She prepared her usual get up, skirt a bit below the knee and blouse. ‘Di naman siya gaano ka-interested. Pakikisama lang sa balikbayan.
Ten minutes to seven PM nang dumating si Sean.
“You’re beautiful,” may dala itong long stemmed red rose.
“Thanks,” simpleng tugon niya.
“Let’s go?”
“Yeah. Papa, we’re going. Take care of Jeanie,” she shouted because he’s in the room upstairs, pinapatulog nito ang kapatid niya.
She heard him shout back ‘It’s okay, enjoy.’
“Ako nang bahala, Tito,” nakisigaw din si Sean. They both laughed.
May dala itong sariling sasakyan. Ipinagbukas pa siya nito. Mas gentleman ito kumpara sa kuya nito. Well minsan pa lang naman siyang nakakasakay sa kotse ni Kaiser, noong nagpunta lang sila ng beach.
They talked and laughed while Sean was driving. Masaya itong kasama, hindi katulad ni Kaiser na nakasimangot at bihira siya kausapin.
And the comparison could go on and on...
Sa isang class na restaurant sila humantong. Binanggit ni Sean sa sumalubong sa kanila ang reservation marahil na ginawa nito. Then they were guided sa second floor. Sa open area ng restaurant, overlooking nito ang mga nasa paligid.
Table for four ang binigay sa kanila ayon sa reservation. Wala pa sina Kaiser at Pamela.
Kahit nasa ka-Maynilaan pa rin sila, matuturing pa rin niyang romantic ‘yong area kahit medyo ‘di pa rin presko ang hangin. Hindi din naman siya romantic na tao, ni hindi niya naiisip makipag-date. Pero kung dadating man si Mr Right, gusto niya ay dalhin siya nito sa isang lugar na presko ang hangin, kita ang mga bituin at silang dalawa lamang.
And this one was not a date. No, not with her mom’s second husband’s son.
Thirty minutes late sina Kaiser at Pamela. Unapologetic ang mga ito. As if karapat-dapat lang silang pinaghihintay. Pamela was on her same sexy outfit. And Kaiser, was so handsome in his semi formal getup.
‘What was that compliment for?’ Sita ni Princess sa utak na nag-oobserba.
“Traffic,” ‘yon lang ang sabi ni Kaiser.
“It’s okay,” ani Sean. “So, Pamela, still remember me?” He reached out for a handshake.
“Of course,” maarteng tinanggap ni Pamela ang pakikipagkamay ni Sean.
“And this is Princess, you know her. She’s my date for tonight,” he grinned at her. She smiled lazily.
Pamela raised a brow.
‘Lamigin ka sana sa outfit mo.’
“So, let’s take our orders?” Sean called for the waiter, and they were assisted.

***
He wasn’t even looking at his step sister. Pero bakit tila nagbago ito ng katauhan. Iba ang approach nito sa kapatid niya. Akala niya hindi ito papayag sa double date na ‘yon. Was she even aware na date iyon? It seemed that she wasn’t taking the idea seriously.
Well, mabait naman ang kapatid niya. He’s sure hindi nito sasaktan si Princess. Wala naman siyang pakialam doon but lately he was having this concerned feeling para sa dalaga.
Like he was being protective of her. Siguro epekto ‘yon ng pagiging panganay niya. Panganay syndrome, ika nga. Na-extend na rin iyon hanggang kay Princess. Pero sa isip lang niya ‘yon. Nasisiguro niyang hindi matutuwa ang dalaga kapag pinakialaman niya ito.
Hindi siya pwedeng umaktong kuya rito. Lalo naman dahil ayaw siya nitong maging kapatid.
“Honey,” inagaw ni Pamela ang atensyon niya, sinusubuan pala siya nito.
“Thanks,” he smiled, masyado siyang naging preoccupied, he forgot he was with his girlfriend.
“Akala n’yo kayo lang,” narinig niyang sabi ni Sean. “Princess, oh,” sinubuan din nito ang dalaga na bagamat nag-aalinlangan ay tinanggap nito tapos nagtawanan ang dalawa.
Was she really enjoying his brother’s company? Malamang.
Mukha naman itong nag-eenjoy eh.
***
“May I have this dance?” Inilahad ni Sean ang palad nito sa kanya.
“No, I don’t know how to dance,” tanggi niya.
“Akong bahala sa ‘yo,” he assured her.
“Sige na nga,” ngumiti na rin siya nang tanggapin ang kamay nito.
Iginiya siya ni Sean sa dancefloor kung saan ay naroon na kanina pa sina Pamela at Kaiser. The two of them made a perfect pair. Well, almost, Pamela was a mermaid and Kaiser was a human being.
Napangiti siya sa isiping ‘yon. Actually, naiinis siya. Bakit ba siya naiinis? Paki ba niya?
They could dance forever if they wanted to. Masyado lang maarteng makakapit itong si Pamela na akala mo ay biglang may aagaw sa boyfriend nito.
“They are perfect together, aren’t they?” untag ni Sean, napansin ata nitong nakatingin siya sa dalawa.
“Uh-huh,” fake niyang sang-ayon.
“Don’t tell my brother, but I don’t like his girl -”
“Really?” gagad niya, natuwa siya sa kaalamang ‘yon. “Welcome to the haters club,” bahagya siyang yumukod dito para sa isang welcoming bow.
“And the other member is?” natatawang sabi nito. “Let me guess? Jeanie?”
“Bingo!” And they both laughed again.
“That’s so funny,” sabi ng binate.
“Yeah, right.” Napatingin siya sa direksyon ng dalawa and caught Kaiser looking at them. No, he was looking at her! Their eyes met pero sabay din silang nagbawi ng tingin.
She just shrugged it off.
Pinatapos lang nila ang tugtog tapos ay umupo na sila ni Sean.
They ordered a few more drinks bago nagkaayaan nang umuwi.
Syempre si Sean ang maghahatid sa kanya pag-uwi.
“I heard you’re so attached to your mom,” she asked, just to open a topic habang nasa daan sila.
“Yeah, siguro dahil bunso ako,” sabi nito. “Pero hindi ako mama’s boy. Ayoko lang iwan ang mama ko. Pakiramdam ko kailangan niya ng karamay. Alam mo na.”
“You aren’t angry with your dad, are you?” tukoy niya sa ama nito na naging asawa ng kanyang ina.
“No. I was old enough to understand that they needed to part ways,” walang bahid ng galit sa tinig nito. “I’m still thankful kasi dahil sa kanya, naipanganak kami ni kuya.” He smiled. “How about you? I mean your life after your mom left?”
Umiling siya. Hindi niya gustong magkwento. He would not understand. No one could understand her. Why was everyone thinking that it was okay to break a family? Like, wth? Was it so normal to leave your child because you think you’re no longer happy? Come on…
“Time heals,” he shrugged as if he’s so sure about it.
“Maybe,” was her short reply.
Kaunti pang usapan bago sila nakarating sa bahay niya.
“Am no longer coming in. Tell Tito my thanks for letting you go out with us.” Hinatid siya nito sa pintuan at ipinagkatok bago umalis.
“Bye,” she waved as he drove away.
***
“Where are we going?” tanong niya sa ama, magkasama silang tatlo nina Jeanie. Her father hired a taxi and said they’re off to somewhere.
“To the airport,” sagot nito.
“Bakit Papa, aalis ka na?” gulat niyang tanong.
“No, we’re going to see a good friend,” sagot nito.
“With us?” aniya, maybe she and Jeanie could wait for him at a nearby mall or something.
“Yeah, you need to meet her.”
So, his friend was a her. Meaning they were meeting a woman at the airport.
“I see.”
Tumahimik na siya. Kinakalikot naman ni Jeanie ang cellphone niya kaya tahimik lang ito sa tabi niya.
“Anak,” mayamaya ay untag nito ni Rafael.
“Yes, ‘pa?”
“I know I owe you a lot. Halos buong buhay mo wala ako sa tabi mo.”
“We already talked about that, Papa. Okay na sa akin ‘yon. I can’t be mad at you forever.” She smiled.
“I know you’ll understand. You’re old enough. I’m old but I haven’t seen this coming too. You know when your mom left us, sinara ko na ang puso ko.”
“And?” she could hear some warning bells as if her father’s next words could be fatal to her.
“You know, I was just thirty that time.”
“Papa?” she hoped he would finish the suspense. “You are trying to say that?”
“Anak, I love you.”
“And I love you too,” aniya. “So, what are you trying to say?”
“This past year, something came up. No, someone came and she made me realize that I can love again,” he said. “Anak, I’m sorry, I hope you’ll understand. This will not change anything. I am still your father.”
So, that was it. Her father had found a new love.
She did not know what to say.
No, how would she react? She was not sad. She was not happy either. She was disappointed.
Hindi na siya nakakibo.
“Anak, I know, hindi pa ako nakakabawi talaga sa ‘yo. But I promise you, nothing will change.”
She just nodded.
She just gained back her father. Bakit pakiramdam niya mawawala ulit ito sa buhay niya? Bakit ba siya laging pinagdadamutan na magkaroon ng magulang?
Marami pang sinabi ang ama niya pero wala na siyang narinig. Hanggang sa makarating na sila sa airport.
Namalayan na lang niya na kasama na nila sina Kaiser at Sean, nando’n umano ang mga ito dahil darating ang kanilang ina.
“Are you okay?” untag ni Kaiser.
“Yeah, I am,” karga-karga niya si Jeanie, kinuha nito ang bata sa kanya.
“Para kasing hindi,” sabi nito, looking at her father and Sean who were seriously talking to each other. “They seem close, aren’t they?” wala sa loob nito ang tanong na ‘yon.
Sinundan niya ng tingin ang tinitingnan nito pero wala siyang maisip. Today she was meeting yet another epal, her future step mother? For the nth time, hindi na ba titigil ang mga step step na ‘yan?
“Here comes, mom,” anunsyo ni Kaiser, pero bago ito nakalapit sa ina, nauna na sina Rafael at Sean.
“Sean, Raffy!” magiliw na yumakap sa anak ang babaeng dumating at isang masuyong yakap at maiksing halik sa labi naman sa kanyang ama!!!
Nagkatinginan sila ni Kaiser. She was in shock. Kaiser’s look was more of a concern for her. Para siyang ipinako sa kinatatayuan, hindi siya makagalaw.
‘Don’t tell me, not again!’