Kiss or Slap

Chapter 18

____________________Chapter P

Tahimik kong sinilip sila Papa sa living room. Mecho's Mom looked so young on her white bodycon dress, and a pair of pointed stilettos. His step Dad is wearing a white polo na nakatupi hanggang siko, 'saka nakatuck in sa kanyang black pants.

Liningon ko si Mecho na nakasandal sa counter at nakapamulsa. Preskong-presko pa talaga siya!

"What the hell are you thinking? Akala ko ba ikaw lang ang pupunta?" I hissed at him.

Nagkibit balikat lamang siya sa akin. "Gusto nilang sumama."

Napahawak ako sa aking noo. Gosh! The food we prepared is not even enough for us! Nakakahiya!

"I know what you're thinking," he said. "Mom said, she'll cook pasta."

"Well, thank you for you concern!" Inirapan ko siya dahilan upang tawanan niya ako.

He licked his lower lip and pushed his hair backwards. Napakpresko niya talaga! Akala mo walang inaalala! Baka nakakalimutan niyang may kasalanan pa siya kay Papa!

Napanguso ako at bumaba ang tingin sa kanyang katawan. He looked very formal tonight, though. With his black polo shirt, nakatuck in sa kanyang brown pants, and a pair of casual shoes. Kulang na lang ay magkaroon ng kamera sa paligid dahil mukha siyang artista o modelo.

Pinanliitan ko si Mecho ng mga mata nang bigla kong maisip kung bakit niya dinala ang buong pamilya niya.

"I know what you're thinking.."

"I can't believe you can be this mischievous!" I hissed at him.

He smirked. "Learn from me."

"Learn from you? Dinamay mo pa pamilya mo para lang makalusot sa kalokohan mo?"

"Hey! That's so mean!" Reklamo niya pa. "If you didn't tell me na 'kabit' mo iyong ka-text mo sa cellphone noon, hindi sana tayo aabot sa ganito."

Napanguso ako. "Bakit kasi napakaseloso mo." I murmured.

"Of course! Sa tingin mo, sinong boyfriend ang magpapaparty pa kapag nalaman nilang may kabit ang girlfriend nila?" Pinagsalubong niya ang dalawang kilay niya.

"IGM."

"IGM—what?"

"I-google mo."

He rolled his eyes at me. Halatang napikon sa sinabi ko.

Tama nga siya dahil girl scout ang kanyang Mommy. Nagdala pa talaga ng mga sangkap upang makapagluto ng pasta dito sa bahay!

"Mecho really likes pasta, simula pa noong pagkabata niyan. I always cook for him when I have time. Well, as for Elaina, she does not often eat pasta. She is well, picky with foods." Paliwanag ng Mommy ni Mecho sa akin.

We are currently cooking together. Nakakahiya naman siguro kung hindi ko siya tutulungan. She didn't care if she is wearing make up, she just simply ponytailed her hair and she started cooking. Nahiya pa ako dahil hindi naman naka-aircon ang bahay namin kagaya sa kanila kaya malamang pa sa malamang na naiinitan na siguro siya ngayon.

"Malamang, maarte 'to, eh," Mecho rolled his eyes upon hearing what his Mom just said.

Elaina darted a slight but cute glare at him. "At least, I eat gulay!"

"Sinungaling! You only eat carrots."

"That's still gulay." Depensa ni Elaina.

"Guys, quit the shouting. We are not in our house," suway ng Mommy nila at nerbyosang ngumiti, bumaling siya sa akin. "Pasensya na. They always do that."

I shook my head and smiled. I cannot even concentrate. I mean. Mecho's Mom is so pretty! And she is remarkably gorgeous! Only that she doesn't look like a cheater aftet all...uhh just like what Mecho said to me.

"So, tell me more about yourself, hija, paano mo naman nagustuhan si Chollo?"

And she calls Mecho as Chollo, his second name. How sweet from a mother. Mecho is lucky he still has his a Mom.

"Tinatanong pa ba 'yan, Mom? Syempre, gwapo ako kaya magugustuhan niya talaga ako," singit ni Mecho.

"I can't explain din po, eh. Maybe I just knew him better? Or I figured out he's not that bad after all," I chuckled nervously.

Papa and Mecho's step Dad is currently in the living room now. I think what they are talking about is pretty intimate and we won't relate. Maging si Mecho nga na kanina'y naroon ay mukhang nalito sa topic nila kaya nakigulo na lamang dito sa kusina.

"Elaina, stop the junk food already. Maydi-dinner na tayo soon," suway ni Tita Michelle kay Elaina.

"I didn't eat enough, Mommy! Kuya ate more of it." Pagsusumbong ni Elaina.

"Makapagsalita ka naman diyan, akala mo kaya mong ubusin 'yan." Sita ni Mecho.

"Mom!" Sumbong ni Elaina.

"Mecho, huwag mo nang patulan iyang kapatid mo," kalmadong sinabi ni Tita Michelle. She is on the last process of her spaghetti ala puttanesca already. Malapit ng matapos. Kumalat na rin sa buong kusina ang mabangong amoy nito.

"I'm sorry, this is what I can prepare tonight. It's the easiest dish I know to make. Don't worry, I will try learning some new foods to cook para sa susunod I can cook more."

"It is enough na po! Mayroon naman na po kaming naihanda ni Papa riyan kanina. I think the food is enough already," I smiled for an assurance.

She delightfully smiled at me and turned to Elaina na kasalukuyan pang nakikipagtalo kay Mecho. "Elaina, go call your Dad and Tito Anton na. Time to eat."

"Why me? Si kuya na lang," Elaina was busy on her iPad.

"Why me?" Nagsalubong ang dalawang kilay ni Mecho. Dinungaw niya ang nilalaro ng kapatid. "Dora na naman. Ang pangit niyan! Tigil mo yan, ha. Inuutusan ka ni Mommy. Go call Dad and Tito Anton."

"You go na lang kuya. I'm busy."

"Busy ba 'yan? Katangahan lang 'yan."

Umangat ang tingin ni Elaina kay Mecho. She furrowed her brows. "Did you just said the T word, kuya?"

"So what? Just go get Dad and Tito Anton already."

"Mom! Kuya cussed! I heard it!"

"Mecho," suway ni Tita Michelle.

"What?" Iritadong wika ni Mecho at inagaw ang iPad ni Elaina. "Tatawagin mo sila Tito o babasagin ko 'to?"

"Okay lang," humalukipkip si Elaina at masungit na binalingan si Mecho. "Bibil'han naman ako ni Daddy ng bago."

"Simula ngayon, hindi ka na pwedeng magpabili sa akin ng laruan ha. Isusumbong kita kay Mommy ang dami mong in-order na lipsticks sa shoppee! Laruan ka pang nalalaman diyan, ah?"

"Kuya! That was our secret!" Pagmamaktol ng bata.

"Walang sikret, sikret! Tawagin mo sila Daddy!"

Nakabusangot na tumayo si Elaina at naglakad palabas sa kusina.

"I'm sorry about that. They are normally like that. Nakakatuwa pero minsan talaga hindi na sila nagkakasundo." Tita Michelle smiled at me.

"It's okay, po."

At first, I thought the dinner was too awkward for me to bare. But it turned out the opposite. Nalaman ko kasi na abogado pala ang step-dad ni Mecho at mayroon na rin itong sariling law firm, and his Mom is a chairman of his Grandfather's company. Pero kung titignan, ang simple. Hindi gaya ng iba na binabalandra ang mga alahas, mamahaling kasuotan, masyadong matataas ang tingin sa sarili...at higit sa lahat...matapobre.

Kaya naman pala nagkakasundo si Papa at Tito Vlad, eh. Kasi pareho silang may background sa law.

"So, paano naman kayo nagkakilala?" Tanong ni Tito Vlad sa amin ni Mecho.

We added some chairs sa table para magkasya kaming lahat. Hindi kasi kami sanay ni Papa na mayroong bisita, at isa pa, hindi naman namin ito inaasahan. Nagkatingin kami ni Mecho na para bang nagtutulakan kaming dalawa kung sino ang magsasalita. How can I even admit it? We met because of that kiss or slap thing.

"Sa school po," ako na ang sumagot.

Mecho bit his lower lip, containing a smile. Paano kaya sila magre-react kung nalaman nilang doon nga kami nagkakilala? Dahil sa kiss or slap na laro?

Tita Michelle chuckled, "Being a high schooler includes the inevitability of first love."

"First love?" Gulat kong tanong.

"You don't know, hija? Mecho have never been in love before," she explained.

Napatango ako roon. Though, that was already obvious because he only treats relationships as a game. But that still touched my heart. Pakiramdam ko tuloy, ang swerte ko.

Tumikhim bigla si Tito Vlad. "Anton also mentioned that you cursed at him... Mecho?"

Sinasabi ko na nga ba. Hindi matatapos ang gabi na hindi palalampasin ni Papa ang ginawa ni Mecho sa kanya. Mecho's red lips protruded, as if he felt shy for a moment.

"I'm sorry about that, Tito. I was just...furious because I...I was.. you know...jealous."

"Jealous of what? Her Dad?" Tita Michelle asked horribly.

Mecho rolled his eyes secretly. "I thought it was another man, Mom, alright? I didn't... know."

"Mabuti na lang at naipaliwanag ko agad kay Anton na ganoon ka na talaga. I'm sorry again, Anton." Pormal na paliwanag ni Tito Vlad.

Wala sa sarili kong sinulyapan si Mecho. His jaw tightened as if Tito Vlad just triggered something in him... like his anger. Napakurap ako at bumaba ang tingin sa kanyang kamay na humigpit ang pagkakahawak sa utensils.

"Don't mention it. It's not like I was too offended to not be understanding. Huwag niya na lang uulitin."

Wow? Is it Papa talking? Pagkakaalam ko'y walang pinapalampas si Papa?

"Muntik mo na sigurong maisip na hindi deserve ni Mecho si Isha?" Tumawa si Tito Vlad.

Mecho's jaw tightened again. His grim eyes turned a shade darker this time, and he is currently glaring at his food. Ni hindi na siya kumakain. Pinaglalaruan na lang niya iyong pasta sa kanyang plato.

Tita Michelle was silent while helping Elaina with her food.

"Almost," Papa confessed. "I hope I wasn't wrong."

"Oh, trust me!" Tito Vlad laughed. His baritone echoed. "Kung hindi man niya tuparin, pagpasensyahan na lang."

"Hmm, wala ka bang tiwala sa anak mo?" Papa asked and chuckled.

"Hindi naman niya ako anak." Mecho suddenly chimed.

Umangat ang tingin ko kay Mecho. He looked internally furious and offended. His eyes didn't even show a hint of regression when Tito Vlad's dark, brooding eyes drifted on him.

"Mecho," suway ni Tita Michelle sa isang kalmadong paraan. "Are you finished? Can you take Elaina outside?" She added.

Walang pag-aalinlangang tumayo si Mecho at kinuha si Elaina. Humawak si Elaina sa malaking kamay ni Mecho at sabay na silang umalis.

"I'm sorry about that. Wala talagang modo iyon. Hindi pa nagma-mature."

I can't believe Tito Vlad thinks that way of Mecho. Now, I don't have to question why he hates his family. He hates his step dad, and he hates his mom for marrying his step dad. There was no logic all along. Siguro'y nabulag lang ako saglit dahil likas na mabait si Tita Michelle. O iyon ang ipinapakita niya sa akin.

"No. I don't mind," Papa said nonchalantly. He glanced at me, and I cannot read his expression towards me. Parang.. na-disappoint siya na ewan?

"Isha, hija. Mabuti naman at nakakaya mong i-handle si Mecho? He's like the most hardheaded child I've ever met. Pati ako ay hindi ummubra sa kanya."

Now, I know why he was so angry when he thought, I consider him childish and immature.

"Hindi naman po. Mecho is nicer than you think po." I even tried my luck.

He only laughed sarcastically. "Oh, come on, hija. We all know what kind of a person he is. He is uncontrollable. He wouldn't let anyone control him. Kaya ako na ang humihingi ng pasensya."

The whole dinner, iyon ang pinupuna niya. Si Mecho ganyan, si Mecho ganto. Hindi ko na nga matignan si Tita Michelle at Papa. Parang ako pa ang napapahiya dahil pinapahiya ni Tito Vlad ang boyfriend ko. Nang makaalis sila, agad akong kinausap ni Papa. Maiintindihan ko na agad kung bakit niya sasabihing ayaw niya si Mecho para sa akin. Hinanda ko na rin ang sariling marinig iyon.

"I hate him." Dad said.

Napayuko ako. "Dad. Hindi naman siya masamang ta—"

"I didn't mean your boyfriend. I meant his Dad. I hate him." Humalukipkip si Dad sa akin. "But your boy is pretty offending at first. It was until I realized his step father is more offending."

"Mecho hates his Dad."

"Well, it looks like they hate each other. Kanina, habang nag-uusap kami, iyon lang ang sinasabi niya. I can't even imagine myself talking at your back that bad," dinungaw niya ako.

Papa left after that for work. Naiwan na naman akong mag-isa sa bahay. Lumalalalim na rin ang gabi kaya naman ay tinapos ko na agad ang mga gawain ko sa kusina bago tuluyang umakyat sa aking kwarto.

Mecho messaged me when I checked my phone, kakasend niya lang noon.

Mecho: I'm on my way back there.

Mecho: Had a fight back in the house. The asshole punched me in the face lol.

Parang hinaplos ang puso ko. I never thought that his life is worse than I thought. Kung siguro bayolente siyang klase ng tao, maiinitan ang ulo, ay may pinaggagalingan naman pala. I wanted him to come to me when time like this comes. The more I see him on his worse angle, the more I fall for him.

Nakahanda na agad ang first aid kit nang makarating si Mecho sa bahay. He has a cut on his forehead, at sumabog ang kanyang labi. Hindi na rin ako nagulat sa ginawa ng Daddy niya. In words, he was already violent, what his action might be is very inevitable. Idagdag mo pa iyong katotohanang ayaw niya kay Mecho.

"Huwag mo nga akong titignan nang ganyan, para naman akong kawawa masyado." Umirap siya.

Diniinan ko ang pagdampi ng bulak sa gilid ng kanyang mata dahilan upang mapaaray siya.

"Sira. Of course, I would be worried. Mas sanay akong nakikita na ikaw ang nambubugbog, hindi iyong ikaw ang binubugbog," paliwanag ko pa. "What happened? Did you talk back?"

"Malamang. Bubugbugin ba ako kung hindi? Tiyaka, ilang beses na rin naman itong nangyari. Bata pa lang ako, nangyayari na 'to simula noong nag-asawa ulit si Mommy."

"Hindi ba inawat ni Tita Michelle?"

He rolled his eyes. "Sa tingin mo makakapalag si Mommy doon? Baka nga 'pag umawat pa si Mommy, mabugbog niya rin or more so... maatake siya sa puso."

Napanguso ako. It was like, he is caged. Kung ako ang nasa sitwasyon niya, magiging miserable ako.

"Nakakaguilty naman," umpisa ko. Nang matapos kong lagyan ng bandaid ang mga sugat niya sa mukha ay iginapos ko ang mga braso sa kanyang leeg. "Sorry, if that happened to you."

Ipinatong ko ang isang tuhod sa hilid ng kanyang kinauupuan. I am somehow trying my luck, that I could at least lessen his pain through hugging him.

"Idiot. Why are you saying sorry?" Nalukot ang kanyang noo ngunit ginantihan niya naman ang yakap ko. He hugged me on my waist and made me sat on his lap.

"Kasi walang nagso-sorry sa'yo? I doubt your step dad would even dare to apologize, and your mom. Kaya ako na lang. Sorry, Mecho. Sorry kung lagi kang sinasaktan ng step dad mo."

If I could only share the pain from you...I would...

He looked at me with glimmering and sleepy eyes. Lumambot ang kanyang ekspresyon at parang nanghina siya bigla. Maya-maya pa'y nanlaki ang nga mata ko dahil bigla na lang tumulo ang kanyang luha.

It was so sudden! Hindi ko rin naisip na maiiyak siya!

"H-Hey. Bakit ka umiiyak?! May masakit pa ba sa'yo?"

"Seriously, Isha," he huskily started, hindi ko na rin makilala ang boses niya. "Ang dami kong iniisip. I feel like, I am an outsider of my own house. Parang anak ako sa labas. Parang hindi nila ako pamilya."

"Shhh. Let it all out, Mecho."

Sinandal niya ang ulo sa aking balikat at doon umiyak. He was silently sobbing, and his shoulders were also moving. He even hugged me more tightly this time.

"Kulang na lang, ipamukha niya sa akin na hindi ako welcome doon at palayasin. My Mom cannot do anything. She was a slave of that bastard. I wish I could be more powerful. I wish I could kick him out of our lives. Iyon lang."

I caressed his back and head like a little kid. I sighed and pouted while doing so, hearing him say those things, just touches my heart. Ayaw kong nakikita siyang ganito; nasanay ako na siya ang nagpapaiyak ng tao, hindi siya 'yung pinapaiyak.

"Mecho. If you feel like you do not belong in your own family. Come to me. Because you are a family to me already. You will always be."