Unveiling The Mask Behind (High Class Issue Series #4)

EPILOGUE

Epilogue

"Ang ganda ng bahay mo, Tanda."

My jaw secretly tightened once again when Jasiel called me. I can no longer count how many times my ears throbbed every time he's calling me Tanda. Tsk! I'm just in my forties, and yet this teenager is calling me names. I just met him recently, but I already have a nickname that is offensive for my age. Maybe he got that personality from his father, Alejo.

Jasiel and I just got home, and he immediately walked around. It's good that Serina let Jasiel come with me, even though she was a bit skeptical, and I understand that. After I hurt her, she guarded her heart from me, as well as those people who surround her.

"Wow, may maliit kang court sa bahay mo?" Manghang-mangha siya sa mga nakikita niya sa bahay. Para ngang kuminang ang mga mata niya nung makita ang maliit na basketball court sa likod ng bahay ko.

"Kita mo naman, hindi ba?" pamimilosopo ko na dahilan para umikot ang mga mata nito. May balak yata akong makipag-bardalugan sa batang 'to.

"Magluluto muna ako ng pagkain. Kung ayaw mo munang pagpawisan ay puwede kang maglaro ng Xbox du'n sa sala," pagpapaalam ko sa kanya kaya tumango ito habang nakaawang ang sulok ng labi.

"Ang galing. May Xbox kahit nasa forties na," ganti niya. Kaya pala nakangisi ito dahil balak na naman akong asarin tungkol sa edad ko. Mukha bang kalait-lait ang edad ko?

I put my hands on the sides of my waist and lifted my chin. "There is no required age to play Xbox, young man, and also stop teasing about my age," I uttered and gritted my teeth as I maintained my composure. Is my age a big deal for him?

"Ilang taon ka na ba? Kasing edad mo lang ba si Mama?" tanong niya.

"Mas matanda ako ng dalawang taon sa Mama mo," sagot ko kaagad habang tinatanggal sa pagkakabutones ang mga manggas ng polo ko para maitupi ko ito hanggang siko.

"Malapit ba kayo sa isa't isa? Para kasing magkakilala kayo."| bit my lower lip when Jasiel asked that. I'm sure Serina denied to her children that she knows me. Of course, she will lie to protect them from me.

"Let's just say that we already saw each other, but we didn't know each other's names," I lied. Maybe that's way better than telling him about my past relationship with his mom before. Kotang-kota na ang mga kalasanan ko kay Serina, ayoko ng madagdagan pa 'yun.

I sighed and clapped to cut the conversation, scared that the kid would ask more questions. "You can do whatever you want here since I lost to our game last time, but the rule is don't ever run in my house," I reminded, the reason why his brows furrowed.

"Why is running not allowed—"

"I just don't like it."

But the truth is that I don't want him to pant just like his mom. I don't know if Jasiel inherited his mom's heart condition, but I'm just avoiding causing trouble to Serina. I used to remind her sixteen years ago to stop running in the house because of her heart condition, and now I'm also saying it to her son.