CHAPTER 18: GRAMMATICALLY INCORRECT?!

Hanggang sa nakaupo na kami ni Dylan sa couch, nandun pa rin yung curious nilang tingin nung pumapasok palang kami ni Dylan kanina. Alam ko naman kung bakit sila nagkakaganun, eh. Nagtataka sila kung bakit ako binuhat ni Dylan kanina.

"My body's sore."

"Oh."

Sabay-sabay nilang sabi na para bang naiintindihan talaga nila kung bakit masakit yung katawan ko. Nagkatinginan pa nga sila. Ang weird talaga ng mga kilos nila ngayon, eh. Para kasi silang may alam na ayaw naman nilang sabihin samin ni Dylan. Medyo tumahimik muna nun. Napatingin nalang kaming lahat kay Tito Arnold nung tumikhim siya. He was eyeing the two of us----- Dylan and I.

"Explain."

"Well... I don't really-------" I hadn't been able to finish my sentence because Dylan suddenly cut me off.

"Shajana broke up with me so I got myself drowned by drinking."

"Break na kayo ni Shajana?"

Nanlaki pa yung mga mata ni Tita Sheryl nun. Halatang hindi siya makapaniwala sa sinabi ni Dylan na break na sila ni Shajana. Wala na nga yatang pakialam si Tita Sheryl dun sa paglalasing ni Dylan kagabi, eh. Basta siya, masayang-masaya na wala na si Dylan at si Shajana.

"Thank you Lord for granting my wish."

Nakita kong napasimangot si Dylan nun pero hindi naman siya mukhang galit.

"Then last night, I was about to take Mickey to her house, but I realized it was kinda late already so I just let her stay here."

"So, break na pala kayo ni Shajana? Tell me honestly Dylan, are you making Mickey a rebound here." Tiningnan pa ni Tito Arnold si Dylan ng masama nun.

"Of course not!" Halos sumigaw na si Dylan nun kaya gulat na napatingin tuloy kaming lahat sa kanya.

"I was just, uhh..." Then he let out what it seemed an exasperated sigh. After that, he scratched his head like an idiot.

"Is this talk leading into something sensible, Dylan?" Napatingin na sakin si Dylan nun. Yung itsura niya, parang nagpapatulong.

"Actually, Tito Arnold -------------" As usual, I was cut off again, although this time, by Tito Arnold. Ano pa nga ba ang masasabi ko? Like father like son, huh?

"Are you going to marry Mickey, Dylan?"

Pakiramdam ko, bigla akong nahirapang huminga sa tanong na yun ni Tito Arnold. Alam kong ganun din si Dylan. Baka nga mas malala pa yung nangyayari sa kanya kasi namutla yung mukha niya, eh.

"You know I have a girlfriend, Papa." Sobrang hina ng pagkakasabi niya nun, halos hindi na nga namin narinig, eh. Pero alam ko, yun naman talaga ang sasabihin niya, eh. And it hurt. Not only it gave pain in my heart, but it also wounded my pride too.

"You mean ex-girlfriend, Dylan?" Matagal na natahimik si Dylan nun kaya ayun, mukhang nainip tuloy si Tito Arnold.

"Well, aren't you going to say something? Everyone's waiting."

"I... Uhhh... You see... I'm----"

But then, the fact that I didn't want to hear any of his LAME EXCUSES dared me to speak up again.

"Sorry to butt in, Tito Arnold..."

Napatingin silang lahat sakin. Mukhang interesado silang marinig ang sasabihin ko. Huminga muna ako ng malalim bago magsalita ulit.

"Sa tingin ko po, wala naman talagang nangyari samin ni Dylan kagabi, eh. Lasing na lasing po siya at ako naman medyo nakainom nun. Pero madaling araw na po yun kaya antok na antok na ako. Sigurado po talaga akong nakatulog na kaming dalawa nun. Mommy, alam mo naman diba na hindi ko kayang nagpupuyat? And when I fell asleep past midnight, I wouldn't budge whatever ha---------"

"And how would you explain that we saw the two of you were naked earlier if nothing really happened, Mickey?"

Hayyy naku. Hindi ko na naman natapos yung sasabihin ko kasi nakisabad sakin si Mommy.

"But Mommy, I'm sure we just both fell asleep and-------"

"Sabi mo din kanina, masakit ang katawan mo, Mickey." Now, that's Tita Sheryl. Sabihin niyo nga, uso ba ang agawan ng linya ngayon? UGH!!!

"Mickey, the only reason why your body's sore is because you are a virgin and--------"

Magre-react na sana ako sa kahihiyang sinabi ni Mommy pero naunahan na naman ako ni Tita Sheryl. Geez! Does my Mom really have to spell it out? Nakakahiya kay Tito Arnold at lalong-lalo na kay Dylan. Pakiramdam ko nga, pulang-pula na yung buong mukha ko nun, eh. Tama ba namang pag-usapan ang virginity issue ngayon? Si Dylan nga, nasamid sa sinabi ni Mommy, eh. Who wouldn't, really?

"CHEZKAAAAA! How shameful can you get? You said it grammatically incorrect."

Tumango-tango ako sa sinabi ni Tita Sheryl. Pinapakita ko pa nga kay Mommy na mali talaga na sabihin iyon, eh. Tumingin sakin si Tita Sheryl na parang nahihiya sa sinabi ni Mommy tapos nginitian niya ako.

"What your Mommy's trying to say, Mickey, is that the reason why your body's sore is because you WERE a virgin. Chezka, dapat past tense na yun kasi nangyari na ----------------"

"TITA SHERYYYYYYYL/MAMAAAAAAAAA!!!"

Sabay na kaming nag-violent reaction ni Dylan nun, ha. Akala ko pa naman parehas kami ng point of view ni Tita Sheryl. Yun pala mas pinalala pa niya!

GRAMMATICALLY INCORRECT?!

GEEZ!