Tú Eres Mi Sol

XL

"Okay na yung table, the food is nearly ready. We can eat in a few minutes! Dei, Hija, you have a wonderful taste in clothes but you've been wearing that scarf even when we were prepping for food." 

"Uhhhmm.. Auntie" Dei looks at Richard with wide eyes and Richard smiles awkwardly

"Yes, Hija? May lagnat ka ba? Sipon? Upo? Sore throat? Kaya hindi mo maalis ang scarf mo?"

"No, Auntie. I'm okay, wala naman po."

"It's summer, Hija. Ang init, Hija. Tingnan mo pawis na pawis ka na."

"Ay Auntie, galing lang po kasi siguro ako ng gym kanina."

Dei glares at Richard as if telling him this is all your fault.

"Mom.."

"What is it, Hijo? Ang dungis mo na, hindi ko nakita yan kanina. Go, palit ka muna ng shirt!"

Richard looks at Dei and leaves.

"Hmm.. Auntie, I have to go to the loo, if you'll excuse me."

"Alright, don't take long, we'll start eating in a few minutes. I'm just letting the paella form a crust. Sandali na lang ito" 

Dei scurries and goes to the bedroom and she finds Richard on his way out.

"Stop" she whispers in a low voice. "Your mother keeps on asking me to remove this scarf." Dei removes it and shows Richard, her whole neck is covered in hickeys. 

"Sabihin mo kay Mama kinagat ka ng lamok"

"Lamok? Tapos yung kagad sa neck and clavicle ko lang? Wala man lang sa braso or sa legs?"

"Bakit gusto mo ba?" Richard wiggles his brows

"Tantanan mo ako, Faulkerson!"

"At tingnan mo ito, the marks are bigger than mosquito bites. Gaano kalaki yung lamok kasing laki ni Grimace? Kasalanan mo 'to" Dei started hitting Richard on his chest

"Teka lang, teka lang, google natin" Richard replied. Dei looked at his phone and pointed at something. They nodded in agreement and went out of the room.

"Oh, kids good thing you're here. The paella is ready. We can eat now."

"Auntie, I'm so sorry, nahihiya po kasi ako alisin yung scarf ko. May hives po kasi ako e. I think they served us a bad batch of scallops." 

Dei removes the scarf. Rose gasps. She goes to check and shakes her head.

Dei exhales a little as a sign of relief, the hickeys were smaller and could easily pass as hives.

"Have you called the restaurant and complained? Don't ever eat there again!" Rose then turns to Richard, "Richard, bakit mo naman dinala doon si Dei. Dapat ingat naman sa dinadalhan mo na restaurants. Pumunta na ba kayo ng doctor?"

"Ah, Mom. We went this morning. She's taken some anti-histamines and applied calamine lotion."

"Good, good. Let's eat!"

***

"Auntie! Ang sarap, namiss namin ang luto mo!"

"Thank you, Hija!"

"Mom" Richard stands up and goes to his mother, kisses her head. "Thank you for visiting me and cooking this food. Namiss ko ito, Ma."

"I know, Hijo. I know you can cook decent food but I still worry about what you eat when you're away. We miss you back home, too!"

***

Rose goes out of the bath in her sleeping clothes. Dei's cleaning the table and Richard washing the dishes.

"Dei, I noticed that your things are in Richard's room"

"...."

"Mom, it's a little warm in the other room. I think the AC is busted. I've reported it to the building maintenance."

"Oh! I see. I don't mind that. So RJ, I'll use that room. Dei can use yours and you can sleep in the living room."

Dei and Richard look at each other.

"Okay, good night kids. It's already 11pm, I need to be up by 4, my flight's at 8 in the morning."

***

By the time Dei and Richard finished, washed up, it was half past midnight. Richard took some pillows and a blanket from his room and brought it to the living room.

When he went back to his room, Dei was already under the cover, preparing to sleep. He went in as well and snuggled her.

"RJ, makita tayo ni Auntie!"

Richard pouted like a five year old kid. He scoots in and says, "Gusto ko matulog na katabi ka!"

"Shhh.. ang boses mo."

"Kasi naman!"

"Hoy, ikaw, may kasalanan ka pa."

"...."

"E, ang dami long nilagay na hickeys sa leeg ko."

"Hindi ko naman alam na darating si Mom e"

"Ganito na lang, I'll sleep here for now. I'll set an alarm for 2 in the morning. Mom says she'll be up by 4 but I bet she's up by 3."

"Sige. Since you're here. Cuddle please"

Richard was just happy to oblige. Dei turns and faces Richard. She buries her head in his chest and they fell asleep.

The alarm rings. Richard sleepily turns it off and goes back to snuggling Dei.

"RJ, wake up." Dei pats him several times "Your mom will be up soon."

"Five more minutes" 

"No, get up now" Dei slowly moved and kicked Richard off the bed.

Richard stands up groggily. Stretches a bit and kisses Dei on the forehead before leaving the room.

He now props himself in the sofa, positions himself to sleep and falls asleep soon after.

Exactly an hour later, a well-dressed Rose Faulkerson goes out of her bedroom.

She wakes Richard. "RJ, Hijo. I'm going." and kisses him on his forehead

Richard tries to sit down with eyes still closed. 

"Mom, Drive na kita"

"Not needed, Hijo. There's a car service. You take care of yourself ha? We'll see you soon. Get Dei to a doctor if those hives don't subside. Text kita when I get to the airport. I miss you, bubba RJ" Rose then gives her son another kiss on the head. Richard hugs his mother. He accompanies her until she rides the car service.