Mrs. Araneta

Chapter XXX: Proposal I 💍

"In the end, she became more than what she expected. She became the journey, and like all journeys, she did not end, she just simply changed directions and kept going."
-R.M. Drake

***
Last week of March 2010, Two months after Clea's birthday

GREGGY's POV:

After asking for Clea and Luis' help in preparing my intended proposal for Irene, we all decided that we will be doing it this summer after her music camp. That, I think is perfect because she's not as busy anymore.

The kids are also on their school break. Luis is spending his time learning how to play polo, while Clea is doing her advance readings for the next semester. It's way too early, I know. We told her to take it easy, but I think that she just wanted to be all hands on deck for our plan that should happen two weeks from now.

As for Irene, she's already busy. She will even get busier next week when the music camp starts.
I'm all for it, as long as it makes her happy. I made friends with her friends in the music scene along the way but there's this one that I really am not so fond of, the pianist- John.

I remember asking Clea to help me check on his social media profiles about a week ago. It almost caused Irene and I to get on a fight. Our first, in a very long time.

Well can she blame me? I have this irk feeling towards the guy! And what's more irritating is that she doesn't even realize that I have been right all along. The guy likes her beyond friendship! How can he not, right?

But damn! The audacity of that freak to even go and visit her to our own home! That's our personal space, yet he is all over her. But not to Irene's perspective. To her, he was just being his usual self, just being friendly and all. But he is not!

He's posting pictures of them online, privately. Other matters? It's on public setting. All for the world to see. So why not do the same thing with my wife? Irene can't see them because she doesn't have any accounts, but I was able to because of Clea. And since then, there's this tension between us. It's not helping us that she's about to go under the radar for a week with him.

I already told her that I am not comfortable with him around her, which part of that is so hard to understand? Not only that she took on his offer to teach for the camp, but she will also be traveling with him.

Just why! I am running out of patience. She knows that there's no possible way for me to reach her once she's settled in Makiling. I know that I wouldn't do that to her. So why can't she be the same for me?

***
Two days before the music camp, Clea called to inform me that John is in our house. She even talked to Irene about it, but just like with what happened with me, she just dismissed the idea saying that it's ridiculous. It may be for her, but not for him. Otherwise, why would he linger around her like a lovesick teenager? The nerve of this guy to just show up with just him! Is this still friendship to her?

Si Tony, si Alex, si Jonathan... all of them! Hindi naman sila ganyan ahh. Just this fucking John! I am seething just by thinking about how Irene must have been hosting for him.

What's he doing in our house anyway? I'm already looking forward to spending the weekend with Irene and the kids before her departure for that five-days music camp, but he is ruining it already.

I have to pick up Luis from Makati Polo Club but I wanted to go home already. It may be petty that I wanted to mark my territory but that John is also testing my limits.

***
We went home straight from MPC but much to my annoyance, he was gone even before I got back. I would let it slide had I not seen how Irene looks like. She's wearing this button down shirt which is open way deeper than what I would have want it to be. She's all for having proper decorum but she's the one who's breaking it now.