Sparks Fly (ONGOING)

Chapter 9

“M-mommy!”

Kung kailan talaga nandito si Lukas, doon kailan napagisipan nila mommy na umuwi!

I am frozen in shock; I have no idea how to act! I guess it was a good thing that Lukas just finished cooking our dinner and initiated greeting my mom first.

“Good evening po, Atty. Vicencio.” Lukas greeted with a small smile while holding out his hand for a shake.

Mom was busy looking at me curiously, confused why I look so shocked and nervous all of a sudden. She snapped out of her staring when she heard Lukas speaking. She didn’t even notice I wasn’t the only one in the kitchen!

“Oh hi, hijo! I didn’t see you there.” I can see the questioning on her eyes, but I can also see the warm smile on her face. “Sino ka?”

“Mommy!” I guess you guys now know where I get my bluntness.

“I’m Lukas Santos po, Atty. I’m a friend from Everette.”

I can see how my mom raised her eyebrows like she didn’t believe what Lukas just said. Issue mo, ma!

“Kanino ‘yong kotse sa labas, hon?” I heard my dad’s voice going near the kitchen. My dad was busy removing his watch, he didn’t notice us from the room until Lukas spoke.

“Good evening po. That’s mine po, Atty.”

Napatigil siya sa ginagawa niya. “Who are you?” He asked him while looking at him with a guarded expression.

Napahawak nalang ako sa sentido ko. This is going to be a long night. Mas nauna pang makilala ng magulang ko si Lukas kaysa kila Julia o ‘yong iba kong mga kasama sa team!

Mabuti naman at madaming niluto si Lukas. Abot pa kila mommy ‘yong Sinigang at mukhang pwede ko pang ulamin para bukas.

I thought dinner was going to be stressful, but it surprisingly wasn’t. My parents were busy asking Lukas about him while I was just eating and watching them, secretly.

Di nalang ako nakisama sa usapan dahil na-curious ako sa luto ni Lukas. In fairness, hindi lang siya pogi… husband material din siya!

Even if I wasn’t talking much, the dinner was fun. I was smiling and laughing all through out it. It felt like a normal family dinner, a family dinner I have craved for so long. Eating all together, asking about each other’s day, smiling, laughing. I’ve craved for this moment; wishing I could experience this while I’m eating all alone at the table.

It even felt better with Lukas there.

After dinner, my parents invited Lukas to stay. We went to the living room and played board games habang nagkekwentuhan. Lukas was talking to them, laughing and smiling with them, all while still managing to be respectful and polite.

Kitang-kita ko sa mukha ng mga magulang ko na gustong-gusto nila si Lukas.

Mommy even told him to call her tita instead of Atty. since dalawa silang Atty. ni daddy sa bahay, magkagulo pa. Even daddy allowed him to call him tito, and he rarely lets anyone who isn’t family or someone close to him call him that!

Mukhang na-impress niya ata magulang ko ha, when na kaya ang kasal? Joke!

Nasa labas kami ng bahay ni Lukas, anong oras na kasi at baka mahirapan pa siyang umuwi. Hinatid ko siya sa tapat ng kotse niya. “Thank you.”

I can see how confused he looked when he heard me. “Why are you thanking me?”

I can’t just tell him, “thank you, dahil sa’yo… na-experience ko muling makasama pamilya ko. Dahil nandito ka, mas pinili nilang makasama ako at hindi magkulong sa office nila.”

Natatandaan ko pa, ‘yong mga araw nung bata pa ‘ko na lagi si Nay Nida, ‘yong katulong namin dati, ang kasama ko. Nandoon na siya para sa’kin since baby pa lang ako.

My parents were too busy for me, I’d usually see them late at night when I’m still awake or early in the morning when I wake up early. They rarely took a leave from work too.

Si Nay Nida ang parang naging magulang ko sa mga taon na 'yon. Siya ang nagluluto ng masasarap na pagkain for every meal time, at sinasabayan niya pa 'ko. Siya rin ang nagbabasa ng bedtime stories sa’kin bago matulog. Kapag ‘di pwede sila mommy, siya ang naghahatid at nagsusundo sa’kin tuwing may training ako. Siya rin ang laging nandoon sa mga competitions and showcases. Siya ang biggest supporter ko.

Lagi si Nay ang kasama ko sa bahay, tinuring ko siyang mommy ko at tinuri niya ‘kong anak niya. But as I was growing, once I reached 16 years old, sinabihan ko na siya na umuwi na sa kanyang probinsya para sa kanyang pamilya. Kaya ko ng alagaan sarili ko at time niya namang alagaan ang sarili niya mismong pamilya.

The only reason she stayed that long with me was because my parents hired her to take care of me since they couldn’t. I do miss her, but it’s fine since we contact each from time to time via Facebook.

I’m not ready to tell him about the depressing parts of my life. I can’t tell him my issues yet. I haven’t even told him what my sport is, issues ko pa kaya?

Nginitian ko nalang siya at naramdaman ko ang init na nagmumula sa mata ko. I could feel my tears about to fall, I did the only thing I thought of quickly so he wouldn’t see me crying.

I hugged him.

I can feel how he stiffened but that didn’t stop me from hugging him. He's so warm and he smells so good. In a few seconds, I felt his arms encasing me.

I feel warm… safe… cared for.

Medyo nagtagal kami doon kaya humiwalay na ko. He saw how reddish my eyes seem, reflecting in the moon light, but he didn’t ask and I’m very thankful for it.

“Text me before you sleep and… you can come to me if you need anything, anything. I mean it, belle.”  He said before he went inside of his car. He gave me a small smile and drove away.

I was watching his car drive away with a smile on my face. It felt nice to know that someone else is in my corner, ready to have my back.

Nakahiga ako sa kama ko, malapit na makatulog, ng maisip ko na iba ang tinawag niya sa’kin. Hindi Dianna o Amethyst ang sabi niya, kung ‘di Belle.

Gago! Ibang pangalan ng babae tinawag niya sa’kin! Hindi ka nakakatuwa, crush!

Is he hanging with me because I remind him of someone? No way in hell am I gonna let someone, even him, use me!