SSS [III] (COMPLETED)

Part 27

"Mommy... aren't you worried na Franco and I are living in one house?"

She cocked her head to the side.

"Why would I?"

I made a face.

Nagtataka lang na tumitingin siya sa akin—tila hindi maintindihan kung ano nanaman ang problema ko. Pinakatitigan ko siya, trying to find the hidden sarcasm behind her façade, pero mukhang wala naman. Seriously? Hindi talaga siya nag-aalala?

It was a Saturday morning, and we were at the beach. Kagabi pa kami dito pagkatapos ng exams. Despedida weekend 'yon nina Mommy at Daddy, kaya invited din sina Chua at Henry. 5AM palang ay nasa dagat na ang lahat ng lalaki sa'min. They brought Yosef with them, and literally dragged Prez too—na ayaw sanang sumama dahil gusto rin na tumulong siya sa kusina.

The women were assigned on kitchen duties—meaning ay kami lang ni Lola. Props lang yata namin si Mommy, because she was just sipping her morning coffee habang tinitingnan kaming nagsasalitan ni Lola sa stove at oven.

"Aren't you scared?" tanong ko sa kanya sa maliit na boses. "Baka ma-teenage pregnancy ako, 'My..."

Humagikhik siya. Narinig ko rin ang mahihinang tawa ni Lola sa kusina. Napasimangot ako. They weren't taking me seriously! Napakalaking issue kaya non! Hello?

"Hindi ba kayo takot ma-chismis?" giit ko pa, still grilling them to answer me as honest as they could.

Mas gusto ko 'yong pinapangaralan nila ako nang harap-harapan kesa 'yong nag-i-inside joke sila. Akala ba nila hindi ko napapansin ang mga tinginan nila every time Prez and I are in the same room? Na para bang alam nilang may kababalaghan kaming ginagawa parati! Kasi, oo na! Guiltyng-guilty ako!

"Anak nga..." ingos ni Mommy. "Hindi ka pa nga mabubuntis, dahil nag-pi-pills ka, wag mo lang talagang kalimutan. Or gusto mo bang mag-pa-shot? Pwede tayo don sa ospital na wala si Mariah, para hindi umabot sa kanya..." she mused.

Napakunot-noo ako.

"So, talagang nag-a-assume kayo na Franco and I are having sex?" I hissed. "And you're okay with that? You're allowing me to?"

They giggled again! Ugh, this was frustrating! Ano ba yung inside jokes nila? I wanna be on it!

"Anak, we're not assuming anything. Ikaw lang naman yung pilit nang pilit na gumaganon kayo." she stressed. "And... allow you? Bakit, are you asking for permission now?"

Umismid ako. "No, I'm just saying na may ganong assumed possibility. But... we're not having sex. Walang ganon."

I was lying through my gritted teeth, but my grandmother and my own mother merely shrugged at me. Bakit ganon? I don't understand! At first I thought they wouldn't allow me to have any boyfriends na, after all my public displays of affection on social media—na kahit hindi naman lihim ay wala naman sana akong balak na ma-inform sina Mommy. Na kaya nila ako pinapauwi ng probinsya dahil doon.

Akala ko rin yun ang rason kaya pinauwi nila ako sa Pinas, after my somewhat rebellious phase in the US. I then assumed na despite my good grades, ay mas importante pa rin sa kanila yung pagkababae ko, or my attitude. In my defense, I have an okay personality, at sadyang nag-ka-clash lang talaga kami ni Mommy. Because I thought she was being unreasonably strict just to play a role in my life... but, then again... am I just assuming things?

"You cook so good... who taught you?"

Napabaling ako kay Mommy na halos simutin nanaman yung ginawa kong potato gratin na may ham at bacon.

"Youtube..." Wala sa loob kong sagot. Well, as far as I can remember simula namulat ako ay parati na kaming tambay ni Lolo sa kusina. I first held a knife and went near a stove when I was in 3rd grade. I wasn't new to doing kitchen stuff. Syempre, hindi nagtuloy-tuloy when I moved to the States nong around 12 years old ako.