Mr. Left (Mr. Series #2)

Chapter 39

"Where did this come from? Did you bake this?" Jhon Rey asked while peering into the refrigerator. I was surprised by his sudden appearance. Gising na rin pala siya.

Doon ko lang naalala. "That was from my mom. I'm sorry I forgot to eat that."

Kinuha ko 'yon at inamoy. Okay pa naman, kahit almost one week nang nasa ref, pero wala kasi ako sa mood kainin.

"Saan mo dadalhin?" tanong niya.

"Itatapon ko na," sagot ko.

"Why?" Kumunot ang noo niya. "It's a waste to throw it away. Give me that instead." Kinain niya 'yong six pieces na cupcake na gawa ni mom. Halos magulat ako sa bilis niyang naubos ang mga iyon. Mahilig ba siya sa cupcakes?

Anyway, I'll just leave him alone and focus on cooking carbonara and orange chicken. I just hope na walang mapansin si mom sa aming dalawa. 

Lumipas ang oras ng paghihintay namin, pero wala pa rin si mom.

"Are you sure mom is coming?" I asked him.

"Yeah, she informed me about it the other day."

"Then, why hasn't she arrived yet?"

"I don't know."

I tried to call Mom to ask where she was, but here she answered, "I'm sorry, sweetie, I can't go anymore; your father prevents me from going there. He doesn't want me to bother you. Maybe some other time."

I sighed and informed Jhon Rey what I learned. He was busy eating the food I prepared.

"I see. I'll just finish my food and leave here," he answered, while munching the chicken. May sauce pa nga siya sa labi, eh. Gusto ko man 'yong punahin o punasan, mas pinili ko nang huwag na. Mapapansin din naman niya iyon.

Tumango na lang ako. Right, wala nang dahilan para mag-stay pa siya rito. Babalik na siya sa taong mahal niya.

"Aren't you going to eat?" tanong niya nang mapansin niya akong naglalakad pabalik sa kwarto.

"Maybe later."

Hindi ko na siya narinig na sumagot at mukhang umalis na rin naman siya. Ipinagpatuloy ko na lang ang pagpapahinga habang nananalangin na sana mabilis na dumating ang bukas.

Nagising ako sa malakas na tunog ng doorbell sa bahay. Lakad takbo ang ginawa ko para mapagbuksan kung sino man ang kanina pang nagdo-doorbell. Laking gulat ko nang makita ang mommy ni Jhon Rey sa harap ko.

"Mrs. Carpio? W-what brought you here?" natataranta kong bungad sa kaniya. Ni hindi ko na nga siya nabati ng magandang umaga dahil sa pagmamadali.

"Mrs. Carpio?" Nakataas ang kilay niya nang ulitin niya ang paraang ng pagtawag ko sa kaniya. "Haven't I told you that you can call me your mom also, since you're married with my child?" Mukhang naiinis, pero nakangiti niyang sabi.

"I-I'm sorry, m-mom. I was just surprised to see you here," nagpa-panic kong sagot.

"Bakit? Am I not allowed to check on you and my child? Where is he? Where's Jhon Rey? Can I go inside?"

Tumango ako. She walked into the house, and I couldn't stop her. Napansin niya ang paligid at walang presensya ng anak niya.

"Saan siya nagtatago?"

""H-he just went out for a jog, mom. He'll be back soon," pagsisinungaling ko. "Kumain na po kayo? I'll prepare you food po."

"No, I'm fine. It was you who needed to eat. Look at you. Hindi ka ba inaalagaan ng anak ko?" Hinawakan niya ang magkabilang braso ko.

"Ahh, no mom, he's taking care of me. Medyo mine-maintain ko lang po 'yong figure ko para hindi mahirap manganak." Napakamot pa ako sa ulo dahil sa hiya.

"You're overdoing it, Sheen May. You look so unhealthy. Halika, ipaghahain kita. Maupo ka d'yan." Hinila niya ang isang upuan sa may lamesa at pinaupo ako.

"P-po? Hindi na po."

Nakita kong ibinaba niya ang bag niya sa counter at itinaas ang sleeves ng damit niya. She looked over the refrigerator and found something to prepare.

Napakagat ako sa labi ko. I took the chance to go back to the room and find my phone. I texted Jhon Rey and told him that his mother was here.

Hindi siya nagreply. I tried to call him, and he answered.

"What do you mean she's there?" sagot niya na parang nagpa-panic, pero nagpipigil. And there, I heard the sounds of kisses and moans.

Napasinghap ako. Are they doing it early this morning?
Napakagat ako sa labi ko at pinigilang mapaluha habang naaalala ang ginawa namin noon.

"She-she's here. I'm not lying. She visited me early this morning, and she's now in the kitchen preparing food. What should I do?"

I was distracted by his groans as if he didn't understand what I said because he was busy with what they were doing.

And there he hung up without saying a word.

Napakapit ako sa puso ko.
I shouldn't have called him.

"Honey, are you okay?" Nagulat ako nang marinig ko ang boses ng mom ni Jhon Rey. Dali-dali kong pinunasan ang mga luha ko bago ako lumabas muli ng kwarto.

"Y-yes, mom. I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

I could hear her footsteps coming closer to me. Sinalubong niya ako sa may pintuan.

"What happened? Are you crying?"

"H-hindi po." I tried to smile.

"Come on, you can tell me what's wrong. I'm here." She gently rubbed my shoulder with her hand.

"O-okay lang po ako. Maybe it was pregnancy hormones."

"You can't fool me, hija. You only cry when you're experiencing emotional distress. I experienced it once when I was pregnant, too. The stress and anxiety. Kung ganiyan ang nararamdaman mo, then possible na may ginagawang hindi maganda si Jhon Rey towards you."

Umiling ako. "H-hindi po. He's really kind towards me."

I heard her sigh. "Alright. If you say so, halika na. Kumain ka na muna."

She prepared me a toast with avocado and even fresh milk. I feel touched by her efforts. Na-miss ko tuloy si mommy and pati na rin ang mga pagkaing iniluluto niya para sa akin.

"Thank you po," sagot ko.

"No problem, hija. I hope you get better."

I started to eat, and she was just looking at me.

"I heard from Jhon Rey that you're hobby is baking too. Is that correct? Do you feel like coming over to my house so that we can make something together? Because your mother and I baked the last time."

I was transfixed and delighted. That helped me feel better in some strange way. Naalala ko 'yong binanggit sa akin ni Derrick last time, that my father is getting closer with Mr. Carpio, at ngayon naman si mom and Mrs. Carpio. Kami na lang talaga ni Jhon Rey ang hindi nagkakasundo at mukhang imposibleng mangyari 'yon.

Kahit ilang beses kong hilingin, mukhang hindi talag iyon para sa akin. Hindi mangyayaring magkaayos kami ni Jhon Rey. Mukhang hindi, kahit kailan.