The Babymaker

Chapter Seven

I felt nervous I even swallowed the lump in my throat when I saw the person I should be avoiding in the kitchen.

It’s Renz. Renz Monteverde.

Why not? The way he looked at me is scary. It’s like he wants me to melt, he wants me gone, and he wants me out of his sight.

I swallowed again. He’s just staring while he’s holding a glass of liquor.  Why should I do? Where should I go? Should I leave now?

“Why you’re here?” his voice is cold. I stiffen the way he spoke, gone his soft and gentle yet full of authority in his voice just like the first time I met him in the shore. He spoke to me better when he thought I’m a new maid.

I swallowed again out of nervous before I speak. “Ahhh-hmmm.. I-I’ll…. I’ll just get some... something—“ I haven’t finish what I’m saying when we both looked at the person who just entered the kitchen.

“Mansanas, what took you so long? I told you, I’m the one—Oh!” Jonas stopped speaking when he noticed we’re not the only person in the kitchen. “Hey Renz! You’re here.”

Renz raised the glass of liquor he’s holding as a greeting to Jonas. “It’s late. You’re still together?” he raised his right brow, looked at both of us and turned his gazed to his drink. I don’t know but something strange with the tone of his voice. His voice is still cold and dead.

“It’s late and you’re still drinking..” he looked around “…Alone. Where’s Isabel?” Jonas asked back.

“Up. Sleeping. What’s up?” and he pointed me. What?

“Movies.” Jonas simple answered him while picking one-by-one the drinks and snacks that I’m supposed to be bringing if I didn’t bump into Renz here in the kitchen.

Renz smirked. “Late night movies with…” he looked straight in my eyes “..my babymaker.” I swallowed hard of what he just said.

Jonas slightly pushed him when he passed by and I felt him hold my arms. “Shut up Renz. Stop drinking, it’s already late night. Go and sleep. Let’s go.” Without looking back he pulled me out of the kitchen.

I heard the sarcastic laughed from Renz so I looked back at him. I swallowed hard again when I see him staring back at me and I felt so uncomfortable on how he looked at me.

What is this? Why I always feel nervous when he’s looking at me?

“Don’t mind him. He’s just drunk. Too much—“

“Stop!” I looked at him. “Don’t try to defend your cousin anymore, I don’t understand him and please stop pulling me already.” We’re already near the entertainment room where we can watch movies.

He laughed at me. Really? But he already stopped and pulled out his hand in my arm.

Jerk ! He’s just laughing at me.

I don’t understand his cousin and I don’t want to understand him anyway.

~

I’m surprised when I entered the dining area, the Monteverde were complete in table. It’s just six in the morning, I thought rich person woke up late? Some even have the breakfast in bed, right?

I even felt awkward because they are all looking at me. Jonas is smiling, as usual, also Madam—I mean, Granny Celia is smiling and Mr. Carlito. Even Mam Isabel, I still feel awkward calling her Isabel, smiling a little bit while Renz is still looking at me the way he looked at me last night. Well, his mother is still pocker face as ever. I don’t know if she’s mad at me. He has his eyes from his Mom anyway.

I cough a little. “Hmm.. Good morning po. I’m sorry for disturbing your breakfast, I’m just passing by to go to Nanay Lydia.” I was about to leave and go to Nanay Lydia when Madam--- Granny Celia stopped me. This is embarrassing to call her Granny.

“No dear. Take a seat, have a breakfast with us.” She invited me to join them for the breakfast and it looks like Renz is not happy about the idea.

That’s too much embarrassment. I shook my head. “I think that’s…. I mean, thank you but I’ll just eat with Nanay Lydia.”

I quickly passed by the dining area to go in the kitchen. I almost tripped down.

“Apple hija, you look so pale. Are you sick?” Nanay Lydia asked me in concerned manner. I quickly shook my head. I’m so nervous facing the Monteverde, I almost loss my blood.

“I’m fine, Nanay. I’m just thirsty.” I answered. It’s true anyway, I felt my throat dried out of nervous. After I drank the glass of water, I faced Nanay Lydia, she’s eating dried fish.

“Wow! Dried fish. It’s my favorite. Can I eat with you, Nay?” I’ve been staying here for how many days, and it’s my first time to see dried fish. Would you believe they have dried fish here? Nanay Lydia always cooked ham, bacon, tocino, sausage, etc. Food for rich people.

“There’s a ham in the table, hija.” She’s talking about the dining area. What? I will eat with those rich and elite masters of mine? No.

“I don’t like that, Nay. This dried fish with vinegar is much more delicious than the ham.” I proudly said. I miss eating dried fish.

Nanay Lydia laughed at me. “Ay.. you little girl. Come here. Here’s the plate, just get a spoon and fork there.”

I happily joined Nanay Lydia and raised my hand. “It’s better to use hand while eating this, Nay.”

We are happy laughing and sharing our stories while eating and Manong Osme, the driver of Monteverde, arrived and joined us in the kitchen when we heard someone cough from the door.

“It’s seems so happy here that Mansanas choose the dried fish over a ham.” Jonas smirked at us… or at me?

“Eat.” I happily invited him to join us even I knew he doesn’t eat this kind of foods. Rich Freaking Jerk kind of Kid.

“I think I’ll pass. Granny is looking for you.” I quickly stood up and washed my hand. Mada—Granny Celia is looking for me. I smelled my hand, it’s still smell vinegar. That’s embarrassing.

While we are walking in the hallway, I keep smelling my hand. It’s still smell like vinegar, I should go to the bathroom first. The soap in the bathroom smells so good.

I keep on walking when I bumped to something strong and big which I guess is Jonas. Someone strong and big, I should say. Eh?

“What Jonas? Why did you stop without telling me?” I angrily said to him while scratching my head. He didn’t answer me so I looked up at him. A pair of deep black eyes meets my gaze and even they eyebrows were almost connecting. Geez.

I quickly stepped back and hide my hands behind me. My hands smell so bad. Where the heck is Jonas?

“S-sorry po, Sir.” I quickly apologize without looking at him. I’m trying to look around, to look for Jonas.

Stupid me. Why I didn’t even notice that I will bump in to someone?

His forehead creased while looking at me. Look away, Apple. Look away.

“You better watch where you going, don’t move like a fool.” And he walked away. I left dumbfounded. He just called me fool?

I just looked at him while he’s walking away. He’s really unkind. I know, I’m not smart and I didn’t get a chance to study in an exclusive school. I may not finish college but calling someone fool is too much.

He’s too much! In every single way.

“Hey Mansanas. Come here now.” I looked back where the voice coming from. I already passed by the room, that’s why Jonas was already gone. Stupid me.

I ran back to the room he entered.

I stopped when I entered the room and surprised that they are all in here. I thought only Mada—Granny Celia will be here.

The atmosphere is awkward, just like this morning. All of them were looking at me only the young couple was not around. Sir Renz and Ma’am Isabel is not present here.

“Good m-morning po.” I chocked while speaking. I even heard Jonas laughing. My embarrassment will always be his happiness.

But Mada—Granny Celia comes to the rescue. He warned Jonas.

“Apple, have a seat.” I slowly walked to the sofa chair Granny Celia pointed. This is the entertainment room. There’s a big flat screen television, a huge speaker is installed around and there’s a lot of CDs I guess filed in the cabinet. And there’s a lot of pillow surrounded on the floor area where Jonas is comfortably seating right now while the elder is seated in one long sofa.

I seated on the sofa chair Granny pointed.

I scratch my head. “Hmmm… W-why did you c-called me po?” I awkwardly asked.

Jonas just laughed again. I glared at him. He really wanted me embarrassed.

“Jonas, why are you here?” Ma’am Alea chipped in.

Jonas scratched the back of his neck. “Eyy Auntie.” I laughed a bit. What now? I thought I’m the only one scared of Ma’am Alea even him is afraid.

I think I laughed a little louder because Ma’am Alea looked at me. Like the usual, I felt cold the way she looked at me. I felt nervous. She always looked at me that way. I shut my mouth.

I’m sure she really doesn’t like this idea or plan. Renz got his attitude from his mother. Because of the fear I felt from her. I shut my mouth and looked away.

“Stop scaring her, Alea.” I heard the deep breathes of Ma’am Alea. “And please get out first Jonas, we need talk here in private matter with Apple.”

“Ehhh Granny” Jonas complained

“Please Jonas.” He doesn’t have any choice but to follow because Sir Carlito already spoke. He quickly get up from his seat.

Silence passed by…

Kruuu.

Kruuu…

“First of all, we already need to get back in Manila.” My forehead creased. They’re going back in Manila? How will make a baby?

Really Apple? You’re thinking that right now?

“But Renz will stay here. You need to know each other, make him comfortable with you. He is a mad man right now.” Granny Celia explained. What does she mean by mad man?

He’s always mad, I know.

“Don’t you dare seduce my son, young woman!” I winced when Ma’am Alea warned me. I felt scared again. She’s really scary.

Being friendly with her son is almost impossible. How can I even seduce her son?

“How will she and my grandson make baby if she will not try to seduce him, Alea?” Madam Celia innocently asked. My eyes grew bigger.

“Mommy!” Ma’am Alea hysterical yelled while Sir Carlito just laughed and she glare at his husband but his husband just shrugged it off. I stared at them. They seems to be a happy couple.

Sir Renz looked like his father, Sir Carlito but even his feature is strong you will still notice that Sir Carlito is a sweet and thoughtful man not like Sir Renz, he got his eyes from his mother, that deep seat of black eyes always telling you to back off.  The sweet brown eye of Sir Carlito is from Monteverde genes since Jonas also has this pleading looking brown eyes. Their eyes already speaking for them.

Ma’am Alea shook her head. “I can’t believe this.” She even acts like she’s fanning herself with her hands because she’s out of breath. It’s not even hot in here, the aircon makes me freeze in my position.

She looked straight into my eyes. Her eyes were strong as her aura but it really suits her. It makes her Alea Monteverde herseld. “You take care of yourself.” I jaw literally dropped for what she said. She glared at me so I quickly fixed myself.

Okay. That’s really humiliating.

Sir Carlito and Granny Celia nodded while smiling.

“T-thank you po.” What should I say?

I think Ma’am Alea is a good woman, it just she doesn’t like me.