The Virgin Stripper

12

EPZQ

I was glad we bumped into my mother earlier. I thought I would struggle to connect with her, but I was really grateful to her. Although Valerie didn't know it yet, I had used my dad's call as an excuse to get out of the awkwardness.

Right now, I was driving to meet someone. A few minutes later, a girl with long, curly blonde hair opened my car door.

"Hi!" she smiled.

"Did you bring the little guy?" I asked.

"Of course! He's why I'm here," she chuckled.

"Where?" My curiosity piqued.

"Here," she said, carrying a golden brown retriever.

"Take care of him, kuya, ha?" she said, her expression shifting to one of 'I'm gonna miss you.'

"Dami mo sinasabi. Give him to me," I replied, taking the puppy into my arms.

"Bayad muna, kuya," she grinned.

I pulled out my wallet and handed her ₱20,000, and she passed the puppy over to me.

"Thank you, kuyaaa!" she joked, and I rolled my eyes.

"You're helping me out, right? Where's the outfit for this guy?" I asked, looking at her expectantly.

"Ow, andito sa bag," she replied.

"Okay, thanks."

I drove off to one of our restaurants, with Sophia following behind since she had brought her car. It was the fanciest of them all, complete with a rooftop that was only used for family events.

"Go on, guys, set up the place," my cousin Sophia, who sold the puppy to me, instructed the employees.

She was a party planner and occasionally sold puppies.

"It's already 3 PM," I said, glancing at my watch.

"It's okay; tita texted me, and she said they're still at the baby store," she reassured me.

"I'm just nervous," I sighed, eyeing the venue.

"We're gonna be done in no time," she said, encouragingly. "Where's the dog?" she asked, looking around.

"Right there." I pointed to the grass where he was running around like crazy, tongue lolling out.

"Crazy," Sophia laughed.

"Do your thing now," I urged her towards the workers.

By 4 PM, my anxiety was at its peak. I wanted to know what Valerie and my mom were doing right now. I called her to check in.

"Hello, love?" she answered. I could sense her smile even though I couldn't see it.

"Yeah, I'm just checking in. Are you guys done?" I asked.

"Hindi pa. We're just eating snacks," she replied.

"Oh, okay. Love you. See you later," I said.

"Love you too, love. See you later," she echoed before hanging up.

"Kuya, I just asked tita if they were stopping by anywhere else, and she said they were just getting maternity clothes for ate Val," Sophia informed me.

"Makapag 'ate' ka jan, akala mo naman close mo. Hindi pa nga kayo nagkikita," I teased.

"Kuya, I'm having an ate, and I've been waiting for you to introduce one sa amin," she said, playfully.

Sophia was my only girl cousin. Since my dad only had one brother and my mom was an only child, she and her older brother were my only cousins. Sophia's brother was a year younger than me, but we weren't particularly close.