"Are you sure, anak?" Mom sounds really concerned. She asked me several times. She's talking about the video.
I had just gotten home and taken a shower after dropping Tristane off at his apartment when Mom suddenly wanted to talk to me on Skype. I hadn’t replied to them after I said there was no need to trace who posted it; it wasn’t that serious.
I sighed. "Mom, I can handle it. It's not a big deal, though." I sat on the couch and turned on the TV, keeping the volume low.
She frowned at me, wearing silk sleepwear, as if she had just woken up. "Bakit kasi kung saan-saan ka nakikipag-chukchakan, anak eh!"
My eyes widened. "Mom! When did you learn that word?!"
Mom was raised in a family with proper etiquette and has always been unassertive. I guess that’s part of being a child of people with privilege. But growing up, I’ve observed that not everyone is like that.
She laughed loudly. "Why?! Our kasambahay always gossips with me! I learned things from them!"
"Oh really? That’s why you even knew that our neighbor's daughter is pregnant and the father of the baby can’t accept that it’s his?!" I narrowed my eyes at her. She laughed again.
But for real, I’m very thankful that our kasambahay is there; even if they gossip all day, it doesn't bother me. Mom is entertained by all the chismis they share, and that’s why we treat them as family too.
She pouted. "Your dad wants my chismis, though." I didn’t respond.
Her expression changed. She mentioned Dad again, and that’s why. "You should talk to your dad too, you know… he’s very worried. Your lolo is mad, you know that."
"Is he… looking for Tito Francis's daughter for me too?"
My grandfather is very business-minded. He doesn’t turn his back on people who have been with him since the beginning, so I really think he’d agree to that marriage thing.
Mom shook her head. "Your dad? Of course not! But your grandpa, Carlos, is still convincing him. So don’t worry, my little Carlos!"
"Mom!" I complained. She smiled while yawning. "Good night, mom. You're already sleepy!"
"Good night, anak, love you!" she kissed the screen. "If you want to do it again, please have a room. Bye!" she ended the call.
I sighed. I'm not actually worried about whether my grandfather supports that marriage; what I’m worried about is Dad. I know that ever since Dad decided to become a public servant, that old version of us has been against it. Dad is his only son, yet he’s not interested in the family business, and I’m the only son he has.
I'm just taking this lightly, but I'm fully aware that things will get heavier soon.
"Miss, do you think an eighteen-year-old girl will like this?" I asked the saleslady while showing her the makeup set I was holding.
"Opo naman! This is actually trending for teens nowadays," she answered with a smile. I glanced over to see if my companion might know something about this, but he wasn’t beside me. Then I saw him talking to another saleslady in the corner.
I just rolled my eyes. "Okay, I’ll get this."
We’re at Greenbelt now. I asked Raze to come along so I could buy a gift for Stanley’s little sister for her debut. She’s turning 18 today, and I forgot to buy her a present. She’s been pestering me about the branded makeup set I promised her for her birthday.
"Is this for your sister, Sir?" the saleslady asked while packing my order. I really didn’t know much about this stuff. I only managed to ask a few women I’ve texted before for advice.
