MORE THAN A MOUTHFUL

Final Chapter

SATURDAY, 7:45 AM

MEI'S POV

"It was wonderful playing golf with you 2 weeks ago, Tito."
Naibagsak ko ang hawak kong mug sa rattan coffee table. That deep baritone voice, how come...

Humalakhak ng malakas si Daddy. Nagkakape kami ngayong tatlo nina Mommy dito sa garden.
"Well, tell Crisostomo to join us next time. He's a better golfer than you. Wala kang binatbat sa ama mo. "
Nakairap kong tinignan si Mommy na ngayon ay sumesenyas sa akin na kumalma. May ka-skype kasi si Daddy sa laptop niya at sa dinami-dami ng puwede niyang ka-video call, ang hayop pa na si Acosta? Shutangina lang!

Muling natuon ang attention ni Mommy sa pagbabasa ng newspaper samantalang patuloy lang sa pakikipagvideo call ang ama ko.

"I'm glad you remember that, Iho. Golf is a sport that teaches one not only how to be a good golfer but how to be a decent human being. You get bad breaks from good shots, you get good break from bad shots but you have to play the ball where it lies."
Hindi ko na narinig ang sinasabi ng hayop na kausap ni Daddy kasi nagsuot na siya ng headphone.

"Yes, she's here. Umuwi noong Lunes ng gabi."
Muli akong nairita sa malutong na halakhak ng ama ko lalo na at mas maliwanag pa sa sikat ng araw na ako ang pinag-uusapan nila.

"No problem, iho....... You know that you are always welcome in my house.....I know.... I know.... Don't hesitate to call me when you need an advice.......good......That's my man. Yes, I can assure you, she's not going anywhere today....Alright, see you again, Iho. Drive carefully."

"Dad!"
Gigil na agaw ko sa pansin ni Daddy.
Pero hindi niya ako narinig
Kinalabit ko siya. But he silenced me by using a "Shhh" gesture then a "PEACE", sign. Kaya wala akong nagawa kundi ang hintayin na matapos siya sa pakikipag-usap sa hayop na animal sa zoo.

"I invited Henry for dinner."
Pagbibigay alam ng ama ko sa amin ni Mommy.

"What? Why?!"

"Why not? For 11 years, I treated him as my son-in-law."
What my father just stated makes me want to pee my pants in terror. My goodness, ang tagal na naming naghiwalay pero kumakapit pa rin ang ama ko sa pesteng blood compact na yan!

"Dad, are you drunk? Wala na kaming relasyon. Ilang taon na kaming hiwalay."

"Yet, you submitted yourself freely, willingly to him in Hong Kong."
I was tongue-tied. Hindi ko alam na ganun ka-tsismoso si Acosta. Na ultimo pangyayari sa loob ng bedroom ko ay nakaabot pa sa ama ko.

"Well, that was.... that was nothing but a one night stand. Kapwa kami nakainom pareho noon."
Pagsisinungaling ko just to save my pride. Umiling-iling si Daddy. Halata na hindi naniwala sa sinabi ko.

"At isa pa, may girlfriend na ang taong yun at nakita ko mismo kung paano ito nagpropose ng kasal sa nobya. Didn't you tell Daddy, Mom?"
Bumaling ako kay Mommy. She shook her head.

"There's no use of telling your father. Mas updated pa ang ama mo kaysa sa akin sa buhay ng ex mo. Regular ang communication nila."
I frowned fiercely at my Dad. When I broke up with Henry the second time, I'd just assumed it meant his relationship with my family was terminated too. It never occurred to me that he and my father could......
gulp......
become that close.

Really? My Dad had hung out with my ex fiancé 2 weeks ago? At nagboboluntaryo pang magbigay ng advice sa ex ko? I was livid. How could my Dad go behind my back like that?

"The reason why your father is having such a hard time getting over your ex is because he sees a lot of himself in him."
Nakangiting sabi ni Mommy.