Chapter 12

Dinner

I immediately took the picture frame from his hands and I couldn't take another humiliation with this just because he saw a picture of a girl who just really looks like me with a black hair. Kita ko naman sa pagmumukha nilang dalawa ang pagtataka dahil bigla ko na lang inagaw ang frame at itinago iyon sa likuran ko, they were just looking at me so intently at hindi ko alam kung pa'no ko babawiin ang awkward moment na nangyayari ngayon. Mom, Dad? I need your help!

"That was you, wasn't it?" Korg said and smirked pointing it out.

Brunette girl stood up from the couch and come closer to me, hindi ganoon kalapit because she really intimidated me and the way she looks at me, hindi ko alam kung pupuriin niya ba ako o kabaliktaran iyon nang iniisip ko because she should only praise her friends, and why would she do that on me lalo na't ininvite ko ang kanyang boyfriend sa isang dinner—na supposedly Korg alone.

"You were so identical with the girl on the photo, I don't know about it but it's you, am I right?" she asked.

I gulped, couldn't find the words to answer their question. I'm trying to find the courage to speak and when I do, biglang dumating ang parents ko—really to save the day. Umaatras naman ako para mapunta ang atensyon ng guests sa kanilang dalawa and hid the pictures to the drawer at sana hindi na nila makita iyon.

"I hope you guys are hungry 'cause I cooked a really good dish for this dinner." Mom said, really proud to say these in front of the guests at gusto ko na lang din magtago para hindi panay ang tingin sa akin ng bisita namin. And you know what I'm thinking? Pinagtatawanan na nila ako deep inside. Siguro, they had this motives na after this dinner, they will humiliate me.

"Come, we prepared this night for you guys." Father said as he accompanied the guests heading to the kitchen.

Nahuli naman akong maglakad, kasunod lamang nila patungong dining table. Inasikaso naman ng parents ko ang guests namin, though alam nila dapat si Korg lang ang ie-entertain nila at hindi inakalang may plus one pala ito and they have to adjust and I can see naman na they didn't complain and I hope hindi lang nila bastusin ang parents because if they do, I wouldn't think of any reason para paalisin sila dito sa bahay. I don't care about the image, if they go below the belt, that's not gonna be a reasonable anymore.

So when they seated and I think they were comfortable enough naman, hindi maalis ang tingin ko kay brunette at mukhang hindi naman siya irritated dahil mostly sa mga nakikita ko, hinding hindi mo mapapaupo ang isang maarte sa isang simpleng table without elegance screaming on it pero mukhang ayos naman siya, sana nga at pagbigyan niya ako sa araw na ito. I really don't know her so, she should mind na dapat hindi siya makialam even though girlfriend siya ni Korg.

So Mom placed the two casserole of dish on the table while Dad put the rice on the center, may dessert silang ginawa but they suggested na mamaya na lang iyon ilabas after we eat. So on a rectangular table, hindi siya mahaba just like what rich people had, good for six people lang and I don't know why my parents bought this table even though we're only three in the house.

"Wine?" Dad said to our guests.

"Yeah, of course, we love wine." Sagot naman ni Korg sabay tingin kay brunette girl na nakangiti pa. Dad pour the wine on their glass and they sip on it after. Pinanood ko lang silang gawin iyon hanggat mahuli ako ni brunette na nakatingin sa kanyang boyfriend and that's really awkward.

"We prepared two dishes for you guys and I hope you will like it,"

"We think we'll do." sagot ni Korg kay Mommy.

Nang tanggalin naman ni Mom ang unang takip mula sa casserole, it's a lasagna pasta and it's my favorite. Agad na kumalat ang amoy nito sa paligid at mas lalo akong hindi mapakali 'cause when I eat my favorite food, you woulnt see me how I look so festive with it. Tiningnan ko naman ang reaction nang dalawa naming guest, from what I've seen, they like it at hindi ako napahiya doon and I think this dinner would be so good eventually. Sunod namang binuksan ni Mom ang second casserole which the main course at pagkabukas pa lamang niya doon ay bigla akong napatingin kay Korg to see if he was offended seeing his colored-like-hair on the dish.

Kare-kare ang main course, and when I look at it, yes, the looks of it is orange and Korg is a ginger and I couldn't tell how much I wanna go hide right now. Pero binalewala ko na lang din iyon nang tumango-tango siya... ibigsabihin ba no'n? Okay lang sa kanya, o ako lang talaga ang nag-iisip ng mga bagay na 'yon?

Kare-kare and Korg's hair? Lamunin na ako ng lupa for thinking that.

We started to put foods on our plates, and because ako ang nasa gitna and on my left side ang parents ko at ang nasa right side naman ay sina Korg at brunette at ako lagi ang tagalipat from side to side, nakakangalay pero sa tuwing magdadampi ang kamay namin ni Korg, pwede kong nang ulamin 'yon.

Of course while eating my parents couldn't tame and help themselves not to talk with the guests, because it was really their purpose, ang kausapin si Korg on our guidance issue and I'm really innocent by that issue.

"Why did you guys ended up in the guidance office?" Father asked.

"Did Alex not talk about this to you guys?" Korg said.

"She did," Mom speak. "But we can't always believe her all the time." Ngiti pa ni Mommy kay Korg, tinawag ko naman siya pero nginitian niya lang din ako at halatang inaasar pa ako doon. "We want to know your side, just to get over with it." Tawa pa ni Mommy saka ginatungan pa ni Dad, ewan ko ba kung bakit ang kalog nila ngayon.

"It was really just a misunderstanding though," he started, sabay tingin pa sa akin and syempre I looked away to escape with the guilt. "It was meant to be a joke also but I guess her tempered really goes high."

Napadilat naman ako sa sinabi niya, "I didn't started it." I whispered but they looked at me and obviously heard it.

"What's the joke anyway?" Father asked.

I immediately interrupted their conversation kasi ayoko nang malaman nang parents ko ang pagiging tanga ko sa usaping iyon. I really didn't meant it for that three letters though, hindi ko lang talaga alam. "It's nonsense." I reasoned.

"I wanna hear it." Father insisted.

I sighed, "you don't wanna hear it Dad."

"Why, dear? We just wanna know that joke." Mom said, at natahimik na lang din naman ako.

"Okay, I'll tell it." He said, "its about—" and I immediately stopped him to continue his words.

"He called me desperate blonde!" sabi ko na agad naman silang napatingin sa akin at halatang gulat na gulat ang parents ko but suddenly they laughed at me at hindi ko naman maintindihan kung anong nangyari at bigla na lang silang natawa. Napansin ko din naman na pinipigilan lang ni brunette ang pagtawa niya sa kinauupuan niya and I really hate it. "There's nothing funny about it." Sabi ko pa sa kanila.

"Actually that wasn't really come from me," aniya. "It's from my team mates and I get to say sorry for her but she bursted out in anger."

"Why, Alex?" nagtatakang tanong ni Mom.

I rolled my eyes, "he wanna bang up a blonde." Biglaan kong sabi at hinihintay ko na lang na magreact silang dalawa, napatingin din ako kay Korg at brunette na natigilan din sa sinabi ko. "No, that was nothing." Ngiwi ko pa.

"What's bang up, hon?" Dad asked.

"Oh, I know that!" Korg said and he got their attention, "that's just some kind of words to simplify the word, watch."

"Watch?" Brunette murmured, and that point, she really don't get Korg's words.

"Yes!" aniko at nakisakay na lang din naman ako, "Korg is a football team captain and their gonna have a tournament this coming weekend! So I'm gonna bang up there."

"Oh, we wanna bang you up there too Korg." Father said to him, and I felt really disgusted by it.

I looked at Korg, trying to talk to him within eyes communication. He look to my parents nodding, "yes, that's great, you can bang up there for support, we need that!"

Hindi ko alam kung makakahinga ako nang maluwag o mahihiya na lang ako sa nangyayari sa dinner na ito at hindi ako mapakali sa tuwing susubo nang kare-kare si Korg, it's feel like he's eating his own hair and flesh and it's sexy though.

"How long have you been together?" Mom asked to Korg and brunette.

Nagkatinginan pa ang dalawa bago sumagot, "me and her?" takang sagot ni Korg, "no, we're not together, she's my sister."

Halos mapanganga ako nang marinig iyon mula sa kanya at nagpabalik balik ang tingin ko sa parents ko at sa kanila dahil wala akong ka-idea idea sa nangyayari, and obviously my parents thought they were together kaya nila tinanong iyon to find out that they were siblings!

"Alex told us you were together." Dad said pointing at me, pilit na ngiti na lang din naman ako naipakita ko. "But good thing you guys are sibling, do you find my Alex chances on you?"

"Dad!" Saway ko naman dito at saka tinawanan na lang din niya ako, napatingin din naman ako kay Korg at napangisi na lang din ito. "Sorry to think that, hindi ko kasi alam na magkapatid pala kayo and all I though all this time ay kayong dalawa—because she was too clingy on you."

"Anyway, I'm Gillyen... if you still don't know my name."

"Glad to know your name and wouldn't call you brunette," aniko pa. "But why your hair is black and Korg's red?"

"About that," she speaks. "Our family is ginger, normally with orangey-red hair but I decided to dyed it black, 'cause too much red in the campus is enough."

"That's true." Korg smirked. "but what about the girl with black hair on the photo? Where is she?" he asked.

"Who are you talking about, Korg?" Mom asked.

"The girl on the picture frame that you guys are on, but then Alex said that she wasn't that girl and obviously because she's blonde and you guys... are not." Aniya, agad namang napatingin sa akin si Korg, "are you adopted?"

"No!" I said trying to stopped him from making this terrible for me.

"She's our only daughter..." Mom started, and I pleaded her with my looks and she didn't find it so pleasing kaya in the end, kinuwento na niya iyon. "She's not really blonde, she just dyed because she find her hair boring."

Korg nodded, "that's a not thing to be ashamed of."

"Well for me... yes." Sagot ko naman. "I think we should get the dessert na."

Nagpresenta na rin naman akong kunin ang dessert sa ref, kumuha na rin ako ng platito para doon. It's a mango graham cake, also my favorite one. Nagsimula namang kumuha nang dessert ang isa't isa at kahit papaano ay nagiging kampante na rin ako sa dinner na ito.

They didn't stay long after eating the dessert dahil kailangan na rin nilang umuwi, Mom gave them some take-outs kasi baka daw hanap-hanapin nila ang kanyang luto lalo na ang graham na siyang kinaadikan naman ni Gell, pronounced a jil.

Nauna naman si Gell sa sasakyan dala dala ang take outs habang ako naman ang umaalalay kay Korg papunta roon.

"This was really a good dinner, Alex." Aniya, "thanks for doing this, really, I appreciated your parents efforts for making this night great."

I couldn't hide my smile, "well... thank you for that and also for not bailing on us."

He smirked, "sorry for being late earlier, I couldn't get my sister to come with me and with a lot of favors from her, I got to make her to drive me. Though you owe me one right?"

Tumango naman ako sa kanya, "yeah, just say it and I'll do what you want."

"Okay," he said. "You said, and I'm not gonna take it back." Aniya, inalalayan ko naman siya papasok sa loob ng sasakyan. I know he really can help himself pero syempre chance ko na kasing gawin iyon sa kanya nang hindi naman niya nahahalata. Before he closed the door, may pahuling sinabi pa ito sa akin, "by the way, you're really pretty on that dress."

"Thank you, jerk."

He chuckles and shake his head, "bye, Alex..."

And I watched them drove away. Palundag lundag pa akong bumalik sa loob nang bahay nang makita ko ang parents ko na may pinagkaka-abalahan at nang malapitan ko naman sila ay nakita ko ang hawak nilang phone and it isn't their phone.

"Kanino 'to, Alex?"

Nang kunin ko naman ito and to found it is from Korg, "it's Korg's phone... and woah, it's not unlocked." Gulat ko pa nang mabuksan ito pero syempre tiniis ko naman ang sarili kong gawin ang binabalak ko, "I'll give this back, I promise!" and I headed straight to my room and look at it like there's an evil thing lurking around.