San Diego Series: Redamancy

Chapter 2

"I have already reviewed the map design and character design that your department sent, and I believe that college students could do better than all of you. The map design is too ordinary, the character design lacks depth in storytelling, and the equipment also needs a story to attract hardcore gamers. I am giving you one week to address all these issues, or else I will assign this project to another team." I watch the designs department employee peck their heads in agreement.

“Dismiss” agad kong pinatay ang laptop ko as I pinch my temple, seriously? I’m paying them enough salary para lang magpasa ng hindi pinag isipang presentation! My cellphone rang beside me, I looked at the caller’s name and answer it.

“Hello, mom?”

“Honey! I miss my granddaughter” I rolled my eyes in annoyance.

“Mom, wala pa kayong granddaughter. I’m not even pregnant heck I’m not even in a relationship.”

“But you are not getting any younger.”

“Mom, For goodness’ sake I’m just 26. Bata pa ako and you want me to have a daughter already?” I heard my mom sighed in another line.

“If you won’t start now, kailan pa? I already have a plan for you, in a relationship at 26. You need 2 to 3 years to get to know the guy, if the relationship works then getting engaged at 29 is possible. Then getting pregnant at 30. Honey, this is the perfect time to start entering a relationship” I sighed, ito nanaman po tayo.

“Paano kapag hindi nagwork yung relationship edi hahanap ka ulit ng bago, another year wa--”

“Stop, I get it mo—” I stopped at what I’m saying when I heard the doorbell ring.

“Wait, mom. Nandito na ata yung pinadeliver ko na food” agad akong tumayo habang hindi pinapatay ang tawag. As I open the door, my baby giant is waiting outside my door with a bouquet of flowers. A smile slowly forms on my lips.

“Mom, I think you’re right. Your future granddaughter is on her way.” I hung up the call and smile sweetly.

“Hi, baby. Oh! You got me flowers, thank you” exaggerated at kunwaring shock na sabi ko.

“Ma’am, pakipirmahan na lang po yung delivery.” Nakangiting sabi nito sa akin habang inabot ang isang papel at ballpen.

“Okay, sure!” sabay pirma at balik sa kaniya nung papel. He scratches the back of his head.

“Atsaka ma’am hindi po sa akin galing yung bulaklak. Ako lang po yung nagdeliver” my eyebrows automatically raised.

“I don’t care, baby. I’ll just pretend na sayo galing toh since ikaw din naman ang nag abot” my giant baby just smiles.

“Kayo pong bahala ma’am. Sige po alis na po ako” I stopped him.

“Where are you going? Naglunch ka na ba?”

“Magdedeliver pa po ako ma’am.” My eyebrows are furrowed upon hearing that.

“Deliver?” I looked outside and saw a delivery van.

“Okay, let’s go” paladesisyong sabi ko. I lock my door at hinila siya papunta sa lumang van nito. Is this even working?

“Saan po kayo pupunta ma’am?” I face him, he’s sweating but still looks adorable and cute.

“I’ll come with you.”

“Po?”

“Why? Am I not allowed to accompany you?” my baby giant furrowed his eyebrows na parang nag iisip.

“Wala naman pong ganung rules sa pagkakatanda ko” I know.

“Perfect, c’mon” umikot ako at naunang sumakay sa passenger seat. Kamot ulo namang sumakay si baby Hunter. While driving, I discover him stealing glances at my direction. I looked at myself in the mirror.

Tingnan mo itong mukha toh, ang ganda pa din. That’s why I’m still wondering kung bakit hindi inaccept ni Baby pakipot yung offer ko na maging FUBU kami. Hindi na siya lugi sa mukhang toh.

Speaking of Baby Pakipot, I turn my attention to him and saktong nakatingin din siya sa akin. Agad siyang nag iwas ng tingin na parang walang nangyari. I chuckled.

Cutie pie, yum yum.

“Do you find me gorgeous?” I stared at him intensely. I saw him glance at me from the corner of his eyes. Agad na namula iyong tip ng ears niya. Ang cute talaga ng pakipot na toh ang sarap ibulsa o kaya gawing keychain.

I saw him gulp a few times before answering my question.

“Oo naman po, kahit sino naman magagandahan sa inyo ma’am” ngumiti ito sa akin and everytime he smiles sumisingkit yung mata niya.

“But you rejected my offer?” pinadausdos ko yung kamay ko mula sa braso nito pababa.

“Why? Are you not single? Mas maganda ba sa akin?” I lean closer to him and whisper those words. Lumingon siya kaya ang lapit ng mukha namin sa isa’t isa. I was about to kiss him, but he quickly looked at the road. Gosh! Muntik ko ng makalimutang nagdadrive siya. Ilang sandali pa ay nagsalita ito.

“Ma’am magsuot ka ng seatbelt” I crossed my arms and leaned back in my seat. I decided to ignore him, I need to calm my ovary cause now they are dancing.

“Ma’am?” I ignore him.

“Ma’am suot niyo na yung seatbelt niyo” Still, I didn’t answer.

I heard him sigh and continue driving. After a few minutes passed, he stopped the van in a parking lot near a fast-food restaurant. I was a bit shocked when he leaned in and fastened my seat belt. I used that moment to grab his face and kiss his lips. He tasted like gummy bears, I’m not fond of sweets but I think gummy bears will be my favorite snacks now. I bit his lower lips so I could access his mouth. As our kiss deepened, he suddenly ended our kiss.

Rinig ko ang mahihina pero malalim nitong paghinga, I looked into his eyes, pero wala akong nakitang lust doon and only confusion. He meets my gaze.

“Happy ka na ma’am?” I smiled sweetly, kung ganito lang din naman niya ako aamuin ay gusto ko na lang siyang hindi pansinin araw araw.

“Yep, so pumapayag ka na sa alok ko?” I saw him shake his head.

“Hindi pa din po” inistart niya yung van at nagpatuloy sa pagdadrive.

“Ma’am hindi niyo naman po ako boyfriend para alukin ng ganun. Isa pa, yung ganung bagay ginagawa lang nag mag asawa” sabi ni Baby Conservative.

“But you kiss me” reason ko sa kaniya.

“Hinalikan niyo kasi ako” sinilip ako nito

“Ayoko namang magtampo ka pa lalo kaya kahit second kiss ko yun, hindi ako umangal” second kiss? I kiss him a few days ago, so I am his first kiss then. I smile at that thought.

“Fine” kunwaring masungit na sabi ko pero sa loob loob ko, I feel giddy,

Moments later Baby Hunter pulled over his lumang van in front of a house. Bumaba ito ng van kaya bumaba din ako, I saw him carrying a bouquet of red roses, I frowned but continued to follow him.

Nagdoorbell siya at agad na bumukas ang pinto. Isang may itsurang babae ang lumabas, I examine the girl from head to toe, hindi naman masyadong maganda.

“Hello po, ma’am. Delivery po” kita ko kung paano bahagyang natigilan yung babae ng makita ang mukha ng baby gummy bear ko.

“Thank you” inabot ng babae yung bulaklak sabay pirma for confirmation. Muli itong tumingin sa mukha ni Baby manhid at ngumiti. I automatically raise my eyebrows,

“Salamat ulit”

“Wala po yun ma’am, thank you din” tumalikod na si baby gummy bear para bumalik sa van, nakita ko pang napatingin sa gawi ko yung babae. I raised my eyebrows and rolled my eyes sabay pasok ng van.

“May idedeliver ka pa ba?” nakita kong nagtaka si Hunter sa tono ng pananalita ko. Bakit ba? Feel kong magtaray ngayon, masyadong mainit.

“Wala na po. Last na yun ma’am” I nodded then an idea formed in my head.

“You know what, I need a driver. Are you up?” natigilan ito.

“Hindi naman ako pwedeng umalis na lang sa trabaho ko ma’am. Wala po ba kayong driver?”

“Actually meron, but he is sick. Wala naman akong tiwala sa iba baka pag nasaan lang ako” with matching paawa sa tone ko. He looked at my direction.

“Ano pong sakit ma’am?”

“He has cancer” gusto kong bawiin yung nasabi ko, I honestly didn’t think about what I said.

Pasensya na manong