Tú Eres Mi Sol

LXX

"Honey, have you noticed something with your youngest?" Rose asks her husband

"He looks happier. It's like when he was 5 and he kept on telling us about this girl who was his classmate. Bulol bulol pa nga, pero he was really happy to tell us their school adventure, even though they were being bullied. Sobrang effort magkuwento, every chance he's got" 

Ricardo laughs at the recollection.

"Ah, yes, Honey. It was the first few weeks at school and he just met Dei."

"Isn't it a good sign, Honey, that he's not so bugnutin?"

"Well, it is. But it's the same reason why I am very curious about it."

"Why?"

"Ricardo, it's unusual!"

"Baka he's changed. You know life in America changed him"

"I'm going to get drill down to this."

Ricardo shakes his head and continues reading the book that he's been in the middle of for weeks.

Rose gets her phone. 

"Tom, may important appointments ba ako tomorrow?" Rose asks

Tom is Richard's executive assistant. It was about 10 years ago, that he was a part of the cleaning staff when Mrs Faulkerson saw him. He found her purse which contained 50,000 pesos cash and returned it to her intact. She later learned that Tom is just 16 pretending to be 18 so that he could be employed full-time. His parents died in an accident, and he was working to provide for his younger siblings, 8 and 5 years old. His colleagues have been helping him out but advised him to go to Mrs Faulkerson to ask for help. He didn't. Tom has always been a shy boy.

When Mrs Faulkerson learned about this, she worked with their Foundation to help find a suitable place for the siblings. She moved them into one of the rooms that they use as half-way house for their truckers and farm staff who would drive their products from the farm to the city. Tom and his siblings went to school through the foundation and Tom decided to work for the Faulkersons, initially as he wanted to give thanks to the help that Rose extended him but seeing how the family treated everyone well, he grew to love them over time like family.

Since Richard has been overseas, Rose has asked Tom to help oversee her calendar. She used to share an assistant with her husband.

"Ma'am Rose, wala naman pong important. And I can move the other meetings if you want."

"Yes, Tom, do that please. Thank you." and Rose puts down her phone.

***

For their date today, Richard wanted to pick Dei from their house but Dei insisted that she drop by his house instead. She said she wanted to ask Yaya Virgie to try on the clothes that they bought.

"Ricardo, Honey, it feels really good to have everyone present at the breakfast table no?"

"RJ, bunso. Namiss kita. Walang makulit dito sa bahay e. Namiss ko yung pumupunta ka sa room ko every Saturday night and we'd just talk about anything." Lia said as she hugged Richard before taking her seat at the table.

"Lia, namiss ko din yung kakulitan mo. Kahit na naiinis ako everytime that you put my toys out of order. Arranged yun according to when they were released e!" Richard replies

"Bunso, nakakatuwa ka kasing paglaruan minsan." Lia retorted

"Ano ako, Lia? Laruan?" Richard laughed.

Rob walks into the dinning hall. Richard and Lia look at each other and shouts at the same time,"KUYA!! KUYA!!!"

Rob is three years older than Lia and five years older than Richard.

"Anong kailangan niyo? Hindi niyo naman ako tinatawag na kuya e!" Rob asks

"Andito naman si RJ, Libre mo kami ni RJ tomorrow. There's a new buffet place na nag-open crabs and steaks, our favourite!" Lia said

"RJ, Lia, Sinasabi ko na nga ba! Kaya niyo ako tinawag na kuya"

Richard and Lia gives Rob puppy eyes.

"Sige na sige na. I'll ask my assistant to book us tomorrow for lunch!"

Richard and Lia give each other a high five

"Rob, paano naman kami ng Dad mo? Iwan na lang kami sa bahay, all by ourselves?" Rose said

"Mom, Dad, syempre kasama kayo." Rob answers

"Rob, libre mo pa din ba?" Ricardo asks

"Oo, Dad."

"Yun pala. Bukas, Rose, Honey. Huwag tayong magdala ng pera or credit cards. Andito naman si Rob." Ricard says and the Faulkerson couple laughs

Rob scratches his head.

"RJ, bubba. What are your plans today?" Rose asks Richard

"Ha? Mom. Bakit?" Richard replies

"I miss you while you are away. So today, I'm tagging along everywhere you go." Richard's mother tells him

"Ha? Mom? Bakit? Hindi ka ba busy with work?" Richard replies

"RJ, bubba, don't you want to spend time with your mother?"

"Mom, baka may lakad si RJ with the boys, you know with friends." Lia said

"Oo nga, Mom. You know he's only here for today and two more days." Rob said

"Robert, Emilia, do you want your mother to spend time with you, too. I can clear my calendars for next two weeks you know and I can allocate one week each." Rose said

"Lia, di ba sasabay ka sa akin? Naalala ko may meeting nga pala ako. Tara na." Rob said

Rob and Lia were still chewing their food, and Lia even took another bite before excusing themselves from the table.

"Do you have any issues with this Ricardo, Honey?"

"No, no. Continue. I'm very happy with this tapa that Yaya Virgie made."

Richard by this time have formed beads of sweat on his forehead.

Everyone knew that if Rose wanted to find out something or wanted to do something, she would invite herself to tag along. When she thought Rob was hiding something from her, Rob just started dating with his now girlfriend. Rob tried to hide but it was futile, his mother would be in his office from 8 in the morning until he leaves and she did it for a week. He could no longer take it until he confessed about this girl that he's fallen in love with. 

The first time it happened was when Ricardo and Rose were newly married. Ricardo thought that Rose wasn't the kind to work in the corporate office, until one day, after he got ready for work, he couldn't find Rose until he reached the car. He saw Rose there and she said, "Bakit ang tagal mo?" There she was all dressed up and ready for work. She slowly took over some admin stuff first until she was running the whole office after two weeks. It was then that Ricardo discussed with her if she wanted to work for the company.

Richard, Richard tells himself. Paano ka na? Buti nga malayo ka kaya hindi ka nabubuko. His hands were trembling now. You can use this to your advantage, mahal naman ng nanay mo si Dei. She is your mother's blind spot. Wait speaking of Dei, I have to let her know.

Richard takes out his phone.

"RJ, Bubba. You know that we're not allowed to use phones during meals at the table."

Richard hides his phone under the table and messages Dei, "ABORT!"

A minute after he keeps his phone, he heard a voice that brought him goosebumps.

"Hi Auntie Rose! Uncle Ric!"

"Dei!"