Splendiferous (Legazpi #1)

Forty-seven

AUGUST JOKE:

agosto kita kaso ghinost mo naman ako. sabagay, aughost nga kasi.

WALEY SIGE MAGBASA KA NA

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47.

"W-what?"

"Your brother, tita! Can he be my daddy?" Xavier repeated. "Tell him to date mommy so her wedding with ninong Elijah will be cancelled!"

"Teka, ano? Kasal?" Naguguluhan akong tinignan ni Arlszent. "Ikakasal na kayo ni Eli? Kailan at bakit hindi ka na naman nagsasabi sa akin?"

Aleezah faked a cough. "Uh, Xavier, do you want to see Leezent and Leezein? You can play with them."

"Tito said that they are already sleeping," ani Xavier.

"They woke up when they knew that their kuya Xavier is coming," Aleezah said in a jolly tone. "They're excited to meet you."

"Wow, let's go! Where, tita?" Xavier excitingly blurted.

"Come." Aleezah took his hand and they headed towards the stairs. "Your cousins are just three years old, you should act like an older brother, okay?"

My arm was held by Arlszent so I faced him back again. It's clear on his facial expression that he has a lot of questions for me.

"Tara, dining. Doon tayo mag-usap," sambit nito at dinala ako sa dining room.

"So?" panimula niya pagkaupo namin.

I took a deep breath. "Iyon nga ang dahilan kung bakit ako nagpunta dito sa Pilipinas. Personal ko sanang sasabihin sa inyo kesa VC..." I started giving him the details about my upcoming marriage here in the Philippines and when will it be held. Aleezah is also back downstairs with us and listening.

"Kailan ang dating ni Eli dito sa Pilipinas?" Zent asked. "Jesus, he already proposed to you four months ago tapos hindi mo man lang talaga ako sinasabihan."

"A week before the wedding," I answered, ignoring the last thing that he said.

"Itutuloy mo, e mukhang hindi naman pabor si Xavier sa mapapangasawa mo," banggit ni Aleezah.

"Matututunan naman ni Xavier na mahalin rin si Elijah kalaunan," nangangamba kong sagot kahit na tingin ko ay walang pag-asa na mangyari iyon sa ngayon.

"E, kung hindi?" she raised a brow and crossed her arms. "He might rebel when he grows up," nag-aalala niyang dagdag.

"I won't let that happen," I said.

I told them more about the wedding and who will be invited. Iikot lang iyon sa mga kaibigan ko at sa pamilya ko sa father's side. As for dad's relatives, I think I should leave it with Arlszent and kuya Aeign, they'll be the one to invite them since I haven't meet anyone of them.

Kinaumagahan, tinanghali na kami ng gising ni Xavier. Malamang ay dahil sa hanggang madaling araw kaming gising. Alas-dos pa nang dapuan ng antok si Xavier dahil hindi pa ito nakakapag-adjust sa oras na kabaliktaran ng Atlanta.

I let him hangout with Leezent and Leezein, Arlszent and Aleezah's three year-old twins, before we leave their house and transfer to the hotel. I still have my car, sila Arlszent na ang nagbantay noon dito mula nang umalis ako. It's good to know that it's still working that's why I don't need Arlszent to drive us to the hotel. May trabaho pa kasi sila, at ihahatid pa nila ang mga anak sa eskwelahan.