Singles

Chapter 11 - Innu asked for a favor

Chapter 11

HARMONY

Friday night and it’s all about family dinner. My two siblings were always excited on Fridays. Pinagitnaan nila ako sa dining table. They’re like this simula nung nagkaisip siya. They wanted a fair share of my attention. Sister’s boys nga ang tawag ko sa kanila. And they’re my little bodyguards.

They’re just in high school and they wanted to show our parents their one-week accomplishments. May reward kasing malaking pera galing kay Daddy kaya pareho silang masigasig.

“It’s unfair. Why don’t I have things like this when I was younger?” kunwaring reklmo ko kay Mommy. “Madaya naman.”

“Hija, when you were their age, wala pa tayong kakayahang bumili ng kung anu-anong bagay na gusto natin,” explained Mom.

Ilang beses ko na rin namang narinig ito galing sa kanya. Okay lang naman. Minsna, inggit lang ako sa mga kumag na `to. How I wish we were rich when I was a teen.

“Nagkakausap ba kayo ni Jan Michael?” asked Daddy. “It’s been weeks since nag-date kayo.”

“Kailangan ba kaming mag-usap, Dad? You know we don’t like each other. And please, huwag niyo na akong ipa-blind date kung kani-kaninong anak ng mga kaibigan ninyo.”

“It’s for your own good, Dear. Mabait naman si Jan Michael, magaling sa business, at higit sa lahat malapit pamilya.” Here he goes again. Daig pa ni Daddy ang bugaw sa pagrereto ng iba’t-ibang lalaki sa akin.

“What if I tell you, I don’t want to get married. And it’s not my calling.”

Kumunot ang noo niya. “How are you going to give us grandchildren? Harmony, gusto naming may makasama ka sa pagtanda mo.”

“Kaya nga ako nag-iipon, Dad para may mabayaran akong mag-aalaga sa akin sa pagtanda ko,” I joked. “Just kidding.” Bawi ko naman agad. But I’m serious with it din. Ha ha! If need ko magbayad ng caregiver when I can’t do stuffs of my own, siyempre gagawin ko since choice ko namang hindi mag-asawa.

“Ate, hindi mo kailangang magbayad ng caregiver. Kapag may family na kami, you can visit us. Supertita ka ng mga magiging anak namin ni Kuya,” said Marco, our bunsong makulit. “`Di ba, Kuya? We’ve talked about this na. we’ll have an extra room for Ate.”

“Ahuh!” tumango-tango ng ilang beses si Andres. “Mom, Dad, don’t let ate date random guys. She’ll look desperada.”

Buti pa `tong mga kapatid ko kahit papaano ay naiintihan ang punto ko.

Nag-taas-baba ako ng kilay kay Dad. Sinabayan ko pa ng matamis kong ngiti. “No dates? Huh? No more. I’m tired of it, Dad. Let me just enjoy my work. Since you put me in Singles. I need to bring money to the company.”

“You’re supposed to be a part of the participants. Not the productions.”

“Well, sorry to disappoint you, Dad. Ipag-pray mo na lang na dumating ang tamang tao para sa akin. Huwag mo nang ipilit. Mas tatanggihan ko pa `yan. And I promise you that.” Tinaas ko pa ang kanang kamay ko.

Nailing na lang si Daddy. Wala naman talaga siyang magagawa.

Binaba ko ang mga kamay ko at palihim na nakipag-high five sa aking mga kapatid. Siblings always wins!

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Nasa kwarto ako ng dalawa. Binabantayan ko sila habang gumagawa ng kanilang mga assignments. While they do theirs, I do mine. Nagtitingin ako ng mga mga magagandang locations sa internet for Singles.

I’m thinking of a place where mayroong common big house, and at least five bungalows where the couples will stay to do the tasks.

I called Innu, since he’s one of the staffs, to help me find a nice location. After a few rings, sinagot din niya. Finally!

“Hello there! May overtime pay ba `to, Maam Harmony?” nakakalokong tanong pa niya. “Joke lang. Anong maipaglilingkod schoolmate? Ha ha!”

He’s my friend since high school. Pure platonic and no one between dared to go beyond the line. Just pure respect and true friendship.

“I need your opinion. Sa tingin mo, okay ba `yong Paradise Villas sa Batangas para sa Singles? Mayroon siyang malaking house, swimming pool, and malaking `yong place, I like the mini houses. I think fit `yon for the pairs. Ano sa tingin mo?”

“Let’s visit it tomorrow. Kilala ko `yong may-ari. I can give her a call tonight.”

“Wait. Her? Don’t tell me—”

“Haha! Come on! Don’t give me that tone, Harmony! Hindi lahat ng her na kilala ko ang naging ex ko. Kindly, take note of that.”

“Malay ko ba. Sige na. Update me kung anong oras tayo aalis bukas.”

I cut the call and turn to my siblings. Whattaheck? They’re seriously looking at me with their arms crossed over their chest.

“What’s with that look?” Tanong ko sa mga ito, but I know where this is heading.

“Are you going on a date tomorrow?” Seryosong tanong ni Andres. “Who’s that on the other line?”

“Innu. You know him, right?”

“Hmm, that guys who always flirt with any woman?” Pagko-confirm nia Marco. “Is he kind to you? Like, kind kind. Not the maliciously kind.”

“Yup. He’s a friend. You two, don’t think like he’s a manliligaw. Okay? We’re good friends. And he’s really mabait and mabuting tao. Hindi lang talaga halata.”

“Looks like talagang babaero si Kuya Innu.” Dagdag pa ni Andres. “Don’t you find him gwapo, Ate?”

“He’s indeed pogi. But you two, gumawa na kayo ng assignment niyo or palo kayo sa puwet.” Dinampot ko ang baseball bat ni Andres na pakalat-kalat sa tabi ko. “Homerun kayo nito. Balik sa work!”

Mabilis nilang pinihit ang kanilang gaming chair para bumalik sap ag-aaral. Mukhang pare-pareho kaming puyat nito. Hay!

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“Coffee for Miss Harmony.” Inabot sa akin ni Innu ang take out coffee pagkasakay niya sa kotse. “Very nice `tong company car `no? Bakit hindi na lang `yong kotse mo ang ginamit natin?”

“Anong silbi ng company car kung hindi gagamitin?” I answered bluntly. “So, sino `tong may-ari ng villa? Nandoon ba siya ngayon?”

“Yup. She’s waiting. And the good news is we can rent the place half the price!”

“Katawan mo ang kapalit?” biro ko sa kanya. “Kidding.”

“Ha ha! Nope! Of course hindi. She happens to be a close friend too. Ma-aadvertise rin `yong place nila so it’s a win-win situation. You know? Friends with monetary benefits.”

“Okay. Kunwari naniniwala ako.” Sumimsim ako ng kape habang ineenjoy ang view.

“Nga pala may favor akong hihingin sana sa`yo.”

“What is it? If the prize is right.”

“Grabe ha? Mukhang pera ka na ngayon?” he said frustratedly. “Ano kasi. Mayroon isang auditionee na kailangang makapasa at mapareha ni Jan Michael.”

“Wait. Pakilinaw nga?”

“To make it short nagpustahan kami ni Jan Michael na never siyang mai-inlove sa programa and Mika, you know his cousin, hired someone to be his partner sana sa show. And I need to make that happen or else patay ako kay Mika.”

“Pinasok mo ang isang kasunduan na hindi ka naman sigurado kung magagawa mo ang part mo. You’re an idiot.”

“Kaya nga ako humihingi ng tulong sa`yo, Kamahalang Harmony Pascual. Ikaw lang ang makakatulong sa akin. I can be your servant the whole duration ng show. Just make them a pair. Please.”

“Ok. Madaling akong kausap. Kailangan ko lang gumawa ng kasunduan natin.” Kinuha ko ang akin bolpen sa bag and isang sticky note. Buti na lang at may dala ako nito.

So I wrote na magiging servant ko siya while doing the show basta gagawin kong magkapareha sina Jan Michael at…

“Wait, what’s the name of the girl? Nang maisulat ko dito?”

“Katelyn,” he answered while his eyes are on the road. “Katelyn Roque.”

Okay. Done! Pinirmahan na ang note and when the traffic turned red, pinapirmahan ko na rin ito sa kanya.

“So, we have a deal. I’ll photocopy this later and will send you one. Nice. May servant ako sa set. You do good, browh. Ha ha!”

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