Between Dusk and Dawn (Love Lies in Ilocos Norte) COMPLETED

EPILOGUE

"Oh my God. I'm excited to meet your Mom Clyde. It's making me nervous."

Bumaba na kami nila Nadiah sa sasakyan. We started walking towards the house.

It's been years since last akong makapunta dito. Ang pamilya ko ang pumupunta sa probinsya kapag holidays.

I thought it was just a simple family dinner, with my cousin Xairon and my architect and also childhood friend, Nadiah. 

But it's not. 'Cuz that's when I first saw her. She ate gracefully and cautious, na parang may tutuklaw sa kanya kapag hindi siya nagdahan dahan.

I felt my something strange when she looked at me, causing myself to furrow my brows. It's like there's something tickling me in my stomach.

Mas lumala pa nang nalaman kong anak siya ni Tito Will, na siyang tumayong tatay ko when Papa is busy. I immediately remembered the watch.

Hindi ko alam kung anong pakana ni Mama sa pagsabing magtratrabaho si Roxette, such a nice name, I thought.

"You very well know I can clean my own stuff, right Mama?" I incredulously asked Mama.

Ngumiti lang siya, "You'll be needing her honey."

Tinapik niya ako at umalis na. I somehow felt worried nang dumating na ang araw na sinabi ko kay Roxette.

I looked at the house I owned when I was nineteen. It was spotless.

I sighed and went upstairs to get papers. Ikinalat ko iyon sa sala.

I told her to separate the drawings from the rest. Maiigi naman niya iyong ginawa.

I felt ridiculous though, ang mga drawing na iyon ay ang mga draft ko pa noon. I have Nadiah now kaya malimit na akong gumuhit, pero iyon lang ang mga nakita kong papel sa kwarto.

"Sir, gutom na po kasi talaga ako. Kung hindi niyo po kayang magisang kakain, mabilisan lang po ang pagkain ko sa labas para makabalik ng maaga. O tatake out ko nalang po at dito ko kakainin".

I clenched my jaw para pigilan ang ngiti ko. She's confused and full of doubt, yet alam niya na yinayaya ko siyang kumain.

"That's why I'm telling you to seat down, silly girl. You said you're hungry, help yourself up and eat." pagklaklaro ko dahil iyon ang hinihintay niya.

Hindi siya tumigil kumain hanggang hindi rin ako tumigil. I wanted to laugh at our situation nang natapos kami at busog na busog na.

I showed her the small garden beside the garage nang napansing wala nang pwedeng gawin.

Mama told me na mahilig siyang maggarden. I don't know what made me do it, pero nadatnan ko na lang ang sarili kong gumagawa ng garden nang nasabi iyon ni Mama.

I looked at her, afraid na baka hindi niya magustuhan. I was so relieved nang nakita ang ngiti sa mukha niya.

I cursed myself inwardly nang napapangiti na rin ako. What the hell is happening to me?

I asked that for weeks. I continued to treat her like how I like to treat her. Hindi ko pa alam kung ano ba ang nangyayari sa akin.

I bought him plants for the garden, na siyang umuubos ng oras kapag nasa bahay siya. I told her I got it from Mama.

Hindi ko alam kung napapansin niya ba pero hindi ako masyadong pumapasok sa Sabado at Linggo, unlike what Mama told her.

Wala naman siyang reklamo so I think it's still okay.

I can't help myself from being amused at her nang iginigiit niya na girlfriend ko si Nadiah.

I followed her to the kitchen when she stormed out of the living room dahil sa usapang ligawan.