There Was You (Completed)

31 - Operation Maine-bow

A/N: Maghunos-dili tayo mga ka-nation. Ang nakaraan.....

Tita Terrie be like: 'Oh hinde!!!' complete with walling;

Judge Manalo be like: 'Ang Ganda! Oo, ang ganda!! Sa lahat ng kasong hinawakan ko...'

Tita Terrie can't believe what she heard. This cannot be happening. What have I done? I'm dead! Papatayin ako ng kapatid ko kung totoo ang kasal, ibibitin ako ng patiwarik! Don't panic Teresita, he must be joking.

"Palabiro pala kayo Your Honor. Nakakatawa, ahahaha. Di ba nakakatawa?" She looked at the clerk of court and the helpers.

"Sino maysabi nagpapatawa ko? Itong mukhang 'to? Tanong mo pa sa mga kriminal na hinatulan ko. O clerk of court, itabi mo 'to. Huling araw mo na diba?"

The Judge handed over the signed official copies of the marriage certificate. "No, Your Honor, hindi po ako ang retired."

"Ako nga pala. Sige ipagdiinan mo pa. Dalhin mo na lang sa opisina yan at nang maisama sa iba na ipa-file sa Civil Registrar. Diyan na kayo. Papasok na ko at manonood pa ko ng Bubble Gang. Nakakatawa talaga yang si Michael V. na yan. Ano bang araw ngayon? Biyernes o Sabado. Kung Biyernes, bakit hindi munggo ulam? Asan yung tungkod ko!"

There's still chance. Tita Terrie approached the clerk of court referred to by her 'friend'. She gave her an envelope and looked at her passing on the message. The clerk understood. The marriage certificate will not reach the Civil Registrar but will instead be shredded.

She went inside the libary of the Judge where the shredder is and to get the other documents that she needs to bring back to court.

She was about to turn on the shredder when the helper came in.

"Miss, tawag po kayo ni Judge. Pakidala daw po yung mga documents, may i-checheck lang daw po siya."

"Ah, okay. Sunod na ko." Judge Manalo doesn't like waiting. She'll just return to shred the certificate. She gathered the documents the Judge needed and immediately went out of the room.

And never came back, the marriage certificate forgotten.

Totoo na nga ba ang kasal? Wala nga bang komplikeyshens? Babalikan natin yan, promise!

Kaya habang hinuhukay sa National Archive ang birth certificate ni Judge Manalo, at habang naghuhukay din ng sariling libingan si Tita Terrie, kumusta ang dalawang walang kamalay-malay na mga nilalang?

Wait, there's more. We almost forgot, Daddy Vicente is coming home to town. Isa pang walang kamuwang-muwang sa nangyayari sa kanyang anak.

Samantala, uuwi na nga ba si Joon-mo sa sariling bayan niya?

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Daddy's Home

Mang Rogelio is back from his vacation. Manang Lydia is managing the household, Manang Conching the kitchen, etc, etc.

It was Sunday night when Daddy Vicente arrived. They saw him at breakfast Monday morning. Maine made sure that she inquired about his trip, not giving him time to remember about what he said about Joon-mo.

She learned from Ate Kai that Joon-mo postponed his return trip for a few more days.

"Why are you extra talkative today? Teresita, what have you done to my daughter?"

"Ayaw mo no'n Kuya, hindi na mukhang freezer ang dinner table. Welcome home."

"So what have you been doing while I was away? Baka naman may pinakilala na sa 'yo tong Tita mo and you've started dating? I'm warning you Nicomaine."