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#NY11 Chapter 11

I was in the apartment, making sure that everything was in order before I brought Sammie here. Eli was supposed to be here with me, but he told me the last minute that he had to do something for the reunion of their family.

After making sure that the electricity, water, cable, and internet were working, I went to the restaurant and picked up the food I ordered for Eli and Tita. Eli always helped me with the apartment, so I figured I should help him with the reunion, too, although I had the faintest idea on what I could do to help. Maybe I could help him plan the food. Or whatever. He'd tell me what I could do.

I parked in front of Eli's house and grabbed the paper bag. I pressed the doorbell and waited for either Eli or Tita to open the door... but was surprised when I saw a woman open the gate.

I blinked. "Good morning," I greeted.

"Good morning," she replied.

"Is Eli there?" I asked. I should've texted him and informed him that I was coming. I didn't know they have guests.

"Eli!" the woman shouted.

"Bakit!" Eli shouted from inside the house.

"May babae dito!" the woman said while she was staring at me like she was trying to know my deepest, darkest thoughts. I stood there rather uncomfortably.

There was a forced smile on my face when I saw Eli rushing to get outside. His eyes widened when he saw me standing before who I assumed was his sister... only because the woman standing before me looked like the younger version of Tita.

"Kelsey," he said.

I smiled. "I just bought food."

"So, ikaw pala si Kelsey," the woman said.

I smiled at her. "Hi..." I politely said. I didn't know what to add. She looked... hostile. She looked like she'd rather have me somewhere else. Thankfully, Eli was already standing in front of me. "You said you were busy, so I got you and Tita food."

Eli smiled at me. "Thank you," he said. "Ate, si Kelsey. Kelsey, si Ate ko."

I smiled again. "Nice to meet you." She just nodded at me before going back inside. I looked at Eli. "Seems like she doesn't like me."

"Sorry."

"Did I do something?" I asked even though I just met her. But it seemed like she already knew me.

Eli shook his head. "Wala," he said. "Na-kwento ka kasi ni Mama kanina."

"Oh. What did Tita say?"

"Na doctor ka saka mabait at maganda."

I frowned. "What did Tita say?"

"Totoo nga!" he said.

"Then why was she looking at me like she wanted to bite my head off?"

Eli grimaced a little. "Kasi... sorry na, Kelsey. Alam mo naman si Mama madaldal at mahilig sa teleserye... Na-kwento iyong kina Sean... Pero sa version naman niya, ikaw iyong bida at kontrabida iyong dalawa."

My lips parted. Tita, really... She always asks me for updates about Sean and Sob!

"Okay... And she's mad because?"

Eli shrugged. "Bayaan mo na 'yun. Gusto mo ba'ng pumasok?" he asked. I debated on whether I'd go in or not. Personally, I'd rather go home because it's been a long day already, but if I go home, Eli's sister will hate me more because I didn't even bother to go inside and meet them.

And I like Eli a lot and that meant I should, at the very least, try to get along with his family. I just needed to be nice to them—if they will hate me even though I did nothing, that's their problem already.

"You have 2 sisters, right?"

Eli nodded. "Si Ate Elena iyong kanina. Si Ate Esme iyong isa. May mga bata sa loob kaya medyo maingay."

I nodded. "Do you want me to go inside?" I asked because if he'd rather me go home, I would understand.

"Gusto mo bang pumasok?"

"Only if you want me to."

Eli nodded. "Okay," he said. "Pero promise mo muna na kahit ano mangyari sa loob, tayo pa rin."

I laughed. "Why? What would happen inside?"

He shrugged. "Ewan ko. Pero medyo magulo sa loob kasi biglang dumating sila Ate kaya nandoon iyong mga maleta nila saka mga box."

"Fine," I said before we went inside. I was thankful that I was wearing a white cotton palazzo, white fitted shirt, and white oran sandals. I looked decent. I usually just wear biker shorts and shirt when I was in the apartment and fixing stuff with Eli.

We went inside and there were some kids who were just fixated on playing with their phones. I immediately spotted Eli's sisters because they were staring at me like I just corrupted their brother—did they even know how wild in bed their brother was? If any, I was the corrupted one.

But I couldn't blame them.

If you'd look at Eli—you'd never even consider...

"Kelsey!" Tita said upon seeing me. I immediately went to her and hugged her. She's always excited to see me. She immediately introduced me to the whole family—and Eli was right, she mentioned that I was a doctor, and that I was kind, and very pretty—as per her words.

Tita made me sit down and placed a lot of food on my plate. I thanked her and began eating uncomfortably because I was very aware of how Eli's sisters were watching my every movement.

"Ano ng nangyari kay Trista pala?" Elena asked.

I looked at Eli whose eyes widened. "Ate," he said.

"Bakit? Nakiki-balita lang naman." Eli looked at me and I just smiled at him... but Elena saw that. "Bakit? Hindi ba alam ni Kelsey iyong kay Trista?"

"I know about her," I politely said. "Eli told me about her."

It seemed like she didn't like my answer. What was the end game here? It's not like she could terrorize me into not seeing her brother anymore.

"Nakita ko sa facebook ni Trista, mataas na posisyon sa kumpanya nila," Elena added. I just quietly ate my food.

"E masipag na bata naman 'yung si Trista," Tita said. "Ito ring si Kelsey, napaka-sipag. Tinanong ko mga nurse sa hospital, e. Masipag daw at mabait."

I just smiled at Tita for having my back.

"E 'di ba asawa mo dati iyong may-ari nung hospital?"

I stopped trying to eat. "Yes," I said. "But it was a void marriage, so technically, I was never married. And we have daughter—her name's Sammie," I continued because I already know where this was heading.

Her lips parted—probably surprised that I said all those things.

"Ate..." Eli said.

"Bakit? May ginawa ba ako? Nagtatanong lang naman."

I smiled at Eli. "It's okay," I said. "She's just curious."

I saw Elena rolled her eyes at me. Tita tried to divert the attention by getting a cake from the ref and trying to make us eat the cake. I just quietly try to finish the content of my plate because I didn't want them to think that I was picky.

When I was finished eating, I excused myself to go to the comfort room. I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down. This was still Eli's family. I needed to be polite even though I didn't appreciate how they were treating me. But I'd draw the line if they speak ill of my daughter.

I was walking back when I halted when I heard my name.

"Ano naman kung doctor 'yung si Kelsey? Mas gusto pa rin namin si Trista. Wala pa namang asawa 'yun, Eli."

"Ate, ano ba 'yan. May girlfriend na ako."

"E girlfriend lang naman—saka may anak na—"

"Ate."

"Totoo naman. Mahirap magpa-laki ng bata, Eli. Napaka-mahal magpa-aral. Tignan mo ngang napaka-laki ng gastos namin sa mga pamangkin mo. Tapos gusto mo pa may instant anak ka?"

I fisted my hands.

It's not like I ever asked Eli for money for my daughter.

"Ate, 'wag na 'to."

"Mama, pagsabihan mo nga 'yang bunso mo—"

"Bakit? Mabait naman si Kelsey... Kayong dalawa e napaka-judgmental niyo—akala ko ba e woke kayo?"

"Mama naman... Syempre iniisip lang namin si Eli. Baka nagandahan lang doon sa doctora, pero kung seryoso, aba, Eli, 'wag sa may anak na at ikaw din mahihirapan—"

"Ate, nakaka-pikon ka na."

My lips parted at the tone of Eli's voice.

"Aba, Elias! Kami lang 'tong concerned! Bakit hindi ka naman ganyan nung kay Trista!"

"Bakit ba Trista nang Trista? E si Kelsey na nga, Ate," he said. Even from a distance, I heard how hard he was trying to control himself.

"E bakit ba kasi hindi na lang si Trista? E 'di ba nagbreak lang naman kayo dahil 'di na kayo nakakapag-usap? E bakit hindi na lang kayo mag-usap ulit?"

My eyes widened. Eli didn't tell them that Trista cheated on him?

"Wag na nga si Trista, Ate. Kita ng nandito si Kelsey. Nakaka-bastos 'yung ganyan, Ate."

"E si Trista—"

"Wag na ngang Trista. Nagcheat si Trista sa akin, okay? Kaya kami nagbreak. Kaya please tama na kaka-Trista niyo, Ate. Ang bait-bait ni Kelsey. Umayos naman kayo, please. Nakaka-hiya," Eli said. "At saka ano naman kung may anak na siya? Akala mo naman naka-patay si Kelsey kung maka-react kayo, Ate. 'Di naman nanghihingi ng sustento sa akin 'yun. May matinong trabaho iyong tao. Saka kung manghingi man sa akin, choice ko naman 'yun kasi pera ko naman. Ako naman nagta-trabaho. Choice ko kung saan ko gagastusin," he continued before he walked out.

My lips parted and I blinked in surprise. My heart started to race inside my chest. Eli passed by me and his eyes widened a little when he saw me.

"Sorry..." he said. "Nakaka-hiya."

But instead, I hugged him. "I love you," I whispered against his chest. "I love you, Eli," I repeated.

I felt how fast his heart was beating. I looked at him because I was worried for a split second at the rate of his heartbeat.

"Eli—"

"I love you, too," he replied instead.

A smile appeared on my face. "Really?"

He nodded. "I love you sobra," he said while smiling at me. "Sorry sa mga sinabi ni Ate... Nakaka-hiya... Narinig mo pa..."

I shook my head. "I don't care about their opinion... Your opinion is what matters to me."

"Pero kakausapin ko pa rin sila Ate."

"I don't want to cause a rift among you."

"Wala kang kasalanan," he said. "Matanda na 'yun—dapat alam niya na 'di tama iyong ganon."

I just nodded. I was just thankful that even when Eli didn't know that I was listening, he still had my back. I didn't ask for him to defend me, but he still did.

I felt like I hit the jackpot even though I didn't even join the lotto.

Eli and I went back, and I bade goodbye. I still smiled at his sisters because I didn't want to be rude to them even though they were rude to me. That's their problem, not mine.

"Ingat sa pagda-drive, doc," Eli said when he walked me back to my car.

I nodded. "Can you free your next Saturday?"

"Bakit?"

"Apartment blessing," I said. "My parents are going to be there. And Sean."

He blinked when he heard Sean's name. I ignored it. He didn't even need to say it, but I felt like he was uncomfortable with the idea of Sean. Maybe he heard some exaggerated stories about him—even in the hospitals, there were wild rumors about Sean. To me, he's just Sean—a longtime friend and Sammie's father. But to some people, he's this... ultimate bachelor. I mean, he looks really good, he's kind and polite, plus the fact that his family's a major shareholder in the hospital?

Yeah. I understand the temptation.

"Okay..." he said.

"Don't overthink," I replied. I was about to kiss him but I saw Elena watching us with her hawk-eyes. I smiled, instead.

"Sorry ulit," he said when he saw his sister. Eli opened the door for me and I got inside. He leaned in and kissed me despite his sister watching us. He smiled at me. "I love you, doc. Puntahan kita bukas sa apartment niyo. Ingat sa pagda-drive."

*** 

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