It's You

Chapter Nine

"What? Hindi ka sasama pabalik ng Manila?" Nakakunot na sabi ni Mom.

"Yes."

Nandito kami sa garden ni Tita Halsey, kinausap ko kasi si Mom na may sasabihin ako sakan'ya nang kaming dal'wa lang.

She sighed.

"Why?"

"I told you, I want to live my life the fullest. Responsable naman na'ko, Mom. Supposed to be nga, at my age ay may asawa na'ko, sige kayo, baka maunahan pa ako ni Pau."

She held my shoulder. "You know marriage is not a race, You. Alam mo namang I'm your number one supporter pagdating sa anumang decision mo, I want you to be happy and so hinayaan ko lang ang sandamakmak na reklamo ng Tita Kia mo."

"Yes, Mom. You are the best, sooo?" With my charming convincing smile, I said.

"Yes. But this time, I can't let you be alone." She removed her hand from me at ngumiti nang kakaiba. But I know her and I know this kind of smile, ito 'yung ngiti na may nakita s'yang guy para i arrange sa'kin.

"'Coz actually, last night, your Dad and I..."

Napatakip ako ng bibig. "Gumawa kayo ng isusunod kay Raniell?"

Napatawa naman si Mom. "No, that's not it!" Nagblush pa talaga, huh.

"'Diba nga nagdinner kami? We happened to meet some investors of our company and ate with them."

"And?" Expert ako sa pagbabasa ng isip, 'yung kay Louise lang naman ang 'di ko maintindihan eh.

"We both talked about our families and I found out they had two sons, the younger is about to be wedded pero ang Kuya daw nito ay mukhang wala nang pag-asang mag-extend ng lahi..."

Naging curious naman ako sa story ni Mom kaya't panay ang pakikinig ko.

"...napaka-workacaholic daw kasi nito. When I heard that, you automatically entered my mind." She grinned at me.

I knew it, Mom.

"So I said, maybe some time, pwede kayong magdinner together? Agad namang pumayag sina Mr. and Mrs. Chua."

I awkwardly smiled. "Okay na'ko, Mom."

"Are you sick? Ngayong ka lang ata nagdisagree sa ganitong mga usapan."

Wow, landing-landi siguro ang tingin sa'kin ni Mom. Psh, totoo din naman.

"Actually DIN, Mom, I met someone just by chance, I made a deal with myself that if makita ko s'ya ulit, wala nang other boys." I smiled at her.

"Nakita mo na ba?"

Hindi ko 'yun nasagot.

"That means no and that also means na there's no reason para tanggihan mo'ko." At nasa kan'ya naman ang ngiti ngayon.

"Okay, fine." I rolled my eyes at abot Manila naman ang ngiti sa'kin ni Mom.

...

This Friday ang date namin nung inireto sa'kin ni Mom which is two days from now. I marked it on my calendar dahil baka malimutan ko pa, for some reason, nawala nalang ang interest ko in dating, trauma lang siguro sa previous date ko, tsh. I didn't get my hopes up dahil baka isang bakla na naman 'tong makakadate ko, argh, I'm still pissed.

Ngayon ang alis nina Mom and Dad back to Manila, inihabilin naman nila ako nang maayos kay Tita Halsey. Hinatid ko sila sa airport using Tita's car. Yes, I drove it, back and forth. Hinabilinan naman sana ako ni Dad ng pera, pamasahe daw nila sa paghatid ko but hindi ko 'yun tinanggap, I have lots of money because I do have videos on YouTube, nah--- not that erotic vids you're thinking, I just paint online, yup, a hobby.