Skipper

33| Welcome Home

TRICIA

"I'll be going, Mom, Dad." I said as I raised from my seat. We just had our breakfast on the garden. Kaming tatlo lang nila Mommy at Daddy dahil wala ang mga kapatid ko. Tiana's still on Pangasinan while Theo chose to spend his weekend at Spain with Xyz, his favorite among all our cousins.

"Careful on driving, Justin." Bilin ni Dad at saka ako binalingan na nakataas ang kilay. "H'wag kang papabola sa asawa mo."

Napangiti na lang ako nang paluin ni Mommy si Daddy sa braso. "Cut it out, Terrence. Kung magsalita ka akala mo naman hindi mo gawain. I lost counts of all the dates you turned down for the sake of your company. Madalas pa last minute kung mag-cancel ka dahil sa biglaang appointments mo. Sana sinabi mo din sa akin noon na h'wag akong papabola sa asawa ko!" Mommy rolled her eyes then she walked out.

The shock on my father's face was priceless.  

"Your mother has been cranky for a month now. Daig pa ang naglilihi." Dad said with a frown. "She won't even allow me to have my arms around her when we sleep. Mainit daw, samantalang nanginginig na nga ako sa lamig sa kuwarto namin." Tila problemadong-problemadong dagdag pa ni Daddy.

I smiled at my worried father. "Why don't you pay a visit to Tita Courtney? Mommy can still be pregnant at 44, right?"

Daddy's face brightened up. "You think so?"

I nodded. "That's a possibility, Dad. Or puwede rin naman po na dahil 'yon sa mag-me-menopause na si Mommy."

"I'd rather have the first condition, little princess," Dad chuckled then he stood up. He walked to me then kissed my forehead. "Don't settle for anything, Tricia. You're raised to be a queen. Let your husband have it your way. Don't compromise. Boss around."

I shook my head. "That's not how relationships work, Dad." I wrapped my arms around him. "Don't worry, nakita ko naman kung paano kayo ni Mommy. I'll be fine. My marriage will work out."

I asked Justin to drop me off at the grocery store on the first floor on Skipper's condo. I am planning to surprise him with a lunch date on his unit. I bought everything needed for my recipe. Bumili na din ako ng ilang snacks na madalas kong makitang kinakain ni Skipper kapag nanonood s'ya ng TV o kaya ay kapag naglalaro s'ya.

I was on my way to the cashier when I walked pass by shelves of chocolates. I was never fond of commercial chocolates, but for some reason I got the strong urge to buy every chocolates my eyes are seeing. Parang bigla akong natakam.

I called for assistance. "I want one for each brand," I said as I pointed to the shelves.

"Alin po d'yan, ma'am?" Magalang na tanong ng  sales lady.

Tumaas ang kilay ko sa kanya. Ano ba ang hindi malinaw sa sinabi ko? "Lahat 'yan. Ikuha mo ako ng tig-iisa ng bawat tsokolate na nand'yan. Bring it to the counter when you're done. I'll wait for you there." Itinuro ko pa ang isang cashier counter na pinakamalapit sa akin.

Tinalikuran ko na ang sales lady at lumakad na ako papunta sa counter. Natapos ko nang bayaran ang mga sangkap para sa iluluto ko ay wala pa din 'yong babae na inutusan ko. I had to wait for five minutes.

"Ang tagal mo naman!" Nakasimangot na reklamo ko.

"Pasensya na po, ma'am." Sabi ng babae pero halata na naiinis s'ya sa akin.

Hinayaan ko 'yong sales lady na isalansan ang mga pinamilli ko sa counter. Habang inaayos 'yon ng cashier sa mga ecobag ay kinuha ko ang cheque book sa bag ko at sumulat ng three thousand pesos para ibigay sa sales lady na nautusan ko. I could give her five thousand, kaso ay ang bagal n'ya. After signing the cheque, I handed it to her.