NINE
1332 Words
“Okay, a little briefing before we get home to Batangas.”
The silence inside the car broke when Mamang Ichi finally spoke. Sitting in the passenger seat, she turned to face me and Dwayne at the back.
“Did you already tell Dwayne about your situation in the province?” she asked, making my brows furrow instantly.
“Huh? What situation?” I asked in confusion.
Mamang Ichi sighed sharply. “Your so-called act,” she said matter-of-factly.
“Oh… that,” I muttered.
“What is it?” Dwayne asked.
“Here’s the thing,” Mamang Ichi began. “I’m sure you already have an idea about Nellie’s little act after what we told you when her grandfather called last night.”
“This girl is a demon in the city but a saint in the province,” she added. I shot her a glare, which she completely ignored. Isaac, who was driving, let out a quiet laugh.
“Focus on the road!” I snapped at him when he wouldn’t stop chuckling.
“I don’t understand,” Dwayne said, and I turned to him.
Mamang Ichi cleared her throat. “Basically, Nellie dresses like she owns the heat of the sun here in Manila—liberated, skin-showing outfits. But in the province? None of that.”
I pouted. “It’s so hot, and they want me to dress like that.”
“That’s it?” Dwayne asked.
“And her attitude is different too,” Mamang Ichi added.
“You’ll get confused when you see Nellie in the hacienda,” Isaac chimed in. “Smiling on the surface but kicking under the table.”
I rolled my eyes again.
“Just go with the flow once we get there,” Mamang Ichi advised.
“Why is her personality different in Manila and the province?” Dwayne asked again, earning another eye roll from me.
“My Lolo is old. I don’t want to stress him out. And my relatives are the most judgmental people on earth, acting like saints even though they’re not,” I explained bitterly. Dwayne nodded in understanding.
“What if Don Protacio asks how you two met?” Isaac asked, and my brows instantly pulled together.
“We didn’t really discuss that part,” I admitted.
Mamang Ichi clapped her hands once. “All right, practice! Let’s go,” she said, looking at both of us.
She cleared her throat again. “When did you two first meet? One, two, three.”
“The other day,” we answered in unison.
Both Mamang Ichi and Isaac groaned at the same time.
“So you’ll tell your grandfather you met the other day even though you’ve supposedly been married for two months?” she said.
Right. Forgot about that.
“How about… two years ago?” Dwayne suggested.
I nodded. That sounded much more believable.
“Okay, second question. Where did you meet? One, two, three!”
“Bar,” we answered simultaneously again.
“Your grandfather will have a heart attack if you say that,” Mamang Ichi commented. I pursed my lips. True.
“What if you say in a park?” Isaac suggested. “Like Nellie was thinking deeply and Dwayne sat beside her.”
“That’s too cheesy,” I said.
“I agree,” Dwayne added quickly.
I turned to him sharply. He actually agreed?
“Disgusting,” I muttered and looked away.
“Okay, last one. What do you like about each other?” Mamang Ichi asked.
I grimaced instantly. Seriously? What kind of question is that?
“Uh… he’s good in bed,” I answered casually while checking my nails.
“Nellie…” Mamang Ichi warned, making me purse my lips again.
“What? I’m stating facts.”
“f**k?” Isaac echoed.
I rolled my eyes. “Fact, i***t,” I corrected.
“Not like that, Nellie. Think of something else,” Mamang Ichi said.
I shook my head in surrender. “Fine. He’s hot and… good.”
She nodded lightly. I avoided everyone’s eyes.
“You, Dwayne?” she asked.
“She’s pretty interesting,” he answered calmly.
“Ugh. What is wrong with these kids,” Mamang Ichi muttered before facing forward again.
I pouted. Was there something wrong with what I said? Dwayne is good in bed... that’s literally why I picked him. Plus points that he’s handsome and seems nice.
“We’re close. Nellie, fix yourself,” Isaac announced.
I rolled my eyes but took out my mirror from my shoulder bag. I checked myself—still pretty even without makeup. I took out two hair clips and pinned the sides of my curly hair, leaving a soft curled side bang to look presentable. Then a bit of lip gloss, a little blush, and done.
“When are we going back to Manila, Nellie?” Mamang Ichi asked.
“Tomorrow. Dwayne didn’t bring extra clothes, so he can’t stay long,” I answered.
“So you’re not coming back here?”
My brows arched. “Why? Am I supposed to do something tomorrow?”
She nodded. “You have a lot of responsibilities waiting at the hacienda.”
“You can just drive him back tomorrow,” I said with a sigh. Too bad. I wanted to return to Manila.
When I looked out the window, a smile immediately appeared.
The tall gate of our hacienda came into view.
“Welcome to Hacienda de Ongpauco, Dwayne Fontanilla,” I said, glancing at him as he stared outside.
“You’re pretty well off,” he commented.
“It’s my grandfather's fruit of hard work,” I replied.
“Your main business is sugar?”
I shook my head lightly. “Remember the big sugar mill we passed earlier? That’s ours too, aside from the sugarcane plantation. Basically, most of the sugar sold in Manila comes from us.”
“That’s interesting,” he said.
When the car finally stopped, I got out immediately. One of our helpers was nearby.
“Auntie Betty, is Grandpa inside?” I asked as the others followed behind me.
“He’s in the garden, Ma’am Nellie, drinking tea,” she answered.
I nodded and continued walking toward the garden.
“This is our house. Other than our helpers, only Grandpa and I live here. I grew up in this place,” I told Dwayne.
“You mean… your mansion?” he asked.
I chuckled. “That works too.”
“Nellie’s grandfather, Don Protacio, is a bit weird,” Mamang Ichi warned Dwayne. “So just let Nellie do the talking. He believes anything this girl says.”
“I’m not a kid, Mamang Ichi,” I snapped, but she ignored me again.
“Is he scary?” Dwayne asked.
“He’s not,” I answered.
“He is,” Mamang Ichi argued.
“He’s really weird,” Isaac added.
“Are you seriously bad-mouthing my Grandpa in front of me?” I glared, but Isaac only shrugged.
“My Grandpa is not weird. He’s nice,” I insisted before walking ahead.
I stopped when I saw Grandpa sitting in the patio, sipping tea while watching his dogs run around the yard.
“That’s my grandfather," I whispered.
“How old is he?” Dwayne asked.
“Old enough.”
I didn’t wait for him to say anything else—I ran towards my grandfather.
“Grandpa!" I called out.
His eyes narrowed slightly before he turned to our direction. I gave him a wide smile and waved. I ran to him and wrapped him in a hug. He chuckled softly.
“I thought you’d stay longer in Manila, Nellie, sweetheart," he asked.
“I just want you to meet someone, ’Lo,” I said, pulling away from the hug.
“Who is this fine young man?” he asked, looking at the people behind me.
I smiled and turned to Dwayne.
“That’s Dwayne Fontanilla, Grandpa. My husband.”
- Writer
