Tsina: The 15M Wife

48

"Mom! What took you so long?" Ven asked her parents as soon as the two step out of the chopper.

"Baby, we are just a day late." Natatawang sagot ng ama nya. Napanguso naman si Ven. Tsk. Para pa din talaga syang bata

Maingay at masaya kaming kumain ng sabay-sabay. Sobrang daming pagkain dahil nandito si Mommy na sobrang sarap magluto.

Puro tawanan at kulitan lang ang maririnig sa amin buong maghapon. I missed this. Yung puro tawa lang. Noong nasa New Jersey pa kami ay laging ganito. We are fond of Mom's antics and Dad's cheesiness. Grabe sila maglambingan. Ang lakas maka-teenager. Natatandaan ko noong bata pa kami ni Ven, na madalas kaming mandiri sa ka-sweetan at kakornihan ng dalawa pero ngayon, isa iyon sa mga kinaiinggitan namin ni Ven.

"Anak, usap tayo" Mom said out of nowhere, I just nodded and follow her to one of the guest rooms of the Villa. I have no idea what are we going to talk about. But I'm sure it is something serious and I'm starting to get nervous.

"What is it Mom? Any problem?" I asked eagerly.

"Kamusta ka anak?" she asked instead of answering me.

"I'm good Mom." Nagtatakang sagot ko

"I know you are not. I may not be your biological mother but I am your mother for more than half of your life and the mother instinct in me feels it." Now, I don't know really where is this talk going.

"Mom.. It's nothing." I said as I bowed down my head, I don't want to look in her eyes because she can read me so well.

"We both know it isn't." Mom is using her commanding tone she usually uses whenever Ven and I did something wrong and she wants to know the story of it.

"Alam kong mahirap kang paaminin kaya ako ang magsisimula ng kwento" Mom said after waiting for my response for a couple of minutes. Napaangat ako ng tingin sa sinabi nya. Anong alam ni Mommy?

"Franz already met his biological father right?" She asked and I nodded, I got more nervous in the topic she wants to discuss

"Franz told me earlier that he misses his Dada. Hindi daw kasi tumatawag ang Dada nya simula noong dumating kayo dito"

"Mom.." she cut me off by raising her hands signaling me to stop.

"He's the man at Ven's wedding right?"

'Yes Mom but.. he.."

"Anak, ako muna ang magsasalita at sasagot ka lang pag tinatanong kita" parang nanay na pinapagalitan ang batang anak na sabi nya

"Pero Mommy, we're okay." Pagtatakip ko pa

"Define Okay" hamon nya sa akin, kaya napayuko ako

"We're talking, we're good"

"When was the last time you talk to him?" Si mommy parang pulis na nag-i-interogate ng kriminal.

"The reason why we are a day late for coming here is because of him. He set an appointment with me and your Daddy. He asked for your hand in marriage. He told us everything from the very first time you two met until the last time he saw you. That young man got down on his knees in front of us for goodness' sake!" marahas na napalingon ako kay Mommy ng may nanlalaking mata

"And by the way, your daddy give him our blessing!" she added.

"Mom!"

"What? Kasal naman na kayo ha? Anong gusto mong mangyari? Pagkatapos mong ipakilala ang anak mo sa totoo nyang ama ay maghihiwalay kayo? Ngayon pa? Alam mo ba ang magiging epekto sa anak mo ng broken family? Alam mo ba kung ano yung mga haharapin nyang insulto sa mga taong nakapaligid sa kanya kung sakali pagdating ng panahon? We both know that this world is full of cruel, self-righteous and idiot people."