ARE YOU MAN ENOUGH?

Chapter Forty

JARED LOOKED AS CALM AS POSSIBLE. Pero nasa mga hakbang niya ang pagmamadali.

"I don't think it's a good idea that you left her with Mom." Clint told him earlier.

"How come?"

"Mom tend to talk a lot. Lalo na kapag tinanong siya. She can't just say no. Lahat ng tinatanong o pinapakwento sa kanya, ine-entertain niya."

Napalunok si Jared. Tama ang kanyang kapatid. Hindi nga magandang ideya na iwanan si Lily kasama ang kanyang nanay. Nadatnan niya ang dalawa sa kusina. It was a neat kitchen with dominant white paint all over the walls and wooden finish on the cabinets, the sides of the counter at the center of the room with installed sink, and high chairs.

Nakaupo si Lily sa isa sa mga high chair na nakapaikot sa counter na iyon. She sat with her legs crossed while putting peanut butter on warm toasted breads. Kumakalat naman sa kusina ang mainit-init na amoy ng nilulutong egg omelette ng kanyang ina.

"Jared!" bati agad ng kanyang nanay nang malingunan siya mula sa doorway papasok ng kusina.

Noon lang din napalingon si Lily at hinanap siya ng mga mata. Nang matagpuan siya, awtomatikong ngumiti ang dalaga. It wasn't one of her usual mischief of a smile. There was this kind of gentle sincerity on this one that held his heart motionless for awhile.

Lumapit si Jared sa likuran ni Lily, nakatutok ang mga mata sa kanyang inang patungo sa countertable.

"Mom, she's our guest," ngiti niya rito pero nasa himig ang pagpaalala sa ina.

"Ano ka ba," saway sa kanya ni Lily. "Ako ang nagpresentang magpalaman sa mga tinapay, okay?"

"Why would you do that?" gulat na lingon niya sa babae.

"Come on, Jared," tanggol ng nanay niya kay Lily. "Mabuti na 'yan kaysa ma-bored siya dahil walang ginagawa."

Then, Jade turned away. Babalikan na nito ang iniwang niluluto. She began flipping and tossing the omelette.

"Mom," he tried to be as gentle with her as possible. His mother is just such a softie. Her sweet, fragile looks doesn't lie when it comes to her sensitivity. "Baka kinulit mo naman itong si Lily, ha?"

"I didn't!" at napunta saglit ang maamo nitong mga mata sa dalaga. "Kinulit ba kita?"

"She did not, Jared, okay?" Lily shrugged coolly and resumed her activity.

"Hay, that's the reason why my son doesn't get any girlfriend, Lily—"

Fuck. Nagsisimula na ang nanay niya!

"—masyadong madamot." She shook her head a bit. "Like, what's wrong if you help a little bit in here? Right?"

Gusto niyang sawayin ang ina pero napailing na lang siya. Napapamewang.

He caught Lily's smile as she lowered her head, eyes focused on spreading peanut butter on a piece of toast.

"I think it's really nice when we help others, right, Lily?"

Lily just nodded her head.

She's just nodding but that doesn't mean she agrees, Mom. She prefer to be served than serving other people, he internally sighed. Nilipat na lang niya sa ibang bagay ang atensyon. "I already met Dad on my way here. Dumiretso na siya sa veranda. Doon na raw niya hihintayin 'yong breakfast."

"Then, help us, Subby," sulyap ni Lily sa kanya, nagmamadali sa pagsasalita. "Ang dami kasing lulutuin ng Mom mo. So, medyo matrabaho magdala ng maraming pagkain sa veranda ninyo."