The Rank - Series II

Chapter 4

Happy birthday to me. 🎉

We are all seated and eating dinner. 

And I still couldn't believe this happening — that Olivia is here right next to me. Like for real? For all people? Sya talaga ang guest namin tonight. Well, fyi. I'm not complaining. I'm just really confused. Hindi ko kasi maisip na magkakilala ang parents namin.

— Now, I'm super aware of her presence and it's freaking me out. 

Halos paubos na nga ang pagkain nilang lahat pero ako nakakatatlong subo palang, bigla kasi nawala ang gutom ko kanina.

Pero nabubusog naman ako sa palihim na pagsulyap kay Olivia. Ang ganda eh at super grateful kumilos - de numero.

Napaka creepy ko sa totoo lang. 

"Oh wait, where's Erin?" My Mom Elise asked. 

And Who's Erin?

The ever beautiful Supermodel Ms. Clay lift her eyes up to my mother and smile — Jeez, she is the carbon copy of Olivia. "My eldest daughter Erin is a workaholic girl, Elise." She gently wipes her lips, very graceful. "She got it from Sari." 

The other woman, na pangalan ay Sari ay napatigil sa pag hiwa sa karne. "Hey, I'm not." I swear this woman screaming luxury. I'm so jealous. 

Ms. Clay give her wife a lovely stare. "I'm just kidding love." At binalik ang tingin sa parents ko. "But my wife is a very hardworking woman though. She provided for me , for the children." Tumayo ang balahibo ko dahil ramdam na ramdam ko ang love at pagka proud sa boses ni Ms. Clay. "I'm just really happy na she didn't pursue politics." 

"Which is good thing." My Mama Mara interjected. "Politics is messy." 

My mother knows because her father — my grandpa was a governor in our province. 

But many questions still lingers in my head. 

"How did you guys know each other?" I mimick my thoughts. 

And it's too late before i even realize what i just said. Lahat sila ay napatingin sa akin even my little sister Mushroom. 

Hindi ko tuloy naiwasanang makaramdam ng hiya. 

"Mm." Mama Mara hum as she is contemplating what to say. "Long story Anak." 

But i want to know. "I have time."

Ms. Clay chuckle. "We all have history."

"Remember your Uncle Primo?" Tanong sakin ni Mama Mara. 

At titig na titig ako sa kanya. "Of course Ma." 

Then her attention shifts to the guests. "Sari was his former wife and Clay used to work in the company where i took my OJT." 

And what happened between Ms. Sari and Uncle Primo?

Heck, it's disrespectful to ask kaya hinayaan ko nalang.

Ang importante ay hindi kami naging malayong magkamag-anak ni Olivia.

Speaking of Olivia. Hindi ko tuloy maiwasang mapatingin sa kanya na abala sa pagkain. 

Small world, indeed. 

"Oh thank God." 

At biglang napatigil si Olivia sa pagkain at napasulyap sa akin. "Thank God for?"

Napalakas ata sabi ko. So I'm panicking. "Nako, wala." Ang pula ng mukha ko. 

But Olivia seems to believe me. "Tapos ka na kumain?"

Kinuha ko ang table towel at pinunasan ang labi ko. "Oo, ikaw ba? Gusto mo ng dessert — "