"Hello, Tita!" they greeted the old lady as the door to her house opened.
"Justine!" Joan quickly enveloped them in a warm hug. "Bakit parang namayat ka? Halos isang linggo lang tayong hindi nagkita, ah," she said with concern.
"Na-busy po kasi," pagdadahilan niya, partially telling the truth. They had indeed been quite occupied over the past week, trying their best not to focus on the pretty woman beside them—the same woman who had been occupying their thoughts, leaving them with little sleep.
"Nako nako. Kumain na nga kayo. Nagluto ako." Hinila siya nito papasok sa loob ng bahay at padiretso sa kusina.
"Bakit ba hindi ka na pumupunta rito ha? Konti na lang iisipin ko nang nag-away kayo nitong si Jea," turan nito habang naghahanda ng mga plato sa lamesa.
"Po?" gulat na tanong niya dahil sa sinabi nito.
"Palaging ang sinasagot sa'kin ay busy ka. Minsan naman hindi ako pinapansin kapag nagtatanong ako kung kailan ka bibisita."
"Busy lang po kami, Ma," the quiet woman finally chimed in, responding to her mother's remarks.
"May girlfriend ka na ata kaya pinagpapalit mo ako, e,"
"Po?" lang ulit ang nasabi niya dahil sa sinabi nito.
"Bakit? Mukhang nakakalimutan na ako, e." Nakita niya ang pagbusangot nito.
"Hindi po, Tita ko." They immediately stood up, going to the living room for a moment to fetch something from their bag. "Ito po, oh. Binili ko kanina kasi alam kong paborito niyo." Inabot niya rito ang cassava cake na naka-karton.
"Hay, nako. Nag-abala ka pa," nakangiting turan nito at saka tinanggap ang binigay niya.
"Tampo pa rin po ba kayo?" they teased, flashing a cheeky smile.
"Syempre hindi na," sagot nito matapos itabi ang isang box ng cassava cake. "Sa susunod na magtatalo kayong dalawa,'wag niyo akong idamay ha?"
They glanced at Jeanne and noticed her looking back at them. They sighed and walked to the sink to wash their hands." Hindi naman po kami nagtalo, Ma."
"Ah, basta. 'Wag mo kasi aawayin 'tong isang 'to," Joan advised, patting them on the cheek. They smiled at her sweet gesture.
"Ma, ako po ang anak mo rito." Natawa siya at ang nanay nito dahil sa sinabi nito, pero agad din s'yang nanahimik nang tiningnan siya nito.
Once dinner was finished, the old lady bid them goodnight and retired to her room to rest.
"Just admit it, I'm her favorite," they playfully stated to Jeanne as they both stood by the sink, brushing their teeth. The door was left open.
Jeanne turned to them with a raised eyebrow, holding out her toothbrush and pointing it at them. "How dare you?"
They raised their hands in surrender. "I'm kidding."
She simply rolled her eyes at them.
"Where am I going to sleep?" tanong niya mula sa labas ng CR dahil hindi pa rin ito tapos na mag-asikaso.
"Dito sa CR, nakatayo," agad na sagot nito matapos maghilamos.
"Tita—" pakunwaring tatawagin niya ang nanay nito, pero agad siya nitong hinampas sa braso mula sa loob ng CR.
"Can you not?"
They took a few steps back, avoiding another playful swat while trying to contain their laughter.
"You can sleep in my room, but not on my bed," saad nito at saka naglakad palabas ng banyo.
Agad nya itong sinundan. "What?"
YOU ARE READING
KEEPING IT WARM.
RomanceMeet Jeanne, a 25-year-old woman whose carnal cravings have reached a fever pitch after three long months of deprivation. Desperate for release, she turns to her cousin for assistance, expecting a night of passionate escapades with a man to fulfill...
