Running After The Dusk

29

Halt

"How long is he dating you, iha?"

Bahagya akong nagulat sa biglaang tanong sakin ni tita- Oh, okay. What should I call her ba? Mom? Mommy? Ugh basta yung nanay ni Vino. I heard Vivien's squeaking noises at my back so I gave her a sweet smile before looking back at Vino's mom.

Hindi naman ako masyadong kinakabahan dahil basic questions lang. Pero wait, how long we've been dating ba? Should I start it from the day when I started to like him o yung araw sa Tagaytay?

"Recently lang po." I could not just say the exact date kasi baka mamaya ichika ng mom niya sakanya tas mali pala, baka mamaya sabihin niya puro kasinungalingan sinasani ko sa nanay niya. "But we knew each other for quite long."

She smiled, may kaunting features ang Mom niya na nakikita ko si Vien at Vanne pero mas lumalamang si Vino. No wonder why they're close. "Vino didn't mention someome for a long time, kaya nagulat talaga ako. Right, hon?"

His Dad smiled. "Yeah, I think it's been 2 years? I'm not sure." Kahit sa simpleng pag iisip ay nakuha rin ni Vino sa tatay niya.

"What do you mean 2 years Dad? he mentioned Leiane before the district meet last year." I chose to ignore Vanne even though I wanted to cut her off, masyado kasing bastos kung bigla bigla lang akong magsasalita. I don't have any idea how strong their bond is so wala akong karapatang pigilan siya kung kailan niya nais banggitin si Leiane

But she makes me so fucking uncomfortable. Kanina, on the way to the court she would ask her parents about Leiane. Wala naman akong magawa kundi makinig nalang.

"Vanne, I don't think it's appropriate to say that infront of Halt." It sounds like a warning, but Vanne didn't mind what her dad said and acted like she didn't hear anything at all.

"Why? Does it hurt you ba, Halt?"

I flashed a fake smile, trying not to look obvious. "N-not at all." I swear, I've been wanting to shout at her and tell her that what she keeps on saying offends me a lot but I just can't do that and it freaking drives me crazy.

I hope this will be over soon.

"Pasensya na iha." Vino's Mom tapped my hand lightly, she was obviously trying to calm me down by tapping it slowly. "Vanne and Leiane are really close." She leaned closer. "To the point that she can't accept the fact that my son and Lei broke up."

I sighed. Well, I can't blame Vanne for acting this way, siguro magiging okay din kami kapag dumating na kami sa stage na unti unti na naming nakikilala isa't isa. If Leiane did that before, syempre kaya ko ring gawin diba?

"No it's okay po." I placed my hand on top of hers, ang lambot ng kamay ng mother niya. "I'm sure we'll bond soon."

I tried to assure myself with that statement, for sure that will happen din naman. Sumulyap ako kay Vanne, she was roaming her eyes around, as if she was expecting someone to come. Geez, baka mamaya buong angkan na ni Vino dalhin niya rito.

"So what does your parents do, Halt?" Ito na nga ba ang sinasabi ko e, ito na ata ang simula ng job interview ko. Huminga ako ng malalim bago ko harapin ang Dad niya. Shocks, I've been in a lot of interviews pero bakit kinakabahan ako dito sa tatay niya?

"Business man and woman, sir." Sinubukan kong hindi magmukhang kinakabahan.

"That's interesting." He crossed his legs, looking impressed. "May I ask what kind of business?"