CHAPTER 5.1

NANGISING SI Luscious na parang pinipiga ang kaniyang ulo. He's expecting this already, since he drowned himself in alcohol last night. Nakapikit niyang sinapo ang ulo at bumangon mula sa kama. This is what he hates after drinking too much, but at least he was able to sleep in peace last night.

He walked towards his kitchen to get a glass of water. He badly needed to take a medicine for his hangover. Mabilis niyang ininom ang gamot habang mariin pa ring nakapikit. He grunted and groaned in pain. 

Bukod pa sa masakit na ulo ay amoy na amoy niya pa rin ang alak sa sarili. That's why he took a cold shower to freshen up. Nakatapi lang siya ng tuwalya sa ibabang katawan nang marinig niyang tumunog ang doorbell.

His eyebrows knotted together. Luscious was not expecting anyone this early, in the morning. Napaka-aga naman ata ng mga kaibigan niya kung ito ang dumadalaw sa kaniya. 

Luscious just shrugged and walked towards the door. Ngunit lalo pang lumalim ang gatla sa kaniyang noo nang mapag-sino ang nasa labas.

It's his mom. And he's sure as hell na sesermonan lang siya nito. 

What a great way to welcome his day. Napailing na lamang siya at napakamot ng ulo.

"Good morning, son." His mom kissed his cheek. Para pa rin talaga siyang bata kung ituring ng ina. Maybe because he was an only child. "I heard Leslie was back. Hindi pa ba kayo nagkikita?"

He wanted to roll his eyeballs but still chose not to. Sigurado siyang tungkol na naman sa pagaaasawa ang paguusapan nila ng kaniyang ina. Wala ng bago rito.

Leslie was his childhood friend— kung matatawag niya bang kaibigan ito. Magkapitbahay lamang sila noon. They became friends not because he wanted to, but because the little Leslie was so persistent. Lagi siya nitong kinukulit noon kaya naman wala na rin siyang nagawa. Umalis lang ito ng bansa nang mag-college ito. They both went to study abroad, but in two different countries. Kahit papa'no ay naging tahimik ang buhay niya nang malayo ito. Wala rin kasing bukambibig noon ang dalaga kundi ang magiging kasal 'raw' nila. She would pester him to promise her that he will marry her. And it really irritated him to the f*cking core! Pero nang akala niya ay matatahimik na siya ay nangyare ang hindi dapat mangyare sa kanilang dalawa. 

Leslie went to him four years ago, because of what happened between them. Ito na rin ang naging huli nilang pagkikita. But now she's back. And he would bet his fortune that she's up to something again. 

She's a cunning woman. Kaya nga nangyare sa kanila ang isang bagay na hindi dapat mangyare. And he doesn't even know how the hell it happened.

He sighed, wanting to massage his temples. "Good morning, Mom!" bati niya sa ina. "About Leslie— I don't think there's a reason for me to meet her." 

His Mom eyed him in disbelief. "Son, he's your childhood friend. Tsaka anak naman, you're already thirty-one, it's time for you to have your own family. And Leslie isn't bad for a wife. Matagal na kayong magkakilala kaya magiging mas madali na para sa 'yo. I can also say that she likes you, even before."

Here goes his mom again. Luscious heaved.

He gets it. Gusto lang nitong lumagay siya sa tahimik, but hell will freeze first before he settle down. And what? Leslie as his wife? It's a big no, no, for him. Like no way in hell.

"Mom I'll get married when I feel like getting married. We've been talking about this for years, mom. Please just spare me with this." He sounded like pleading. "And Leslie will never be an option as my future wife."

'Wife.' 

He wanted to groan at the thought.

Humawak ito sa kaniyang magkabilang braso habang nakatitig sa kaniyang mukha. "Anak naman, I'm not getting any younger. Gusto ko nang makita kang ikasal. And I also want to see my grandchildren." 

Kung gano'n lang sana kadali ang hinihiling nito ay mabilis niya nang ibinigay, pero hindi. Saang lupalop naman siya ng mundo maghahanap ng apo para rito? Ni wala pa nga siyang balak magasawa.

Mabigat siyang napabuntong hininga. "Mom, please just let me live my life. Marriage will come to me if it's the right time." 

Laglag ang balikat nito dahil sa naging tugon niya. "Fine, fine, I'll take my leave now. Take care." Walang buhay itong lumabas sa kaniyang penthouse pagkatapos siyang halikan sa pisngi.

He heaved a deep sigh. Napakamot na lang rin siya ng sariling ulo. Alam niyang nagtatampo ang kaniyang mahal na ina, ngunit hindi niya talaga kayang ibigay ang gusto nito. 

Napagdesisyunan niya na lang magbihis at abalahin ang sarili sa pagluluto. He doesn't want to entertain any thoughts about marriage. Kailangan niya na ring mag-agahan, dahil halos alak lang ang laman ng kaniyang tiyan magmula pa kagabi.

Luscious fried some eggs and bacon. Nagluto rin siya ng fried rice para sa sarili na para bang komportableng-komportable sa kusina.

He was living alone when he was in college. Iyon ang naging dahilan kung bakit marunong siyang magluto para sa sarili. He doesn't want to starve himself to death, obviously. Madalas ay tinatamad din siyang kumain sa labas.

Luscious was in College when he also met his friends. Si Shy ang naging una niyang kaibigan, dahil pala-kaibigan ito, ngunit napakaingay din— the total opposite of his name. He also met Livid, Kaj, and Trevor because of Shy. Ito talaga ang nakaka-kilala sa mga ito magmula pa no'ng una. Si Ace naman ay nakilala niya lang at naging kaibigan din nang dahil kay Trevor. 

He doesn't have any friends when he was just in elementary and high school. He's a very quiet person who preferred his own company than be with strangers. 

Luscious used to be too serious and matured in a very young age. Hindi niya kailanman nagustuhan ang pakikipaglaro sa ibang batang ka-edad niya noon. He would rather read a book, and sit alone in a whole day. But having his friends now— it wasn't so bad like he used to think before. Noon kasi ay tila paga-aksaya lamang ng oras ang pakikipagkilaa para sa kaniya. He never expected to become so comfortable with them, enjoying their company and all the sh*ts.

Mabilis siyang natapos kumain at naghugas ng sariling pinagkanan. Pagkatapos niyang maayos ang lahat ay pabagsak siyang na-upo sa loob sala. He reached for the remote, and switched the T.V. on when the doorbell rang again, making him huff.

Napakarami naman atang gustong bumisita sa kaniya sa araw na ito.

Luscious stood up with a heavy feet, completely uninterested to entertain anyone. He opened his door just to see a very unwanted guest.