Chapter 31: CHAPTER 29

Naiinis na ako kay Mateo simula pa kahapon dahil paulit-ulit niyang sinasabi na girlfriend niya na ako. Napa-oo na nga ako, eh, kaya kami na.

"Hindi ka ba napapagod na paulit-ulit mong sabihin na napasagot mo na si Liana?" tanong ni Tita Majika. Naiinis na rin siya sa anak niya.

"No, Luliana is my girlfriend, and I'm her boyfriend," sabi niya na parang tanga. Tapos nilagyan niya ng pagkain ang plato ko.

"He said that words over and over again, nakakainis," sabi ni Tayrence. Tumango-tango naman si Alicia at ngumiwi.

“He’s super annoying, Kuya Mateo is annoying. Paulit-ulit niyang sinasabi ‘yan,” Alicia said, but instead of getting annoyed, Mateo just laughed. “He’s weird.”

“It’s okay. I’m Luliana’s boyfriend,” he said, sounding like a complete goofball.  I was starting to get annoyed myself.

“See?!” Alicia said with a roll of her eyes. Tita Majika just shook her head.

Mateo shook his head and laughed. “It’s fine, I am Luliana’s girlfriend,” he said with a grin and winked at me. I just raised an eyebrow.

Tita Majika sighed dramatically. “Argh! He is not my son. This is not him anymore!” she exclaimed. “Where is my son?!”

Even I was getting tired of it. If you didn't know him, you'd think he was crazy.

“Crazy,” Alicia said, face-palming herself. The rest of us at the table just shook our heads.

“Umayos ka nga, naiinis na ako,” I whispered, getting frustrated.

He smiled at me. “It’s okay. I am your boyfriend,” he said. I pinched his arm, but he just ignored it and kept smiling. Everyone at the table, especially our son, was staring at him with a mixture of weirdness and amusement.

“Ewan ko sa’yo. Kumain ka na lang,” I said, ignoring him.

After breakfast, I got ready for work. We’re staying at the Montevallo house because we weren’t allowed to go home, but it’s fine.

This man is getting on my nerves. He’s been grinning like a fool, his lips about to split in two.

“Tumigil ka sa kakangiti mo, Mateo. Kanina pa ako naiinis sa’yo,” I said, exasperated. He was still grinning. If I didn’t know him, I would have thought he was crazy.

“What? I am just happy because tayo na. Sinagot mo na ako,” he said, sounding like a complete idiot.

“Oo na. Para kang sirang plaka. Paulit-ulit. Unlimited?!” I said, rolling my eyes. He just pouted.

He shook his head. “Don’t mind me. I am just happy,” he said. I shook my head and continued getting ready, because I was going to be late for work.

I grabbed my things and sprayed on some perfume.

“I have to go. Malalate na ako sa trabaho,” I said. He pouted. It was cute.

“Why do you need to work? I can give you everything you need. Even my mana. What’s mine is yours, what’s yours is yours,” he said with a smirk. I rolled my eyes.

“Yeah, you can, but I still want to work,” I told him. I leaned in to kiss him, but then I shook my head. It was too early for that, and I needed to get to work.

“Ang aga pa for you to leave,” he whined, sounding like a child as he fixed the bed.

“8 am na, Mateo. Tara na, malalate na ako,” I said. He didn’t argue, and followed me out. We both got ready, so he just had to make the bed.

“Good morning, anak,” I said to him when I saw that he was ready for school.

I kissed him on the cheek. Mateo walked over to him to greet him.

“Morning, son,” Mateo said, and they bumped fists.

“Morning, Mom, Dad. How’s sleep po?” he asked, and kissed me on the cheek. Mateo grabbed his bag.

Nginitian ko siya. I love this side of him, he is very sweet and clingy. “It was good,” I replied. He nodded.

“Let’s go. Late na tayo, anak.” I said, and he nodded. Mateo would be driving us because he wasn’t working today.

“How’s school, Kyle?” Mateo asked as we got into the car.

“It was great, but top 2 lang po ako,” he mumbled, looking away. “Mad po ba kayo?” I was surprised by his question and smiled proudly at him.

“Lang? Top 2 ka, anak. You should be happy. Mommy is proud of you. Keep going. I’m not mad, kaya,” I said cheerfully. “I really don’t care what your rank and grades are. As long as you did your best, it’s enough.”

Grades and ranks don’t define who you are, but of course, we have different mindsets. Some people care about their grades, and some don’t. Kung pasado, edi pasado. Kung hindi, edi hindi.

I don’t want him to feel pressured and stressed about academics. I want him to enjoy himself.

He blinked twice. “You’re not mad, Mommy?” he asked.

“Of course not, anak. Mommy and Daddy are happy, e. ‘Di ba, Daddy? You shouldn’t pressure yourself, love,” I said.

“Of course, son. Kahit top 10 ka pa, Daddy’s proud. Your mom’s right. Don’t pressure yourself. You’re on top or not, it’s okay. Failure is a part of success. Let’s celebrate after school and Mommy’s work,” Mateo said to our son. My son’s eyes twinkled.

After everything that happened, they became close really quickly. They spend a lot of time together, bonding.

“Always remember, top or not, as long as you have a diploma when you are college, okay na sa amin ‘yon,” I said to him, giving him a warm smile.

“Kaya smile ka na. Actually, okay lang kahit wala ka sa top, basta pagbutihin mo lang pag-aaral mo, masaya na si Mommy,” I said to him, cheering him up.

Hinalikan niya ako sa pisngi. “Okay po, Mommy,” he said with a smile, making me smile even wider. Mateo was smiling too.

When we reached Upang University, where Kyle studies, he immediately got out of the car because he was already late for his first period.

“Bye, Mom, Dad. See you later!” he said, turning around to kiss me.

“Bye, bud,” Mateo said.

“Bye, anak. Ingat!” we said after he kissed me on the cheek.

Mateo then drove me to my workplace.

I heard Mateo called me bago pa man makababa. “Keep safe, WIFE. Susunduin ka namin mamaya ni Kyle,” he emphasized the word “wife”, making me roll my eyes. I kissed him and left because I was already running late.

After scanning my ID pass, I quickly ran towards the elevator. I breathed a sigh of relief when I managed to catch it.

Once I got to my desk, I quickly organized my things and waited for Mr. Panit to start his usual tirade. I waited for several minutes, but he didn’t call me. Lunchtime was approaching, and he still hadn’t called me, so I started to get curious.

I waited for nothing, so I went over to my two friends’ table. As usual, they were gossiping.

Hindi man lang ako pinuntahan ng dalawang 'to sa table ko.

I faked a cough to get their attention. “Wala ba rito si boss? Hindi man lang ako tinawag,” I said. The two of them stopped talking and looked at each other as if they knew something I didn’t.

Ella raised an eyebrow. “Hindi ka updated, girl?” she asked.

“Magtatanong ba ako kung alam ko?” I retorted, annoyed.

“Ano ba ‘yan, sis. Tag-init, sumasabay pa init ng ulo mo. May laman na ba ‘yan?” Jake teased, pointing at my stomach. I rolled my eyes at him.

“Gaga, kakasagot ko lang sa kanya nung nakaraan. Ano nga kasi meron?” I asked, frustrated.

Hindi na lang kasi sabihin nag papatagal pa 'tong bwesit na 'to

“Si Mr. Montevallo kasi...” he said, trailing off, trying to hold back his laughter. I furrowed my brows.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. “Anong meron sa kanya?” I asked, crossing my arms.

“Pabitin mo naman, babaeta. Ikaw na nga,” I said, naiinis na. He sat up straighter.

“Si Mr. Montevallo kasi... ano, sinabihan si Mr. Panit na ‘wag kang utusan kasi raw baka mapagod ka,” he said. I wasn’t sure how to react—should I be angry or happy?

My brows furrowed. “Aanhin ko pa ang pagtatrabaho at ang pagpunta rito kung wala naman akong gagawin dito, aber?!” I said.

Nginiwihan niya ako. “Sis, wag ka samin magalit. Sisihin mo si boyfriend mo. Wala kaming kinalaman jaan,” Ella said, raising her hands in surrender.

“Truth, and he said buntis ka raw. Ikaw ha! May nangyari na pala sa inyo,” Jake said, poking my side. “Ang bilis naman ng mga alaga niya.” He laughed loudly, and Ella joined in. I got even more annoyed and swatted their arms.

These two were so annoying.

That man was just saying things.

“Tigilan niyo ‘kong dalawa, baka mahampas ko kayo!” I threatened them, but they covered their arms.

“Sorry na, sorry. Ito na, titigil na,” they said, stopping their laughter, although you could still see in their faces that they wanted to laugh because their nostrils were flaring. I walked out and went back to my table to call Mateo.

Hindi din nag tagal ay sinagot nito ang tawag ko.

“Hello, wife,” he said.

“Hayop ka! Aanhin ko ang pagtatrabaho kung wala akong gagawin dito, ha?!” I snapped as soon as he answered.

“Woah, chill. What’s wrong?” he laughed nervously.

“E kung chill ko pagmumukha mo, Montevallo! Bakit sinabihan mo si Mr. Panot na ‘wag ako utusan, at bakit pinagkakalat mong buntis ako?!” I asked, annoyed, but the giant just laughed, making me even angrier.

“Anong nakakatawa?!” I growled.

“I-it’s just that, Mr. Panot! HAHAHA,” he couldn’t finish his sentence because he was laughing so hard.

I clicked my tongue. “Nakakainis naman, Mateo. E, umayos ka nga. Hindi kita makausapin habang buhay, sige,” I said, almost crying out of frustration because I couldn’t really yell at him.

I heard something fall, so I was confused.

“Okay ka lang ba, Mateo? Ano yung nahulog?” I asked.

“N-nothing. Titigil na ako kakatawa. Magseseryoso na ako. Just talk to me,” he said. Oh, that was it.

I put my hand on my forehead. “Bakit mo ba kasi ginawa iyon?” I asked.

“Ayaw kitang mapagod. I told you to stop working. I can give you everything. I can buy you Spain if you want, nga, e,” he said smugly. I rolled my eyes.

“Ayan ka na naman. Pag-isipan ko,” I said. I was getting dizzy from rolling my eyes so much.

“Thinking of what? Buying you Spain?” he asked. I grimaced.

What would I do with Spain? Sira ulo ba 'to?

“Hindi ‘yon. About sa trabaho ang iniisip ko. Aanhin ko naman ang Spain?” I snapped.

“Oh, I thought you wanted Spain. I am willing to buy it for you, pa naman,” he said as if it was no big deal.

“But okay, fine. Still, I will not allow Mr. Panot na utusan ka,” he said, trying to hold back his laughter. I smiled.

“Oo na, tumawa ka na. Nahiya ka pa,” I said. And that’s when he finally burst out laughing.

This is the first time I heard him laugh that loudly. His intimidating aura disappears when he’s smiling or laughing.

I said goodbye, because I had work to do, but I wasn’t sure what. Since it was lunchtime, I decided to eat lunch and go home afterwards, since I wasn’t really doing anything here but sitting around.

Mama furrowed her brow. “Oh, anak? Ang aga mo naman ata umuwi?” she greeted me as I got home, making me frown again.

“Eh kasi naman, Ma. A-anhin ko pa ang pagtatrabaho kung inutusan ni Mateo si Panit na ‘wag akong utusan o pagtrabahuhin,” I said, pouting. But my mom just laughed.

“Hayaan mo na, ‘nak. Ayaw ka lang mapagod nung tao,” she chuckled, making me grimace. Was this really my mom?

“Ma, naman, e. Gusto ko magtrabaho,” I said, sounding like a child. But she just shook her head.

"Gusto ko talaga mag trabaho dahil ayaw kong naka asa lang kahit kanino kahit asawa ko pa." I said.

I really want to work, I don’t want to rely on anyone, even my husband.

“Kaya ka naman buhayin non. Kinikilig nga ako kanina, e,” she said, giggling like a child and hitting me playfully. I rolled my eyes.

Isa rin itong si Mama akala mo bata kung maka palo at kiligin. “Ano sabi, Ma?” I asked her. She took a deep breath.

She swallowed. “Alam mo kasi, anak, kaninang andito siya, alam mo ba? Kilig na kilig ako sa kanya. Ang sabi niya kasi, patitigilin ka niya sa trabaho at siya ang magtatrabaho para hindi ka mapagod at mastress sa trabaho. Tapos, ayun, tinawagan niya boss mo, sinabing ‘wag kang utus-utusan, dahil kung hindi, ipo-pull out nito ang investment niya. At sabi pa niya sakin, papaka-…” She trailed off, but stopped talking because I was starting to get upset and she realized something.

“Oh, ayan na pala si Mateo,” she pointed behind me. I wasn’t mistaken. He was standing behind me. I jumped in surprise when he poked me in the side and smirked mischievously.

I rolled my eyes at him. “Sige, asarin mo ‘ko, Ma,” I said. He was such a tease. My mom just shook her head.

“Ah, tse. Sige, maiwan ko na kayo at ereready ko na mga iniluto ko,” she said, quickly leaving. I couldn’t help but watch her until she disappeared from my sight. Then I turned to Mateo and narrowed my eyes at him.

“What’s with your look?” he asked, laughing.

“Ano na naman pinagsasabi mo kay Mama, at parang timang iyon dito kanina, na akala mo kung teenager pa siya?” I narrowed my eyes even more.

“I just told her that… I didn’t want you to get tired, that’s all,” he said, leaning back on the chair.

“Sure, ayan lang?” I asked, making sure.

“O-of course. I’ve got nothing to hide,” he said. I nodded but narrowed my eyes at him. I yawned, and he noticed. He came closer to me.

“Sleepy?” he asked. I nodded.

“Come, let’s go to our room so you can sleep. We have 3 hours pa naman,” he said, referring to picking Kyle up.

“Tara,” I said, standing up. He stood up and followed me, pulling me in by the waist.

As soon as we entered the room, I lay down to sleep. Before I could fully drift off, he kissed me on the forehead.