Hatsukoi

Chapter 3:

“Nandito na ’ko, ’Ma, ’Pa?” tawag ni Leni sa kaniyang mga magulang nang makarating siya sa kanilang bahay. Kaagad namang sumagot ang kaniyang inang si Salvacion.

“Ah, buti naman at nandito ka na.” Ngiti ng kaniyang ni Salvacion, Leni just smiled back and finally entered the house.

“Ah, Leni, mabuti naman at nandito ka na.” Ngiti naman ng kaniyang amang si Antonio, magpapatuloy na sana si Leni sa kaniyang kuwarto nang marinig niyang sumabad ang kaniyang kapatid na si Lourdes.

“Ay, bunso, kakain daw tayo sa labas ngayon sabi ni Mama.” Kaagad napalingon si Leni sa kaniyang ate.

“What, really?!” she asked excitedly.

“Magsho-shower ka pa ba? Dalian mo lang at aalis na rin tayo kaagad.” Lourdes added.

“Sige, Ate. I’ll be quick.” Kaagad siyang tumakbo patungo sa banyo dala ang kaniyang tuwalya.

“Mahal, I said to you earlier, turn off the TV na.” Salvacion ranted to his husband, Antonio who’s currently watching a basketball game.

“Hay, makikinig pa ba ’yang si Tatay? Just let him watch the game, ’di naman po aalis ’yong resto.” Pagtatanggol ni Lourdes sa kaniyanga ama, she then sat the couch and joined his father on watching the basketball game.

“Man, I’m hungry.” Bumuntong-hininga siya at inunat niya ang kaniyang braso.

Minutes later, Leni finished her shower and she changed her outfit from her school uniform to her casual dress. A rose-colored polo with long sleeves topped with a sweater with the same color. A Pink skirt and doll shoes with the same color on the bottom part of her body.

“Table for four.” Antonio genuinely uttered to the waiter and it guided them to a table for four people at the Ayatori Japanese Cuisine resto.

Pagkaupo nila sa hapag ay inilabas kaagad ni Lourdes ang kaniyang cellphone at nag-check ito ng chats sa kaniyang account sa Messenger. Ang nga magulang naman ni Leni ay abala sa pagpili ng kakainin sa menu ng resto. Kaagad namang pinuna ni Leni ang kaniyang kapatid.

“You’re always online at Messenger, marami ka ba talagang ka-chat?” she asked her sister. Lourdes just took a deep breath and turned away from Leni.

“Why do you care?” irap nito.

“May jowa ka na siguro kaya abala ka diyan, ’no?” Antonio then cutted through the conversation.

“’Pa naman, magkakaro’n pa lang.” Ngisi niya dahilan upang napatawa silang tatlo.

“Alam niyo namang ’di kami istrikto sa mga gan’yang bagay pero alalahanin ninyo ang limits niyo.” Sumabad naman si Salvacion dahilan kung bakit napatango na lamang ang kaniyang mga anak.

“Ah, nakapag-decide na ’ko. I’ll just have takoyaki if it’s okay.” Antonio then dropped the menu on the table.

“I’ll have ramen.” Lourdes ordered.

“Sushi na lang sa ’kin.” They all ordered their dinner.

In the other table next to them is a family consisting of a mother, father and a boy. The tables are divided by a barrier, the woman put some glasses of water for her, her child, and her husband.

“I brought some water, Lakay.” She smiled and looked at her husband.

“Thanks, I’m quite thirsty.” Her husband uttered and drank the water from the glass.

“Oh, Bongbong, nakapili ka na ba ng kakainin?” Tanong nito sa anak niya na kasalukuyang nakatingin pa lamang sa menu, ibinaba nito ang hawak niya at ngumiti.