TTWSG

Chapter 7

Symphony's

"How to cook sinigang?" tanong ni Sym sa sarili. Ano nga bang alam niya sa pagluluto, eh, noong last time niyang pinakialaman ang kusina nila, kamauntikan iyong sumabog. Napabuntong-hininga na lang siya sa kakaisip.

Matagal-tagal rin niyang pinag-isipan kung ano ang dapat niyang gawin ngunit kahit anong pilit niyang pakikipag-buno ng tingin sa mga rekado ng sinigang, hindi pa rin niya ma-get kung ano ang dapat niyang unahin.

Napag-isipan na lamang niyang tawagan ang mama niya. He dug into his jean's pocket, pulled out his mobile and dialled his mom's number. After exactly four rings, her voice finally echoed through the line.

"Hello, Ma?" He greeted her cheerfully through the phone.

"O, anak, you're getting richer and richer these days, why the overseas call, eh?"

"This is how my life works, Majesty," he said in the happiest voice he could mender. "By the way, Ma, how can I cook sinigang?" He added as he studied the ingredients on top of the table.

"Aba, himala naman yata, Symphony! Kailan ka pa nahilig sa pagluluto?" Nagtatakang tanong nito sa binata. Sym's not really into cooking. Maski nga pagluluto ng instant noodles ay hindi siya marunong.

"Ngayon-ngayon lang, Ma," he chaffed in and tried to supress the light chuckles inside his throat. "Joke lang, Ma, si iha kasi ano, este si Jane, nahiwa 'yung daliri kaya ako na 'yung nag-presintang magluto, 'di ba nga good boy na ako?"

"Ganun ba? Ang bait naman ng baby ko."

"Halla, si Mama! I'm not your little boy anymore," he complained, his mother has always treated him like he's a small child. Pero hindi naman niya ito masisi. He almost died when she was giving birth to him and he is their first and only child that's why his parents are very protective to him but Sym thinks it isn't bad either, as long as they let him do the things he likes on his own.

"You are still my baby, Symphony," his mother insisted.

"I already have abs and you're still calling me baby?" He scratched the back of his head in disapproval.

Ynes laughed on the other line as if she was seeing his reaction, "tabs pa lang 'yan, anak."

"Mama naman, sige na! paturo na akong magluto ng sinigang, nagugutom na kami rito."

"Mag-padeliver ka na lang ng food niyo riyan, anak, 'wag ka nang mag-pagod, mag-aalala si Mama," punong-punong pag-lalambing na sabi ng kanyang ina.

"Ma naman, eh! para naman akong bata niyan!"

"Bata ka pa naman. You're only 19, young man. Sige na, mag-padeliver ka na lang. Marami ka namang pera, eh," she said seriously. He didn't know if she was joking or whatnot.

"Nagtitipid ako," he said, huffing as he pouted.

"Anong pinag-iipunan mo? sports car? new condo? sports club membership? Just tell me, ako na ang bahala."

"None of the above," he said, calculating her, small smile began to play on his lips.

"Then what?"

"My wedding, haven't I talked to you about it?"

"Aba, Symphony Lyric Martin! anong kasal-kasal? wala ka pa ngang ipinakikilalang babae sa akin, kasal na agad! pa'no na lang si Jane?"

"Anong may roon kay Jane? e 'di pakasal sila ni Tarzan," sabi niya sa ina, pati si Jane ay idadamay nito.

"Ah-eh? wala lang 'yun. Ang sabi ko, kamusta naman si Jane?"