Just This Once (COMPLETED)

Kabanata 47

#JustThisOnce

Kabanata 47

It was early morning. We were doing everything in routine. I'd wake up early and prepare breakfast. There were plenty of househelp, but I still volunteered because if not, I'd feel utterly useless. After a while, Maven would wake up tapos kasunod si Jere. We'd all eat our breakfast and if I were lucky, hindi susulpot si Beatrice. She had this bad habit of appearing out of nowhere para puntahan si Jeremiah.

She's a witch, but she's a doting grandmother. At least, she got that part right.

I was busy feeding Jeremiah. Maven looked like he'd fall asleep anytime. Malapit na kasi 'yung BAR exam kaya mas madalas na siyang magreview... though I was really sure that he'd ace it kahit walang aral-aral.

I sighed when I heard Beatrice's heels clicking on the floor. God, umagang-umaga.

"Good morning," she greeted and kissed Maven's cheek. Lumapit naman siya sa pwesto ko at hinalikan iyong tuktok ng ulo ni Jeremiah. After she was done, she looked at me and said, "Morning."

I didn't bother to reply. I knew she knew that mornings were never pleasant when she's around. It was a mutual feeling.

"There's a dinner tonight at your Uncle Bert's house," she said. "Ana's throwing an engagement dinner for Cindy probably to pretend that she's fine with Bert walking Cindy down the aisle."

Maven put his utensils down. Napatingin pati si Jere sa kanya dahil medyo malakas ang pagkakababa niya. "Why are you here, Ma?" he asked, tired. Minsan, naaawa ako kay Maven. He never wanted any conflict. He just wanted to be left alone with his books... but somehow, he's always in the middle of it.

"There's a dinner and we're all expected to come," she said, mostly pointing at me.

"If it's at Uncle Bert's house, then mostly it's strictly family," Maven replied. "GDL only, Ma. I'm a de Marco. I don't see why you're telling us to go."

"Nonsense, Maven. We're all family."

Maven looked like he's already pissed. And he's rarely pissed. Kahit sa akin na walang ibang ginawa kung hindi pagbuntungan siya ng inis at galit, hindi siya mabilis mainis. But now? It looked like he's almost done with his Mom's constant dragging of us in her little schemes.

"We're second cousins, Ma. And that is a family affair. If you're really interested in seeing Aunt Ana lose her shit tonight, suit yourself. Leave Gen and I out of it."

Beatrice had her lips parted. Hindi niya siguro ineexpect na sasabihan siya nang ganito ni Maven. Hindi ko rin inaasahan. Palagi lang naman kasing tahimik si Maven... at most, he'd beg me to just ignore his mother para hindi lumaki ang gulo.

"I'll see you tonight," Beatrice insisted bago siya umalis.

Nang makaalis na siya, pinagpatuloy ko na pakainin si Jeremiah. May tutorial na naman kasi siya mamaya.

"I'm sorry," Maven said.

"What? It's not your fault," I replied.

"We won't come," he said.

Nanatili akong tahimik. It had been a few days since Cindy decided to tell me that I needed to move on. Na ako na lang daw kasi iyong nabubuhay sa nakaraan. Siguro nga ako na lang... pero madali bang magmove on? Kung sana madali, e 'di sana walang mga nahihirapan ngayon.

Sana nga kasi may remote control na lang 'yung feelings. Para madaling patayin kapag nakakapagod na.

"Maven..." I trailed. "Let's go." He looked at me, his forehead creased. "To the dinner, I mean."