PORTION 50

TJ's POV

Since Petot asked me when I will introduce my Zack to them, I have been thinking of it since then.

Nagdadalawang-isip kasi ako kung ipakikilala o hindi, kasi makikipaghiwalay din naman ako eh. So, what's the sense? Pero ang sarap siguro makita rin si Zack na kinakabahan pero excited kung mangyayari yun.

"`Ma I've been thinking, ipakilala ko rin kaya sa inyo si Zack—" but before I could finish my sentence, I heard a car sound coming outside. Napatingin ako kay Mama sa taka.

Nakakunot noo si Mama na nagtanong sa akin, "Sila Petot na ba yun? Ba't parang ang bilis nila?"

We stood up and were about to walk to the door to open it, but we stopped when someone walked in while crying.

"Tang•na, bakit ka umiiyak?" tanong ko sa kapatid kong kakapasok lang ng pinto.

Agad naman namin siyang nilapitan at tinanong rin siya ni Mama.

"Petot, anong nangyari?"

I looked straight to the opened main door, and saw Al outside.

"Pinaiyak ka ni Al?" I asked her, frowning, while looking at her too.

"Hindi, Kuya."

Mama asked her too, calmed, "Sino ang nagpaiyak sa bunso ko?"

"Hindi ako welcome sa pamilya nila."

"Punyeta!" I lost my temper, napasigaw ako sa galit, "Hindi nga kita pina-iiyak eh, ni-hindi ka nga pinaiiyak ng pamilya natin. . . . tapos, ano!? Ibang pamilya pa talaga!? Ibang pamilya pa ang magpapa-iyak sa 'yo!? Anong karapatan nila para saktan ka ng ganito!?"

Bigla kong naramdaman na may humawak sa braso ko, nakita ko ang kamay ni Mama, "Huminahon ka, Tj. At bantayan mo muna 'tong kapatid mo, lalabasin ko lang si Al saglit."

Bago pa man ako makasagot ay lumabas na si Mama. It left me no choice but to be here. I went to Petot's front and slowly put my right arm on her nape, carefully trying to push her head on my chest before I gave her a warm and tight hug. Humagulgol siya sa iyak ulit.

"Okay lang 'yan, nandito si Kuya."

Wala siyang tigil sa pag-iyak kaya mas hinigpitan ko pa ang yakap sa kanya. Rinig na rinig ko ang pag-iyak niya, ganunpaman, rinig ko rin ang pag-uusap sa labas ni Mama at Al.

"Tita, hindi ko po alam. Hindi ko po sinasadya, Sorry. I'm really sorry po," Al apologized.

"Okay lang, Al, hindi naman kita sinisisi. Pero may papaki-usap sana ako."

"Ano po yun, Tita?" Al asked, "If this was about asking you po to me na break up with her, I'll not do it po."

Napatawa si Mama, "Al, kakasabi ko lang, 'di ba? Hindi kita sinisisi. Nakikiusap ako, umuwi ka na lang muna."

"Pero Tita. . ."

"Al, wala kang matutulong kung mag-i-stay ka rito. Kaya umuwi ka na, nakikiusap ako," Mama begged.

Al just didn't say anything, and just went inside the car without looking at the direction here. And he left that way.

Agad naman na pumasok din si Mama ng bahay at nagsarado ng pinto.

Petot left hugging me, looked at us with her swollen eyes, and spoke.

"`Ma, Kuya?"

Nagkatinginan kami ni Mama ng magsalita si Petot bago sabay na sumagot din sa kanya, "Oh?"

"Kapag ipinakilala na ni Kuya si Kuya Zack sa atin. . . . `Ma, please, i-welcome natin siya, ah?"

I was shocked when I heard her, but Mama gave her a tight hug while looking at me, "Oo naman."

The day after tomorrow...

"Ma, Petot. Si Zack, boyfriend ko."

Why am I doing this? Why am I introducing him to them? It's not because I don't want to do it but I don't want them to be attached to each other, especially now that our days are just 7 days before that bet ends. And I really don't know what is going to happen.

Zack smiled, "Hello, po."

Mama looked at Zack so close.

"Ma!" pagsuway ko kay Mama.

"Mas gwapo pala talaga 'to sa malapitan."

Napatawa na lang kami sa inasal ni Mama. Mama squeezed Zack's cheek that made us startled.

Lumapit sa akin si Petot, "Pa-no way, no way ka pang nalalaman. Dadalhin mo rin naman!"

I slapped her leg, "Tsk!"

"Ehem!" Mama faked her cough.

Oh, 'di ba? Buti na lang talaga wala kaming klase ni Zack, aring si Petot alam na freshman siya skip-skip pa!

We're in the living area. Mama, Petot and I are sitting next to each other while Zack is alone, on our couches.

"May nagsabi sa akin, magaling ka raw magluto," Mama talking to Zack. "Tama ba?"

"Opo, I'm the one who's always been at home since I was young so I really know how to cook po takaga."

Mama gave him a wonderful smile, "Wow! So you learned it by yourself?"

"Yes, po." At the same time nod, Zack answered.

"Kahit minsan 'di mo na-achieve 'yon," Petot whispered to me.

I gave her a look to shut up, parang nung isang araw pa 'tong si Petot, ah!

"Why? I mean nasaan ba si Auntie Jane mo?" And that's the reason why Zack is looking at me now, because of what Mama had asked.

I smiled and nodded. Yes, Zack, I told her.

I asked Mama about his parents from me, medyo natatakot siya na baka raw magkamali pa siya ng banggit dahil sa nangyari kay Petot. At may paka-sensitive rin naman 'tong si Zack kaya nag-explain ako ng matindi.

Zack looked away, and turned his gaze to Mama once again, "Busy at work, po. And I have my reason naman po."

"Pwede bang magtanong, ano yun?"

Now I know why Petot is kinda chismosa, too.

Zack looked at me again, with a smile plastered on his face, "Para na rin po sa mapapangasawa ko."

The both of them, Petot and Mama, looked at me, raising their eyebrows and seemed like they liked what Zack answered.

"Oh," is all that Mama can say.

While Petot whispered to me, "Okay, sabaok!"

"`Wag kabahan, ako lang 'to."

"Sige, since sinabi mo magaling ka magluto. Punta tayong kitchen, magluto tayo ngayon na," pag-iiba ni Mama.

"Sige po."

They all stood up and walked to the kitchen. They are all cooking while I'm just looking at them, carefully looking because I'm so happy to see this all.

Parang kahapon lang nakita ko 'to pero ang kaibahan ay dalawang tao pero ngayon tatlo na, and they are all the important ones to me.

I can't explain how happy I am right now.

They are standing next to one another, cooking something while I'm just here looking at them. Looking at them like this is enough.

I'm just too happy to have them in my life.

"Kuya, nakaka-distract ka. Doon ka nga muna!"

I went to my room because of Petot had said. . . . but after 40-45 minutes, I went out as well. Kakalabas ko lang ng kwarto ng marinig ko sila Mama na nag-uusap.

"Petot, how about Al? Malapit na raw ba siya?" Mama asked.

"Malapit na daw po, Ma." And Petot went out, trying to see if her boyfriend was there.

Well, they are okay now. Kahit na raw ayaw ng pamilya ni Al si Petot para kay Al, ay wala raw paki si Al. My sister said everything to me, and 'di ko sinisi si Al sa mga nangyari. I'm even more proud of him kasi ipinagtanggol niya yung kapatid ko sa Daddy niya, kahit medyo disappointed ako sa nangyari.

"You're so lucky, aren't you?" Out of nowhere, I heard Zack's voice.

"Huh?"

"You have a wonderful home, a wonderful life. . . . unlike mine."

I can feel how envious he is right now. I smiled, ayaw ko magmayabang pero sino nga bang hindi mainggit sa buo ang pamilya at maayos na buhay?

"I thought you and your parents are doing well now, aren't you?"

He took a deep breath before he answered my question, "Byul, we're not as good as yours. Hindi kami gaano ka-close ni Al, hindi kami ganoon kasaya, o kaya kapag nagkikita o nag-uusap ng parents ko. We really do have a big problem."

I hugged him, sa lahat ng taong nakilala ko, siya ang may pinaka-miserable ang buhay.

"Everything will be okay, just trust Him."

He hugged me so tight, "I hope so."

Umalis ako sa pagka-kayakap sa kanya, huminga ng malalim bago nagsalita ulit, "Zack, hindi naman sa nakikialam na talaga ako, but is it okay if I ask? —no, never mind."

I immediately changed my mind but Zack grabbed my hands, "Byul, ask me. You're always been with me, hindi ka na rin iba sa akin, hm?"

I grabbed his hands and went to the back of the house. I wasn't looking at him, I took a deep-deep breath first.

"Bakit hindi pa rin kayo okay ng family mo?”