Behind the Barriers

07

07

Dahil sa pagsipot ni CJ sa party ay hindi na ako tinigilan ng mga magulang ko.

It was also surprising that it was not awkward to call Atty. Perez in his nickname. Para bang natural na lang sa bibig ko iyon. Or maybe I always say it on a daily basis. More like whispering it like a prayer.

I expected that they will be questioning me about him. I just did not expect that it will last for weeks. Ilang beses kong hindi sinagot ang mga tawag nila upang kumustahin si CJ. Isa pa si Kuya!

I thought CJ will be awkward with my brother, but I saw them together walking, talking like they're so comfy to each other.

Habang ako ay hindi na nga makatingin sa mga mata ni Kuya Sebastian! Does he always tease his lawyer about it, too?

Mom:

Where are you? Let us have dinner. Your dad and I are in a restaurant. I will send you the address.

Mom:

I also texted your brother and Irina. Come now.

Sumimangot ako nang nabasa ang text. Bumuntong-hininga ako at padabog na isinara ang laptop. Napatingin si Greg sa akin.

"Alam ko naman na mayaman ka, Madame, pero dahan-dahan lang, po. Katumbas ng isang kidney ang MacBook ninyo."

I groaned. "I just want to kick someone now."

Kabadong tumawa si Greg. After a deep inhale, I put my things on my bag and prepared myself for dinner.

"Is it really that surprising?" tanong ko. "Iyong pagsama ni CJ – I mean Atty. Perez sa akin?"

Hindi nakatakas ang maliit na ngiti ni Greg kaya inirapan ko siya at nagpatuloy sa pag-apply ng makeup.

"Opo, Madame! Kaya naiintindihan ko talaga sina Mother and Father. Ikaw kasi iyong tipo na man-hater."

"I don't hate men. I hate stupid men."

"Same-same lang po 'yun."

I rolled my eyes. "Kasalanan ko ba na maraming estupido sa mundo?"

"Hindi, po. Pero basta. Hindi ko maipaliwanag. Nakakagulat nga rin po na pumayag si Atty."

"What do you mean?"

"Kasi ikaw po kasi 'yung taong hindi approachable tingnan." Hilaw siyang ngumiti. "No offense, Madame."

I just ignored him.

"Pero baka kasi crush ka nga ni Atty."

Nahinto ako sa paglagay ng eyeliner at bumaling sa kanya. "Do you think so?"

Tumango siya. "Pero baka natural lang talaga na mabait si Atty. Pero bakit po kayo interesado? Crush niyo po?"

"Hell, no!" I immediately replied.

Humagikhik siya. Alam ko na kaagad na hindi siya naniniwala. I just rolled my eyes and got my things.

Panigurado, kahit magpaliwanag pa ako ay hindi siya makikinig. I wonder why I like Greg as my company. He was just annoying... and concerned at me most of the time.

Nag-park na ako sa labas ng restaurant na sinasabi ni Mom. I confidently made my way towards the place. I saw my parents sitting at the far end. Wala pa sina Kuya Sebastian at Ate Irina.

"Finally, my daughter is here!" ani Mom pag-upo ko sa gitna.

"What are you doing here?"

"We visited a friend around the city and decided to have dinner," sagot ni Dad. "Ang kuya mo?"