Hello, Love, I'm Home!

v: A Son First

"Her body, her right. Besides, she's not walking on that red carpet naked. I trust Vogue. They always take care of her, mom."

"Pero anak, she's a mother already. Hindi naman ata tama—"

"Mommy, please. Single ka man, ina, whatever, a woman's art is limitless. She's always wanted to do that. Pierre is her fashion idol."

"The world knows how daring his pieces are! Ano nalang sasabihin ng mga friends ko?"

"Ayun. Lumabas din ang totoo. This isn't about me or Kathryn, this is about you, mom. Ilang beses ko po ba ipapaalala sa inyo to at atleast remind your amigas to be respectful of my wife? They love to pick on her. She is your daughter-in-law."

Mom is acting weird lately. Minsan gusto ko na magalit. Lahat nalang ng gawin ni Kathryn, pinupuna nya.

"You see, RJ, my amigas' in-laws all stay home. Pinagsisilbihan ang mga asawa nila. Samantalang ikaw, eto, nagbabantay ng bata."

"Kaiah is my daughter. Of course, aalagaan ko sya."

"You are better than this, RJ."

"Mom. Why are we even talking about this? Ano ba talaga ang problema?"

Mommy just stared at me and then left. Daddy must be right talaga when he told me that something's going on with my mother. Bigla nalang syang naging weird.

Before I start acting upon my plan today, I called my wife first. She's at the recording studio for the dubbing ng endorsement nya. She also brought our daughter and Yaya. Private naman ang studio  and walang taga press doon. Top reason why yaya and our daughter are with her is the location. Mas malapit sa airport. We will be spending the weekend in Palawan for a short vacation and para narin i-check yung property na gustong kunin ni Kathryn.

One ring and she answered right away. "Oh Love, on the way ka na ba papunta dito?"

"Mahal, hindi eh. Pwede bang sa airport na tayo magkita? Susundan ko lang si mommy."

"What's wrong with mom?"

"I will tell you later."

"Sounds like an emergency. Okay, sige, we'll see you at the airport. Basta huwag kang mali-late okay? Nakakahiya sa pinsan mo."

"I promise. Thanks, Love. Bye."

"Bye, mahal. Ingat ka." Narinig ko rin na nag bye-bye si Kaiah sa akin. Hay... my sweethearts.

Hindi na ako nag-aksaya ng panahon. Sinundan ko na si mommy. I made sure na hindi nya mahahalata na sinusundan ko sya. I hailed a cab outside. "Kuya, sundan nyo lang yun."

In 20 minutes, nakarating kami sa isang malawak na property. Wala namang guard kaya nakapasok kami. Puro mga puno ang nadadaanan namin. Kinabahan ako pero pagtingin ko kay Kuyang driver, kalmado lang sya. "Alam nyo po tong lugar na to?"

"Ah opo, Sir. May mansion po sa unahan nito. Mansion na parang simbahan o simbahan na parang mansion. Nakalimutan ko na po ang pangalan eh."

"Ah..."

"Sir, san ko po kayo ibababa?"

"Dyan nalang sa gilid, Kuya. Nakikita ko naman na yung sinasabi nyo."

Maingat akong pumasok. Walang bantay o kahit na ano pero bago ka makadaan sa main door, merong parang fountain doon. I saw my mom washed herself there, took off her dress and inabutan sya ng puting roba at isinuot. Nag bow siya sa nagbigay sa kanya nito.