hindi ako humihinto. Nagugulat na lang din ako saka kakalabog ng malakas ang dibdib ko kapag may mga sasakyang dumadaan. I know he owned a red Ferrari pero hindi rin naman nalalayo na pwede siyang gumagamit ng ibang sasakyan diba?

"Alex?" napatingin naman ako kay Dad na sumilip mula sa pintuan. "Parating na ba? It's almost seven na."

Napakibit balikat na lang din naman ako sa tanong ni Daddy, "we shouldn't let our hopes up na darating pa rin siya pa."

"He'll come." Aniya.

Napabuntong hininga na lang din naman ako at hindi ko alam kung gaganahan pa nga ako dito. Dumating na rin naman si Mommy para tanungin kung tanungin ulit kung nasaan na si Korg pero hindi ko naman sila masagot dahil hindi ko naman alam. Pinuna pa nila ang hawak kong phone and referring kung kausap ko daw ba ito, and I said that we're not really into messages.

Hinayaan muna nila akong mag-isa sa labas, still hoping that this day won't end with hopelessness.

It was already seven thirty and I guess the food gone cold now.

Tumayo naman ako sa kinauupuan ko at tinawag ko ang parents ko na mag-dinner na kami dahil mukhang wala na rin naman kaming aabangan pa. Papasok pa lamang ako ng pinto nang nagmamadali silang pumunta sa akin at pinigilan sa gagawin ko at iniharap naman ako ni Mommy sa kabilang direksyon kung saan ko nasilayan ang isang red Ferrari na pumarada sa harap nang bahay namin.

Tinapik naman ni Dad ang balikat ko, "this is it, Alex."

Napangiwi na lang din naman ako dahil mas kinabahan ako sa nangyayari. They excuse themselves para maihanda na ang dining table sa kitchen. Hindi maalis ang malalaking ngiti sa labi ko at akala ko ay inindian na ako at joke time lang ito para sa kanya but he really made it and he was serious enough na ituloy talaga ang dinner as soon as possible.

For the first few seconds, I was hoping to see the gorgeous man with his red hair blown by the winds but that's not what I expected to see. I saw a girl coming out of the red Ferrari and she's the one whose driving it and the most excruciating thing to find out that it is the brunette girl.

I tried to calm down myself of trying not to cause a drama here pero hindi ko inaasahan na pati siya ay sasama dito sa dinner? I only invited Korg on this very dinner at hindi ko naman sinabi sa kanya na pati girlfriend niya ay isasama niya and what would my parents think about that? This is really embarrassing for me, I get to have his boyfriend on my house to have a chat with my parents and she will be there, listening and cringing about it.

She walk to the other side of the door and open it for the person whom I've been waiting. Inalalayan ni brunette girl papalabas si Korg sa sasakyan at nang makita naman niya ako mula sa kinatatayuan ko sa porch ay kinawayan niya ako. Tipid naman akong kinawayan siya pabalik.

Why would he brought his girl? Hindi ko maintindihan!

So, inalalayan nang brunette girl na makapaglakad si Korg papalapit sa amin namin. I still can see na hindi pa rin magaling iyong sprain niya sa ankle but that should be healing right now lalo na't malapit na ang kanilang tournament and I'm totally gonna watch it.

"Hi!" bati ko naman sa kanya nang makalapit sila.

"Hi!" aniya, "sorry I'm late, I call her drive me 'cause I can't drive." Napatango na lang din naman ako sa kanya, "but you don't mind that I bring her, right?"

Napatingin naman ako kay brunette girl, "nope, it is okay." ngiti ko pa, halatang plastik. "Come inside, sorry kung masyadong kaaya-aya ang bahay namin... and honestly didn't think you're coming at all."

He smirked, "good thing I came."

"Yeah, I know..." ngiwi ko pa, sobrang awkward lalo na't hindi ako makatingin ng diretsyo kay Korg dahil nakatingin din sa akin ang girlfriend niya na kaunti na lang din ay kasusuklaman na niya ako sa mga tingin niya.

I still don't mind... pero mas prefer kong solo si Korg.

I left them at the living room para puntahan ang parents ko na nandito na nga sila and they were surprised obviously na may kasama ngang girl si Korg.

"Who's the girl?" tanong ni Mommy.

"Girlfriend?" sagot kong patanong pa, "but anyway, hindi naman siya 'yong reason nang dinner diba? It is still Korg, kaya siya lang ang pagtuunan nang pansin niyo, okay?"

Tumango naman sila sa akin, but I still don't believe na si Korg nga lang ang iintrigahin nila because they were seriously afflicted to know his girl, also. Dahil sa sobrang kaba, napapunta pa ako nang cr para tingnan ang sarili ko. I am really presented at hindi ko alam kung anong impression ang nakuha ko sa kanya but I hope meron naman.

Humugot ako nang malalim na hininga at lumabas ng cr saka dumiretsyo nang living room, to find out that Korg has been looking at all the picture frames over the cabinet. Nang mapansin nila ang presensya ko, humarap sa akin si Korg at nakita kong hawak niya ang isang picture frame.

"You didn't tell me you had a sister, and she had black hair." He asked, and that really blew my wig.