One Summer in Bicol ✔

Kabanata 31

Ring

"What the fuck is MU?"

Avery is smiling from ear to ear while looking at the road outside. I stopped the car when the lights turned red.

"Kuya Jacob what did you say?"

Nabaling ang tingin ko kay Sam na nasa likod. Geez, I forgot we have the kid at the back. Hinarap sya ni Avery.

"Sam, your Kuya Jacob is bad. He said a bad word to me," she said and pouted.

I scoffed. Kanina pa nagtutulungan ang dalawa laban sa akin. I am being bullied by this two.

"Kuya Jacob is bad."

"Wala kang malaking bubuyog mamaya, Sam!" sabi ko.

"Ate! Kuya is bad!"

"Yes, Sam. Kuya is bad but he loves us both," tapos tumingin sya sa akin. "Am I right? Am I right?"

Cute. I pinched her cheeks and moved the car. I repeat my question earlier.

"MU as in mukhang unggoy."

"Sinong mukhang unggoy?"

"Si Chris!" she said and laughed hard. Naiiling na lang ako sa kanya. Sinabayan pa sya ni Sam kahit hindi naman naintindihan ng bata. "Joke lang! Seryoso na." She cleared her throught and explained it to me. "Mutual Understanding, Jacob. You know when you can't go in a relationship yet but you both like each other. Ano ba yan! Tumatanda ka na talaga, Jacob!"

"Yeah and I can't wait to marry you. Pwede bang diretso na dun?"

She blushed. Nag-iwas sya ng tingin. "Epal mo, Jacob."

"What?!"

"Ewan ko sa'yo. Para kang ewan."

When we reached the mall, dumiretso kaming kidzoona para kay Sam. Kakatapos lang kasi ng tutor session nila. Kahit bakasyon na, pinaaturuan sya ni Tito. And since, Tito is not around still looking for Sam's mom who left him, we are tasked to babysit her.

"Sasamahan ko si Sam sa loob," sabi ni Avery.

"What? I thought pwede syang iwan so we can go on a date?"

Hinampas nya ako sa braso. "Jacob! Iiwan mo si Sam? Seryoso ka ba?"

I sighed. This kid is being a hindrance. Should I give her back to her dad? Damn it.

Humalukipkip si Avery saka ako hinarap. "You hate kids?"

Umiling ako. "No. I don't hate kids nor love them," I said and shrugged my shoulders.

"E paano ka mag-aalalaga ng sampung bata nyan?"

"Sampu? What--Oh! You know what, parang gusto ko na rin sumama sa loob. There a lot of kids there, right?"

She laughed and paid their time. Sa huli, naiwan pa rin akong mag-isa sa labas. Avery told me to roam around first while waiting for them so I did.

Nagpunta akong jewelry shop. I thought of buying her a ring. I know I still can't ask her but that is where we are going. Makakapaghintay naman ako. I am just exciting to buy a ring everytime she'd talk about having 10 kids.

"Pang regalo sa asawa nyo, Sir?"

I shook my head. "Soon to be wife."

Gumuhit naman ng 'o' ang labi nya. She recommend me series of rings but only one got my attention. It was a simple ring with a small diamond on top. Manipis lang iyon. It looks elegant and I can imagine Avery's hand wearing it.