Chapter 12

This is Crazy!

Halos 30 minutes na kaming naghihintay. Habang lalong natagal, mas lalo akong kinakabahan. Siguradong kung ano-ano 'agad ang iniisip nila ngayong nandito ako sa police station. Iniimagine ko pa lang ay sumasakit na ang ulo ko.

Mayamaya ay nadinig ko na ang tunog ng kotse na papadating. Pumarada ang isang Ford Mustang sa tapat ng police station. Ugh, they're here.

Nakita ko naman si Mommy na tumakbo papasok sa loob. Nakasuot pa siya ng mahabang fur coat at pink na dress sa loob habang nakasakbit naman sa braso niya ang branded niyang bag She's also wearing her expensive jewelries.

Inilibot niya ang tingin hanggang sa magtama ang tingin namin.

"Oh my, Ellaine!" With big strides, she came to me. "My baby! Did you get rob?! Did someone molest you?! God! My princess!" Niyakap niya ako nang nahigpit.

Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako. "Mommy, I'm totally fine. 'Wag ka ngang OA diyan."

Humiwalay siya sa pagkakayakap sa'kin. She cupped my face and examined it. "Are you sure?"

Sasagot na sana ako pero bigla namang pumasok si Daddy. He looked a lot simpler than my mom. He was wearing a black jacket over a white shirt and black jeans but his shoes was noticeable. Halata kasing mamahalin ito. Kung si Mommy ay mahilig sa jewelries, si Daddy naman ay sa mga sapatos.

"Nasa'n ang anak ko?! Nasaktan ba siya?! Sino ang may sala?!"

"Seriously?!" I shouted. "Kumalma nga kayong dalawa. Walang masamang nangyari sa'kin."

Lumapit naman sa'min si Sir. Ocampo na hindi na napigilan pang tumawa.

Yumakap siya kina Mommy at Daddy bilang pagbati.

"Tama si Ellaine. Wala namang masamang nangyari sa kanya pero..." Bahagya siyang tumingin kay L.Joe. "Nag-alala lang ako sa kanya kaya dinala ko siya rito at tinawagan kayo para masundo siya."

Umakbay si Daddy kay Sir. Ocampo. "Saan mo naman nakita si Ellaine? At sino itong binata na kasama niya?"

Lahat kami'y napatingin kay L.Joe na nakapoker face lang at mukhang kalmado. Samantalang ako kinakabahan na nang bongga!

"Nakita ko sila sa loob ng kotse sa parking lot ng Amusement Park. Nag-alala lang ako na baka kung ano na ang nangyayari. I found out that Ellaine was the one inside together with the boy."

Pareho silang napasinghap. Dahil advance mag-isip ang mga magulang ko, sigurado akong kung ano-ano na ang naiimagine nila.

"I swear wala kaming ginagawang masama." pagdepensa ko. "We were just tired from playing around inside the park. We decided to take a rest."

Tumingin ako kina Mommy at Daddy na nakatitig lang kay L.Joe.

Did they even hear my explanation?!

Nagulat na lang ako nang biglang sumigaw si Mommy. "Magkakaapo na ba ako?!"

My jaw dropped and my eyes widened. "Mom!" sigaw ko.

Kaagad akong tumingin kay L.Joe dahil ako ang nahihiya para sa mga magulang ko pero mukhang natutuwa pa siya sa nangyayari. His lips twitched like it was about to break out into a smile.

"Pang-ilang base, boy?" Talagang umupo pa si Daddy sa tabi ni L.Joe at umakbay dito.

"We didn't do anything like that, Sir." nakangiting sabi ni L.Joe.

Nag-snap ng daliri si Daddy. "Sayang! Dapat Home Run na 'agad, e!"

Pakiramdam ko'y sasabog na ang mukha ko sa sobrang init at kahihiyan.

"Daddy, please! We're not like that!" God! I'm already stressed out! "Can you please stop?"

"E, bakit? Hindi ba't doon din naman ang punta no'n? Bigyan mo na kami ng apo dahil lumalaki na ang business natin. Kung ayaw mo rin lang namang maging tagapagmana, regaluhan mo na lang kami ng apo para may iba kaming mapaglibangan ng Mommy mo."

Gusto kong iuntog ang ulo ko sa pader. "Dad! This is not funny! Apo?! Hindi pa ako nakakapagtapos at hindi ko pa nagagawa ang gusto ko! Stop!"

Hindi nila ako pinansin. Itinuon nila ang kanilang atensyon kay L.Joe. Tinapik-tapik na lang ni Sir. Ocampo ang aking balikat bago bumalik sa table niya para magtrabaho.

"Ginalingan mo ba, hijo? Sinigurado mo bang nakashoot ka? Excited na akong magkaapo!" excited na tanong naman ni Mommy. Pinaggigitnaan na nila ngayon si L.Joe samantalang ako ay nakatayo lang sa harapan nila.

"Wala ngang nangyari sa'ming dalawa, e! Bakit ba ayaw niyong makinig?! 'Di ba dapat pinipigilan niyo pa ako sa mga ganyang bagay?!" Pumadyak ako sa sahig dahil sa inis. I swear, mamamatay ako sa sobrang stress dahil sa parents ko! I freaking swear!

Ngumuso si Mommy. "Bakit naman, anak? Maganda ang genes na naipasa namin sa'yo at ang binatang ito naman, no doubt, maganda rin ang lahi!" then she laughed while slapping L.Joe's arms.

"Ni hindi niyo pa nga siya nakikilala, e!"

Gosh! Kanina pa sila banggit nang banggit tungkol sa pagkakaroon ng apo pero hindi man lang nila itinanong kung sino ba talaga si L.Joe.

Napakamot naman silang dalawa sa kanilang ulo.

L.Joe laughed. He looked like he was enjoying what was happening. "I'm L.Joe She, taking Civil Engineering. I'm currently courting Ellaine right now." Tumayo siya at nagbow sa harapan nina Mommy at Daddy. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Hidalgo. I hope you'll allow me to continue courting Ellaine."

Napahawak naman si Mommy sa kanyang bibig. "I don't mind! Kahit gawin mo na siyang girlfriend mo, ok lang!"

Pinanlakihan ko ng mga mata si Mommy pero nginisian niya lang ako.

"We should talk about this at home. Bakit hindi ka sumama sa'min sa bahay for dinner? Nagpaluto na kami bago pa lang kami makalapag." sabi naman ni Daddy na nakangisi rin.

Why do I feel like they're liking L.Joe already?! They just met, for Pete's sake!

Sa huli ay wala na rin akong nagawa. Isinama namin si L.Joe pauwi para makasabay sa dinner.

"I'm sorry about my mom and dad. They're stubborn and pushy. Higit sa lahat, ang advance nila mag-isip." I rolled my eyes heavenwards.

He chuckled. "It's fine. They're cool. Unlike my parents."

Napatingin ako sa kanya. "What about them?"

"They're strict and serious. It took me a long time to get away from their grasp."

Magtatanong pa sana ako pero nakarating na kami kaagad sa bahay. Hindi naman kasi ito gaanong malayo sa police station kung saan nakaassigned si Sir. Ocampo.

My parents went inside the house while I lead the way for L.Joe. After we got in, the aroma of the food that was prepared for us drifted around the house. I suddenly felt hungry.

Hindi na nami nagaksaya pa ng oras. Nagpunta na kami sa dinning area para kumain. Our maids prepared the table so all we have to do was eat.

"I hope you'll like the food we prepared, hijo." Mom took the napkin and laid it on her lap.

Ngumiti si L.Joe. "I will, Ma'am."

My mom waved her hand. "Just call me Tita."

L.Joe chuckled and nodded in response.

Nagpabalik-balik ang aking tingin sa kanila nang mag-usap sila na para bang si L.Joe ang anak nila. Napailing na lang ako. Siguro'y masyadong natuwa si Mommy at Daddy dahil nanliligaw sa'kin si L.Joe na wala pang ibang lalake na gumawa para sa'kin noon.

"So, L.Joe, ano'ng nagustuhan mo sa anak ko?" Daddy asked out of nowhere.

I almost choke on my food. "Daddy!"

He looked at me with laughter in his eyes. "What? I'm just asking him. I'm wondering why he liked you in spite of being a hard-headed woman."

"Don't bully her!" Natatawang sabi ni Mommy. She ellegantly picked her spoon and took a small serving of the soup in front of her. "But I couldn't help wondering why either. Our daughter grew up in US. We had a hart time controlling her behavior as she ages. She met a lot of good guys but never got serious with them. Now that she's here and seeing she's been taken care of, I guess sending her back here in the Philippines was a great choice."

Pinakinggan lang ni L.Joe lahat ng sinabi ni Mommy. He waited until she finished talking before giving an answer. "It's true that her carefree and happy-go-lucky behavior are overwhelming but that's what I really like about her. She loves freedom. She loves doing things on her own. She's independent. I admire women who can stand up for themselves without needing anyone to do it for them. Your daughter is really strong, an embodiment of a true woman."

Hindi ko na malunok ang aking kinakain dahil sa mga nadinig ko kay L.Joe. That's too much! I don't even think that way about myself!

"Aren't you complimenting me too much?" I took a sideway glance at my parents only to see them smiling widely at us.

Bahagyang umangat ang isang sulok ng kanyang labi na para bang pinipigilan niyang matawa. "Why? I'm just telling the truth."

There's no way he'll see me that way in that short amount of time we have known each other. He's trying to win my parents over!

The dinner went just like that. They never stopped bullying me, right in front of my salad! Literal na kumakain ako ng salad!

"It was nice meeting you, hijo." Mom gave L.Joe a quick hug.

"Sa susunod ay dumalaw ka ulit dito sa bahay." Dad shook hands with him and patted his back.

Wow? Pabor na pabor na kaagad sila sa Mango Boy na 'to!

"Thank you for the wonderful dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Hidalgo."

Inihatid ko siya hanggang sa labas ng gate.

"Pagpasensyahan mo na ang mga magulang ko. I never invited a guy over and just like what they have said, wala pang nagbalak na manligaw sa'kin. Ikaw pa lang. It's natural that they were ecstatic about it."

Sumandal siya sa kanyang kotse. "It's fine. I had fun." Inilahad niya ang kanyang kamay. "Come closer."

Para akong nahulog sa kanyang spell at sinunod ang kanyang sinabi. I took his hand and stepped closer to him. The next thing he did shake my heart. He planted a soft and lingering kiss on my forehead.

Lumulutang ang aking isip na wala na akong nagawa kundi ang panoodin siyang sumakay sa kanyang kotse. I waved at him absent-mindedly until his car disappeared from my view.

Tumakbo ako papunta sa'king kwarto at dumapa sa'king kama. It didn't help ease my racing heart tho.

My phone beeped.

From: Unregistered Number

I hope you'll have a good sleep. Good night. Don't forget that I like you. - L.Joe

Nagpagulong-gulong ako sa'king kama habang hawak ang aking cellphone na parang high school girl na nitext ng kanyang crush. Gosh! Balak ba niya akong patayin sa kilig?!