Perfect Timing

[16] Lola Knows Best

A/N: As promised, here's another update! Thank you to everyone who reads and enjoys this story. I love reading your comments and replying to each of them! Nakakataba po ng puso considering I am not that good of a writer. Hugs and kisses to everyone!

So, what do you think? Will Kim and Dei get together eventually? Or are you for RichDei?

Happy reading!
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Fully awake yet still affected by my stupid dream, I took my time washing up in the bathroom.

"Bakit ganon ang panaginip ko? Anong ibig sabihin nun?" I muttered as I stared at myself in the mirror. "Ah hindi! Bangungot yun, bangungot! Katakawan mo kasi, kumain ka pa ng goto at puto cheese bago matulog kagabi kaya hindi ka natunawan."

Convincing myself that I shouldn't think about the NIGHTMARE anymore, I wiped my face dry and prepared for the discussion with my formidable lola Divina. Ano kaya ang gusto nyang pag-usapan namin? Please, wag naman sana request na taasan ko allowance nya, hindi ko pa keri sa sweldo ko e.

Out of all the grandkids that my lola had, I'm the first one who has managed to study in a prestigious school and landed a job in a multinational company immediately after the first interview. Unfortunately, I have just started working and the salary versus the living expenses is quite a challenge to balance. I do send a small amount of money for lola, but I don't think I can handle any request for an "increase", so to speak.

Taking a deep breath, I went to the terrace and found my grandmom tending to the plants, as always.

"Good morning, lola! Hinahanap nyo daw po ako? Ang paborito nyong apo? What's the matter, peanut butter?" I greeted her with a kiss on the cheek and a hug.

"Kayong lahat ng apo ko pantay-pantay ang tingin ko, wala akong paborito. Mamaya magselos pa yung makarinig sayo dyan. Mabuti pa, kumain ka na muna bago tayo mag-usap. May tasty saka pandesal dyan sa mesa. May Dari Creme saka Cheez Whiz din kung gusto mo ng palaman. Pero hula ko, hindi mo na kailangan ng palaman, Captain Tinapay," my lola teased with her usual dry humour.

'Captain Tinapay' is my grandma's pet name for me. I can survive living without rice but I need my daily supply of yummy bread to keep me going.

What? Filipino ka pero di ka mahilig sa rice? Baka ipa-deport ka nyan! Yeah, yeah, I've been teased many times because of my preference. But what can I do? My tummy wants bread - at least with food, I can give myself whatever it is that I want.

Hindi kagaya sa lovelife, hmm... Huh? Now where did that thought come from?

"Palaman? Depende po yan! Kung galing yung pandesal sa Lucky's tapos mainit pa, e hindi na kailangan ng palaman. Pero kung yung matigas na pandesal yan galing sa Zapanta, nakow! Sangkatutak na palaman ilalagay ko."

"Dei, Dei, Dei. Ikaw talaga, pagdating sa pandesal, napaka-arte! Kailangan maputi at malambot, bawal ang tustado at medyo matigas," my grandma laughed as she removed some dried leaves around the sampaguita plant.

"Lola naman! Para saan pa na ako si Captain Tinapay kung wala akong mataas na standards sa pandesal?" I teased back.

"O sya, kumain ka na muna para makapag-usap na tayo pagkatapos mo. Inaaliw mo lang yata ako dahil ayaw mong mag-usap tayo."

"Luh, si lola. Gutom lang po yan," I teased her. "Kain po tayo."

My grandma just shook her head and watered the plants instead.

After finishing my breakfast of pandesal with a steaming mug of coffee, I opened up the discussion with my grandmother again. "So, 'la, ano na po yung gusto nyong pag-usapan natin?"

My grandmother approached the dining table, sat down and stared at me while preparing her coffee. Finally looking down into her hot drink as she stirred it, she said, "Pansin ko may madalas ka nang kausap sa telepono ngayon ah. May boyfriend ka na ba?"

I was speechless for a moment, snorted, then laughed out loud at the outrageous question. "Grabe si lola, may kausap lang sa phone, boyfriend na? Hindi ba pwedeng kaibigan lang?"

"Uh-hmm, kaya ba di ka mapakali kapag nag-ring ang telepono mo? At kung bakit lagi kang nakangiti pag may natanggap kang text? Matanda na ako, Dei, pero natatandaan ko pa rin kung pano kiligin pag nililigawan o pag magkanobyo."

I blushed as my grandmom recounted her recent observations. Was I that obvious? And here I thought I was acting cool and unaffected. Kaya pala kahit yung mga pinsan ko kagaya ni Jeka tinutukso ako.

"Lola, wala lang yun. Ni hindi pa nga nagsasabi na gusto nya ako e. Ayaw ko naman mag-assume. Baka... baka friendly lang talaga sya."

"Sige, ganito na lang, KUNG manligaw sya sayo, ano gagawin mo? May pag-asa ba? Sasagutin mo ba sya?"

"Sa totoo lang po, 'la, hindi ko alam e. Kasi parang ang sarap magka-boyfriend ulit. Mabait naman kasi sya kahit nung college pa kami. Pero ang hirap naman kasi nasa Manila sya, nasa Cebu ako," I sighed at this.

My grandmother placed her hand on top of mine. "Dei, alam kong naging mahigpit ako sa iyo nung nag-aaral ka pa. Naintindihan mo naman siguro kung bakit di ba? Ayaw ko lang magaya ka sa ate mo na nabuntis, nag-anak agad at ngayon hirap sa buhay. Pero... ngayong tapos ka na, huwag ka sanang mag-boyfriend nang dahil sa 'gusto mo lang'."

"Lola, wag na natin yang isipin. Hindi pa nga nagsasabi ng 'Can you be my girlfriend.' Basta, I promise po na if ever itanong nga nya yan, mag-iisip muna ako."

"Mag-isip ka hindi lang isa, dalawa o tatlong beses. Bata ka pa, madami ka pang makikilala. Kami ng lolo mo---"

"Oh, jeez, no stories tungkol sa love or sex life nyo ni lolo please," I cringed and covered my ears.

My grandmother smacked me on the head and exclaimed, "Loka-loka! Hindi yun ang ikukuwento ko!"

"Aba, malay ko po ba, e tungkol sa lovelife usapan natin."

"Sasabihin ko lang na sa lolo mo hindi ako nagkaron ng choice. Nung panahon kasi namin, pag nahalikan ka sa pisngi, kailangan ipakasal na kayo. May nobyo ako nun, pero sira ulo ng lolo mo, nagnakaw ng halik. Kaya ikaw, habang may choice ka, mamili ka nang maayos."

My grandmother reached for my hand and squeezed it. "Bata ka pa, Dei. Mabait, matalino, masipag. Enjoy mo ang pagiging single mo."

I stood up and hugged my grandma. "Ito yung nami-miss ko pag malayo ako sa iyo e. Thank you, lola. Teka nga pala, lola."

"Hmm, ano yun?"

"Nasan yung maganda at sexy dun sa mga positive traits ko? Kulang e!"

My grandmother laughed out loud and hugged me tighter. "Ikaw talaga, Dei, kahit kailan ang hilig magpatawa. Sige na, didiligan ko na yung mga halaman. Balikan mo na yang ka-text mo." Then she winked and left me alone.

Quickly picking up my phone, the screen showed 2 new text messages. Wow, dalawa agad? Kulit ni Kim ha.

Grinning wide, I opened my Inbox. My eyebrow rose in surprise. Yes, there were indeed 2 messages but only one was from Kim. The other from Rich.

Ano kayang kailangan nya?