"What? I was just telling the truth anak."
I felt awkward when tita Rica started teasing us as we continued eating his birthday foods. I didn't know what to say or how to react so I just pretended that I was busy drinking my water.
"Don't listen to mama, Jem. Mahilig din sa joke time 'yan gaya ko." Rimuel sounded defensive as he chuckled.
Ngumiti na lang ako sa kanya at pilit tinago ang ilang na naramdaman ko. Siguro nga nagbiro lang si tita Rica na ako lang ang gustong paibigin ni Rimuel pero natuwa pa rin ang tainga ko sa narinig. It was an unknown feeling of kilig.
Tita Rica smiled playfully then she giggled. "I might be joking, but jokes are half meant remember?"
"Sino namang nasabi niyan ma?" Rimuel was really dedicated to defend himself from his mother's malicious thoughts.
T
