Unofficially Yours (On-going)

Chapter 13 - Brunch

My ankle already healed. May go signal na rin from the doctor to do activities so I can go to practice na. Grabe, namiss ko sumayaw.

Dahil masaya ako niyaya ko sila mama to try something new. "Ma, let's go eat dun sa bagong bukas na cafe malapit dito. Saw good reviews."

"Sure! Pag first ka sa overall rankings this quarter."

Pasubo na ako ng pancake nang sinabi niya 'yon. Binaba ko ang tinidor na hawak ko.

Ngumuso ako. I always get the second place at ang palaging una sa rankings ay si Xavier. So unless sadyaing bumagsak ni Xavier, the first ranking would never be mine.

Tumawa si dad sa reaction ko. "Inaasar mo nanaman 'yang anak mo. Alam mo namang competitive 'yan tulad mo. Baka hindi na lumabas ng kwarto 'yan para mag-aral buong araw."

Tumawa rin si mama. "Liv knows grades are not important to us. Importante happy ka. Also being second is not bad. Trust me mas nakakapressure maging first."

As if Xavier is even pressured at all. Second is only not bad when he's not the first!

"Let's go tomorrow dun sa sinasabi mo. Ililibre tayo ng mama mo."

"Sure. Nasa akin pa ang card mo remember? Then mag-shopping kami ni Liv using the same card." Mama leaned forward.

Dad also leaned forward and smiled lovingly at mama's antics.

Ako, I rolled my eyes and pretended not to see them eyeing each other.

xx

I dressed up prettily today because it's the weekend at magpipicture rin ako para ipost sa Instagram ko.

Marami nang taong naghihintay sa labas pagdating namin. We came for brunch.

Mama pushed me to go inside and no need to line up na so I happily went. Napatigil lang ako nung nakita ko si tito Tristan, tita Jade and their son, Xavier.

Napatingin ako kay mama. She raised her eyebrows and grinned at me before she went straight to their table. Dad followed.

Tama ang desisyon ko magpaganda. Buti nalang talaga!

Naka-upo ako sa tapat ni Xavier. He only looked at me for a second before he looked down again.

Sanay na akong hindi siya appreciative so I ignored him. Nag-text ako kay Marcus.

Me: Ano gawa mo? I'm having brunch with Xavier's fam.

Marcus: With your in laws? Jk.

Me: Nako. Tigilan mo ko. I'm bored! Punta ka dito!!

Marcus: Ayaw.

Me: Wow! Libre ayaw mo? Himala?? Dali na. Kakarating lang namin aabot ka pa.

"Sinong katext mo? Tinatanong ka ng tita Jade mo." Mom nudged me.

"Wala si Marcus lang." Sabi ko and answered tita Jade's question. "I'm okay na po. Pwede na ulit sumayaw."

"Wag mo kami kalimutan bigyan ng tickets ha."

"Sure po. Bigyan ko po kayo ni tito." I smiled.

Binalingan ko rin ng tingin si Xavier pero nag-pho-phone pa rin siya. Okay...

We ordered their bestsellers. Excited na ako nang dumating isa isa ang mga pagkain.

I took a photo of the food and posted on my IG story para inggitin si Marcus.

We were in the middle of eating when my phone kept on vibrating on the table.

Zoe: Olivia Mendoza!! You're on a date?

Zoe: Are you following Xavier sa IG? CHECK HIS STORY NOW!!

Zoe: Hello??

Zoe: Fine. Don't mind me. Na-shocked lang ako. Enjoy your date.

Mas na-shocked ako sa mga sinasabi niya. Hindi ako tumingin kay Xavier dahil baka mahalata niya sa mukha ko. I don't follow him so I don't know what Zoe's talking about.

Me: Zo, ang point is you're following him? And no, hindi ako nakikipagdate. We're with our family.

Zoe: Weh? Eh bakit...

Then she sent a screenshot of the said post.

This time I glanced at Xavier. He's just eating. Nothing unusual.

He also posted the food. Ang pinagkaiba lang ay nandoon ako sa background ng post niya. I'm a bit blurred like the photo is taken in a portrait mode but people who knows me will definitely know it's me.

Me: Wala naman meron. Magkatapat kasi kami so hindi naman intentional. Tsaka nakablurred nga ako.

Zoe: Ang manhid and in denial mo po.

I put my phone down and continued eating.

In fairness masarap naman ang food.

Tinignan ko 'yung truffle pizza. Gusto ko pa sana pero ang layo sa akin so ibang food nalang ang kinuha ko.

Habang kumakain ako ay biglang may naglagay ng truffle pizza sa plato ko. Pagtingin ko si Xavier.

"Saw you looking at it."

"Thanks."

When we're done eating pinagkaisahan nanaman kami ng parents namin.

"Diba gusto mong mag-picture? Mag-picture ka dun maganda dun sa outside area nila."

"Huh, hindi na, ma."

"Tumayo na si Xavier, oh. Go na."

Lahat sila nakatingin sa akin kaya tumayo na rin ako at sumunod sa labas. It's indeed beautiful pero hindi ko magawang mag posing. Nahihiya ako.

Todo pindot lang naman si Xavier. Hindi siya nagrereklamo at hindi siya nagrereklamo.

"Ok na."

"Mas maganda doon."

Sabay na sabi namin. Saglit kaming napatigil at ako na ang gumalaw. Kinuha ko ang phone ko sa kanya at ngumiti, "Okay na. Thank you."

Tumango siya at bumalik na kami sa loob. I was wrong when I thought that's the end of it.

"Oh siya humiwalay na ang mga bagets. Go have fun. I'm sure nahihiya lang kayo kasi nandito kami."

I eyed mama, signaling her to stop whatever she's doing.

Tumawa naman si tito Tristan at tinapik lang ang balikat ni Xavier telling him to go.

Tumaas ang kilay ko kay Xavier asking, gusto mo?

He just shrugged.