Kabanata 11

"Yes po," I answered politely, even bowing my head a bit. "Wala pa po ba si Iscalade?"

"Dumaan lang sila saglit sa S&R ng Dad niya," She assured. "I think they're already on the way. Okay lang ba? Pasok ka muna, anak."

Anak.

It made me flustered. But I know some people use it for endearments.

I went inside and Issie immediately barked at me, wiggling his tail to get out of the woman's grip.

"Hala, Issie..." the woman chortled. "It looks like Issie likes you."

Agad niyang pinakawalan si Issie kaya naman tumakbo si Issie sa direksyon ko. I immediately cuddled with him since I miss him too. Matagal kaming hindi nagkita. How I wished my parents would let me have pets, wala naman akong allergies sa kanila.

"Issie, I miss you..." I affectionately hugged him. He only barked softly in response. Malambing talaga siya.

"I'm Tita Istelle, Philomena. I'm Iscalade's Mom, I hope you don't mind us knowing your name." She was almost giggling, pero pinipigilan niya ito. "Don't worry, it's not for all the wrong reasons. Alam lang namin na kaibigan ka ni Iscalade."

"Good afternoon po, Tita." I greeted her. "Pasensya na po sa abala."

"No, it's never a bother. I heard you're even helping Iscalade with his studies," she gave a small smile. "Thank you, anak."

"W-wala po 'yon," I, once again, flushed at her statement.

She served me tea on the meantime and we bonded with Issie. I was expecting her to be jolly and as loud as Iscalade but she was tranquilty itself. Ilang minuto lang ay dumating na si Iscalade kasama ang kanyang Dad. Both of them were bantering.

"Mama, bakit ba si Papa 'yung pinatulan mo sa lahat ng mangliligaw mo?" Iscalade's forehead was dipped into a frown. "Tama ba naman iwan niya 'yung anak mo sa cashier na hindi man lang iniwan 'yung wallet niya?"

"Kung hindi ako 'yung pinili ng Mama mo edi sana hindi ka ganyan ka-gwapo," His Dad nudged him playfully. "Ito naman nagtatampo agad, saglit mo lang naman hindi nakita 'yung crush mo. Ayan na nga —"

"Pa! Secret nga lang 'yon," Iscalade hushed his Dad. "Ingay mo naman, Pa. Parang di sinabihan, ang kulit."

His Dad only grinned at him. Upon seeing his Dad, I can attest that Iscalade got his attitude and genes from his father. Pareho silang may pilyong ningning sa mga mata.

Kabaliktaran naman ito sa kanyang Mama. His Mom looked too soft and calm contrary to his bubbly personality. Pero mukhang namana naman niya 'yung pagiging mabait nito.

"Sorry, matagal ka bang naghintay?" Iscalade asked me, concern laced on his voice.

I inmediately shook my head.

"Nope, sandali lang naman po."

"Ah so, tara na?" he asked, scratching his nape. He looked nervous.

"Saan kayo, Iscalade? Bawal sa kwarto mo ah," His Papa reminded him, teasingly.

"Hindi naman talaga," Iscalade says. "At saka, palagi namang bukas 'yung kwarto ko, Pa. I have nothing to hide. Mabait kaya akong anak ni Mama."

Iscalade stuck out his tongue and his Dad only chuckled. Hindi ko mapigilan ang makaramdam ng inggit nang makita ang reaksyon ng kanyang ama.

I never had that kind of encounter with Daddy. Palagi lang kaming seryoso. Although, I know I should always remain polite to elders — I envy that kind of interaction. Minsan iniisip ko kung kailan kaya? Gusto ko rin maranasan.

"The study area is free," His Dad suggested. "Doon na lang kaya kayo, mga anak? Kung gusto niyo lang naman."

"That room can make anyone feel claustrophobic, we'll renovate that room pa, 'di ba Dad?" His Mom reminded Tito, her face expressed concern.

I can't help but think their endearments were cute, I never heard my Mom calling my Dad in any affectionate manner. Naninibago lang siguro ako.

"Sa theatre room na lang siguro kami," paalam ni Iscalade. "Okay lang ba, Philo?"

I nodded my head. Wala naman sa akin kung saan kami gagawa ng notebook niya. My materials are with me, so I don't need to get any stationery from him.

"Yes po, kahit saan naman po."

We went to their theatre room. I knew that their house were big but seeing the upper floor made me really root for this house. It marveled a contemporary aesthetic of furnitures and the interior design came straight out of pinterest. Gano'n na lamang ang ganda nito.

He opened the door for me, I roamed around my eyes to observe the room. There was a big projection screen with curtains on both of its side, the floor was covered in red carpet and there were speakers on the walls. Meron pa ngang maliit na fridge at isang popcorn machine sa dulong bahagi ng kwarto.

The details of their house makes me admire it more, it makes me wonder how their rooms look like. Pakiramdam ko kahit guest room nila ay maganda rin.

"Pwede naman tayo sa sala na lang, kaso kukulitin ka lang ni Papa. Kaya mas okay na rin siguro ito."

"I don't really mind it po," I told him. "Meron po bang table?"

"Yup," he nodded his head. He pointed towards the small table infront of the huge screen, mukhang lalagyan ito ng pagkain. There were lazyboy chairs instead of regular ones. Pakiramdam ko ay mahilig talaga sila sa movies.

"You like watching movies po ba?" I can't help but fill my curiosity.

"Si Papa talaga 'yung mahilig, pero sumasama rin si Mama at syempre ako. It's our family bonding when we have the time," sagot niya habang may tinatagong ngiti.

Tumango ako. I sat down on the floor even if Iscalade insisted to get me a chair, okay lang naman sa akin. I started putting brown and yellowish pastel designs on his notebook. I had old papers with me, scented with vanilla and daisies.

Dinikit ko ito at nilagyan ng iba't ibang linya galing sa mga paboritong movies ng Papa niya. It was easy to know, since there were movie posters on the walls of this room.

I was teaching Iscalade of the color patterns and how to make it more appealing in someone's eyes.

"Ito po, you can cut this and place it here for your header..." I explained as I cut the old paper and decided to make it as the header for the lesson's chapter one. "Okay na po ba?"

"Yeah..." Iscalade was looking at me intently, making me look at him too. Agad akong namula nang mapagtantuan na masyadong malapit ang mukha namin.

"S-sorry po!" I squeaked.

"Huh? Oh wait..." he chuckled and moves backward. "Sorry too, if that made you uncomfortable."

Agad naman akong umiling. It was just sudden and he was too close.

Wala pang alas kwatro nang matapos kami. I pouted when I realized that I have nothing to do in our house today, tapos ko na 'yung huling binabasa ko.

"Thank you, Philo! Let me know how to make it up to you, ha?"

"Wala po 'yon," I answered. It was just designing his notebook.

"Tara na, Philo? Tatawagan niyo na ba 'yung driver niyo?" Iscalade asked, pinagpag niya 'yung cargo shorts niya pagkatapos niyang tumayo.

"Can we s-stay for a bit?" I asked, in a small voice.

"Po?" he murmured even if he look bewildered.

I started fidgeting my fingers out of anxiousness.

"Can we watch a movie? Kahit sandali lang po?"

I just didn't want to go home yet. Staying here for a while made me feel that our house were surrounded by gloom and loneliness. I feel so alone in our house unlike here. Kahit papaano, nakararamdam ako na may kasama ako sa bahay.

Iscalade's lips parted, agad naman siyang tumikhim.

"Sure," he agreed. "Sandali lang."

He went towards a glass cabinet. May kinuha siyang laptop doon. He immediately connected the laptop to the projector.

"You can seat on the chair, Philo," he said, in the middle of setting things up.

Agad ko naman itong ginawa, I looked at the screen and saw the logo of Netflix.

Oh.

I immediately giggled because finally I can use the term Netflix and chill! It's not like I don't use Netflix, pero madalas ay mas babad ako sa pagbabasa. I always wanted to use that term since people like to use it a lot whenever they watch Netflix with others. I think it means watching Netflix with your friends.

"Hey, should I prepare popcorn? Pero meron din namang snacks d'yan, may gusto ka ba?" Iscalade sat next to me, pero sa ibang lazyboy chair nga lang. He was drinking a sprite in a can.

"Nope, let's go na po." I smiled at him.

"Let's go?"

"Let's Netflix and chill!" I beamed at him. His eyes dilated upon hearing what I've said, bigla siyang umubo nang mahina. Parang nasamid 'yata.

Agad siyang napalayo sa akin, bullets of sweat formed in his forehead. Pero malamig naman ang aircon sa loob ng theatre room.

My eyebrows furrowed.

Huh? Ayaw niya bang manood ng Netflix?

"Philo," he gulped before continuing. "What do you mean by that?"

"Uhm," my gaze went downwards as I think of it. "Manonood ng Netflix po."

He arched an eyebrow. "And?"

"Magc-chill?" I winced.

He made a 'pft' sound by containing his laughter.

"What do you mean by chill, huh?" he asked, teasingly.

"Chill as in kalmado pong manonood ng Netflix."

He started laughing, his broad shoulders were even shaking because of it. Tinatakpan niya gamit ng kanyang kamay ang kanyang bibig, hindi siya makatingin sa akin nang diretso.

I wonder why? May masama ba sa sinabi ko?

"Akala ko pa naman...may meaning," he chuckled softly while shaking his head.

"Please don't use the term again to others," Iscalade says, his eyes turning serious. "It isn't what it appears to be. Okay lang ba, Philo? People may not know what you were pertaining."

I slowly nodded my head.

"Yes po, and sorry po."

He sighed and ruffled his own hair.

"Bakit ba ganito utak ko..." he mumbled vehemently.

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