MEN OF HONOR SERIES 1: SCARRED

Kabanata 15

"This is a lot," nahihiya kong sabi kay Dean Chen nang dumating siya sa hotel room na may dalang sandamakmak na paper bags.

"It's not. It's just a few pairs of decent clothes," sagot niya habang may pinapasadahan ng basang files. "You should try it on. My mom helped me choose your clothes."

Napahinto ako sa pagtitingin sa mga damit at nakaawang ang mga labing bumaling sa kanya.

"Your... mom?"

I saw his adam's apple jerked up and down. "My real mom I mean, not Jolo's mom. She's uh, she has a thing for fashion so I asked for her help."

Uminit ang aking pisngi. "Nakakahiya. Binigyan din naman ako ng friends ko ng mga damit para may magamit ako."

He smirked. "If only you know how much she enjoyed shopping for you."

I chewed my bottom lip. Alam kaya ng mommy niyang para sa akin ang mga damit? I mean, hindi ba ito nagtaka na binilihan ni Coal ng branded clothes and hindi niya naman girlfriend?

Naupo ako sa edge ng kama at sandaling pinag-isipan kung tatanungin ko ba siya o hindi. Sa huli ay hindi rin ako nakatiis.

"Ano ang sabi ng mommy mo no'ng... nanghingi ka ng tulong pumili ng damit para sa akin?"

Napansin ko ang matamis niyang pagngiti. "You should've seen her excitement. Palibhasa gusto niya talaga ng anak na babae."

"Hindi ba niya... naranasan kay Maggie?" usyoso ko.

Umiling si Coal. "Hindi sila magkasundo dahil hindi raw sila pareho ng taste. Although hindi naman sila nag-aaway, I still feel like I failed mom because she was really looking forward to building a good relationship with my wife once I got married, kaso gano'n naman ang nangyari." Tumikhim siya. "I uh, mentioned to her that your house was burned down and that your relatives are blaming you so you can't stay with them anymore. Mom owns a few apartment units and condos. She offered one of her condo to you."

Napakurap ako. "Seryoso?"

"Yeah," he answered in a breathy way. "Hindi ko matanggihan and I was hoping that you will agree."

I gulped. "A—Alam ba ng... mommy mo na friends lang tayo?"

He nodded. "She knows. I made it clear to her."

I drew in a sharp breath. "Kaso nakakahiya pa rin kung makikitira ako sa isa sa units niya."

"Hindi rin niya ako titigilan hangga't hindi ka pumapayag." He made a tick sound with his tongue. "It's my fault, too that she seems very fond of you."

Kumunot ang aking noo. "Bakit naman?"

Napayuko siya. "She uh... asked me about you no'ng nagsumbong sa kanya si Coleen na may babaeng naabutan si Maggie sa penthouse ko."

Uminit nang husto ang aking pisngi. "D—Did you... did you tell her that we... we had s—s*x?"

Napahugot siya ng hininga at umiling. "Sabi ko nag-sleepover lang." He cleared his throat, looking uneasy. "Hindi na ako tinantanan katatanong tungkol sayo. May kakulitan ang mommy ko kaya... siguradong magpipilit lang na kumbinsihin kitang tanggapin ang offer. Anyway, I asked for a copy of the police report. Take a look at this."

Tumayo ako at lumapit sa kanya. Nang makaupo ako sa kanyang tabi ay ipinakita niya ang dokumentong kanina pa niya binabasa.

"Who had an air conditioner in your family house?" he asked.

"Sina Tita Ningning, I think. Nag-install sila ng aircon noong nakaraan. Hindi ko lang sigurado kung napagana nila."

"Well, the air conditioner they used needs a DC power supply. You cannot directly plug a DC type air conditioner in an alternating current power supply unless the unit has a rectifier that converts and inverts an alternating current into a direct current." He flipped the page and showed a burnt air conditioner. "This is one of the first few models of a DC air conditioner. You still need a separate rectifier installed in the power supply box for it to work. This is what I think caused the fire."

"Ibig sabihin nagsinungaling sila na sa kwarto ko nagsimula? O baka naman akala nila ay sa kwarto ko dahil kwarto ko ang katapat ng pinag-install-an ng aircon?"

"Could be. But that's the only thing I see that could've started the fire. Hindi nila pwedeng isisi sayo ang nangyari so you'll be fine."

I sighed. "Sana gano'n kadali para sa kanilang tanggapin ang katotohanan, pero kahit naman sila ang mali, they will still point fingers."

Napansin ko ang pagguhit ng awa sa mga mata ni Dean Chen. "Dinalaw mo na ba ang Papa at kapatid mo sa ospital?"

Basag akong ngumiti at umiling. "Sabi ni Kylie mas magandang huwag na muna dahil palaging nakabantay sina Lola. Baka mag-eskandalo lang daw sa ospital." I drew in a sharp breath when my chest began to tighten. "Nakausap ko na si Mama. Lilipat daw sina Papa sa old house ng parents ng Mama ko sa probinsya. Dahil huling taon ko na sa college, baka... maiwan ako rito."

"Then that's another reason for you to accept mommy's offer." He stood up. "Would you like to at least see the unit before you decide?"

I chewed my bottom lip. Nahihiya ako pero kung hindi ko kakapalan ang mukha ko, hindi ko alam kung saan ako titira. Kailangang gumastos ni Mama sa pagpapa-repair ng old house sa probinsya kaya hindi ako pwedeng humingi sa kanya ng pang-upa.

Si Kylie naman, nakatira ngayon sa condo ni Jolo. Hindi naman pwedeng doon ako sumiksik kahit iniaalok ni Jolo. Ayaw ko rin sa mga kaibigan namin dahil abala lang sa kanila kahit gusto nila akong ampunin lalo na sina Audrey at Zon.

The only way for me to survive now is to accept Dean Chen's offer. Kaya kahit hiyang-hiya ako ay itinango ko ang aking ulo.

Idinala niya ako sa condo unit, ngunit nang makarating kami roon ay nandoon na ang mommy niya at kinakargahan ang tila bagong biling fridge.

Nang makita ako ng ina ni Dean Chen ay kaagad na kumislap ang mga mata ng matandang babae na animo'y nakakita ng laruan.

"Oh my goodness, Coal! She's even prettier than how ypu decribed her!" bulalas nito nang mahawakan ang aking magkabilang braso bago bumeso.

Nag-aalangan akong tumingin kay Dean Chen. So how much did he really talk about me with his mom, huh? I wonder.

"Ilang taon ka na nga, hija?" tanong ng ina ni Dean Chen.

Lumunok ako sandali bago nahihiyang sumagot. "Twenty po."

She looked up as if she was computing something in her head. Mayamaya ay matamis siyang ngumiti sa akin. "Seventeen years wouldn't hurt, darling. It's the relationship that matters."

"Ma!" suway ni Dean Chen. Namula naman ang aking pisngi dala ng hiya. Ano raw? Akala ba niya ay may relasyon kami ng anak niya?

"H—Hindi po kami... magkarelasyon. Magkaibigan lang po kami..." hiyang-hiya kong pagtatama ngunit ngumisi ang ina ni Dean Chen.

"Oh, don't worry, darling. Mabagal lang kumilos itong anak ko but we'll get there soon." Humagikgik siya at inakay na ako upang i-tour sa condo. "I like baby pink. I hope you don't mind me decorating the place with baby pink."

I flashed a shy smile. "It's okay po. Malaking utang na loob na po ang pagpapatira ninyo sa akin dito, Ma'am."

"Ma'am makes me feel old. I'm sixteen at heart, dear." She held my hand. "Maybe you should start calling me mommy Clareth, 'no? So you will be comfy once my son finally gets rid of that witch—"

"Mom, please..." frustrated nang suway ni Dean Chen sa kanyang ina.

Umikot ang mga mata nito, ngunit nang muli akong tinignan ay kaagad na ngumiti. "Look at this beauty? Awra pa lang ay maganda na? I like her, Coal. You better move faster before my amigas meet her and introduce their sons to her."

Dean Chen groaned, halatang hiyang-hiya na sa mga pinagsasabi ng kanyang nanay.

"Ma, please. You're embarrassing."

His mom waved her hand, shushing Dean Chen. "I better see a ring on this girl's finger soon, Coal Henry or I will disown you."

Umirap ito kay Dean Chen saka na ako inakbayan at isinama sa living area. Nang lingunin ko si Dean Chen ay hiyang-hiya niya nang hinihimas ang kanyang batok. We both pursed our lips and shook our heads when we realized that his mom wouldn't really stop no matter how much we explain that we're just friends.

"Maybe Coal can sleep here on some days, minsan doon kayo sa penthouse niya at bwisitin mo si Maggie?" Tita Clareth giggled. "Kidding. Baka lalong magpabanat ng mukha ang mahaderang walang taste na 'yon." She tucked my hair behind my ear. "Pero kapag inaway ka ni Maggie, tell me immediately nang makalbo ko."

Tumango na lamang ako bilang tugon saka tumingin kay Dean Chen na pulang-pula na ang mukha dala ng hiya.

Looks like he found his own Cupid in his mom... and I have a feeling that she will do everything at her power to see me date his son.

I let out a silent breath.

Gusto ko 'yan, tita. Sa akin mo ireto nang bongga 'yang anak mong walking green flag...