Up Where We Belong

Chapter 23

Intruder

We're on the road when I received a call from Mommy telling me na hindi siya makakapunta sa dinner. I was on the verge of crying. It wasn't the first time it happened. I knew Mommy had been reluctant to meet Daddy again. Pinapangatawanan niya iyon. I just couldn't believe that she'd ditch us an hour before this supposed family dinner.

If she only told me she couldn't come, I didn't get my hopes up.

Nagsignal ng red light kaya sandali kaming huminto.

"Are you okay?" nag-aalalang bumaling si Gab sa akin.

"I'm fine..." tipid na sagot ko. Wala ako sa mood makipag-usap. Hindi pa nga kami umabot ng restaurant pero gusto ko nalang umuwi. Kung madali lang sana.

"I understand that you're a little disappointed, but can you please understand your mom? She may have her reason for not coming," nahimigan ko ang pagtatanggol sa boses nito.

The thing is I didn't even let her explain why she couldn't come. Pinutol ko agad ang tawag at nakita iyon ni Gab. Pakiramdam ko ang bastos kong anak sa paningin niya.

"What reason does she have this time?" nanlulumong wika ko. Nagbabanta ang luha kong tumulo.

We never had a single dinner together for a long time, the four of us, as a family. Halos hindi rin kami nagkikita ng nag-iisang kapatid ko dahil naging devoted na ito sa kompanya ni Daddy.

"I understand where you're coming from. But, then again, she's your mom. You're the only person she believes who'd understand her the most," malumanay niyang sabi at sandaling pinukol ang tingin sa akin.

Bumalik lamang ang atensiyon niya sa daan nang mapansing umusad na ang ibang mga sasakyan.

"You think so?" medyo kumalma na ang nararamdaman kong bigat sa dibdib. Pinalis ko ang luhang namuo sa gilid ng mga mata.

"Hmm," he hummed.

Bahagya akong nakaramdam ng pagkapahiya.

I am her daughter and we've been together for a long time, but I've been neglecting her side of the story when all the time she's understanding me and all of my whims.

Agad akong bumaba ng sasakyan nang binuksan ni Gab ang pintuan at sabay kaming naglakad papasok sa isang Italian restaurant sa Quezon City. Why they chose this restaurant, I didn't know. Nagulat nga ako ng sinabi sa akin ni Mommy ang address at kung aling restaurant.

Dad and Kuya Terron have always been a fan of Pinoy cuisines. But now...

Well, it wouldn't hurt to be out of the old sometimes anyway.

Hinapit ni Gab ang beywang ko nang tuluyan na kaming nakapasok sa loob. His hand stayed there and all I felt was this sudden jolt all over my body. I could feel his fingers tenderly caressing against the small of my back. He was doing it maybe to calm me down. It did help to stabilize my raging emotion and my mind going haywire. Nagawa ko pa ring maglakad kahit pakiramdam ko'y bibigay ang mga binti ko. Why did his touch have so much effect on me now? Hindi naman ito ang unang beses na lumapat ang kamay niya sa balat ko.

Natanaw ko agad si Kuya Terron nang tumayo ito at kumaway sa amin.

"Hi, my little princess!" yakap ni Kuya Terron sa akin kaya napalayo ako kay Gab. Hindi na niya nahintay na makarating kami sa mesa at sinalubong kami.

I hugged him back. He's like this whenever we meet.

"Kuya, I miss you so much...," mahinang sambit ko at kumawala sa yakap niya. "And stop calling me little princess. I'm not little anymore."