LOVING YOU

CHAPTER 1:

''Kamusta mang Jaime'' I said as mang Jaime opens the gate
"okay lang boss long time no see" He said as I chuckled because I can't blame him; since I moved, I haven't been able to visit the house. You know how busy schedules can be.
"hmmm, right long time no see" I replied

Once again, I see our house that was always my home, the garden that was once my playground, and the house that watched me grow up.

"Damn it, it's 7:21!" I quickly got out to my big bike, took off my helmet, and placed it on top as I ran rapidly opening the door.
"shit" I jumped in surprise when I saw my mother with a stern expression on her face.
"Wow, so you curse your mother now?" she said with a firm and disappointed expression.
"W-what? No, I - I just got sta - ," I said, stuttering. She interrupted, "You're late."
"No, I'm not late," I responded.

"Yes, you are. It's 7:24; you're 24 minutes late," my mom said, hands on her hips, wearing a strict expression.

"At least not 30 . I mean I got stuck in traffic, and of course, there's the speed limit. I could have gotten pulled over by the cops, and—"

She quickly interrupted, "Or maybe you were playing your games and sleeping on the couch with a bag of chips instead!"

I cut her off, knowing she was about to launch into a long lecture. I mean we wouldn't want to go there. I'm hungry now and I can eat a whole steak. "I miss you, Mom," I said, hugging her and kissing her cheek.

"Of course you better miss me," she replied, hugging me back.

"Where's Dad?" I asked.

"Um, he's probably in there eating the whole steak," she answered.

I groaned. "Not again! Not my one and only delicious steak," I said as I headed to the kitchen.

As I walked into the kitchen, I noticed some changes in the house. It felt more baby-friendly or perhaps safer—I'm not quite sure how to describe it. When I got to the kitchen, I saw Dad. I was about to confront him about eating the steak without me, but then I noticed he was watching a tennis game. A sigh of relief washed over me because he wasn't eating the steak after all. I quickly approached him and hugged him, and he hugged me back.

"Late?" he asked as he started the conversation.

"Yeah, you know, traffic," I replied as Mom entered the kitchen.

"Oh, I've heard there's a lot of traffic on your way here," Dad chimed in, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me.

"Exactly! Mom wouldn't believe me," I said, heading to the refrigerator to pour some orange juice.

"Okay, you two, stop your antics. Honey, this won't work," Mom warned. I sighed as I sat down and started to get some steak.

The whole dinner was quiet as I happily ate my steak. No one dared to start a conversation because everyone was hungry. As I finished my steak, I was about to break the silence when Mom spoke.

"Have you noticed anything different in the house?" Mom asked, glancing around.

"Hmm, no," I replied, pretending I hadn't noticed anything earlier.

"Really? You don't care about your surroundings, huh?" she remarked, watching me as I drank my orange juice.

"Okay then, what exactly happened to the house?" I asked while reaching for dessert.

"It's baby-friendly," she answered straightforwardly. I was surprised that I had guessed it right.

"Hmmm, why?" I said, trying to sound uninterested in the topic. I noticed my mom and dad communicating through their eyes.

"Okay, what's exactly happening right now?" I asked, a curious expression on my face as I tried to understand their secret communication.

"So, your mother and I were thinking about something, but before I say it, I need you to be—" I was trying to listen when Mom suddenly interrupted,

"We want a grandchild." She said it again without hesitation, and I almost spat out my dessert.

"W-What?" I said, filled with disbelief.

"I mean, your stable enough; you can build your own family. Plus, your father and I aren't getting any younger," she replied, holding my hand in an attempt to confront me. "Look, honey, we just want to see our grandchild grow up, just like you did. Of course, we want to see you happy with a big family."

I could only stare at them as they tried to confront me about it. I hadn't even considered this before. I was enjoying my life, playing games, and doing whatever I pleased—not thinking about starting a family.

"... I-I really don't know," I admitted, speaking from the heart.

"Mikha I have seen a lot of girls you're sleeping with maybe this time find someone who can give something to you what we want I mean how -" I did let dad finish cause this topic was not I was expecting when I come home.

" oh no you wouldn't ask about my sex life aren't you" I said trying to look not comfortable with this topic

"Sorry, not sorry, honey, but what your dad is trying to say is that it's time to get serious about your life. Now that you're older, time flies," Mom said, still trying to convince me about this.

"Ouch! First of all, I'm not old; I'm 28—still in my twenties, trying to enjoy life and not build a family," I said with a disappointed look at my parents.

"exactly 28, almost 30. You know that at your age, you should have a child by now so you can watch your kids grow up. Plus, isn't it important to be happy with your wife and have a happy family?" Mom said. I still cannot understand why this is happening right now.

"Okay, stop. I don't want to talk about it," I said as I drank a glass of water. After that, there was a moment of silence. I could feel my parents' eyes on me, still trying to convince me to share my thoughts. I couldn't blame them; it's nice to have a family, but it also comes with responsibility. I mean, I've had a lot of flings that I met at the bar, and something probably happened, but that's all it was—no ex-girlfriends or serious relationships. That's likely why they started to have doubts about my life.

"Uhmm, next week we're going to meet Julio, my best friend. Remember him?" Dad broke the silence, trying to start a fresh topic.

"Hmm, I don't know," I replied, showing no interest in the subject.

"Mateo he probably didn't know about it. He was still little the last time he saw Julio," Mom commented.

"Yeah," I said, still uninterested in hearing about his best friend.

"I need you next Tuesday, anak. Please take a day off from the hospital just this once. Julio will be back in the country after decades, so please, Mikha, do this for me."

"I-I just don't know, Dad. Maybe there's no available doctor on that day except me, or maybe there's a big emergency at the hospital, or—I don't know—there are a lot more reasons," I said, trying to explain why I didn't want to go. It would probably be the end of me; they would just talk about business stuff that I'm not interested in.

"Honey, just be there. Just this once, please. After this, I promise no more. Your Tito Julio is expecting you," Mom said, trying to convince me.

"Okay, I'll try. I'll tell the board," I replied, hoping to end the conversation.

"But you're already excused. Your Tito Julio owns the hospital where you're working, and I'm sure he wouldn't let you to go in that day, anak." I was surprised to heard that Dad's best friend owned the hospital. It made sense why Dad wanted me to apply there.

"You probably remember Maraiah, the girl you were ranting about before when you were a kid who spilled her drink on you. Well, that's your Tito Julio's daughter and I'm exited that youre gonna meet her soon. She's perfect for you—very beautiful and very kind."

Just then, my phone vibrated. I picked it up, grateful for the distraction so I could escape the conversation with my parents.

"Hello, Dr. Lim speaking," I said, trying to listen on the other line.

"Oh, okay. I'm gonna be there in ten," I ended the call.

"Um, Mom, Dad, I have to go. There's an emergency at the hospital." My mom's face fell with disappointment.

"But I thought we were going to spend the whole night—" I cut her off, not wanting to hear the rest.

"I'm going now, Mom. Bye."

As I went to my big bike, I put on my helmet and immediately drove off so my parents wouldn't drag me back into the house.

Gosh, I really did survived this day, I said to myself.