THE HILARIOUS HUSBAND (LEE BROTHERS #2)

Chapter 33

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

ANEMIC

❥ ELISSE GARCIA ❥

"Tinawagan ko si Mom," bungad sa 'kin ni Hope pagbalik niya sa opisina namin. "Sa labas tayo mag-d-dinner ngayon, kasama natin ang pamilya ko. Kaya 'wag kang magkakamaling umuwi agad. Baka takasan mo na naman ako. Nakakahiya kila Mom at Dad kung makikita nilang magkaiba pa tayo ng sasakyan pagpunta ro'n," he continued, sounding half-serious but half-playful.

Yeah. May point naman siya. Siguradong iba ang magiging dating no'n sa pamilya niya kung separate cars pa kami. Thankfully, it was Friday, so at least I had the time for it. Besides, it wasn't like we did this often. In fact, since Hope and I got married, this was the first time we'd have dinner with his family again.

I let out a dramatic sigh, pretending like I had no choice. "Fine," I said, as if I were reluctantly agreeing.

Pagpatak ng alas sais ng hapon ay sabay na kaming lumabas sa opisina. Of course, siya ang nagbukas ng pinto for me, kasunod ang iconic line niyang, "Dragon's first."

Hindi ako kumibo pero pinukol ko siya ng masamang tingin at inirapan. He grinned, clearly enjoying my irritation. As we stepped into the elevator, he did the same thing—gesturing for me to enter first. He always insisted I go in and out first, and as much as I hated to admit it, I found it a little... charming. Madalang ko lang kasi siyang makita sa gentleman side niya, so I had to appreciate it, even if I'd never say that to his face.

When we arrived at the well-known samgyeopsal restaurant, we found his family already seated and waiting for us. The place was buzzing with noise, a chaotic mix of conversations, sizzling grills, and clinking utensils. Hindi na nakakagulat dahil lagi naman talagang puno ang restaurant na ito dahil talagang dinadayo ito. And tables here were by reservation only, kaya hindi rin basta p'wedeng pumunta rito nang walang reservation.

The moment we stepped in, I could feel the energy shift. Hope's family waved us over, with his mom, Keycee, smiling warmly, while his dad, Ace, gestured for us to join them. Si Summer naman at Poppy ay nakangiti sa isa't-isa, halatang may pinagkukuwentuhan, habang ang dalawang kakambal pa ni Hope were already laughing about something, and I could tell that tonight was going to be filled with more of that light, familiar chaos.

"Kumusta ka na, Elisse? Kumusta kayo ni Hope?" tanong sa 'kin ng mommy ni Hope, si Keycee, may bahagyang ngiti sa labi niya.

I hesitated for a moment, my hands pausing over the grill where I was turning the meat. We were sitting around the table at siya ang katapat ko. Si Hope naman ay nasa kanan ko, si Summer ang nasa kaliwa ko. At si Hope, simula nang maupo kami ay naging busy na siya sa pakikipagdaldalan sa dalawa niyang kakambal, seemingly unaware of the conversation happening between his mom and me.

I forced a smile. "We're doing okay," sagot ko, sinubukan kong maging casual lang ang boses ko, kahit na pakiramdam ko ay mayroon pa siyang ibang gustong marinig na sagot sa 'kin bukod sa okay lang kami, because her eyes lingered on me for a moment longer, as if trying to gauge the truth in my words.

To prove, or at least show, that things between Hope and I were perfectly fine, I decided to play the part of the affectionate wife. My eyes flicked toward the small pile of lettuce in the center of the table, at umabot ako ng isa. Without a word, I wrapped the grilled meat in it, adding flavors, and turned to Hope.

"Here," I said, my voice a little too sweet as I held the lettuce wrap in front of him.

Natigilan siya sa pakikipagtawanan sa dalawa niyang kakambal at napabaling sa 'kin. He was clearly surprised. Ngayon ko pa lamang kasi ito gagawin—ang subuan siya. He blinked once. Then twice. As if his brain needed a moment to process what was happening. Finally, he asked, "Nilagyan mo ba 'yan ng enoki mushroom?"