Piper

4

I was eating my cereals on the kitchen counter when mom told me that Piper's family will be having lunch with us that day. I almost spilled my milk when that information finally registered on my mind.

I also realized the reason kung bakit sobrang daming pinamili ni Mom na groceries at kung bakit nangangamoy ulam ang kusina namin noong umaga pa lang.

Mom told me that Dad was buying his best beers from another city kaya maaga itong umalis ng bahay. I was amazed by how Dad was passionate about his beers. Hindi naman siya alcoholic pero this is the rare times, na nagiinom siya with Piper's Dad.

Mabilis kung kinain ang aking cereals, hinugasan yung bowl sa sink at lumapit kay Mom na nagbabake ng kanyang butter scotch cookies. It smelled so good pero I was busy over thinking about the fact na Piper would be coming over.

It's not like it was the first time they came over for lunch or dinner but.... It's just different this time.

I was so used to the fact na hindi kami masyadong nag uusap at kung mag usap man kami its just a form of curtesy to show that we are civil to each other in-front of our parents.

" Anything i could do to help? " tanong ko kay Mom. I had this perk na pag kinakabahan ako, i hide my hands behind my back and start fidgeting.

" Kaya ko na naman itong mga niluluto ko pero hindi ko pa naayos yung table. Baka naman puwede kayo na ang bahala mag prepare nun ng kapatid mo? " utos ni Mom.

I badly want to impress Piper when she come over. Nilapitan ko kaagad ang aking kapatid na nanunuod ng tv sa sala namin.

She was complaining the whole time we're arranging the table. My little sister grew up to be the next generation of teens these days. She loves social media and she spends her time with her friends talking about boys they like and girls they hate.

Unlike my sister, hindi ako magaling pagdating sa technology, kaunti lang ang alam ko sa social media. Naiinis na nga siya sakin minsan dahil lagi ko siyang tinatanong sa mga abbreviations or slang words na ginagamit sa net.

I'm kind of old school.

" Puwede ba ate! huwag kang masyadong magpanic! "

Napukaw ang atensyon ko ng sigawan ako ng kapatid ko. She had a frown in her face at mukhang hindi siya natutuwa sakin.

" What are you talking about? Is there something on my face or what? " tanong ko sakanya.

Tinuro niya ang aking mukha gamit ang kanyang pointer finger. " Well, if you need an expert's advice, ugliness is all over your face. "

Napahawak ako sa mukha ko. I became conscious all of a sudden na baka pangit na mukha ang madatnan ni Piper pag punta niya dito.

" Look, i know Mom could get ahead of herself with visitors coming over, but look at you! Bakit ba para kang stressed na stressed! Hindi naman ito ang unang beses na pupunta sina Piper dito! "

I blushed. Naisip ko si Piper at ang obvious na  attraction ko sakanya. Hindi ko na lang pinansin ang aking kapatid at patuloy na inayos ang table setting namin.

Naisip ko din na pumitas ng mga flowers sa garden ni Mom para mailagay ko yun sa flower vase na hindi naman namin nagagamit.

Lunch time came quickly.

Halos mapunit na ang rib cage ko sa kabog ng aking puso. Sa loob ng halos isang oras na pag kain at pakikipag kwentuhan sa pamilya ni Piper, i was stealing looks from her the whole time.

Piper was focused on eating her food, and everytime na nakatingin siya sa kaniyang pagkain i was burning her image on my mind.

She just looked so perfect sitting right across from me. Pero ever since na pumunta siya dito sa bahay namin, she hasn't spoken a single word. I smiled at her pero she just nodded to acknowledged my greetings.