Mamili ng Isang Lalaki, Karen

Ikalimang Gatas

Ikalimang Gatas

One word to describe Clarence? Hot─este EPAL.

Kanina, mabilis kaming makatapos ng isang lesson nang wala pa si Clarence. Pero ngayon, 30 minutes na kaming na-stuck sa isang lesson.

"Ganito kasi yan. Isipin niyo, may saging, talong, at patola akong hawak," umpisa niya. Tumango naman si Danie at Cyra. Ako naman, tinaasan lang siya ng kilay. Nginisian niya naman ako.

"The banana is yummy because it is BIG. That is the positive degree," he said, emphasizing big. "The eggplant is yummier because it is bigger. That is the comparative degree. And lastly, the patola is the yummiest because it it the biggest. That is the superlative degree."

Nagnod naman yung dalawang bata sa kanya. Tumingin naman siya sa akin na may ngiting nakakainis.

Lumapit ako sa kanya at bumulong. "Alam mo…" Naramdaman kong ngumiti siya. Hah. Let's see kung makangiti ka pa. "…ANG GULO GULO MO! ANG BASTOS MO PA! HUWAG MO NGANG IDAMAY YUNG MGA BATA SA KABASTUSAN MO, PWEDE?" sabi ko sabay pingot sa tainga niya.

Narining kong humagikgik yung dalawang bata sa gilid. Beat that, Clarence Perez! I just did that to you in front of your nephew and niece.

I smirked and stuck my tongue out. Patuloy pa rin siya sa paghimas sa tenga niya. Buti nga sa kanya.

"Tita Karen, I want to go out. We've been studying for hours already. Please, please, please?" Nagpout pa si Danie. Can I say no to this kid?

"Oo nga po, teacher Karen. Let's go to the mall or to the park," singit ni Clarence sabay puppy eyes. Anak ng, bakit ang gwapo niya?!

I willed myself to stop looking at him. Kaso ang mata ko, may sariling utak yata at tumitig pa kay Clarence.

"Hindi ka pala interesado, ha?" Tapos ay tumawa siya na parang baliw. Juicecolored! Ayaw kong mabaliw sa kanya kapag nagkataon. Control yourself, Karen!

"Pleeeeeeease, Tita Karen?" Sabay na sabi ng kambal while tugging on my blouse.

I sighed. May magagawa pa ba ako? "Okay. Fix your things na and then we'll go somewhere, okay?"

Tumalon silang dalawa sa tuwa. At etong si Clarence naman, nakatitig lang sa akin. May mali ba sa mukha ko? Ah alam ko na. Namesmerize siya sa kagandahan ko.

After 10 minutes, bumalik na ang kambal at nagsimula na kaming hatakin ni Clarence.

Pumunta kami sa sasakyan ni Clarence. Papasok na sana ako sa backseat kasama ang kambal nang bigla akong tawagin ni Clarence.

"Where do you think you're seating? Dito ka sa tabi ko."

Now what happened to the playful Clarence? Sungit.

I made my way to the front seat and wore my seatbelt. Clarence turned on the music. And I can't believe he is a KPop fan, at ang matindi pa, he's playing I Got a Boy by SNSD.

Sumasabay yung kambal sa kanta kahit na hindi maintindihan ang lyrics. Hindi ko talaga madigest na Kpop fan si Clarence. O baka naman, bakla siya?

Pinipigilan kong tumawa pero napansin niya yata kaya nagsalita siya. "Hindi ako KPop fan, kung yan ang iniisip mo. I put that on the playlist para kay Danie at Cyra."

I just nodded at him, still not buying his excuse. Lame excuse, Perez!

**

After 45 minutes, nakarating kami sa Luneta. It's been a while since I went here. Wala naman kasi akong kasama. Hello, Karen Panghulan, loner? No way, José!

Binilhan ni Clarence ang dalawa ng cotton candy. Naglakad-lakad kami saglit sa park bago mapagdesisyunan na pumunta sa Children's Playground.

Hinayaan muna namin sina Danie at Cyra na maglaro. Mukhang tuwang-tuwa sila. Pinagtitinginan nga sila ng ilang mga nanay na nandun, maybe because of their looks. Paano ba naman, todo porma talaga sila.

"Drinks?" Napatingin ako sa kay Clarence na may hawak na juice.

"Sure. Thanks," I said aand gave him a smile.

Hindi ko siya pinapansin. I don't know but I feel bothered by his presence. Much as I hate to admit it, pero I am attracted to him.

"Ang cute nila, Mommy Karen." Wait, what? Mommy Karen?!

Sasagot sana ako nang bigla kong marinig ang iyak ng isang bata. I checked who it was and I saw Cyra crying.

"Hey, baby. Why are you crying?" I asked her while patting her back.

"That kid said that I'm ugly, t-tapos, she pushed me. Look, I've got a booboo!" Tapos umiyak na naman siya.

Lalapitan ko na sana yung bata nang nakita ko si Clarence na kinakausap na 'to. Okay, bakit lagi na lang hindi natutuloy ang gagawin ko?

"You don't just pick on anybody just because you feel like doing so. Alright? Kung ikaw ba tinulak niya, matutuwa ka?" he asked the kid and the kid shaked his head in response. "See? So next time, huwag mo nang uulitin yun, okay?"

Then he let the kid go. Aba't may gamit din pala ang kapal ng mukha niya.

"Let's go," aniya sabay hatak sa amin palabas.

"Saan tayo?" I asked him after minutes of silence.

"Dito," he said and pointed to Ocean Park.

**

He paid for the passes tapos naman ay pinasyal ko muna yung kambal sa loob habang hinihintay siya.

Maya-maya pa ay dumating si Clarence. He looks good on his shirt.

Yung totoo, andito ba kami para mamasyal o para manuod ako habang pinagtitinginan sila ng kambal? Alam kong maganda ako, pero hindi ko akalain na magmumukha akong ewan dito sa tabi nila.

I mentally slapped myself. Where'd your self-confidence go now, Karen?

Pumasok na kami sa main attraction nila, ang Oceanarium. Pinagtitinginan pa rin sila ng mga tao, may ilan pa ngang nagbubulung-bulungan.

"Ang swerte naman ng yaya na 'yan! Ang gwapo ng amo at ang cute ng mga alaga niya," rinig kong sabi ng isang babae.

"Oo nga eh. Mukhang artista 'yung lalaki pati mga bata. Anak niya kaya yan?"

At napagkamalan pa akong yaya? Hold yourself together, Karen. Huwag kang papatol. They are not worth your attention.

"Kung ganun, nasaan ang nanay? Baka biyudo na si guy? Ang hot pa naman. Okay lang sakin kahit ako pa maging pangalawang asawa! Hihihi," malanding sabi ng isa pang babae.

Nakita ko namang binubulungan ni Clarence yung dalawa at tumango-tango naman sila. Nagulat ako nang biglang humawak sa tig-kabilang kamay ko ang dalawa.

"MOMMY! LOOK OH! THIS FISH LOOKS LIKE THAT GIRL!" sabi ni Danie sabay turo sa isa sa tatlong babae na nagbulungan kanina.

"LOOK AT THIS ONE, MOMMY! PARANG YUNG LIPS NUNG ISANG GIRL!" tinuro naman ni Cyra yung isang babae.

At mas lalo kang ikinagulat nang may yumakap sa bewang ko at pagpatong ng ulo niya sa balikat ko.

"Can you see how wonderful they look together, babe? Parang ikaw lang yan at ako. We look fascinating together," he paused for a while and tightened his hug on me. "And they look as wonderful as you, my wife. Thank you for giving me wonderful kids too. Happy 5th Anniversary."

So what is this stunt?! I can't help but blush. Those words came from Clarence Perez and I felt like they were real. Para bang totoong mahal niya ako.

He loosened his grip on me and turned to the ladies.

"If you don't have anything nice to say, keep your mouth shut lalo na kung magsasalita kayo tungkol sa asawa ko," he looked at them and grinned. "Now I wouldn't wonder if nobody would want to kiss your filthy mouths."

And we left those girls with their mouths hanging open.

--

AN: Guys, hindi po ako si Ate Karen. Huhuhu. Labyu!!!