Between You and Him

Chapter 4

LAYLA

The rest of the day was rather quiet. Ipinakita sa akin ni Tessa kung saan ang silid ko at sinubukan ko pa siyang tanungin kung tama ba ang pinupuntahan namin. Dinala niya kasi ako sa second floor.

"Tessa, baka hindi rito 'yong kwarto. Sigurado ka ba?" Mahaba ang pasilyo at sa bilang ko ay may limang kwarto rito sa taas.

"Ang sabi ni Atty. Lontoc, dito ang silid mo kasi kailangan malapit ka kay Ken."

"Ha? E silid yata ni Gerlee 'to. Baka magalit siya kapag dito ako tumigil." I stopped walking while holding my small luggage.

Umiling si Tessa. "Hindi kay Gerlee ang kwartong 'to. Sa baba 'yong silid niya. Guest room talaga ito."

"Guest room? Hindi naman ako guest. Tutor lang ako ni Ken at–"

Napakamot sa batok si Tessa. "Sumusunod lang ako kay Atty. Lontoc." Saglit siyang nag-isip. "Dito ka muna ngayong gabi tapos bukas pagdating niya, tanungin natin siya uli. Naisip ko lang 'to, ha? Baka rito ka niya nilagay kasi hindi ka lang tutor ni Ken. May dagdag trabaho ka kasi wala pa si Gerlee. Mas mabuti 'yong mas malapit ka sa bata."

May sense naman ang sinabi niya, pero mas mabuti kung magtanong kami bukas. Nang makapasok kami sa kwartong nakalaan para sa akin, nagulat ako sa laki nito. It is indeed a guest room. Mas maganda pa ito sa silid namin ni George sa Canada at– hindi ko dapat siya isipin. I am starting a new leaf and I should just focus at my new job and new life here.

"Kung may kailangan ka pa, sabihan mo lang kami ni Donna. Maagang magpahinga sina Manang. May shampoo at sabon na riyan pero kung may sarili kang brand na gustong gamitin ay malapit lang naman ang pamilihan dito. Alas s'yete ang hapunan, pero si Ken ay alas sais kumakain."

"Sige, salamat Tessa."

***

THEO, Singapore

"Ma, what was so urgent that you asked me to come see you?"

When my parents divorced, my mother remarried and her new husband currently lives in Singapore. He has his own business there and as far as I know, they have no problems. If she did not sound so distressed, I wouldn't come here this fast.

"Oh finally! You're here!" Mama closed the magazine she was reading and got up to give me a hug.

She didn't look sick, so that's a relief. I hugged her back and she asked me to sit beside her on the couch. The flight wasn't bad. Malapit lang sa Pilipinas ang Singapore, pero sa dami ng kailangan kong kausapin at puntahan buong araw, nakakapanghina rin.

Mama smiled and said, "Well, I met this wonderful girl at the store a few weeks ago."

Here we go with her matchmaking idea.

"I was out shopping at Orchard when I felt dizzy. She was nearby and decided to help me. And then listen to this. The next day, I was on my way to visit a friend at a Japanese restaurant when I realized I lost my wallet."

"Let me guess, she found it and returned it to you?"

"YES!" Mama had that twinkle in her eye and I knew the reason why she asked me to come here is because she wanted me to meet her.

"Ma–"

Kaagad siyang umiling. "Anak, you're almost thirty-one."

"I'm thirty."

"Potato-Potato (po-tah-to)." She even rolled her eyes and waved her hand. The point is, you're not getting any younger at malapit ka na mawala sa kalendaryo."

"I'm doing fine. You don't need to set me up with some random woman you just met."

"Really? When was the last time you were in a relationship?"

Hindi ako nakasagot. I don't do relationships.

"See what I mean? When are you going to settle down? You need a wife to take care of you."

"I had one." I got up and went to the bar to get a bottle of cold water.

I would have opted for a cold beer but I will never hear the end of it. Pupunta na lang ako sa Clarke Quay mamaya kung may energy pa akong lumabas. I hate to admit it, but I needed a break. Pinapunta man ako ni Mama rito para sa blind date na gusto niyang i-set up, pwede rin naman akong magrelax bago umuwi bukas ng gabi.

"She's been gone for years, anak. She would want you to be happy and I think it's time to move on."

"Ma, I am not saying I will never settle down. But I don't want to force it, you know what I mean? If the right woman comes along, I would know."

"Pero sa kahihintay mo, baka tumanda kang mag-isa." My mom looked so worried and I couldn't help but chuckle.

"I can get a dog or a cat."

"Teodoro Helios!" She looked horrified. "Hindi ka ba naaawa sa anak mo? Mag-isa s'ya palagi at walang kalaro. If you have a wife, may mag-aalaga sa kaniya at pati na rin sa iyo. Then you can have another child with her, maybe a couple para mas masaya."

Na-plano na niya talaga ang buhay ko. Hindi ko pa nakikilala ang babae, pero sa isip niya ay may dalawang anak na kami.

"My son is enough, Ma. I don't need another child. Also, does this woman know I was married before and I have a son? Baka magulat 'yon at magtatakbo?"

"Well—"

"I'm just saying not all women are open to marrying someone like... me. If and when this matchmaking of yours work, I want the woman to know that I'm not coming in alone... that I have a son and he will always be my priority."

"I don't think it will be a problem. Rose is a very nice woman and she works as a hotel manager. Very pretty too! I think you'll like her. So would you meet her for dinner tonight?"

"What are my chances of you cancelling this dinner?"

"Slim."

Napahilot ako sa aking sentido. "If I meet her for dinner tonight, and it fails— would you stop doing this kind of thing?"

She pouted. "Fine. I will not do it again. This is the last time. But I have one request."

"What's that?"

"That you marry someone decent and kind. Someone who has never been married before. I don't want any complications for you."