housemates (completed)

housemates 18 -- swollen

Sundays were spent with M's family. They'd go to mass together then have lunch at Papa and Mama's home where Mama cooked M's favorites like Korean beef stew, salpicao and paella. Sometimes, M would help in the cooking.

"...ikaw ba Ricoa..." Papa said while pointing his cane at J. They were in the living room after lunch. Papa on his favorite chair, while M and J sat side by side on the larger sofa.

"Richard po..." J corrected.

"Oo nga, Ricola, seryoso ka ba talaga dito kay Menggay?"

"Opo..."

"Pa, inaalagaan po ako ng mabuti ni J..." M said

"...sinusunod nyo pa ba yung mga kundisyones ko?"

"Ah opo..." M quickly and discreetly kicked J in the guise of adjusting the way she sat.

"Opo...opo..." J seconded.

"Mabuti kung ganun. Gusto ko na shempre magka-apo sa tuhod pero mas importanteng magpakasal muna kayo..."

"Kasal?" M's eyes widened.

"Dun naman ang punta nyo diba?"

"Ah eh..." J could only scratch his head.

"Ikaw Rogelio..." Papa looked at J again.

"Po"

"Richard, Pa...Richard..." M tried to correct Papa for the umpteenth time.

"Richmond...mahal mo ba itong si Nicomaine o niloloko mo lang?" Papa said. J could only shake his head and smirk. M rubbed and patted J's back while kissing his bicep.

"Mahal ko po...mahal na mahal ko po yung apo nyo..."

"Mabuti na yung malinaw..."

"Opo...opo..."

---

"I don't think Papa will ever get your name right..." M giggled as they made their way home after spending the day with M's grandparents.

"Okay na yun kesa 'hoy' at 'pssst' na tawag sa aming magpipinsan ng mga Uncle namin..." J said while shaking his head.

"Ows?"

"...yeah....I guess kasi madami kami and madami silang mga anak, di na nila maalala yung mga pangalan naming lahat..."

"O really? Ilan ba kayo?"

"Madami...my Lola comes from a family of 20 siblings..."