Six

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Maaliwalas ang araw nang lumabas kami ng bahay. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko alam kung saan talaga kami pupunta nina Mama at Papa. They just wouldn't tell me. But well, I couldn't get it when people say that it is boring to spend time with your family and that they prefer gadgets. Probably, someone would understand that and relate to that, but it's not me.

"Anak, ano?" ang panimula ni Mama. "Ayaw mo bang dito tayo nagpunta?"

"P-po?"

Malinis ang kapaligiran. Nandito na pala kami. Para kasing nag-fade lang ang paligid into this beautiful place. The park was filled with healthy Bermuda grass, and the bushes were beautifully landscaped. Maganda ang nilalakaran naming path na gawa sa mga bato. Wala akong dahilan para hindi ito magustuhan. Pero halos wala ring dahilan ang pagpunta namin dito.

I mean. . . maybe, that was just how my parents wanted to enjoy this weekend. Simply.

"Hindi naman po," ang sabi ko. "Siguro hindi na po talaga ako sanay sa mga park. Ang ganda nga po, e. Bagong gawa lang po ba 'to?"

"Puro ka kasi trabaho, anak," ang sabi ni Papa habang umuupo sa bench na nasa gilid namin. "Dapat sa'yo, binibilhan ng balloon, e. At oo, bagong gawa lang 'to, 'nak."

"Balloon?" ang bigla kong tanong habang natatawa. What? What? "Grabe, Pa."

Tumayo si Papa sa bench kung kailan kami umupo. Mabilis pang nakalakad si Papa papunta sa nagtitinda ng balloons. Ni hindi ko man lang nakita 'yong nagtitinda. Inabot ni Papa ang bayad sa nagtitinda nito at natatawa niyang tinuro ang pink na lobong naka-display. Kakaiba talaga 'tong tatay ko. Hanep.

Nang makuha niya na ang lobong tinuro niya ay bahagya siyang umiika-ikang naglakad papunta sa amin. Oo nga pala, magpapa-checkup pa kami para sa tuhod ni Papa ngayon. Maya-maya rin ay baka dumiretso na kami roon.

"Smile na, anak," ang pagbibida pa ni Papa sa lobong binili niya. "Yie!" Winagayway niya ito na parang watawat kahit na balloon ito bago ilagay ng medyo magaspang niyang kamay ang tali sa kamay ko. Si Mama rin ay natatawa noong humahalakhak si Papa sa kalokohang ginagawa niya. Kalokohang mabuti, if that is ever possible.

"Happy na siya, uy," ang pang-iinis pa ni Mama, nakangising parang bata. "Masyadong seryoso 'tong anak namin!"

"Musta na pala kayo ni Peter?"

Napatigil ako sa itinanong ni Mama. Oo nga pala, hindi pa nila alam. That went quickly—her question.

"Uh. . . wala na po kami, Ma."

Bigla-bigla, parang tumahimik ang buong park, kahit na may mga tao akong nakikitang nagsasalita sa 'di kalayuan. Parang tumahimik ang buong park—oo—hindi lang kami nina Mama at Papa. Hindi na nakatawa si Mama nang masabi ko 'yon. Hindi na rin nakapagbiro si Papa nang marinig niya 'yon. Now, it feels like I am a bad girl. Tama naman 'yong ginawa ko, right?

Right, Preppy? I thought more definitely, hoping for her response. But she wasn't there when I needed her answer the most.

"Ah, pasensiya na, anak," ang sabi ni Mama. She looked down.

"Ayos lang, Ma," ang sabi ko. "It doesn't hurt naman. Siya lang yata ang umiyak, e."

"Nakikiramay kami," ang pagbibiro ni Papa. "Ay, wala palang patay."

Kung inakala kong 'di siya magbibiro after ng pagsabi ko sa kanilang wala na kami ni Peter, nagkamali ako. Siya pa rin ang mapagbiro kong tatay. Natawa ako sa sinabi ni Papa. Well, hindi ko naman pinaglamayan ang pagkasira ng relasyon namin ni Peter. I didn't know if I was just numb or whatever, but it didn't really hurt so much. Oo, nagalit ako, but I didn't feel so sad for that.

"Bakit, 'nak?" Papa asked. "Ano'ng dahilan at nag-break kayo?"

"Parang okay naman kayo noong nakaraan," ang sabi ni Mama. "Ang sweet-sweet pa nga niya, e. Nagdala pa siya ng chocolates sa'yo, 'di ba? Pati kami binigyan ng Papa mo."

Sa totoo lang ay ayaw kong i-kwento sa kanila. Wala akong pinagsisisihan sa pakikipag-break kay Peter, pero hindi pa akong handang sabihin sa kanila.

Para akong kapalit-palit. At ayaw ko talagang pag-usapan 'yon.

"Hayaan na lang po natin 'yon, Ma, Pa," ang sagot ko habang nakayuko.

"S-sorry, 'nak," ang magkasabay na sabi nina Mama at Papa.

Lahat kami ay naging tahimik sa loob ng ilang segundo. Wala sa aming tatlo ang sumubok na magsalita, pero nagkusa si Papa.

"Ilang buwan na ulit kayo, 'nak?" ang seryosong tanong ni Papa. "Apat?"

"Pito po, Pa."

"Ah," ang tanging nasabi ni Papa. At bumalik uli ang katahimikan.

I sighed. Ang sama ko na ba no'n? Pero ang tagal na rin pala namin ni Peter, I thought. Lumingon ako kay Papa dahil sigurado ako that he was making faces. Sa kulit niyang 'to.

Pero nagulat ako nang makita ko ang mukha niya. Hindi siya masaya o kaya'y nagpapatawa. His face showed pain and difficulty. Agad din siyang umiling nang makita niya ang mukha kong nag-aalala, habang ang kamay niya ay nasa dibdib niya. His fingers, like, dug shallowly into the fabric of his shirt.

"Ma, halika," ang nasabi ko na lang. "Si Papa. . . ."

Tumayo si Mama at agad akong tinulungan sa pag-alalay kay Papa. Mabilis naman akong naakbayan ni Papa. High blood ba siya? Ang alam ko, hindi naman, e.

Sa awa ng Diyos, nakatayo naman agad siya at nakapunta kami sa sakayan ng jeep in no time. Pero kaunti lang ang mga jeep na dumadaan, at kung hindi puno, siksikan naman. Why does every day have to be not my day?

"Glenn? Is that you?" ang pagkakarinig ko. "Let's go! Dali!" Pamilyar ang boses na 'yon, pero hindi ko na muna pinansin 'yon. I had no time for that. Or whoever that is.

Sa hindi ko pagpansin, narinig ko, "Theo, open your car." With just those four words, I knew who it was. Context clues helped a lot. Siya lang naman ang makapag-uutos kay Mr. Theodore Hidalgo at makapagpapasunod sa kanya.

"Glenn, saang ospital?" ang tanong pa uli nito, dahilan para mapatingin ako sa pinanggalingan no'n. Finally. "Get in. We'll take you there."

"Kahit saang ospital," ang sagot ko nang makita ko si Theodore na nakaalalay sa pinto ng itim niyang kotse. "Basta, sa pinakamalapit. Please."

Sa panahong 'yon, hindi ko na naisip pa kung ano ang nangyari kahapon. Kung may pagdududa man si Theodore sa friendship namin ni Kailey. Kung naiinis ako sa dead bush na 'yon. Kung wala man akong tiwala kay Theodore.

Nakapasok na kami nina Mama at Papa agad sa kotse, at mabilis na napaandar ni Theodore ang sasakyan. Hindi ko na rin namalayan ang mga nangyari. Ang alam ko lang, si Papa ay medyo nahihirapan na gumalaw. Pinipilit niya na lang ang bawat hakbang. Ang bawat paggalaw.

"Ano po ba'ng nangyari?" ang tanong ni Kailey na nasa tabi ni Theodore. Sa paglingon niya sa amin, mababakas sa mga mata niya ang pag-aalala. They were filled with genuineness. I mean. . . bakit nga naman siya magiging peke, 'di ba? I thought. Kailey may be wealthy and rude (to her suitors—sometimes), pero hindi naman siya mapagpanggap pagdating sa mga tao niya. Pati na rin sa mga taong importante sa kanya.

Mukhang nagkakamabutihan na sila, ah, I thought, going in unison with Preppy. Mabuti naman, at para hindi kung ano-ano ang mga iniisip ni Theodore sa akin.

"Parang high blood itong tatay ni Glenn, e," ang sabi ni Mama, answering the almost-forgotten question in my head. "Hindi rin namin alam. Biglaan, e." I always get caught up being lutang.

"M-masikip d-dibdib ko, Ma," ang natatawang sabi ni Papa. Grabe, nagagawa pa niyang tumawa.

Tumigil na ang sasakyan, at saka ko lang na-realize na hawak ko pa pala ang lobong binili ni Papa para sa akin. I refused to let it go. Binili 'to ni Papa para sa akin, at hindi ko ito babalewalain. Childish na kung childish. Anything that my parents give me is a gift from their hearts, and it meant I will always treasure it. Kahit pink na lobo pa 'to.

Maingat kaming lumabas nina Mama at Papa ng kotse, at agad kaming tumungo sa pasukan papuntang emergency room. Naiwan si Theodore kasama ang kotse niya, habang si Kailey naman ay sumama sa amin. The nurses were busily roaming around, as what I could see from the glass, and I was grateful for the fact that this level of their business wasn't caused by stabbed bodies or anything like it.

"Anak, dala mo ba 'yong health card ni Papa mo?" ang tanong ni Mama.

Naku.

"Hindi po, Ma." Tumango si Mama. "Wala po ba sa inyo?" Kalmado siya, at 'yon ang hinangaan ko kay Mama. She always knew how to handle everything. Unlike me.

" 'Di ko sigurado, 'nak."

"Sige, anak, dito na lang muna kayo ni Kailey," ang sabi ni Mama nang pumasok kami sa emergency room.

Hindi na bale, I thought. May pera naman akong dala pambayad.

"Glenn."

Napalingon ako kay Kailey nang tawagin niya ako. Maganda ang ayos niya ngayon. I mean. . . she always looks good, but she was dressed like she was about to go on a date. Her hair was loosely curled, and her dress was a pretty shade of blue. She looked like she heavily prepared for this day's happenings.

"Buti nasa park kayo," Kailey sighed. "Sana um-okay na lagay ni Papa mo agad."

"Salamat, ah," I uttered, quite shyly. "Siguro kung wala kayo ni. . ."

Napatigil ako at lumingon para hagilapin ang dead bush na 'yon. Nagpatuloy ako, ". . . n-ni Theodore, sobrang nahirapan kami papunta rito."

"You're always welcome," she said, smiling. "Ikaw pa ba?" Oh, goodness, my thoughts went as butterflies rumbled like people in chaos. No. No. It was just a normal thing to say to your friend.

Calm. Down. Glenn. Please.

"Mukhang. . . good kayo ni Theodore," ang pagtawa ko. Awkward.

"Medyo," she plainly replied when a figure started to come nearer to us. Theodore and his fashion. And his wealth clinging on his shirt's fabric. The long sleeves of his sangria-colored shirt were rolled up, and it was, like, telling me a story about the several efficient ways of how I ruined their Saturday date. Nice. I'm in boiling water.

But it was my father that we were concerned about, okay? Okay, Glenn? I reminded myself because. . . it was necessary.

"We'll be waiting for your father to be okay," he said, still fixing his rolled-up sleeves. His eyes refused to touch my presence. It was ridiculous to think about it and why he avoided me.

"Thank you," I said. . . quickly. "Ayos lang naman kami. Uh. . . pwede na kayong—"

"No, Glenn," Kailey said, her hand tapping my shoulder. "It's okay. We're not in a hurry naman, e."

"P-pero—"

"Glenn," Kailey firmly uttered. I just nodded.

Oh, here we go again. I don't want any attention from Theodore and his jealous eyes, please.

But does he get jealous? He said that he likes challenges.

Minutes started to pass by like they never wanted to leave this day, and I was starting to get bored. Really, really bored. I didn't want to keep these two rich people longer here. Both of them are too pretty to be near me. I looked down again on the same moccasins I wore yesterday.

Nakakahiya, Preppy hissed, and it didn't seem like a bad action. I agreed with her because I knew that may lakad sila, 'di ba? And besides, I didn't want to get involved with their relationship—or whatever you call that—even more.

Mukhang nagpa-checkup na rin si Papa para sa tuhod niya. Matagal-tagal din kasi sila ni Mama sa loob. I sat down on the blue hospital chairs. (If that is their name.)

"Theo, naiwan ko yata 'yong phone ko sa kotse mo," Kailey said, looking up to him. I tried not to look at Kailey as they conversed. Baka kung ano na naman ang isipin ni Theodore. Malikot ang utak niya, and it had, like, tentacles. Seven of them. I didn't know why, though.

"You want me to get it?" Theodore sweetly asked. He showed off his perfect teeth as his eyes went head-over-heels for Kailey's face. And trust me, it looked ridiculous when I pictured Theodore's eyes having feet. At least, it wasn't real.

Okay, this moment is a vomit-worthy one, I thought, looking away. Ew.

"Kahit ako na lang," Kailey answered, and with that, Theodore immediately handed her the key of his car. "Please."

Pero ang liit talaga ng mundo, 'no? I thought, hoping for Preppy's voice. Of all the people we could meet, sina Theodore at Kailey pa talaga. Ugh.

"Okay, take care," Theo said to Kailey, who was already walking away from us, and this time, I could already vomit. Theodore is one hell of a sweet man towards Kailey. So sweet I think I could try to go away, which was exactly what I almost did.

Tumayo ako para sana hanapin sina Mama at Papa sa emergency room since we were in the hallways now, even though I knew that they were not there anymore. Hospitals are mazes in disguise. Convince me otherwise.

"Pretty balloon," ang pagkarinig ko. "Pink."

"Ano na naman ho ba?" I said, turning around to face Theodore. I never really wanted to, but my body (please include my DNA) commanded me to face him and roll my eyes at him.

"Chill," he chuckled. "I just said something about the balloon. Hindi kita inaano, ha."

I rolled my eyes at his words. Again. Intentionally and childishly (to match my balloon). That had shown my perfect timing skills, if you ask me. And I didn't plan to say sorry just because he is a famous son of Mr. Hidalgo of HL News Channel. Duh.

"Bakit?" he said. "Gusto mo bang may iba pa tayong pag-usapan? Hmm, how about how Kailey and I are—"

"Hindi po ako interested, Mr. Theodore Hidalgo," I snapped, keeping my voice low at the end. Hindi ko gusto ang ideyang may makarinig at makakita sa kanya; pagkatapos ay may mga magpapa-picture sa kanya dahil guwapo siya, mayaman siya, at sikat siya.

"Ay, grabe," he chuckled. "Iniisip ko lang naman na baka bored ka, ta's gusto mong pag-usapan kami ni Kailey."

"Ayaw mo?" ang dagdag pa nito.

He is that Instagram-famous type of guy, so. . . I might feel insecure. I saw an Instagram picture of him before, and I didn't care. But now, I just feel a need to be irritated and insecure.

Anyway, it was Kailey who decided to help us. Kailey's good heart. Not his.

"You know? I really know it," he said, making an innocent face. "You don't have to lie. I know you are more than friends with Kai—"

"And sir, you know what?" I said, cutting him off. "You are right. You're a genius for knowing that. Yes, I like Kailey. Yes, I want to be more than just friends with Kailey. And yes, you have to worry about it."

I inhaled.

He gave me a questioning look, but it did not stop me from speaking.

"Because if you don't stop annoying me, sir, you can lose the girl before she's even yours."

Theodore looked at me with a blank expression. Nakatingin lang siya sa akin na parang natalo siya at walang natira sa kanya kahit ni isang emosyon. Well, he could never lose. After all, look at him. He got every single thing I don't have.

"Theodore, you might never want to lose the girl you're courting to another girl, right?" I asked, gradually feeling the confidence filling my veins.

I was sure that he won't make Kailey worry about this and his own troubles. And I didn't know why I was so sure.

"May the best one win," I said, finishing the conversation. And I ran up the well polished stairs of the hospital, to the second floor where my parents probably were, as the string of the pink balloon was still wrapped around my fingers. I probably looked pathetic.

But oh, well. . . .

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