Mrs. Araneta

Teaser

IRENE's POV:

Tonight is the Pre-Christmas dinner we prepared for the whole family. This is the first time since Patrick's passing that we're going to be together again. Clea is excited to see all of her cousins because she said, she's going to let them meet "Luis". But Greggy's a bit off since last week. I can only attribute it to the fact that he might be busy because office ended operations this week. They'll resume again after new year, but I'm not so sure. Sometimes, I feel like he's just purposely staying away from me.

And it's not helping that his father is coming over. Everyone knows his disgust over my family. I am somehow expecting his irate to come later. But I needed Greggy for those. My pregnant self might not be able to handle the arrogant and disrespectful behavior of his father.

Of all the names Clea can come up with, I just don't understand why she has to name the baby after Greggy's father.

For tonight, I asked the help of Gaita, she's Greggy's cousin. She's a chef, and a very good one actually. I want to spare Nanay and myself the trouble of preparing for the dinner. Had I not been pregnant, I might do the preparation myself, but this pregnancy is different from Alfie.
I'm always tired and my emotions are always on the edge. I don't know if it has something to do with the grieving, but I just want to rest and sleep most of the time.

I'm inside the room when Greggy came in. He seems genuinely surprised to see me here. Why? Where is he expecting me to be?

'Hey.'
"Hi. Are you okay?"
'Yeah. Shower lang ako. Padating na siguro sila Mama.'

Just like that? He didn't even hug me. I haven't seen him this whole day. He was at the office to fetch some last minute papers.

"Greggy?"
'Yes?'
"Are we okay? Galit ka ba sakin?"
'What? No. Why would you say that?'
"Iniiwasan mo ako ehh. You didn't even give me a hug. Pa Christmas na, pero nasa office ka pa. Did I do something wrong?"

'No, Irene. I'm just tired, ha? Later. Shower lang ako.'
"Greggy.."
'Mamaya.'
"Now na kasi ehh. Pa hug na."

I stand up to hug him, but he only kissed my forehead before he head straight to the bathroom.
What the hell was that?

***
I'm trying to ignore this ill feeling that I have with Greggy's treatment over me because our family started arriving one after the other. Also, I'm afraid that Clea might notice that something's going on between me and her Daddy.

Speaking of Clea, she's dressed up like an Indian Princess. Again, all because of Ate Imee. She gave this bow and arrow to her last week and Clea just wouldn't stop talking about how she wanted to use it for the dinner. I know it's off in all ways, she should be dressed like an angel or Mary or anything that relates to nativity, but no. She decided she's going to be an Indian Princess.

So Indian Princess it is.

'Mommy!!!!!'
"Hey... sama ka kay Mommy sa baba? Tata's here."
'Si Daddy?'
"Nasa room po. Nag shower pa, anak. Let's go first. Susunod naman si Daddy."

'Ayaw ko, Mommy. Wait na natin si Daddy. Dapat complete tayo. Look at them, complete sila dumadating. Let's go back to Daddy muna.'
"Okay, okay. Don't run. Mommy can't run."
'Tagal kasi lumabas ni Luis ehh. You can't play with me anymore na.'

"Baby, nine months naman kasi bago lumabas po ang mga baby."
'Ilan na ba si Luis, Mommy?'
"Ahhh.. almost-"

'Irene.'