Nineteen
1391 Words
Nineteen
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"you want us to meet your parents? —i mean, me?" —itinuro ni Kaliyah ang sarili–"and my son?" inilipat nito ang nakaturong daliri sa sarili patungo sa anak nito.
Namimilog ang mga mata nitong nakatingin kay Joshua. Joshua grinned.
"why? You don't like the idea?" masuyo nitong sambit. "baby, my parents wants to meet you and Kali, i think there's nothing wrong with it, yeah?"
Napalunok si Kaliyah sa sariling laway. Never in her entire life na kinabahan siya ng ganito—her heart is beating. Fast and hard. Her mind is too occupied with a lot of things—there's this and that, what if's and what for.
For what reason that Joshua wanted her to meet his parents? Well, they're maybe in intimate relationship but no more no less to it. No commitment, just s*x. Like and no love. —not to mention her, being now in love with him. —but she and she alone, never did Joshua tell her about what they have. What if Josh's parents doesn't like her because of her past? Because she's single mom and doesn't even know where the jerk father of her son is?
"for what?" she asked him. His smile fell. "really Kaliyah?, just say you don't want to, its okay with me, just don't ask me that question —because it hurts you know" seryoso nitong sambit.
Gusto tuloy niyang kutusan ang sarili. Hindi lang niya kasi mapigilang magtanong.
Anong masama do'n? Wala naman diba?
She's a woman. Mahalaga sa kanya ang bawat kataga.
For her, 'actions speaks better than words' is not in her book.. For her, mas Mahalaga pa din ang sasabihin mo ang nararamdaman mo.
"sorry.. Kailan ba?" she asked him. There's some place in her mind and in her heart that she doesn't want Joshua to be sad or be upset with her. Ngumiti ito ulit. —this time, he is hugging her and kissing her in the top of her head.
"tomorrow, at lunch. Don't worry, they will not eat you alive baby, if that's what makes you worry. They're good and very excited to see you and of course, Kali" excited nitong sambit.
'yon ang ayaw niyang mawala sa lalaki. Ang saya ng tinig nito. Ang kislap ng mga mata nito. Ang mga ngiti nito.
It's now or never. She's willing to take the risk. If meeting his parents is what nakes Joshua happy, then so be it. Risking is nit easy, sometimes makes you fail, but sometimes makes you the happiest person alive. —she's hoping the later.
"i will make sandwich, you want?" tanong niya dito. It's snack time for Kali na busy sa paglalaro ng mga baril. Tumango lang ang lalaki at hinalikan siya sa labi bago naglakad patungo sa anak niya. "i will let you meet my soldier cousin kiddo, your uncle" narinig niyang sambit ng binata. "sa kanya ka magtanong sa mga baril"
Napailing iling na lnag siya sa usapan ng dalawa. "kailan papa?" excited na sambit ng anak niya. Kahit kailan talaga, Kali is fascinated to guns and martial arts. Madalas itong nakatutok sa mga palabas na gano'n.
Hindi na siya magtataka kung paglaki nito ay magiging sundalo ito.
"if uncle Roderick will be free one of this days, i will call him to show himself to you" napatigil siya sa paglalakad. She never thought of Roderick being a soldier. Iyong lalaking tipong puro kalokohan lang ang alam? Sundalo? She can't help herself grinning —na napansin ni Joshua.
"what's so funny lady? Why are you grinning like that?" naka kunot noo itong nakatingala sa knay mula sa pagkaksalampak nito sa tabi ng anak niya. "yeah? Roderick is a soldier? I just can't believe it, imagine, that guy who seems like very happy-go-lucky kid is a fighter?" naka angat ang kilay niyang sambit. "I don't usually judge people, but knowing Roderick, kahit iisang beses ko palang siyang nakita, alam kong parang puro kalokohan lang alam no'n ah"
Napahalakhak si Joshua sa tinuran niya. "yeah, you're right. He's like that" nakatawa pa rin nitong sambit. "but, even if he's acts like that, he's one of a hel fighter —he's belong to airforce" sambit nitong may mababanaag na paghanga sa tinig nito.
Alam niyang kanya kanya ang talent at passion ng mga ito. But most of all, they are one hell of loving cousins —no jealousy and crab mentality in their dictionary.
Which makes her admire them more.
Maaga siyang nagising kinabukasan, sa bahay na din nila natulog si Joshua dahil sa makalawa ay uuwi na ang mga magulang niya. Hindi na daw ito makaka tulog do'n sa kanila pag nandito na ang mga ito.
Maaga din itong umalis para maligo at makapag handa. "mama, good morning. I love you!" Kali is grinning. "good morning too baby and i love you too!" masuyo niyang hinagkan sa pisngi ang anak niya saka ginulo ang buhok nito. Malapit na itong mag tatlong taon.
"mama, i want my milk na po, my tummy is thirsty" sambit nito na hinihimas pa nito ang tiyan. Napangiti na lang siya saka pumasok sa kusina ant nagtimpla ng gatas nito.
Kali never asked about Joshua for being not living with them, though ang alam nito ay ito ang papa niya, never pa itong nagtanong ng patungkol sa set up nila.
Matalino ang anak niya. Walang duda do'n. She must be careful to her answer if the time comes that Kali will ask. –but deep inside her, she's praying not to come that time.
"relax baby, hindi sila nangangagat" Joshua is chuckling while holding her in her waist and kali is with his other arm. —carrying him in his chest. While Kali wrapping his arms in Joshua's neck.
Pagbukas na pagbukas ng main door ng may kalakihang bahay nila Joshua ay nagbuga siya ng hininga, enough to make Joshua laugh. Akmang hahalikan siya nito ng may tumikhim.
Shr automatically pull herself from Joshua. She heard Joshua groaned "babe, hindi mo naman siguro ako ikinakahiya no?" napa-pantastikuhan nitong sambit.
"well? Would you mind to give us our grandson Joshua?" his mother —maybe in her mid fifties, still stunningly beautiful spoke. "hey, kiddo, meet lola and lolo" sambit nito sa anak niya. Excited namang bumaba ang anak niya mula kay Joshua at patakbong lumapit sa mag asawa.
"darling, he looks like Joshua when he's in this age, you think so?" his father —a well built man and still handsome —said in amusement.
Kaliyah stilled.
Ngayon lang niya napagtantong maraming similarities ang dalawa.
Na hindi niya binigyan ng pansin dati.
Naniniwala kasi siyang, madaming magkakamukha na hubdi blood related.
"hello, ma'am, sir!" nagbigay galang siya sa mga ito dahil nakalimutan yata ang mga ito na nandoon siya, dahil natuon agad ang atensiyon ng mga ito sa anak niyang tuwang tuwa naman.
"hello, hija, welcome to our humble house, call me tita Corina" she smiled back at lady of the house. "and me? Tito Victor" the old man said with genuine smile also.
She felt relieved all of a sudden.
At least she didn't fail for taking the risk.
Joshua held her hand and took her to the sofa.
They sat as tito Victor took Kali at the back of the house holding a sandwich, halatang magkapareho din ng hilig —egg sandwich.
"so, hija kumusta? Matagal ka na naming gustong makilala, sabi nitong binata namin, hindi siya maka kuha ng tyempo na yayain ka, well? How he did drag you here.. Finally?" tita Corina asked her in so much affection. She can feel it.
"blackmailing" she said chuckling, and Joshua stared at her in disbelief in his widen eyes! "seriously babe?" hindi maka paniwalang sambit nito.
Tita Corina laughed out loud.. "sa wakas, nakahanap ka na ng katapat mo Joshua!"
The laugh in unison as Joshua twisted his head. And tskd.
They cooked for lunch. After that, they eat together. Asikasong asikaso siya ni Joshua, ito ang naglalagay ng pagkain sa plato niya, at ang mga magulang naman nito ang nag papakain sa anak niya.
While she, was putting food to Joshua's plate also, gaining a genuine smile from his parents.
They talked and talked. Kahit ano ano lang, and Kaliyah is very happy with this family. –she felt welcomed.. Very..
Naglalakad siya sa sala papuntang harapan ng bahay ng natuon ang pansin niya sa isang larawang nakasabit sa dingding.
And Kaliyah gasped. Shocked and almost didn't breathe!
That man!
"oh hija!, that's Joshua three years ago, nang hindi pa siya nagpatubo ng balbas sa buong mukha, sabi ko nga sa kanya mag shave na kasi malaki ang pinagkaiba niya noon at ngayon" she did not focus on what the old woman is talking.
Nanginginig siyang naglakad palapit sa malaking larawan.
CJ BAUTISTA.
And she lost consciousness.
- Writer
