28 - One Fine Day

RJ's POV

I have to take Dad's advice, Mendoza Girl is not really easy to deal with. At napatunayan ko yan sa napakaraming pagkakataon. This girl has a mind of her own, she can turn into a monster when annoyed and a sweet angel when pleased. I'll go with the later, the happier she is the easier to get her to trust me. A little patience wont hurt I guess, besides they said that if you want a happy life make sure that you have a happy wife.

At the dining table, I have to commend her for being hands on to Celestine despite the presence of her nanny. Charm makes sure that Celestine eats well and properly. She is the one attending to all her needs, at ang sarap ng buhay ni Yaya ah, nakatulog nang mag-isa sa kwarto kagabi, nakakain pa sa oras dahil yung amo nya ang nag-aasikaso sa alaga nya. I-suggest ko kayang bawasan ang sweldo nito.

Anyway, going back to Charm, as I see her taking care of Celestine, I could see how good of a mother she is. Sayang at ayaw mag-asawa, she could be a good wife too aside from being a good mother. And that's another mystery that I intend to find out. What makes her decide to remain single for the rest of her life and just focus on raising Celestine alone. There is so much to unveil about this tough lady and I hope I could do that before the 365 days ends.

Since Meng prefers to stay home tonight, I had no other choice but to stay home too. It is understandable because I also got tired when I helped them unpacked. Good thing walang friends kong nangungulit na lumabas ngayong gabi, most probably, they know that I am in my honeymoon kaya walang gustong mang-istorbo, hay naku, kung alam lang nila.

Celestine requested Meng to cook the dinner for us, mahilig pala sa sabaw ang mag-ina na ito, beef sinigang ang requested dish nya for dinner. Sinigang na mas marami ang gulay kesa sa meat. I am glad Celestine grows up eating different kinds of vegetables, very good talaga itong si Menggay, ang galing nang nanay, ang sarap pang magluto, ganitong babae ang magandang maging asawa, masarap mag-alaga eh. And for a year, I will get the chance to experience it.

"Don't you think it is too early for her to go to bed?" I asked her while she puts Celestine to sleep in our bed.

Yes, Celestine again will sleep in our room because our little angel will not sleep unless Meng is beside her. At ang yaya nya sobrang pinagpala dahil solo na naman nya ang kwarto ni Celestine. Pero para sa akin better na 'tong dito sa kwarto namin matulog ang anak ko, kasi kung tatlong unan lang ang nasa pagitan namin ni Meng baka matuloy ang paglaslas nya sa lalamunan ko dahil malikot talaga akong matulog.

"Nine o'clock naman talaga ang bedtime nya, ayokong masanay sya na hatinggabi nang matulog, mabuti na rin ang ganito para hindi na sya mahirapan when she enters the big school." She replied.

"I'll just go down, baka lalong hindi makatulog yan kasi may naririnig na nag-uusap. Hindi pa naman ako inaantok, manood na lang ulit ako ng movie, you may join me if you like." I said.

"Bahala na, kapag hindi ako makatulog, bababa ako sa family room." She replied before I went out of the room.

I was checking on Netflix on what movie to watch but I could not find anything worth watching. Maybe because I am considering anong movie ang gusto ni Meng panoorin pero paano ako pipili kung hindi ko naman alam anong klaseng mga movies ang hilig nya. As I check on the time, maaga pa para sa akin, nung binata ako, ganitong oras pa lang halos nagsisimula ang gabi ko. Ayain ko kayang mag coffee sa labas si Meng? Kaya lang baka magising si Celestine at bigla kaming hanapin.

Since wala naman akong mapiling panoorin, I choose to play my video games. Few levels have passed when I heard someone enters the family room, obvious naman na si Meng ang pumasok dahil kabisado ko na ang cologne na gamit nya.

"Oh akala ko ba manood ka ng movie? Paano ako makiki-join eh hindi naman ako marunong sa mga video games na yan?" She said while walking towards me in her pajamas.

I look at her smiling while tapping the couch, signaling her to sit beside me and I am glad she did. "Hindi ko kasi alam kung anong movie ang gusto mo eh, kaya wala akong mapiling panoorin." I said.

"Bakit ako? Bakit yun gusto ko, eh makikinood lang naman ako sa yo." She said.

"Syempre dapat pareho nating gusto yung papanoorin natin, mahirap na baka tulugan mo pa ako, mukhang mabigat ka pa naman, baka hindi ko kayaning buhatin ka hanggang sa kwarto." I said.

"Grabe ka naman sa akin, hindi ako pwedeng maging mabigat, hindi ko kakayanin ang mga jumps ko." She said.

"Ganon ba yun?" I asked.

"Tutoo! Imagine, paano ako lulutang sa ere kung mabigat ako?" She explained

"Make sense." I briefly agreed. "If I may ask, why did you choose motocross as your sports, bakit hindi badminton, or volleyball o kaya running. Grabe ang extreme ng motocross driving, mahal mo ba talaga ang buhay mo?" I seriously asked.

"Iba kasi ang feeling nung extreme challenge, yung alam mo ng sobrang hirap at impossibleng gawin pero nagagawa mo, sobrang sarap sa pakiramdam." She replied.

"I have a better idea. Baka pwede namang ipanood mo sa akin yung mga stunts mo, Celestine has been bragging about those jumps. Panood nga ako, tingnan ko kung ikaw nga yun, baka bluff lang eh, pang parami ng likes sa youtube." I teases.

"Ang yabang mo naman, I have proof na ako lahat ang gumawa ng mga stunts na yun." She said.

"Kaya nga ipanood mo sa akin para mahusgahan ko na." I said.

"Akina ang tablet mo, hanapin ko sa youtube, nasa account ni Jacob lahat ng jumps at competition ko." She said.

Narinig ko na naman ang pangalan ni Jacob, sino ba ang lalaking 'to at parang hindi sya pwedeng tanggalin sa sistema ni Meng. "Account ni Jacob? Yung boyfriend mong nagwawala nung sinabi kong fiancée kita?" I asked.

"Yes and No. Yes, sya yung nagwawalang nilalang when you dropped the bomb about our wedding and No, he is not my boyfriend. He was never my boyfriend and he will never be my boyfriend." She replied.

"But you said, the two of you were dating." I said.

"Not because we are going out, it means he is my boyfriend. Some people may think it that way because yun ang nakikita nila eh. But I know the truth, hinayaan ko na lang na isipin nila ang ganon para tigilan na rin ako nung mga nagpapalipad hangin sa akin. Jacob is just my trainor no more no less." She declared.

"Kaya naman pala ganon kataas ang confidence level ng Jacob na yun. Binigyan mo kasi ng pag-asa. Grabe ka hindi ka na naawa sa kanya. That was so mean, Mendoza Girl." I said.

"Excuse me, hindi ko sya pinaasa dahil sa umpisa pa lang binasted ko na sya. It is not my fault kung hindi sya maniwala sa akin. Teka nga bakit ba ako nagpapaliwag sa yo?" She replied.

"Nagtatanong lang naman ako, hindi naman ako humingi ng paliwanag. Ikaw ang kusang nagbigay. Pwede ba wag na nga nating pag-usapan ang Jacob na yon tutal ang tanging importansya lang naman nya at ay ang compilation ng mga videos mo. O nasaan na nahanap mo na ba?" I said.

"Teka lang, wag kang magmadali. Kung anu-ano ang itinatanong mo tapos mamadaliin mo 'ko." She said.

"Pasensya na po, sige na take your time." I said while she continued scrolling my tablet until she found what she's looking for. Then I connected the tablet to our TV for a better view.

In fairness, Mendoza Girl is really good at this stuff, after seeing her videos the more I find her amazing for this extreme sport. Meron pa kayang hindi kayang gawin ang babaeng ito? I can see the joy in her eyes while she watches herself doing her jumps until a clip quickly changes her mood. The smile that was glued in her while watching her videos was immediately erased.

Sino ba ang lalaking ito na ang bilis magpabago ng mood ni Mendoza Girl? Surely this guy has that different effect in her. "Who is he?" I straightly asked.

"My previous coach, he was the one who introduced motocross to me." She replied.

"Bakit hindi sya invited sa wedding natin kung importanteng tao naman pala sya sa buhay mo? Where is he now?" I asked.

"Hindi ko alam, basta na lang sya nawalang parang bula." She replied but her eyes are now glued on the TV screen.

"In case I hit something very sensitive, I am very sorry." I apologized because I felt awkwardness when I asked about that guy in the video. Obviously she does not want to talk about him.

"No need to apologize, hindi mo naman kasalanan eh, hindi ko rin napansin na nandyan sa video si Patrick." She said.

Patrick, that name rings a bell. Ohhh, sya yung sinasabi ni Hannah at Camila na kamukha ko kaya napagkamalan ni Meng na ako si Patrick. Grabe naman 'tong si Mendoza girl, ang laking gwapo ko naman kesa sa Patrick na yan, maputi at matangkad lang katulad ko kamukha na agad? Patrick, sya yung dahilan ng paglalasing ni Meng nung gabing yun. I can't help but just stares at her blank face, I wanted to know what she's feeling right now upon seeing him again pero hindi ko sya mabasa, hindi ko mabasa kung anong pakiramdam meron sya ngayon.

"If you could remember the night we met in Calatagan, he was the same Patrick I was talking about then." She said. "Gabi na, akyat na ako baka magising si Celestine, siguradong iiyak yun kapag hindi ako nakita sa tabi nya." She added then stood up and walks towards the door.

"Sige susunod na ako." I said before she went out of the room.

I choose not to discuss Patrick further with Meng. Nakita ko kung gaano sya ka-sensitive talking about that guy. Could it be na may feelings pa sya sa Patrick na yun, eh hindi naman gwapo, maputi lang?

I have to know if Meng is still into this guy, because if that's the case, I am not taking this sitting down, sisiguraduhin kong makakalimutan sya ng asawa ko.