Dear, Joey

15

We started in 11am, natapos namin ang pagluluto at pag decor, ang hinihintay na lang namin ay si Amy na sinundo si Mang Pedring. 

I get my DSLR camera and the stand of it for a picture taking, I prepare it in front of the dining table while Tegan is watching, iniwan namin yung dalawa sa kitchen.

"Do you have gift for Mang Pedring?" He asked seating on the dining chair facing me, naka prepare na lahat sa table ang hinanda naming food.

I just smile at him and stare at his image on the screen camera. He figures it out and laugh at me.

"Don't take a picture..." awat nya trying to block his face using his hand.

"This is not a picture" awa ko. Fixing it more for the good angle and let it record while I step up in front and wave on it raising my hands up. Tegan laughs at the background.

"You look like a fool!" napapairap na lang akung napapangiting lumingon sa kanya.

His staring at me with his wide smile.

"Sometimes I wonder why I befriended you, Tegan." tukso ko making him laugh standing up.

Maliwag sa Dining area and Karugtong lang nito ang bulwagan at kitchen.

"You love me." he smirks.

"I don't." iling ko fixing my hat.

"You are, you love me. Don't deny it Jo"

I raise an eyebrow to him. Jo huh?

"I will not... Not today." hamon ko sa kanya.

"What? Is it something that can off and on?" tawa nya reaching my hat to help me.

"Yes" I proudly say looking up to him a bit. Hanggang baba nya lang ang height ko alright. His that tall.

"Okay" he said with amused face.

"May irereto ka ba kay Mang Pedring, regalo mo na lang sa kanya to." ngiti ko letting him swift my hair on my back and fix it.

He stares at me.

"What? Don't tell me wala kang magagandang auntie that single and available?" I said clasping my hands together and dreamingly look at him.

"I imagine them being sweet while taking dinner. Yah!" bigla nya kung pinitik sa noo, laughing on me.

"Hopeless romantic"

"I am not!" gigil kung balik at sinuntok ang braso nya. He just hugs me around his arms and lift me up. Hugging my waist, trapping my arms.

"What the hell!" hirap kung sabi while crumbling my face to him while his laughing at my face.

"You're bullying me!" asik ko while trying to wiggle his arms off me.

"Your just tiny" he said looking down a bit on me. I glare at him resting my chin on his shoulder. I feel tired because he didn't let me go for 5 minutes already.

"I hate you" I groan. He chuckled and dropped me off.

Gigil kung tinabik ang dibdib nya habang inaayos ang party hat ko. He tugs my hair behind my ear.

“Joey, andyan na sila!" biglang sulpot ni May sa pinto.

Making me jump and gasp.

"They're here, s**t be ready!" I said excitedly.

I get the cake and Tegan help me light the candle. We walk out with him on my side.

Agad na tumabi sa akin sila Kuya at naghanda. The moment that Mang Pedring and Amy in we sing a long a happy birthday song.

"Happy birthday Mang Pedring!" we shouted unison.

I saw how big his smile was and his red eyes.

"Make a wish now Tatay!" I eagerly said. He laughs out loud at me, and nod stop a bit before blowing the candle.

We cheer and claps together while Amy get the cake from me.

They open the light.

"Thank you nak." naluluha nyang sabi particularly to me. I got teary eyed and throw my self to his arm.

"Maligayang pagsilang sa aking pangalawang ama!" I said happily. He hugs me tight and tap the back of my head.

"Hoy ako naman!" singit ni Kuya.

"Happy birthday Tay! Tumatanda ka na pero gwapings pa rin tayo!" ngisi ni Kuya. We really call him Tatay kapag kami kami lang.

"Salamat hijo, namiss kita" he said smiling at him affectionate, ruffling his hair. Wala na ang party hat nya sa ulo.

Kuya sniff nodding. Is he crying?

Bumati rin si Jemaine at Tegan. We proceed to go to dining. I watch him interact with Jem and Tegan.

"Picture time!" Denise announced. The maid.

Agad kaming nagtipon tipon. Hugging Mang Pedring arm. Nasa tabi ko si Tegan at sa kabilang side ni Mang Pedring ay si Jemaine at Kuya.

I fix Mang Pedring's hat while he laughs at me. It's not common for me to do this. Palagi naman naming seni-celebrate ang birthday nya even the maids.

"Wackie post na!" tawa ni May.

"Wackie!" I cheered hugging Tegan's arm and Mang Pedring's.  

We took so many pictures. I called Mom after and do a video call. Pina upo ko si Mang Pedring sa harap ng loptop with us on his back.

Mom scold me all the way for not telling her in advance, even Jullie is sulking. They are with Tito Henry.

"Ayan kasi ayaw ng umuwi. Tito Hens will not be sad if you're going home…" tukso ko.

"Tita Mommy, Daddy Henry will deny it. Right po?!" nguso ni Julie sa camera turning to the man on her back.

He just laughs at the monitor. Napahinto ako saglit while Mom have this stop reaction on me. Napapangising tumango na lang ako.

It seems like Kuya and the others didn't notice any of it. I didn't take it hard and just go with the flow. We party that day until 2pm, I give Mang Pedring's gift. I danced with him the whole time and laugh with him catching up life a bit.

"Ang bait na bata ng kaibigan mo Joey." We were in a slow dance.

His holding my hand and waist.

"Oo nga ho eh. Lapitin." bulong ko sa huli habang natatawa.

He stare at me and laugh.

"Aba'y bilisan mo't baka maagaw pa sayo."

"Tatay naman, Kaibigan ko lang ho si Tegan. Ma issue kayo" ngisi ko.

"May kaibigan ba yong palaging nakasunod ang tingin sa iyo, aba't kunti na lamang ay lalapit na yan dito." he gesture his chin, so I look where his pointing at.

Napaawang ang labi ko ng makita ko ang pag iwas ng tingin sa amin ni Tegan at ang pagtawa nya sa sinasabi ni Kuya.

May ibang mundo sila Jemaine at Amy.

"Wala naman tay." I said while frowning a bit.

Natawa lang si Mang Pedring sa akin at hinayaan na ako.

Ang mga natirang pagkain ay pinabalot ko at pinasama ko si May kay Mang Pedring para mahatid nya sa mga kumpandre nya sa bukid at mga katrabaho.

I help the maids cleaning while Kuya give Jemaine a lift to go home, alam kung liliko na naman yung dalawa at kung saan dalhin ng mga paa nila. I knew both of them. 

Tegan is upstairs receiving an important call.

I receive a call from Enrique wanting to meet up and I don't like the sound of his voice. Palubog na ang araw ng umakyat ako sa taas. I knock on Tegan's room, waiting for him to open.

Agad naman nya itong binuksan with a phone on his ears.

"Wait up, stop talking... What is it, Jo?" he asked softly at the end.

"I'm sorry, did I disturb you?" I said with apologizing smile.

"No... Get in" iling nya dropping the phone on his ear, but I think the call is important because of his serious reaction a while ago.

He open his door wide, and I saw his laptop on his bed with I think, there's an online meeting going on.

"Naku hindi na, Naisyurbo ata kita Tegan. Ituloy mo na yan baka importante yan eh..." he frowns to me and stare at me with a serious look. 

I tried to smile at him.

"I'm going out, baka hanapin ako ni Kuya eh. Sige na! Don't make them wait..." I said trying to cheer the atmosphere pushing him inside. Nakaharap sa pinto ang camera ng laptop nya, so I think nakita ako sa monitor. I just give them a wave and a little bow pushing Tegan inside a bit while trying to close the door.

"Where are you going? I'll go with you" he asked with a deep voice with a frown face. Looks like he doesn't like the idea of me going out.

"Hindi na, ano ka ba?! Kaya ko naman, focus on you job. Wag kang palaging bakasyon, Sige na. Bye bye" turo ko sa kanya while waving.

"Saan ka ba kasi pupunta?" sunod nya sa akin.

I heard the laptop's noise like their reacting of what it seems quarrel over us, ano? Live streaming ganun?

"I'll be with Enrique. I'll call Kuya later alright. Behave, wag kang magsusumbong na maghahanap ako ng boyfriend." biro ko sa huli makes him face darker.

"What?" he hissed. Natatawa na lang na sinara ko ang pinto at nagmamadaling pumunta ng kwarto ko.

I wore a black fitted dress with a tiny strap on the shoulder and a white cardigan and simple heels, with a black pouch. High ponytail and simply make up, I'm ready to go.

Pababa na ko ng hagdan ng makita ko si Tegan na nasa living room, seriously looking at the loptop in front of him, cross arms with an air pad on his ear. Now he looks like intemidating and brooding. Scary to be exact.

"I thought you're in your room?" I said going on him. Dun lang ata sya na distract at lumingon sa akin without moving his body.

Tinitigan nya lang ako ng matiim at walang sinabi. I felt awkward all of a sudden, but I seat beside him, glancing at the screen of the laptop. 8 boxes of different men facing us. Wow, they look dashing and handsome.

"Dude, Who's she?! Kanina ka pa namin tinatanong yan ah!" I heard someone says on his ear pad.

I smile to them and wave, they all get different reaction mostly shock and have smirk on their faces but change into teasing.

I get distracted when his hand crawl on my waist and block the camera so they can't see us. 

"Anong oras ka uuwi? Where's the place?" he seriously asked.

I stare at him and raise my eyebrow, pointing a look on him but his not swayed by it and remained silent.

"Susunduin ako ni Ricks okay, bakit ang moody mo ngayon Tegs huh?" tawa ko holding his face with my hands. Trapping him in between. 

Hindi sya nagsalita at tumitig lang sa akin. I sigh dropping my hands on his shoulder loud but not too force to make him hurt.

"I think, his heartbroken. but don't tell this to Kuya alright?! Sasabihin na naman nun kunsintidor ako. Sa bayan lang kami... Sige na." laking mata ko sa kanya at tinapik sya sa braso habang tumatayo. Sakto naman na tumunog ang phone ko for a call. For sure si Enrique yun.

"Don't drink alcohol Joey." habol nya.

"Baliw!" balik ko habang naglalakad palabas. I just heard him groan and sigh. What's his problem anyway? Sa trabaho kaya?

Alam naman nyang di ako umiinom. Agad akung sumakay sa passenger seat, closing the door and get the seatbelt but stop when I glance at Enrique's face.

"Oh Wow, what a welcome gift" turo ko sa gilid ng bibig nyang may pasa.

Nakasimangot na sumulyap sya sa akin.

"I receive it when we accidentally meet, I was in the wet market, kasama ko si Nanay." he said with a hurt hint on his voice.

"Well, I was praying that he should murder you turns out he can't even slit your throat. I'm disappointed."

"Best friend ba talaga kita?!" he said glaring at me.

"I was saying that don't act as if you didn't leave him in the first place! Dude your harsh." tawa ko.

"I just greeted him saying hi, but he just punches me all of a sudden"

"Precisely! Magtaka ka kung tingnan ka lang nya ng wala lang as if he moved on, if that will happen, I'm sure you're boiling your eyes out on me."

He just stares at me with his red eyes. I just sigh slowly looking out of the window. Now now, let's baby sit a heartbroken.