The Perfect Revenge

Twenty-three

Jake

I left AJ to the care of my sister para mag-prepare para sa Gala mamayang gabi. Tuwang-tuwa yung kapatid ko nang iabot ko sa kanya yung credit card ko with instructions to treat themselves well. That, and maybe nabanggit ko rin sa kanya yung Vesper Lynd fantasies ko.

Abala si Mom for the finishing touches para sa Charity Gala but she instructed me to see her para mag-lunch. She pouted over the phone about me getting back tapos hindi ko pa sila binibisita nina Dad. Honestly, I was too busy entertaining my guest kaya siguro naiwan sa likuran ng isipan ko ang parents ko. Kaya nga guiltily, I agreed. If there's anyone na magaling mang-guilt trip sa akin and gets away with it, it would be my mother.

Pagkapasok ko ng hotel kung saan magaganap yung gathering, I went straight to the ballroom. At the center was my mom, inuutusan yung crew for decorations na itaas pa yung banner sa stage. When she deemed it according to her liking, nag-thank you siya sa guys and told them to take a break at may naghihintay sa kanilang food sa kitchen.

Dumiretso siya sa isang round table, sat down, and browsed through the stacks of papers na nakakalat sa lamesa. All throughout, hindi niya ako napansin.

Though my mom has no administrative position sa kahit anong office and happily did her job as a loving mother and a good housewife, workaholic siya. In fact, kahit na ilang beses niyang itangi at ibaling kay Dad yung blame, I still think na sa kanya ko nakuha yung pagiging workaholic ko even though I'm not really related to her by blood. Nurture versus nature, and all that.

Nang matapos si Vivian ng high school and had to leave the house for college, sobrang nalungkot siya kasi dalawa na kaming anak niya na wala sa bahay. At first ay ayaw niya pa nga niyang pumayag na sa akin mag-stay si Vivian for college pero napapayag namin siya ni Dad later on under his suggestion na mag-manage ng mga not-for-profit organizations niya since magre-retire na rin naman yung partner niya roon. Reluctantly, pumayag siya. Nagustuhan niya yung work kaya eventually na-accept niya na rin na malayo kami. Though it still pisses her off kapag hindi niya kami mahagilap.

Sa ngayon nakatira uli si Vivian sa bahay namin for sem break at ako naman yung pinipilit niya na bumalik doon. We've come to a compromise na uuwi ako every Saturday plus frequent lunch dates every weekdays and so far, nag-work naman iyon. Medyo natagalan nga lang na hindi ko siya nakita nang magpunta ako sa Batangas.

When I got near her table, doon niya lang ako napansin. She glanced up at nang mapansing ako 'yon, her whole face lit up with a smile. Tumayo siya, her arms raised at ready to give me a hug.

Lumapit ako sa embrace niya and hugged her tight. She smelled like how she always smelled: my mother. A mix of comfort and warmth and yung Bvlgari perfume that she's been using for decades. Hindi ko aaminin out loud pero I missed my mother.

"Son, how have you been?" she asked nang pakawalan niya ako, holding my cheeks with both hands.

"I'm good, Mom. And looking at you, mukhang okay ka rin. You look pretty."

As if to double check kung okay talaga ako, she ran her eyes all over me and rested her hands on my shoulders. I'm a good head taller than her with her heels on kaya medyo nag-slouch ako so that she could properly inspect me.

"You do look good. You gained weight."

Pinapakain kasi ako nang pinapakain ni AJ, I thought. "Nalayo kasi ako sa stress sa office at hindi nakakalimutang kumain."

She agreed. "You should take more days off. It looks great on you."

"Noted, Mom. Lunch na tayo?"