In His Kiss

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Hiro Stanislaski's Point of View

I shouldn't have come.

Ito ang mga katagang kanina pa tumatakbo sa isip ko. I love my mother of course, but I don't want to hear her nagging about me. I came back home to get new set of clothes before leaving. Lalo na at masyadong napapatagal ang pagtitigil ko dito. Supposedly, my plan was only to visit my cousin Victoria. She was really sick but Nikos just suddenly came out of nowhere bringing me to the beach. The two-day vacation wasn't that bad. And Victoria seemed like she was already fine so I don't have any business here anymore.

"Why are you in a constant traveling, Hiromaru?" My mother dramatically put her hands on her head as if she's about to faint. Napapailing na lang ako at binati siya ng yakap. Giving her a cheeky, sneaky smile.

"Mom, traveling is fun."

"Bakit? May balak ka bang talunin si Magellan sa paglalakabay?" I laugh hard. It's so funny that my own mother just compared me to Magellan— the Portuguese explorer. Nagpamewang ito sa harapan ko habang hindi makapaniwalang tumingin sa akin.

"I agree. Traveling is fun. But that doesn't mean you will travel your whole life. Hindi nga kita nakikitang pumirmi sa isang lugar. The last time I heard about you was when you were in the Caribbean Sea." I was there but I came back, didn't I? This was actually my routine. I'll go to different places and come back to check on my family and leave again. As long as I don't missed important events in their life.

"Why? Anak naman. Isn't this the best time to finally stay for good? Look at your cousin Kalev,"

"I'm aware, mom." I chuckled. I walked towards my room but my persistent mother still followed me inside.

"Even your cousin Nikos is in a serious relationship with his girlfriend."

"Mom, sino naman nag nagsabi ng mga ganyang bagay sa'yo?" Tanong ko ay dumiretso sa loob ng aking walk-in closet. Looking for clean set of clothes that I can bring with me for my trip. Saan kaya magandang pumunta? Sicily?

"Oh dear, Victoria always update me about your cousins' stories. She visited me and check up on me often than my very own son." I grinned when I heard Victoria's name. She's talkative as ever.

"Kelvin is already married. Kalev, too. Elizabeth is engaged. Nikos is in a relationship. How about you? You're still single at that age. Your cousins are busy building their future and you are busy traveling. What if our legacy stops on you?" Dread consumed my mother's face and I can't keep my face straight. My cousin found their match, good for them. Don't tell me my mother wants the same thing for me? No way!

"My cousins are stupidly in love, mom. So what about it?" Prenteng sambit ko.

"Isn't this the time to let someone be in your life? Maybe you're just too lonely that's why you keep on leaving. Do you want me to make recommendations?" Napatampal na lang ako sa aking noo habang hindi makapaniwalang tumingin sa nanay ko. Ano kaya ang pinagsasabi ni Tori at kung anu-ano ang pumasok sa isipan ng aking ulirang nanay. Tori and her big mouth.

"Mom! I don't think it was a good idea. And I'm not lonely." Pangungumbinsi ko rito. At the age of thirty-one, I'm still single. And it's my choice to be single. I'm too good to be tied down by one woman. For starters, I wasn't lonely. I have list of women to warm my bed at night. And before they could get all clingy to me, I always draw the line. My life was so good that I don't want to throw my freedom away. I can do whatever the fuck I want. When I'm traveling, I felt free. Walang nakakakilala sa akin sa tuwing nasa ibang lugar ako kaya naman nagagawa ko ang kahit anong gusto ko. I get what my mother is trying to say. She's afraid that I'll die alone. Especially that my cousins are now busy building their future family.