HF 2: His Thantophobia

Chapter 48

"We're going to have dinner with my parents, right? Is it okay with you or you have other plans for tonight?"

Iniabot ko sa customer yung order niyang cupcakes habang nakaipit ang cellphone ko sa pagitan ng balikat at tenga ko. "Thank you, Ma'am! Have a great day!" Pagkatapos ay kinuha ko na ang cellphone ko saka sinenyasan si Cheska na siya muna sa likod ng cash register. "Y-yeah, sure."

"Great! So, susunduin nalang kita diyan mamaya?"

"Ikaw ang bahala."

"Okay. I-text mo nalang ako kapag nagpa-pack up na kayo ha?"

I leaned against the wall. "Okay."

Bumalik ako agad sa pwesto ko.

"Walang 'I love you mwuah mwuah tsup tsup'?" pang-aasar sakin ni Cheska.

I smiled. "Oh, we don't have to say it every single time. We know already."

She made face. "Arte!"

We went back to work. After a few hours, I felt dizzy. Pinilit ko namang indahin nalang at ipagpatuloy ang ginagawa ko.

"Candy corn cupcake po yung in-order ko."

Napatingin ako dun sa dalagang nasa harapan ko. "Huh?"

"I ordered candy corn cupcake. Not chocolate."

Nang ma-realize ko na mali pala talaga ang nilagay ko sa box, pinalitan ko yun. I felt Cheska staring at me.

"Are you okay?" she asked as soon as the girl walked away.

I smiled. "Yeah." Pero ang totoo, kanina pa sumasakit ang ulo ko. Pakiramdam ko, any minute, mahihimatay na ako.

"You look pale. Pangalawang beses ka nang nagkakamali ng paglalagay ng order. You seemed preoccupied. Why?"

Napailing ako. "Kahit ako, hindi ko din alam. Simula kaninang umaga ganito na ako."

"Magpahinga ka muna. Baka lalo pang lumalala yan."

"No, I'm fine. Madaming nabili. Baka mataranta ang beauty mo." I smiled and gestured with my hand.

The day went on. Napansin kong maya't maya nakatingin sakin si Cheska. Nag-aalala siguro. I think I'm fine. Ayoko rin namang pumuntang ospital. Doctors and the result of check-ups scare me. Minsan, imbes na gumaling ka kapag nagkaroon ng hindi magandang resulta, lalo ka pang nagkakasakit sa stress at overthinking.

Thankfully, I made it through the whole day.

-

"Well, how was life after marriage?"

Nagkatinginan kami ni Keith at sabay na ngumiti. "It is great. I made the right choice," he said.

"Mm-hm. Were you planning about doing something else tonight?" Tatay, Keith's father, said.

"Um, wala. Medyo pakipot pa kasi to kahit kasal na kami. She is such a tease."

Pasimple kong kinurot si Keith nang magtawanan ang mga magulang niya. Tinawanan lang din niya ako.

"How's Jacob as a husband, Glenn? For sure, parati kang stressed dahil laging madumi ang bahay niyo."

"No, Ma. I changed. I am a grown up man now. Itanong mo pa sa baby ko, good boy ako."

I cringed. "He always give me the corniest endearments."

Nanay chuckled.

"But she likes it." Oh, don't give me that kind of stare, Keith Jacob!