Hoax (VBoys Series #1)

020

EUNICE

"We'll be processing the adoption papers. After that, you'll take the court, and you're good to go." nakangiting sabi ng clerk.

I smiled back at her while holding Dain's hand, and so did Tito Denver. Pinasalamatan namin ang babae bago kami lumabas mula roon. Dain happily hopped as we walked back to the car.

"Salamat sa pagsama, Eunice. This means a lot to me," Tito Denver said as he carried Dain in his arms.

"Always welcome, Tito. I'm always willing to help," I replied, then I turned to Dain. "Are you excited, Dain?"

"Yes, yes!" Dain happily exclaimed, which made me giggle.

At a young age, Dain understood his situation. Mula nang makalabas siya ng hospital ay pinaliwanag na kaagad namin ang lahat. People may think that we took it too fast, but Dain was different. He knew what was going on. Mula pa noon ay natunugan na niyang hindi niya ama si Tito Denver. He would always ask why they don't look alike.

The hardest part was telling him that Jaiden and I weren't his siblings. That we don't have the same blood. For years, he has known us as his Ate and Kuya, which we still are, but not biologically. Nang sabihin namin 'yon ay ilang araw siyang naging tahimik, but he was back to his usual self in no time. He grew smart enough to understand that.

"Let's go home?" aya ko kay Dain. Pumasok naman kaming tatlo sa kotse ko na dala namin papunta rito sa court office.

"Pasensya ka na kung ikaw pa ang pinag-drive ko rito, ha? Busy kasi si Jaiden, eh." Tito Denver said.

Napalunok ako nang marinig ang pangalan ni Jaiden. Nginitian ko na lang si Tito mula sa rear view mirror para hindi niya mahalata ang pagkabalisa ko. I put my eyes back on the road again, trying to focus on driving.

Days had passed, but the night that Jaiden and I... well, kissed, was still bothering me. Not in a bad way, though. I was just confused by what I felt. There were the butterflies that I haven't felt in a long time. Iyon lang kaya ako hindi mapakali tuwing naaalala ko ang gabing 'yon.

"Sabihin mong hindi mo pa gusto si Jaiden sa lagay na 'yan, sasapakin na kita." banta ni Indigo nang kuwentuhan ko siya.

Dahil sa sobrang pagkabagabag na naramdaman ko ay napakuwento ako tungkol sa nangyaring 'yon. It was too much to keep to myself. And no, hindi lang ako kay Indigo nagkuwento.

"Maybe you love him again na, Eunice. Possible naman 'yon, right?" conyong sabi ni Sky at sumubo ng isang chip.

"Baka naman hindi talaga nawala." Hailey said as she drank from a bottle of beer.

"Baka naman nadala ka lang. Maybe you just haven't felt that way in a long time that's why you think you have feelings for him." payo naman ni Bella, hawak ang isang baso ng juice.

I puckered my lips at what they said. We were all gathered on the floor of my condo unit's living room. Ngayon na lang ulit kami nagkasama-sama kaya sa kanila na ako nagkuwento.

"Ayon na nga. May naramdaman siyang kakaiba, e'di mahal nga niya," Hailey commented on what Bella said.

"Puwede namang 'yung pakiramdam na 'yon ay paninibago lang. Bakit? 'Di ba, iba naman talaga ang nararamdaman mo kapag may humalik sa'yo, mahal mo man o hindi?" Bella countered, still talking calmly.

Hindi na sumagot si Hailey. Sky then laughed and pointed at her. "Ooh, walang experience sa kissing kaya hindi sumagot!"

"Ikaw nga, apat na taon nang walang halik, eh," bara sa kaniya ni Hailey.