The Perfect Revenge

Twenty-seven

Jake

My parents invited AJ and I for dinner that weekend. Magde-decline sana ako kaya lang my mother was sneaky. In-extend na pala nila yung invitation kay AJ na pumayag na sa kanila. Kaya kahit ayaw ko mang mag-agree, no choice na ako. Isa pa, pumunta si Vivian sa condo para sumabay papunta sa bahay, thinking na magba-back out ako. Panigurado ako it was Mom who put her up to it.

What am I going to do with the women in my life?

"Sarap po talaga ng luto niyo, Tita Alice. The best! Paano ko po ba kayo magiging nanay? Liligawan ko na po si Vivian," pagbibiro ni Harvey while reaching for the Dim Sum.

My father glared at him pero dahil normal kay Harvey yung ganitong pagbibiro, tumawa lang si Mommy. "Vivian will marry whoever she chooses to love at kung ikaw man yun Harvey, then I have no qualms about it. Pero please, pagtapusin mo muna siya ng pag-aaral."

"Noted po, Tita." Lumingon siya sa kapatid ko. "Church o beach wedding?"

Since nasa kabilang tabi ko si Harvey, binatukan ko siya. "Sinabihan ko kayo ni Gage before, not my sister."

All eyes turned to Viv nang malaglag niya yung utensils na hawak niya. "Sorry," bulong niya, reaching down to pick them up.

"Kutsara tsaka tinidor? Tapos maganda tsaka guwapo yung darating? Imposible, andito na ko tsaka si AJ!" pagbibiro ni Harvey.

"Baka ako kasi yung darating." We all turned our heads towards the kitchen door kung saan lumabas si Gage papunta sa backyard kung saan kami nagdi-dinner. At his side was a woman, probably his date. "And I have a beautiful lady with me."

Lumapit siya sa head ng table kung saan nandoon ang parents ko para batiin sila. That's when he started to introduce us to Lauren, yung kasama niyang date. Pinaghila niya ng upuan ang companion niya and then sat in between Lauren and Vivian. "Sorry Tita kung short notice. Nagkaroon ng mishap doon sa reservations namin kanina. Thank you for inviting me and Lauren."

My mother smiled. "Nako iho, you and your friends are always welcome sa Saturday dinners natin, ano ka ba."

Gage looked around the table. "So, what did I miss?"

"Binigyan na ako ni Tita Alice ng permission na manligaw kay Viv," sagot ni Harvey.

Gage was obviously surprised by this dahil naging tensed siya agad, siguro dahil na rin alam niyang binalaan ko silang dalawa to stay away from my sister and Harvey is declaring such nonsense. Sa akin siya tumingin for verification. "Really?"

"Harvey has a death wish," ang response ko.

"Kukuha lang ako ng bagong utensils," excuse ni Vivian. She was acting weird kaya sobrang nag-aalala ako.

I knew Mom was feeling the same kasi her forehead was starting to show lines of worry. I saw her hands move under the table and I don't have to see to know that she's grabbing for Dad's hand to calm herself.

My parent's relationship has always amazed me. They have been together for almost half of their lives and they still act so much in love. Na parang yung love nila is new everyday. True, they fight a lot, but what normal couples don't?

I watched as my father leaned a little to Mom. May binulong siya rito and when my mother nodded, he kissed her at her temple. Kitang-kita ko yung pag-straighten ng forehead niya matapos makahanap ng reassurance.

When I was younger, I have always wondered if I would ever find a person who would be my other half katulad ng kung paano muling nagmahal si Dad sa stepmom ko. But I guess napangunahan ako ng hormones ko to really be serious about finding that.