Playful Seduction

Chapter 15.

“Oh, wow. Then how come you’re not practicing?” Mukhang hindi napigilan ni daddy mag tanong. By this time ay tumigil na ang lahat kumain at naka tunghay na lang kay Raius. Me, on the other hand, is still digesting the fact na hindi ko alam na Architecture pala ang tinapos ng boyfriend ko sa college.

“Nakapag trabaho naman po ako for a year as a junior architech in a firm in Mandaluyong before. When I transferred in Quezon City, I decided to try a different path.”

“But why?” Tanong pa rin ni daddy.

I chuckled. “Dad,”

“I mean, I wanted Raisa to take Architecture in college, but she has no interest. Nasabi nya ba sayo that I have a firm?”

Nakangiti na tumango si Raius. “Yes, sir.”

“Akala ko ba dad, naka move on ka na that I took a different course?” Nakangisi na tanong ko.

Suggestive ang parents ko sa course na kukunin ko sa college but they never pressured me to take Architecture. All my High School life, nakatatak sa isip ko na ‘kailangan’ ay Architecture ang kunin ko, that I should excel in that field. Wala naman ibang magmamana ng firm ni daddy kung hindi ako.

My cousins on my father side are more on the medical field and may kanya kanya rin silang mga mamanahin. But it wasn’t really my interest. Kinausap ko sila daddy at mommy about getting a different course. May disappointment silang naramdaman and I get that. I understand that. But they did not force me.

They still supported me. Even with my business when I told them that I wanted to launch my own business. I just told them na hindi ako sa kanila hihiram o kukuha ng puhunan dahil alam ko sa sarili ko na I won’t think of it as a debt kung galing sa kanila. Nagtampo sila ng kaunti when they learned that I asked Tito Ram instead.

“I did. Ewan ko sa mommy mo.” Kibit balikat na sagot ni daddy.

“Oh, bakit ako? I let you take the course you want, hindi ba?” Bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mat ani mommy when all of us looked at her because of what daddy said. Napahawak pa sya sa kanyang dibdib.

“Is that your final answer?” Playful na sabi ko.

“You finished your studies with flying colors, and you are currently doing good with your business. As a parent, I cannot ask for more.” Gusto kong matawa dahil defensive ang tono ng pagsasalita ni mommy.

“Siguro, you can ask for a boyfriend na aalagaan at mamahalin ng totoo si Raisa.” Singit ni Tita Bee. “At hindi sya lolokohin, syempre!”

“Given na iyon, hindi ba?” Tumaas ang kilay ni mommy.

Tumawa kami ni Tita Bee.

“Anyway, Raius, do you know na ikaw ang first boyfriend ni Raisa?”

“Opo, Ma’am.” He answered sheepishly.

“Good. I know you are pressured right now, but we all have our concerns.” Si Tita Bee ang parang naging spokesperson nilang lahat. Nakikinig lang rin naman silang tatlo.

“Naiintindihan ko naman po,”

“Sige, let’s keep this light. Para hindi ka naman kabahan.” Si Tita Bee ulit.

“Honey, c’mon! Give the guy a break. Hindi na ata maka kain sa kaba.” Si Tito Ram naman ang biglang nagsalita.

Tita Bee pouted her lips. “Para nga hindi sya kabahan! First time rin na maka experience nila Ate at Kuya ng ganito. First boyfriend ni Raisa ‘yan, eh!”

Napailing iling na lang si Tito Ram.

“And I hope to be her last rin po,” Biglang sabi ni Raius.

Lahat kami ay napatingin sa kanya. When I realized what he said, napahawak ako sa dibdib ko because I was touched.

Dad cleared his throat but still continued eating. Si Mommy ay napansin ko na napangiti.

Silence. Lahat kami ay nag focus sa pagkain until Dad broke the silence.

“Hijo, ayaw mo na ba ulit ng trabaho in line with Architecture?” He must be really curious.

Parang handa naman si Raius sumagot. Linunok nyam una ang kinakain nya at humarap kay Daddy. “Hindi naman po ako nawalan ng interest to work as an Architech, I was just waiting for the best opportunity that I think will suit me.”

Tumango tango si Daddy. “I get it. Pero sayang, ha?”

“I’m thinking of coming back this year, Sir. I still have a few things I would like to take care of before I come back.”

“Well, then, do you want to work with me?”

“Dad, are you serious?” Naka awang ang labi ko dahil sa gulat. I even heard myself gasped, but I am not sure.

“Of course. Do I look like I am kidding? I am serious. Your boyfriend can definitely work in my firm. I will personally train him.” Sabi ni Daddy na kasalukuyan nang humihiwa ng steak. He seemed more relaxed now.

Tumingin ako kay Raius na halata rin na nagulat. Nakatingin lang sya kay Daddy. Walang nagsasalita kaya may awkward silence.

“But that is, if he’s interested. I am just saying that there may be an opportunity pero nasa kanya pa rin naman.” Tumingin si Daddy kay Raius. “No pressure, hijo. If you want to apply, you can come anytime in my office. You can ask Raisa for the address.”

Nagpalipat lipat ako ng tingin between Daddy and Raius.

I saw Raius swallowed. Gusto kong matawa dahil parang hindi pa rin sya makapaniwala na nag offer si Daddy ng opportunity sa kanya. Kahit ako rin naman. Dad is not the impulsive type. But maybe, nagustuhan nya lang rin talaga si Raius o nakitaan nya ng potential?

Raius cleared his throat. Tinakpan nya ang bibig nya ng kamay nya. “Thank you, sa offer, Sir. I am really grateful for the opportunity. I just need time to sort out my contract in my current part time job.” Seryosong seryoso ang mukha nya pero ramdam ko ang tuwa sa boses nya.

Pakiramdam ko ay punong puno ang puso ko. My father isn’t like this. He’s kind of strict, but I am seeing this as a good thing. Hindi basta basta mag ooffer si Daddy ng trabaho. Okay, maybe considered the fact na boyfriend ko si Raius and mamaya ko na iisipin ‘yung fact na ngayon ko lang nalaman na graduate ng BS in Architecture si Raius.

Tumango tango si Daddy. He’s still looking at his food. “Good. I’ll wait for you, then.”

“Oh, wow.” Biglang sabi ni Tita Bee na napatigil rin sa pag kain. “This is good, right? I mean, does this mean that Raius passed?” I am sure she’s just making the athmosphere a bit livelier dahil tumahimik ang lahat when Dad dropped the bomb.

Hindi sumagot sila Mommy at Daddy. Kapwa lang sila uminom ng tubig. I looked at Raius and smiled. He’s still at loss for words. Ngumiti rin sya sa akin pero naka kunot pa rin ang kanyang noo.

Pumalakpak si Tita Bee. “Okay. Silence means yes.” Humarap sya kay Raius. “Congratulations!”

“Uhm thanks?” Confused naman na sagot ni Raius na hindi alam kung ngingiti o ano.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Tita Bee at sabay kaming natawa.

I put my hand on top of his hand that’s flat in the table and squeezed it to encourage him tapos itinuloy na naming lahat ang pagkain in silence. Kabaliktaran ng ice breaker ang ginawa ni Daddy but whatever. Masaya lang ako sa nangyari dahil sa wakas, we are official on my side.