In Between Maybes

Chapter 11

Girlfriend

"Are you crying? " Bungad sa'kin ni Ethan nang sagutin ko ang tawag niya. 

 I told him to call, I needed answers. 

"No, " Peke akong tumawa, "Sorry for making you call. Nag-aaral ka pa ba? "

"I'm in the middle of it, but no worries, Av. "

"Are you sure? "

"Yes. Are you okay? "

"Of course, " Tawa ko ulit, "Can I ask you a question? "

"What is it? " Alerto niyang sagot.

"It may seem odd to ask this, pero may alam ka bang connection ng families natin? I mean politician din ba ang Daddy or Mommy mo? " I dubiously asked him.

"No. My parents are both Engineers. Why? "

"Pero naging involved ba ang families natin? At some point gano'n? Kahit hindi sa Politics. Kahit sa Business? You know, my family runs some businesses. Kayo rin 'di ba? Sabi mo? "

"Not that I know of. I haven't heard them talk about Zaldivars. "

"Really? "

"Yes. Is there any problem, Av? " Tanong niya.

"Wala naman. Baka lang kasi nagcollide na 'yong families natin. I just wanna know the history. "

"We are the first in the history of Valerios and Zaldivars, " Sigurado siya?

"That's nice, " Hindi ko alam kung pa'no aakto nang normal. Iniisip ko pa rin ang galit ng Kuya. Hindi ko alam para sa'n 'yon. 

"We're the first, right? So dapat mabait ka rin sa family ko. Baka naman nakaaway mo na ang Kuya ko sa school, ha? You're both college and Engineering pa pareho. "

Mahina siyang humalakhak sa kabilang linya, "I don't go around and fight. I hope you know that. "

"So, hindi mo pa nakaaway si Kuya? I mean kahit sagutan? Like that? "

"Hindi, Av."

"That's good. Ayoko ng suitor na gano'n. "

"Then, I'm not. "

"All right. Ibababa ko na, ha? You study na ulit. Ako naman magreready na for sleep. I'm a bit tired. "

"Okay. Good night. I'll see you tomorrow. "

"See you, " Huling sagot ko at pinatay na ang tawag.

Mag-aalas onse na ng gabi ay naghihintay pa rin ako rito sa kwarto ko sa pag akyat ni Mommy. She said we'll talk, right?

Paikot ikot ako sa buong kwarto ko habang hinihintay siya. Pigil na pigil din ako sa sarili kong lumabas at makinig sa kung ano man ang pinag-uusapan nila.

Eavesdropping isn't my thing.

Nakita ko ang paggalaw ng door knob ko. Mabilis kong binuksan 'yon at bumungad sa'kin si Mommy.

"You're still up? " Nakangiting tanong niya.

"I'm waiting for you po, "

"Are you now okay? " Hinila niya ako at pinaupo sa kama.

"How's Kuya? Bakit siya galit, Mommy? "

"He's not mad. Talagang ayaw niya lang na magpaligaw ka muna. You know your brother and your Dad, Av. "

"He was shouting at me, Mommy."

"Well, you shouted first, " Kinagat ko ang pang ibabang labi.

"I'm sorry po. "