Sunod sunod ang paghinga ko sa kaba. Si Toby naman kasi walang pasabi na birthday na pala ng Mommy niya ang sunod na date namin. I paced back and forth trying to say what I need to say to Mrs. Larena. From what I've heard she's one rugged woman. Genes.
"Happy birthday Mrs. Larena... Ganon? Should I call her Tita? Hindi? Hindi naman kami close. Mrs. nalang," sabi ko sa sarili kahit alam kong hindi ito sasagot.
I closed my eyes and tried to breathe. Sinubukan kong gawin ang iyong tinuro si Kuya Orion sa akin na breathing technique kapag inaatake ng panic attacks pero hindi siya effective.
"Dani, nahihilo na kami sayo," Kuya Ae massaged his temples and sipped his whiskey.
Nakaupo sila sa sofa habang naglalakad ako sa gitna.
"Sorry," I fiddled with my bracelet. I tried to breathe properly again pero parang may nakabara sa ilong ko at hindi maayos ito.
"They're going to love you," Kuya Alaric said. Inayos niya ang buhok ko sa likod tapos ngumiti.
It helped but not much.
"How do you know?" I asked.
"Everybody loves you, baby girl," Kuya Io laughed.
I faked a smile. Not everybody. Wendy, Krystal, and Maxine loathes me because of... I don't really know why they hate me.
Narinig ko ang handbrake ni Toby kahit malayo. A reflex, I guess. I just sensed na malapit na siya. Nanlaki ang mata ko at humarap kaila Kuya. Their laughters echoed the whole house dahil sa mukha ko.
How can they laugh? Eh halos mamatay na ako sa kaba!
"Boys," Kuya Rylan held his laughter. "Stop laughing," sabi niya. Tumayo ito at niyakap ako. "You'll do great Dani, I know it."
Sasagot pa sana ako nang kumatok si Toby sa pinto. Binuksan ito ni Kuya Orion, he stood in front of him with his arms crossed. Toby smiled and tried to shake his hand but Kuya just walked back to the sofa.
"Make sure Dani's home before 10pm. Be mindful of who's gawking at her and if they catcalled her, beat them. Naiintindihan mo, Larena?"
Toby smiled and nodded, as always. "Understood, Mr. Del Fuego."
I pity him. He's still calling the gentlemen formally dahil wala pa raw silang tiwala kay Toby in opposite of the ladies, he calls them Tita and even Mama for both my Mom and Lola.
Nagpaalam ang mga pinsan ko. I kissed them before going out na sana.
"Teka," he suddenly said paglabas ng pinto. Nagtaka ako sa bigla niyang pagpigil. "Hindi pa ako nagpapaalam kayla Mrs."
Dahan-dahan akong napangiti. Pumunta kami sa backyard kung saan umiinom ng tsaa sila Mommy.
"Mommy? Daddy?" Tawag ko. "Aalis na po kami ni Toby."
Sumilay ang ngiti sa mukha ni Mommy while Dad remained blank, tinanguan lang niya si Toby.
"Mauuna na po kami. Iuuwi ko rin po siya bago mag-10pm."
He went to kiss my Mom on the cheeks and shook my Dad's hand, which he returned kasi kasama niya si Mommy. Humalik na rin ako sa kanilang dalawa bago umalis na talaga.
"They won't come?" He asked. He started driving away from the house.
"They? My family?" Tanong ko pabalik.
He nodded. "Yeah, everyone had an invitation."
"Everyone?"
"Business-wise," sagot niya.
