The Breaking of Etiquette

CHAPTER 21: PLANS AND CONFRONTATION

Mia's POV

We remained very careful in every actions that we take. I have no choice after all. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin sila hiwalay ni Ma'am Annie. I don't know what's stopping him pero he promised that he would leave everything behind. It's been almost a month. Matatapos na ang January pero hindi pa rin niya natutupad iyong ipinangako niya.

I don't even know if he is serious with that o I was just blinded by his words. I once asked him nga kung kailan niya balak putulin iyong namamagitan sa kanilang dalawa but his answer just dismayed me.

"Let's take it slowly, Mia. Slowly."

It creeps me sa sitwasyon namin ngayon. We always hide. We always run away. We always steal moments and I am afraid of people who might catch us. Natatakot ako na baka may makahuli sa amin na makasisira sa buhay na mayroon kami ngayon and I don't want that day to come kaya ngayon pa lang, gusto ko nang madaliin ang lahat.

"Ma, are you listening?" Napapitlag ako. I looked at Cyrine.

"Ha?"

"I was asking your plans for the prom." She rests her back on the couch and then cross her arms and her legs. She's irked. She's been blabbing this to me since last week pero hanggang ngayon ay wala pa akong plano.

"Sorry, sorry. May iniisip lang." I massaged my temples. Napailing na lang siya at naghintay sa sasabihin ko.

Napaisip ulit ako. February is coming na rin pala. Cyrine is on her 9th grade at first time niyang sumali sa prom pero since I am a part of the faculty, taon-taon ako dumadalo rito. This year is a crucial one dahil ito ang unang pagkakataon na makakasama ko siya. And she's going to experience one of her life's highlight!

I smiled upon realizing that one. When I was at her age,  I was just as excited as her. Sino ba naman ang hindi kung isang guwapong nilalang ang kasama mong rarampa papasok sa hall, 'di ba?

"Ma, I don't need your smile right now," Cyrine said in annoyance. Natawa naman ako. Hindi naman halatang excited ang dalaga ko e.

"Mama naman e!" She stomped her feet kaya naman tumigil na ako sa katatawa. She's cute when she's annoyed pero I need to stop dahil baka mapikon pa siya.

I sighed before answering. "I still don't know. Actually..."  I bit my lip and then glance at her. She's keenly listening to me.

"What? Spill it!" She eagerly ranted.

"I forgot about it for a while." And as what I have expected, her expression turned into a pug-liked face with those line that is drawn upon squeezing both of her hands on her cheeks.

"Ma! That's already two weeks away from now! Seryoso ka ba?!" she said in disbelief. I nodded knowingly.

"Hell-o, it's 4th grading, anak? I have a lot of paper works kaya. Saka why are so chill ba diyan e you should be thinking nga dapat ngayon about your upcoming defense sa thesis at investigatory project mo." Cyrine was taken aback. Those paper works were just my alibi. I truly accomplished everything through the help of Cris.

"Oo nga pala," she said covering her mouth. Makakahinga na sana ako ng maluwag pero napaurong-baga ako nang magsalita ulit siya.

"Ihhhh! That can wait naman! Let's talk about the prom muna, Ma!"

"Ano bang gusto mong mangyari?"

"I want to be an eye-catcher!" Pumalakpak pa siya sabay sigaw na para bang kinakatay. Napailing naman ako. Kahit naman hindi niya hilingin iyan, I am sure that she will shine. Kanino pa ba galing ang genes nito no?

"Tapos I want a dress na hindi masyadong elegante pero I will be the center of attention kapag sinuot ko ito."

"You wanna be the queen of the ball, huh?" Sinandal ko ang likod ko sa sofa saka ko sinimulang laruin ang mga daliri ko habang nakatingin sa kaniya nang mabuti. She nodded and a cheeky smile grew on my face upon percieving her whim.

"Then who do you want to be your king?" Her cheeks instantly turned into red. Sa ganitong edad rin noon, may nagsisimula nang mamuo sa aming dalawa ng papa niya and I doubt kapag sasabihin niyang hanggang ngayon ay wala pa ring nagpaparamdam sa kaniya.

"May nanliligaw na ba sayo?" Mas lalong namula ang mga pisngi niya sa tanong ko. She looks like an overripe tomato na sa itsura niya ngayon. Well, as a mother, I need to know every bit of happenings sa anak ko. Habang lumalaki kasi ang anak ko, the she more conceals secrets on me.

"You can tell me everything, anak. Sige na. I won't be mad." I winked at her and then gave her an assuring smile.

She heaves a deep sigh before answering. "Well..." She paused. "There is someone who's asking me if he could court me but--"

"But what?"

"But I said that we are better off as friends kasi I am scared na you'll be breaking one of his bones kapag nalaman mo na pumayag ako," walang tigil na paliwanag niya. Hindi ko naman napigilang humagalpak sa sinabi niya. Does she really think na gagawin ko iyon sa manliligaw niya? I am a strict educator and a hands-on mom pero hindi ko naman magagawang mambali ng buto dahil lang sa dalaga na ang anak ko.

"I want to meet him. Bring him to me before the prom night." I stood up and started walking my way to the stairs.

"But Ma!"

"Tumayo ka na dyan at magbihis ka. We'll go to your Tito Raymond." Bigla namang nagliwanag ang mukha niya nang banggitin ko ang pangalan ng Tito niya.

"Really?" I felt Cyrine's hands snaked on my waist. Tumango naman ako.

"Oh my! It's been a while! I miss him!"

"I miss him too."

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Short update! Hehehe. So who's Raymond nga ba? Maski ako ay walang idea kung sino siya. Basta sulat na lang ako nang sulat HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Okay bye.