Eleven Steps to You

Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Draven's POV

"Archie, anak, behave ka sa pupuntahan natin mamaya. Bawal ang tumatakbong bata doon," my mom told me while we were riding the car.

Kumunot ang noo ko dahil do'n. "Why?" I asked.

Everywhere is supposed to be a playground lalo na para sa isang batang lalaki. Takbo rito, takbo roon. Nature na ng mga bata ang maglikot. 

Tumango na lang ako kahit alam ko naman sa sarili ko na hindi ako susunod. I was sure that once we were at the venue, she'd be so busy talking that she would let me play. 

My mom likes talking and I was the opposite. I'm more like my dad.

"Listen, Draven," panimula ni Dad. Nakasimangot ako habang nakatingin sa labas ng bintana ng aming sasakyan. Beside me was my sister who's asleep. "We're going to a very intimate event... a very special occasion for your Tita. It's her wedding day."

"What's wedding?" tanong ko pabalik, hindi pinansin ang nauna niyang mga sinabi.

Nagkatinginan muna ang mga magulang ko na kapwa nakaupo sa harap. Dad's the one holding the steering wheel. It was our first time going out with him driving, because we always had a driver. Gusto ko pa nga sana na ako ang mag-drive pero ayaw naman nila akong payagan. They said that I'm too little, that I'm still a baby. 

"A wedding... is... when two people love each other so much that they decided to... be together forever. The ceremony's called a wedding, bebe." 

Napahawak pa ang aking ina sa kaniyang noo bago muling bumaling sa tatay kong patawa-tawa.

I asked myself, "What's so special about it?" 

Hindi maintindihan ng batang isipan ko ang konsepto na sinasabi nila.

"Connie! Diego! You made it!" someone yelled at my parents.

Bumitaw ako sa hawak ng nanay ko, thinking that it was the perfect opportunity para tumakas!

"Not so fast, Draven Arsenio." Muntikan pa akong madapa nung pinigilan ako ng aking ama mula sa binabalak na pagtakbo at biglang binuhat. 

Pilit nila akong pinapabati sa mga taong ngayon ko pa lang nakilala. My father had to bribe me just so I would take their hands and bless. 

Sumubsob na lamang ako sa balikat ng may buhat sa akin nung kurutin ako sa pisngi ng isa pang babae. I wanted to run around the church and play with the statues I was seeing, but I was stucked greeting those people.

Nung ibaba ako ni Dad para maglakad ay hindi pa rin nito binibitawan ang kamay ko. He even asked my sister to hold my other hand, which she obliged after sticking her tongue out at me. 

"I hate you! Grr!" sigaw ko, naiinis dahil sa pang-aasar ng kapatid. Hinila ko ang kamay kong hawak nya at akmang mananapak kung 'di lang nahuli ni Dad ang maliit kong kamao.

"Draven," he said in a warning tone.

"Deng! Kamusta!" 

"Bakla! Kailan pa kayo lumuwas?" 

Kung hindi lang dahil sa kamustahan nina Mommy at ng isang babae ay malamang nadisiplina na ako ng tatay ko. Nalipat ang atensyon naming tatlo sa kanila na nagyayakapan nang mahigpit, like they were not planning on letting go.

"Kahapon lang! Hi, Seb!"

Tumingala ako and saw how the lady kissed my Dad's cheek who was still holding my hand.

"Hello, Diego..." the woman said. They both smiled so wide.

"Hi, Mindy. Hi, Baste." Dad threw some jokes that I could not understand, but it made everyone laugh.