Ace The Wager (TO BE PUBLISHED)

Chapter 36

MEETING HAJI'S MOTHER WASN'T on the list of my expectations.

Kaya naman ninenerbyos ako na ewan habang nakaupo ako sa harapan niya sa circular na table ng mamahalin na restaurant na 'to. I was sitting beside Haji and Yani. Umuwi na kanina sila Koen, Charles, at Zy nang sinabi ng maman ni Haji na magdi-dinner sila ng mga anak niya.

Sasama na sana ako kila Charles pero pinigilan niya ako.

"Not you," she said in a soft tone but it held such authority. "You're coming with us, dear."

I didn't have a reason to decline, plus my mind wasn't working during that time. Hence, why I'm here, sipping the glass of water in front of me to ease my nerves. Mabait naman ang maman ni Haji, intimidating nga lang. She held this intense aura na isang katangahan mo lang ang kailangan mong gawin bago niya sirain ang buhay mo. She has that duplicity vibe. 'yong tipo na mabait sa labas pero kitang-kita mo pa lang sa paraan ng pagngisi niya na may masama na siyang balak sa'yo.

May pinagmanahan talaga si Haji.

"Did you already order something, dear?" tanong ng maman ni Haji kay Yani. "Leur Cassoulet est-il délicieux?"

Tumango naman si Yani bago binalik ang menu sa ibabaw ng mesa. Kinuha 'yon ng isang waiter bago umalis na sa table namin. Haji's mother then glanced at me.

Shit, sasabog na talaga ako dahil sa nerbyos. I'd rather argue in court than go through this dinner all over again.

"Attorney," tawag niya sa'kin. "You're quite reserved. Is the restaurant not to your liking?"

Haji spoke for me. "She's nervous, maman. Elle n'est pas vraiment habituée à ce que Français mères l'invitent à dîner."

"Eh bien, elle doit y être habituée, mon amour. J'ai l'intention de l'inclure à mes déjeuners à partir de maintenant."

Haji sighed. "D'accord, mais arrêtez d'être intimidant. Ce moment n'est même pas le bon." Then he turned to me. "Are you nervous?"

I gulped before I shook my head.

Ninenerbyos ako, oo, pero hindi dahil masama ang loob ko sa maman niya. Nahihiya lang talaga ako kasi hindi ako nakapag-prepare na ganito pala ang mangyayari. I've never seen his mother so I was still adjusting to the fact that she really is full French... and freaking gorgeous. Her genes never failed to reach her son.

"Mais pourquoi?" natatawang sabi ng mama niya, her wrinkles showing. "Je n'essaie même pas, mon amour. Si l'invité a peur, cela n'a rien à voir avec moi. Je me comporte simplement."

"Elle est mal à l'aise, maman," sagot ni Haji.

"Elle ne devrait pas être nerveuse." Haji's mom shook her head playfully, a smile still plastered on her face before she looked at me. "I am Jacqueline Rowe, dear, mother of these two children. I'm deeply sorry if you feel uncomfortable with me. I guess it's the make-up. Or the hair. Oh, God, I told Sylvia not to overdo my look," she said in a French accent.

"Je suis déjà adulte," singit ni Yani. "J'ai déjà vingt-quatre ans."

I was stunned. Kahit hindi ko naiintindihan ang pinagsasabi nila, naa-amaze pa rin ako na ganito pala sila ka-fluent mag-French, especially Yani. Did she live in France as well? She speaks the language without any effort, as if she's already used to it.

And I really admire how Haji's mother acknowledges Yani as her own daughter kahit sa ibang babae siya pinanganak. It's been less than an hour since I knew her and I already respected her so much.

"Attorney?"

I snapped my head sharply in her direction. Nakatingin silang lahat sa'kin, mukhang nag-aantay na may sabihin ako.