Chapter 8: I like you Ganda.

Chapter 8: I like you Ganda. 

"Hoy, arat. Birthday ni Kevin nang i-invite ang mokong." Salubong sa amin ni Ali, nang makita kaming dalawa ni Jen. 

Like I said, Jen has become so busy these days. She also revealed to us that she is now becoming an actress after modeling. She's now entered showbiz literally. 

Jen is busy eating pizza right now, kung makasubo akala mo talaga huling kain na niya. 

"Hey, easy marami pa oh." Turo ni Ali sa mga pagkain. 

"Sorry, I am exaggerating but maybe this is going to be the last time I'm enjoying this kind of food. Cause you know, showbiz I have to maintain my figure so after this no more unhealthy food na." Jen explained. 

"Oww, hirap naman niyan." Ali said. She really looks so sad. 

"Oy, Lexia inaasahan nga pala ni kumag na darating ka. Sa akin ka na daw sumabay." Sabi ni Ali sa akin. I look at her and just nod, tutal wala naman na akong gagawin mamaya. 

"What's a good gift to give him? May alam ka ba since matagal na kayo magkaibigan?" I asked Ali. She is now dipping pizza into the sauce and eating it, she gives me a wait sign. Because she's chewing the food. 

I took the fries and dipped them in ketchup. I feel like we are all starving in our own way.

"Ewan ko ba dun, hindi naman kasi maarte si Kevin ei. Okay lang kahit wala kang ibigay." Sagot sa akin ni Ali. 

I nod listening to what her saying, glad to know that she knew a lot about Kevin. Well, Kevin and I are quite close right now but we are still figuring out what type of person we are. 

Jen and Ali are keep talking about Jen's entering showbiz industry. I'm just listening to them. 

"Oy, pag nasa TV ka na i-shout out mo ako ha." Ali tap Jen's arm. I heard Jen's chuckle. 

"Oo, ilalapag ko pa social media accounts mo." Jen replied tease him back. 

"Sus, baka nga mawalan ka na ng time sa amin ei. Teka bakit ba ang demanding ko bago pa lang nga tayong magkakilala ei." Ali added. I look at them both, yes that's true that we are just new to one another but the vibes the feelings of our friendship. Feels like a lifetime. 

"Duh, don't say that. Did you guys know that the two of you are one of the realest people I've ever met." Jen said. 

"Aww--I'm gonna cry na. Kahit mahirap sabayan pagiging conyo mo minsan. Love na agad kita." Ali said, jusko naiiyak nga talaga ang bruha. 

"Oo na, stop it. I will make time for you both. I will still attend my classes here, but maybe we can't always be together. But surely I will make time." Jen promised to us, she hugged Ali and hugged me too. 

"I will miss you, the silent one." She whispered to my ears. 

"Stay safe okay." I whispered too. 

I finished all my classes today and went home. Ali needs to go home to their house in Laguna. Nasa dorm kasi nakatira si Ali pero taga Laguna talaga siya. May emergency ata sa bahay nila kaya nagmamadaling umalis kanina. 

Katatapos ko lang magbihis at handa na sana akong magluto ng biglang nakatanggap ako ng text. 

From Kevin:

Ganda sunduin kita ha, birthday ko ngayon ei gusto ko andun ka. Okay lang naman diba? 

When I read his text, that's where I realized that it was his birthday today. Shocks. I should buy at least a simple Shirt as a gift. 

To Kevin:

Okay lang naman ei. Pero nahihiya ako wala kasi akong gift. 

He replied immediately.

From Kevin:

No need na ganda, okay lang gusto ko lang na um-attend ka. 

I smiled when I read his reply like, he always knows how to be considerate to others. 

I texted him the address of my house. Then go back to my room so I can change, I pick some red top and shorts and I pair it to white shoes. Naligo na rin muna ako bago nagpalit. 

I put on some light makeup for my face, because that's the only thing I know. 

When I go outside my room to wait for him, Mama is still not home yet. But when I heard the gate open I looked at the window and saw who it was. 

I see Mama with a guy this time! I sighed, the moment when my Mom brings a guy to this house it means that she's in love again. She can't get over the death of my father before. My Dad died when I was not born yet. 

I look at my Mama face while they are entering this house. Her smile is always like that, in love. 

"Ma!" I calmly called her. 

"Anjan ka na pala hija. Kamusta ang araw mo? Siya nga pala si Tito Ed mo, Ed si Lexia, madalas Alicia ang tawag ko sa kanya. Nag iisang anak ko." Mama introduced me to her new boyfriend for sure. 

The man is in his middle age. I can see the wrinkles on his face prove that he is going to get old by next year. 

"Naka-ayos ka aalis ka ba?" She asked, while placing all the groceries she bought in our kitchen. 

"Ahm. Opo, birthday ng kaibigan ko." I look at the man who is observing my outfit. I don't know but he feels weird. Or maybe this is just our first meeting, which is why it kinda feels creepy. 

"Sayang, pagluluto ko pa man din kayong dalawa. Pero hayaan mo na marami pa namang susunod na araw." Mama said. I took my sling bag and was about to leave when Kevin suddenly popped out somewhere and came. 

"Sorry, ganda kala ko kasi walang tao ei." Kevin said and he is scratching his head now. 

"Palabas na rin naman ako." I told him. Buti na lang pala at wala ako sa bahay, lalo na at nagdala si Mama ng jowa. Baka ma-awkward lang ako. 

"Magandang hapon po, Tita at Tito." nag mano naman siya kay Mama at dun sa Ed. 

"Nagdala nga po pala ako ng handa, hehe para po sa inyo." Kevin said, and handed a box of food to my Mama what he brought. 

"U-una na po kami." Paalam ko sa kanila. 

"Happy birthday hijo, ingat kayo." Mama waved to us back. 

I saw Kevin's motorcycle parked in front of our gate. 

"Bait naman ng Mama mo." He broke the silence, I put the helmet on my head that he gave me. 

"Tara na, okay na ba?" I asked him. He looked at me and chuckled a bit, before he fixed my helmet on my head. Hindi pala maayos ang pagkaka-lock ko. 

"Ayan ang ganda." He said looking at my eyes. 

"Ng helmet right?" I asked back, baka malito siya. 

"Tss. Sakay na!" He said and I sat now at the back of his motorcycle, because he is the one that is driving. 

"Kapit ka ganda." Kevin said, and I placed my hands on his shoulder but he removed it and wrapped my hands to his waist. He did that. 

"Ayan naka kapit ka na." He turned around his head to look at me. I just shook my head to him and smiled a little bit. 

It's just a few blocks away and we have already reached their home. I didn't know that he was living in a fancy exclusive village. 

"Happy birthday. I greeted him when we entered their mansion." He smiled at me. 

"Thank you so much ganda." He said. 

"Ikaw naman kasi ei, dapat in-allowed mo muna akong nakapagbalot ng gift sa yo. Nakakahiya tuloy wala akong dala." I said, in embarrassment. He patted my head at pinaggugulo niya ang buhok ko. Sa sobrang gulat ko natulak ko siya. 

"Sorry!" I said, and helped him to stand. 

"Scary ka pala ganda." He jokingly said, and he acted like he was hurt and someone bumped him that much. 

"Sorry, sorry sorry." I repeated. We are both just laughing right now. 

It looks like it's just a simple birthday celebration and they are just a family that was invited. 

I observed his house, it has a modern style house but attached to the vintage designs. In other words, It may look modern on the outside but vintage on the inside. Siguro mahal gastos dito. 

Pumasok kami sa dining room, yun ang narinig kong sabi ni Kevin. 

"Mom, Dad, Kuya. This is Lexia. Lexia, my Mom and Dad and Kuya Austin." Kevin introduced me to his family. I smile at them and accept their hands to shake hands. 

When I look around at the dining area. There I saw Rage and-- wait what? Congressman Suarez is here too? 

"I invited your Ninong to join us, Son, since you invited a friend." I heard his Dad giggles. 

"Seat with us, hija." His Mom said, and tapped my shoulders. Magkatabi kami ni Kevin at kaharap naman namin ang mag-amang Suarez. Magkaharap naman ang Mama ni Kevin at ang kuya nito. 

I silently eat while the elders are talking about business I heard and sometimes politics. When I rolled the pasta to fork, I saw on my peripheral view that Rage was looking at me. So I look at him to make sure. 

I just smile a bit. He didn't smile back, so I continued eating. 

"So, Lexia right?" Kevin's Mom caught my attention. I look at her. 

"Yes po." I said. 

"What's your course hija?" She asked. 

"BA in English Language Studies po. Mam" I told her. Her mouth formed an "o" after she heard that. 

"How's my beloved Son as a boyfriend?" Her Mom teases him. 

Kevin choked on the drinks he was drinking after his Mom said that. When he is finally alright he look at me and drink another water. 

"Mom, she is not my girlfriend and we're not in any relationship." Kevin said, I look at Suarez's reaction. The Congressman is just watching and Rage doesn't have any emotion to his face. 

"Really? I know you, you never brought a girl to your birthday like this so, what's the tea?" His Dad said, I feel like I'm on a hot seat right now. 

"Just tell us." His brother said. 

"I don't have to tell you guys anything because we are really just friends. Stop it. Geez!" Kevin said. He can't even look at me right now. 

"If you say so. Son!" His father said, Congressman Suarez and his Dad just laughed seeing his youngest Son look panicked. 

After the dinner I left them, para naman makahinga ako sa kaba. Grabe naman yun napagkamalan pa akong jowa ni Kevin. 

"Sayang wala si Ali." Nagulat ako sa biglang pagsulpot ni Kevin nasa may garden kasi kami ngayon, naupo ako sa may swing nila rito. Tinabihan naman ako ni Kevin. 

"Ano ba raw nangyari sa Laguna?" Tanong ko sa kanya. 

"Yun nga ei, hindi ko makontak. Sana okay lang lahat dun." Kevin said. I heard him sighed. 

"Dude, wag ka mag yosi dito maawa ka sa halaman." Biglang sita ni Kevin tinignan ko naman kung sino ang sina-sabihan niya at si Rage yun. 

"Shut up. Kevs!" Rage and continue lighting up his cigarette.

"Anong Kevs, ka jan. Bantot naman ng tawag mo sa'kin." Kevin fires back. 

"Bantot ka naman talaga ha." Rage said, are they fighting? And I didn't know that Rage and Kevin are quite close. 

"Aba, siraulo ka. Porke Arti---" Kevin can't finish his saying because Rage ran to him to cover his mouth. Sa sobrang gulo nila muntik pa silang matumba at madaganan ang halaman. 

"Problema mo." Kevin looked so pissed that is why, Rage grabbed Kevin's arm and they walked away? Like seriously? 

"Guys, nandito ako o?" I whispered to  myself. 

I waited for them to come back. Pero naka ilang minuto na rin at wala pa sila. 

I sighed, when I was getting bored waiting for them. 

Tumayo na ako para sana tingnan kung nasaan sila. Nang biglang dumating si Rage. 

He looked at me, just like that staring at me. 

Pansin ko rin na pawis na pawis siya. 

"Lexia, I li--

"I like you Lexia." I heard Kevin yell, I looked at Rage back and he was there. Hapong hapo, he's smiling at me right now. Tumakbo siya papalapit sa amin ni Rage. 

"I like you Ganda." He said and gave me a sweet smile.