Chapter 13

My Christmas break became happier than the usual experience I had. Although I was stuck in the house, I was happy. Given that I am with my family, one person made me happier even though he was far away from me. Yes, it was Ellie.

The last face to face conversation we had was when he asked if he could court me. I was in awe at that time because I never thought he would want to do that, but yes, I let him.

Tinanong pa ako nito kung okay na ba talaga, kung wala bang problema kung sakaling manliligaw na siya. I knew he was just concerned because he witnessed how my ex-boyfriend cheated on me. Siguro ay para malaman kung safe na ba talagang pumasok siya sa buhay ko at kung wala na ba talaga akong nararamdaman para kay Benedict. I told him I already moved on. Saka hindi naman ako papayag na magpaligaw sa iba, lalo na sa kanya kung alam kong may koneksyon pa ako sa taong una kong minahal.

Noong gabing iyon, inihatid pa niya ako sa bahay. Bago siya umuwi sa kanila ay ipinagpaalam niya ako sa magulang kong gusto niya akong ligawan.

My parents were not that shocked. The way Ellie visited me in our house, and him always asking permission from them when we go out together, they assumed that he likes me and it would lead him to court me. At hindi naman daw sila nagkamali. But still, despite them knowing it, I was glad that Ellie let my parents know about it. He wanted to court me in a legal way and that’s what he really did.

Kahit na malayo ito sa akin, nagkukumustahan pa rin naman kami through phone calls, text messages, at maging sa mga video calls. Noong New Year, kasama ang pamilya ko sa pagsalubong ng bagong taon, tumawag ito sa akin kaya pakiramdam ko’y kasama ko lang din siya.

Our holiday break quickly went by until I woke up one morning and it’s time to go back to school again. Rhian’s already back and so does Ellie, and I was so excited to see them both.

Pagkarating sa room, nakita ko si Rhian na namimigay ng mga imported chocolate sa mga kaklase namin. Hindi talaga nawawala ang ganitong ugali niya. Sabi niya ay sayang lang naman daw kaya mas maiging ipamigay niya sa iba. Sa lagay na ’yan, nagmumukha siyang kandidata sa election. Just kidding!

We did nothing on our first day of school but share the experiences that we had. Hindi ko alam sa professor namin at inisa-isa kaming pinagkwento sa harap kahit short lang daw. Kung sa high school, madalas ay pinagsusulat kami ng mga New Year’s resolutions, pagdating sa college ay hindi pa rin pala kami makakaligtas. Sa halip na isulat, pinagsalita pa kami sa harap.

“New year na new year, may nag-aabang na manliligaw. Sana all, ’di ba, Jana?” Iyan ang mga sinabi ng kaklase ko nang mauna silang makalabas ng room.

The way they teased, I already knew Ellie was outside. I looked in Rhian’s direction and she just wiggled her brows on me. Kung hindi sa mga magulang ko ay sa kanya lang naman ako nagkukwento. It was so obvious that she was my classmates’ main source of information. Pahamak din talaga ang babaeng ito.

I went to Ellie and he smiled at me. “My mom cooked food. Pinabaunan niya ako. Sabi niya ay bigyan din daw kita.”

My eyes grew bigger. “Your Mom knew me?” Tumango ito sa akin. “Since when?”

“Before I could court you?” Muli na naman itong ngumiti sa akin. Does this guy like me that much? Bakit ang saya sa pakiramdam? “I wanted to introduce you to them—”

“Huwag!” agap ko sa kanya saka wala sa sariling napakagat labi ako. “Nahihiya ako,” mahinang dahilan ko na siyang ikinatawa niya.

Ellie messed my hair and pinched my cheek. “Alright. I’ll introduce you to my family when you’re ready.”

Gawa ng pagkaing pinabaon ng Mama niya sa kanya na para daw sa aming dalawa ay roon kami sa nook pumunta. Panay lamang ang kwentuhan namin nito sa mga ginawa namin noong holiday break.

“Mas masaya sana kung magkasama tayong dalawa,” pasimple nitong saad kaya hinampas ko siya nang mahina.

“Magkasama naman na tayo ngayon.” The two of us laughed at that.

School matters continued, and so did Ellie in courting me. Not just for days, or weeks, but months. Kahit abala kaming dalawa sa kanya-kanya naming ginagawa, lalo na siya dahil third-year college na siya ay nagagawa pa rin niya akong bigyan ng oras.

Kung gaano kabilis ang pagsapit ng bagong taon, gano’n din sa aming bakasyon. It passed as it happened in just a blink of an eye. Time really flies fast.

Around the first week of April, I kept rubbing my hands while Ellie was beside me, silently driving his car. Hindi ko alam kung paano ako nitong napapayag na kitain ang pamilya niya. Part of me wanted it too because I want to see his family, but now that we were just minutes before reaching their house, based on what he told me, my chest is throbbing in nervousness.

Nilingon ako ni Ellie at malaya niyang kinuha ang kamay ko na noo’y kulang na lang na pagpawisan sa ibabaw ng hita ko.

“Hey, relax, Jana. Matutuwa ’yon sila Mama kapag nakita ka.” He then brought my hand on his lips and kissed the back of it. Saka niya iyon ipinatong sa hita niya, ngayo’y isang kamay na lang ang gamit niya sa pagmamaneho dahil hindi na niya binitawan ang kamay ko.

“Gagi, Ellie. Kinakabahan talaga ako. Pakiuwi na ako sa bahay please?” Yet he laughed at me.

“No backing out baby, especially that we’re here already.” Dahil sa ini-anunsyo nito ay parang sasabog na tuloy ang puso ko lalo pa nang ipinarada niya na ’yung kotse niya. Isang dahilan lang ang alam ko, nandito na nga talaga kami sa bahay nila.

Since he was holding my hand, I brought it to my chest so he could feel my nervousness. “Ellie.”

“I’m here, baby, alright?” Kung wala lang ako sa sitwasyon ko ngayon, kikiligin sana ako sa pagtatawag niya ng baby sa akin, pero anak ng tokwa naman, paano ako kikiligin sa lagay na ’to kung kahaharapin ko ang pamilya niya?

Binitawan lang nito ang kamay ko noong lumabas na siya ng kotse. He went to my direction and opened the door, but I can’t feel of going out. Parang gusto ko na lang talagang umuwi.

“Jana, kapag hindi ka pa bumaba r’yan, bubuhatin kita,” natatawang banta nito.

“Kasi naman Ellie, e,” napanguso ako.

“What?" he chuckled again. “Come on, they will like you. Trust me.” When he offered his hand, I found myself holding unto him until I realized that we’re already walking inside their house.

“Kuya El!” matinis na saad ng batang lakaki ang una kong narinig pagtapak ko sa loob ng bahay nila.

I saw that kid walk from us and Ellie immediately carried him. “Miss me, Gab?” Tumango naman ang bata sa kanya.

Habang naglalakad kami ay sinilip ako nung bata. “Are you Kuya El’s wife?” Pinamulahan ako ng mukha dahil sa tanong niyang iyon.

“In the future. She will be your Kuya’s wife.” Pakiramdam ko ay mag-aapoy ang pisngi ko dahil ginatungan nito ang tanong ng bata.

Hindi na lamang ako umimik lalo na noong mapansin kong nasa sala na kami at nandoon ang buong pamilya niya, tila naghihintay sa amin. Though Ellie’s carrying that kid, he managed to hold my hand and that somehow made me at ease.

“Good afternoon po,” bati ko sa kanilang lahat.

“Good afternoon, hija. Hindi na ako magtataka kung bakit madalas kang ikwento ni El sa amin. By the way, I’m his Mom. Call me Tita Jennifer.”

“I’m Jana Montecilla po,” pakilala ko sa Mama nito, sa kanilang lahat.

“Are you Mayor Albert Montecilla’a daughter?” I nodded to Tita Jennifer.

Sunud-sunod naman silang nagpakilala sa akin. Tita Jennifer was his Mom and his Dad was Tito Leandro. Tatlo rin silang magkakapatid. Si Ellie din ang panganay at ’yung gitna sa kanilang magkakapatid ay si Aira Faye. First year college na rin ito pero sa ibang university nag-aaral. Si Harvey naman ang kanilang bunso na Grade 10 na. Gab, that little guy, was his cousin. Narito rin kasi ang ilan sa mga pinsan niya sa kanyang mother side, lalo na ’yung mga kaatid ng Mama niya.

Hindi nagtagal ay dumiretso na kaming lahat sa dining table nila. Inimbitahan kasi ako ni Ellie sa family lunch nila ngayon kaya ako nandito.

“I want to go to Kuya El’s wife.” Bumaba ang batang Gab sa kandungan ng Mama niya at sa akin siya naupo. Bigla niya rin akong niyakap. Nagtawanan naman ang lahat dahil sa pagiging clingy nito sa akin.

“Why do you like your Ate Jana, Gab?” saad ni Tita Jennifer sa bata.

“Because she’s pretty.”

“What if she’s not pretty?” singit naman ni Ellie kaya nagtawanan silang lahat maliban sa akin dahil sinamaan ko ito ng tingin.

“But she’s your wife. I don’t care if she’s pretty or not.” I smiled at his honest response. I like this kid na. In the end, I was the one who feed this little guy on my lap.

Tita Sarah, Gab’s mother, told me that he’s already seven years old. Sadyang ganito raw siya kapag may bago siyang mukhang nakikita. Lagi niyang kinukulit. Iyong pagiging clingy niya ay talagang parte raw ng behavior niya.

Nagstay ako sa bahay nila Ellie hanggang gabi na. Ayaw kasi akong paalisin ng family niya hanggat hindi ako nakakakain. Nahihiya ako pero nakakatuwa lang na ang bilis ko silang nakagaanan ng loob. Pamaya-maya ay kinakausap nila ako. They also asked me about my school stuff. I just told them I’m an incoming second-year college student, taking up a business ad course.

I guess this was what Ellie felt when my parents bombarded him with questions before.

“Hija, last week of April is my birthday. Punta ka ha?” pahabol ni Tita Jennifer bago pa ako makapasok sa loob ng kotse ni Ellie.

“Susubukan ko po, Tita.” Nginitian ako nito at pinanood pa kaming makaalis.

“How was the feeling?” Ellie asked me while we’re now in the middle of the road.

“Nakakakaba, sobra.”

“That’s normal. That’s what I felt when your parents interviewed me. Hindi pa ako nanliligaw sa’yo noon, ah.” Tama nga iyong hula ko kanina. “But see, they’re fond of you. I told you magugustuhan ka ng family ko.” He’s right about that and I can’t be thankful enough.

Tuluy-tuloy ang naging byahe naming dalawa hanggang sa madaanan na namin ang pamilyar na lugar. Iniliko nito ang kotse niya papasok sa subdivision. After one turn to left direction, we stopped in front of our gate. Sabay kami nitong lumabas sa kotse niya.

“I was glad that you allowed me to introduce you to my family.”

I looked at him and stifled a sweet smile. “I am more than glad, Ellie.”

Bahagya nitong ginulo ang buhok ko saka niya iyon hinalikan. Dahil sa ginawa niya ay hindi ko maiwasang yakapin siya. “Salamat.”

He also hugged me back. “We’re already here. Go inside so you could rest now. Goodnight, Jana.”

“Goodnight too, Ellie,” tugon ko sa kanya saka niya ako pinakawalan. Nagtatalo pa kami dahil gusto ko siyang tignang makaalis pero gusto niya rin daw akong tignang pumasok sa bahay bago siya aalis. I lost so it was me who had to go first.

Ellie watched my stride until I reached the lock of our main gate. I was about to open it, but he declared something that made me stop, especially my heart.

“I love you, Jana.”

My heart thumped so fast and loud like it wanted to come out of my body. I looked at him and say something that I never knew I could tell him.

“Thank you,” saka ako parang wala sa sariling binuksan iyong gate. I even heard him laugh at me when I couldn’t easily open it.

I once looked at him and he’s crazily laughing at me. Being out of myself, I once said goodnight before I ran inside the house. The moment I closed the door, I held my chest because it exploded in so much emotion. Not long after, I lightly knocked my head on the door when I realized what I replied to him.

Thank you? Seriously, Jana Montecilla? Thank you?

Mas lalo pa akong nabaliw sa kahihiyan dahil pagdating ko sa kwarto, nakatanggap ako ng mensahe kay Ellie at ang laman no’n ay walang iba kundi ‘You’re always welcome.’ God. How could I let myself be in this kind of embarrassment?