Up Where We Belong

Chapter 07

Insist

Muntik na akong mabulunan sa iniinom kong orange juice. Mabuti na lang at nakalma ko ang sarili bago pa ako nagkalat sa harap niya.

"I mean, cooking isn't entirely a woman's responsibility. It's a life-learned skill and not a gender role. Both women and men should learn that," he politely explained.

"You're right, Gab," Mommy approved.

I can't help but nod my head in approval too. It really hits me. Hindi naman kabawasan ng pagkatao ang di kagalingan sa pagluluto. I think, everyone has a cook's intuition. Hindi ka nga lang magiging magaling kapag di ka naman talaga nagluluto. I've always believed that cooking and cleaning shouldn't be assigned to a particular gender. Sinuman ay dapat na matuto na mga bagay na iyon.

Pagkatapos kumain ay sa balkonahe kami nagpahangin. Binulungan pa ako ni Mommy na magsuklay muna ng buhok ko kaya naman saglit ko muna silang iniwang dalawa. Pagbalik ko ay kami naman ang iniwang dalawa ni Gab. Pupunta lang daw siya ng kusina. She winked at me before she left.

"Why did you come here all of a sudden?" tanong ko na nagpabaling sa kanya sa direksyon ko. He was silently sitting on the chair. Magkaharap kami sa round table.

"Your Mom invited me to come over," he honestly said. He was rolling his sleeves up to his elbow.

Sinasabi ko na nga ba! Parang nagdududa na ako kung para ba talaga sa akin 'yong niluto niyang Kare-Kare. Malamang tinanong niya si Gab kung anong paboritong ulam nito at nagkataon lang nag-crave din ako ng Kare-Kare.

"I really wanted to, that's why I'm here," he added.

I frowned. "Sana hindi kana nag-abala. Pasensya na. Makulit lang talaga si Mommy,"

"Hey. Gusto ko din naman talaga pumunta," ulit nito.

"Magaling na ba talaga ang sugat mo sa braso?" usisa ko. I wanted to see it but I couldn't because of his long sleeve.

"It healed right away. It wasn't that serious." He drew closer to me and then gently stroke his chin.

"Yeah. But you're one inch away from being killed!" Bahagyang tumaas ang boses ko. I still feel scared when I think of that day. "Imagine kung sa ulo mo iyon bumagsak!"

"Nabawasan sana ang gwapo sa mundo," pabulong niyang sambit pero sapat na upang marinig ko.

Napaismid ako. "Aren't we being conceited here?"

Nagkibit-balikat lamang siya at nakita ko ang pagtaas ng isang sulok ng kanyang labi.

Ilang saglit pa ang lumipas at nahuli kong nakatitig na naman ito sa aking mga mata.

Why do I feel this weird feeling everytime he looks at me into the eyes?

I cleared my throat to break the silence. Huminga akong malalim at nanlaban ng titigan sa kanya. "What kind of a lawyer are you?"

Nauna itong tumakas sa mahabang titigan. "I'm a handsome lawyer."

Napairap nalang ako. Mahilig palang magbuhat ng sariling bangko ang lalakeng ito.

"I mean, what area do you specialize in?"

He knotted his forehead as he stared at me again. "I'm a corporate lawyer. Why are you suddenly interested in my life?"

I crossed my arms and leaned against my chair.

"I'm not interested in you," I corrected. "I'm only interested in your hacienda."

"Now that you mentioned it. I found a buyer already. I'm meeting him soon."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "So, nakahanap kana ng pwede mong pakasalan?" usisa ko.