Take Me Deeper [R-18]

TMD-14

"So what was it that you've been so busy about that you've forgotten to see your momma?"

Nagkatinginan si Aya at nakababatang kapatid niyang si Jax habang nakaupo sila pareho sa hapagkainan at naglalakad naman palapit ang kanila ng ina na si Juana. Their father, Alfredo, peeked at them from the newspaper he's reading. "H'wag kayong magtinginan na ganyan. Sumagot kayo. Jax," bumaling ito sa binata. "Go help your mom."

Mabilis naman tumalima ang kapatid niya upang salubungin ang ina. Ngunit pinalo naman ng kanila ng ina ang kamay nito nang akmang aagawin dito ang bowl ng salad. "Mom?!" reklamo ni Jax.

 "Go back to your seat."

Aya giggled as she watch her younger brother grumble something under his breath while taking his usual spot in the dining table.

"Sorry, mom, I've been working with the Tuazon Food Corp," she reasoned while adding food on her plate. Inabot naman niya ang bowl ng adobo kay Jax na nakaupo sa tabi ng mom nila. 

Their mother, Engineer Juana Valdez -Valderama, is one of the best Civil engineers in the country. She graduated best of her class and was one of the board topnotchers of her time. Habang ang kanyang ama naman na si Alfredo Valderama ay nakapagtapos ng arkitektura sa ibang bansa. Both her parents are well-known in the field. To some people, it might have been hard to be these people's daughter. But Aya took it as a challenge. She wanted to make a name of her own. Kaya naman ginagalingan talaga niya at ayaw niyang mapahiya ang mga magulang niya sa kanya. Hindi naman siya nito inobliga na sumunod sa mga yapak nito but she watched how they worked when she was young and decided that that is what she wants. Tuwang tuwa ang kanyang ama nang sabihin niya rito na magti-take siya ng kurso sa arkitektura. Her mother was nothing short of being encouraging and supportive.

Jax was a different story entirely. He made it clear from the start that he wanted to be a lawyer and so their parents sent him to the best law school in town. They were really supportive when it comes to their endeavours. Kahit pa hindi sumunod ang bunso niyang kapatid sa yapak ng mga ito ay proud na proud ang mga ito rito lalo na ngayon at malapit na ring grumadweyt ang kapatid sa law school.

"Baka naman panay ang trabaho mo, Aya?" her mom said. "You're not getting any younger, hija. I know you wanted to make your own name in your field pero alam mo naman siguro ng may deadline tayong mga babae?"

"Mom?"

"All I'm saying is you haven't introduced anyone to us. Maybe it's about time that you should also focus on that aspect of your life, hija. Hindi na rin kami tumatanda ng Dad mo."

"But? Why me? Ayan si Jax oh."

Her younger brother held both his hands up. "Oh, no, ate. I still have the bars to worry about." he said with a grin. Halata naman na nag-enjoy ito sa atensyon na ibinibigay sa kanya ng ina lalo na't ito ang topic.

She glared at him.

"What? Mom's right," he took a sip of orange juice before pinning her with a playful look. "Stop rejecting all the guys who wanted to court you. Yan ang hirap kasi sa'yo, napakasungit mo kaya bago pa man din makaisip na ligawan ka, they're already running the opposite direction."

"I really hate you right now."

"Stop it, both of you." saway ng kanila ng ama.

Jax stuck his tongue out at her while she bared her teeth at him. Their mother laughed.

"Anyway, your father and I has been invited to a thanksgiving gathering slash gallery opening of one of your cousins, Thea. Both of you should come so clear your schedules this coming weekend, okay?"

Gusto sanang tumanggi ni Aya dahil nakapangako na siya sa boss niya na tutulungan ito sa isang project with the de Luise ngunit alam niyang hindi niya maaaring tanggihan ang ina lalo na't nagtatampo ito sa bihira niyang pag-uwi sa bahay. She knew Jax was about to reason out so she widened her eyes at him as a warning. Wala na ring nagawa ito kundi ang umoo sa nais ng ina.