Chapter Six

"Hi, MA," bati ko sa ina. Hinalikan ko siya sa pisngi saka inabot sa kanya ang binili kong wine. 

"Thanks, hijo." Ngumiti siya sa akin. "Where's your Dad?" tanong niya sa akin. 

"I'm sure he's on his way," sagot ko sa ina. "Nauna na ako sa kanya dahil may tinatapos pa siyang trabaho."

Ayokong magsinungaling sa ina subalit hindi ko rin kayang sabihin sa kanya ang totoo. Tama nang nalaman niya ang tungkol sa pambababae ni Dad. 

I knew she's been through a lot of already. I don't want add more pain to her. Noong magkausap kami ni Mama pag-uwi ko ay umiiyak siyang humingi ng tawad sa akin. She even kneeled and begged for my forgiveness. And I can't stay mad at her for too long. 

"I cooked some of your favorite, hijo," baling sa akin matapos niyang ibaba ang wine sa counter.

Pinagmasdan ko ang mga putahe na nakahanda sa mesa. I noticed kare-kare and seafood paella, two of my favorite dishes. The rest were all Dad's. Nakangiting bumaling ako sa ina. 

"Thanks, Ma." 

My mother was not the perfect mother nor housewife but she's the best for me. Sa kanilang dalawa ni Dad, she was the pampering one. Maybe that's the reason I was more of a mama's boy. She gave up her career in the theater to be a full-time housewife. She devoted her life taking care of me and my father. Subalit sa kabila ng pagiging maybahay ay hindi niya napabayaan ang sarili. She was still undeniably beautiful despite her age. Hindi ako magtataka kung hanggang ngayon ay may mga lalaki pa rin ang nagkakainteres sa kanya. 

Kasabay niyon ay hindi rin ako makapaniwala na magagawa siyang ipagpalit ni Dad sa ibang babae. 

I witnessed how my parents loved each other for many years. Hindi ako makapapayag na masira nang ganon-ganon lang ang pagsasama ng mga magulang. 

"Kumusta si Ada, hijo?" tanong sa akin ni Mama. "Wala ba siyang balak umuwi dito sa bansa? I miss her."

Ada was very close to my mother. Tulad namin ni Ada ay malapit na magkaibigan din ang mga magulang naming dalawa. 

"She's busy with work," sagot ko sa ina. 

Pumalatak ang ina. "She's just as workaholic as you."

Well, that's true. That's the reason why Ada and I both agreed with our set-up right now. 

"Craig, don't you feel something for Ada?" Bumaling sa akin ang ina. "Are you two really just friends?" 

Bahagya akong natawa sa tanong ng ina. "You're being nosy, Ma."

"Well, you're at the marrying age now, hijo. If you'd bring home a woman, I want it to be like Ada." Ngumiti ang ina. "Or maybe Ada itself." She looked at me. "You know Craig, a strong foundation of love is friendship." Ngumiti ang ina. "Tingnan mo kami ng Daddy mo, nagsimula kami sa pagiging magkaibigan."

My mother always says Ada and I are a perfect match.

We’ve known each other since kids. We understand each other. She knows almost everything about me. My parents like her, especially Mom. Matagal na sinasabi ni Mama na kung mag-aasawa ako, sana ay katulad ni Ada ang babaeng papakasalan ko. 

I thought of Ada. She's everything a man could ask for. Beautiful, sophisticated, smart, and she's also really great in bed. Mom was right. She'd be a great partner someday. 

Bahagya akong natawa. "Ma, I'm just twenty-five."

Huminto ako nang dumating si Dad. I looked at him. Nakatupi na ang suot niyang long-sleeved polo hanggang sa siko. I silently greeted my teeth. 

"Dad," bati ko sa ama. 

Binati niya ako bago siya sumulyap kay Mama. I looked at Dad and I knew that something had really changed. Dad used to kiss my mother on the cheek every time he went home from the office. Now, he barely threw her a look. So, this was the silent treatment my mother has been talking about. 

"I prepared some of yours and Craig's favorite food," nakangiting wika ng ina. "Let's eat."

Pasimple kong pinanood si Dad na naupo sa kabisera. It was seven already. He spent two hours in his mistress. Hindi ko alam kung paano niya nagawang umaktong normal sa harap namin pagkatapos niyang manggaling sa kabit niya. He was disgusting. 

“So, dad how’s your meeting?” kaswal na tanong ko sa kanya habang nagsasalin ng kanin sa plato. 

Natigilan siya sa akmang pagsalin ng ulam. “Well, good…" Tumikhim siya. "We finished early. Medyo na-late lang ako ng uwi dahil inabutan ng traffic sa daan.”

Traffic, my ass. 

"How was your stay in South Korea? It was a three day convention, right?" I wonder kung isinasama rin niya ang babae niya kapag lumalabas siya ng bansa katulad ng ginagawa nila ni Mama. 

"I didn't get the chance to roam around the city. I mostly stayed in the hotel." Tumingin sa akin ang ama. "How about you, hijo? How was your flight?" 

Nagkibit ako ng balikat. "Well, I was asleep the whole time of my flight." Naglagay ako ng paella sa plato at tinikman iyon. "Wow, I missed this." Bumaling ako sa ina. "Your paella is still the best, Ma."

"Thanks, hijo," sabi sa akin ni Mama. "You should try this one." Inabot niya sa akin ang plato ng baked mussels. "Ikaw naman kasi, madalang pa sa patak ng ulan kung umuwi ka dito."

"Umuuwi ako every year," depensa ko sa ina. "Last Christmas lang ako hindi nakauwi dahil buong akala ko ay nasa Japan ang mga magulang. 

"At sa tingin mo, sapat na iyong isang beses sa isang taon? You are our only child. It's high time you moved back here in the coumtry." Nagpatuloy sa litanya niya si Mama. "Hindi na kami bumabata ng daddy mo."

Tumikhim si Dad. Pareho kaming napatingin no Mama sa kanya. 

"Your mother's right, Craig," wika ng ama. "This old man needs your help in the company. Madali na akong mapagod."

Old man, huh. Bakit, masyado ka bang pinapagod ng kabit mo? Napahigpit ang hawak ko sa tinidor. 

"Well, that's why I'm now here, right?" Ngumiti ako sa kanila bago bumalik sa pagkain. But I stopped when I noticed that he was barely eating anything. 

"Dad."

"What is it, son?" 

"I noticed you're not eating." Kinuha ko ang bowl ng caldereta at inabot sa kanya. "It's your favorite, right?" Pareho kaming mahilig ng ama sa native Filipino cuisine. Samantalang si Mama ay mahilig sa pasta dishes. 

"I'm still full, hijo," pagdadahilan niya sa akin. "But since it's my favorite." Tinanggap niya ang bowl at nagsalin sa plato niya. 

Still full? Bakit? Ano ang ipinakain sa 'yo ng babae mo?

Pabiro akong ngumiti. "Magtatampo si Mama niyan kapag hindi ka kumain ng luto niya." 

I acted as if I'm oblivious of what's happening between them. Although it's very obvious. Dad wasn't even looking at mom. He was avoiding her gaze. I can't believe this has been going on for a year now. Pakiramdam ko ay hindi ko na kilala ang mga magulang, especially Dad. Muling umahon ang galit ko sa kanya. 

Uminom ako ng tubig para kalmahin ang sarili. 

“By the way, I have a gift for you. Since hindi ako nakauwi last Christmas, consider this as my late Christmas gift." Habang kumakain kami ay binuksan ko ang wallet at inilabas ang isang ticket. "I booked you to a month-long caribbean cruise.”

"Oh, hijo!" masayang bulalas ni Mama. "That's so sweet of you. Matagal-tagal na rin kaming hindi nakakapagbakasyon ng Daddy mo."

Bumaling ako kay Daddy na walang reaksyon sa mga nangyari. "Dad?" untag ko sa kanya. "Something wrong?" 

Ibinaba niya ang hawak na kubyertos at bumaling sa akin. "Well, I don't think this is a good time to go on a vacation, hijo. I can't leave the company right now."

“Come on, Dad. You and Mom deserve a big break from everything. Especially you. It seems like you've been very busy lately.” 

Bumuntong-hininga ang ama. "You know, I've been caught up with a lot of responsibilities since your Ninong Arnulfo got sick."

Ang tinutukoy nito ay ang kumpadre na si Ninong Arnulfo na siya ring vise presidente ng kompanya. Nagkasakit ito last year at ilang buwang nahinto sa pagtatrabaho. 

"But he's doing good now." Nang magpunta ako sa opisina ng ama kanina ay dumaan rin ako kay Ninong Arnulfo. Ilang buwan na rin daw simula nang makabalik ito sa trabaho. 

“Come on, Carlos. You’ve been burned up with work," pangungumbinsi ng ina kay Dad. "Masyado ka nang nagiging workaholic." 

Dad looked at my mother. "I didn't have a choice, Arabella."

“But I'm here now," sagot ko sa ama. Ibinaba ko ang hawak na wineglass, kasabay ay pagaling sa akin ni Dad. “Get a break from work, Dad. Let me handle the company for now. Problem solved, right?" Ngumiti ako. 

"I appreciate your help, hijo." My father looked at me. "Pero hindi ko basta-basta maiiwan sayo ang kompanya. Hindi mo pa alam ang pasikot-sikot sa negosyo natin."

"Well, nadyan naman si Tita Mindy. And Ninong Arnulfo. I'm sure they'll guide me." I raised my brow. "Well, unless, you don't trust me, Dad." Nakipagsukatan ako ng tingin sa ama. Come on, Dad. "Am I right, you just don't trust me enough, Dad?" 

"Of course, I trust you, Craig." Mabilis na sagot niya. "You are my son." Isang buntong-hininga ang pinakawalan ng ama. "I just don't want you to get burdened with the responsibilities…"

"Dad, I'm your son. I can handle it." Ngumiti ako. “I promise Dad, you'll have nothing to worry about. The company will be in safe hands. I'll make you proud.” 

"I know you will, son." Dad smiled at me. 

"So, it's settled then." Pareho kong tiningnan ang mga magulang. "You two are going on a vacation. Cause if not, I'm going back to the States tomorrow and I won't go home for the next ten years."

"Fine, fine," sagot ng ama. "You don't have to threaten us, son."

Bumaling ako kay Mama. I gave her a meaningful look. 

Mom knows about my plan. Three days ago, nasabi ko na sa kanya ang plano kong pagsamahin sila ni Daddy sa isang cruise. 

"Your Dad won't agree with this, hijo." nag-aalalang sagot sa akin ni Mama. "Ni hindi nga niya ako kinikibo. We've been sleeping in different rooms for almost a year now."

"Don't worry, Ma. Ako ang bahala kay Dad," sagot ko sa ina. "I'll make him agree with this." I smiled at her. “Just do everything to make up with Dad. Ako na rin ang bahala sa kabit niya. Sisiguraduhin ko na pagbalik nyo dito, wala na siyang babalikan." I clenched my jaw.  "I will get rid of his mistress.”

“What would you do?” nag-aalalang tanong ni Mama. “Will you give her money to stay away?”

I smirked. “No. I won't do that.” That whore doesn't deserve every single penny of my Dad's money. She deserved nothing.

“Please, don't do anything stupid, Craige…” bilin niya sa akin. 

Ngumiti ako sa ina. “Don't worry, Ma. Just trust me.”