Just This Once (COMPLETED)

Kabanata 49

#JustThisOnce

Kabanata 49

The past few days had been awfully quiet. True to Maven's words, hindi na kami ginulo ni Beatrice. She knew that Maven would really disappear from her life if she keeps up with her stupid games. She's his son, pero parang hindi niya alam na hindi naman fan ng drama ang anak niya, yet she kept on pulling one.

"After I drop off Jere, I'm going to see Nari," I said while we were at the lanai. Maven and I were both reading. It's our pastime.

Maven put down the book. Kunot ang noo niya. "Why are you telling me this?"

I shrugged. "Wala. Masama bang magpaalam?"

"No. But you usually don't tell me what you do."

"Well, I'm trying to accommodate you in my life, so just bear with me," I replied before putting my attention back to the book I was reading. But still, I could feel Maven's stare. Nagulat yata siya. Usually naman wala kaming pakielam sa ginagawa ng isa't-isa. We did tell each other things, but we didn't really force each other lalo na kung hindi kami comfortable na magsabi. Maybe that's what I appreciate with this marriage. It's so relaxed.

When Jere was all dressed up, umakyat muna ako para magbihis. Naiwan si Jere kasama iyong tatay niya. They'd be talking about conspiracies and theories, for all I knew. Kahit mas matanda si John kay Jere (at kung hindi ako almost bawal pumunta sa bahay nila Preston), hindi malayo na maging magbest friends sila dahil pareho silang bookworm at mahilig sa kung anu-anong theories.

"Let's go," I told Jere.

"Can I skip? I wanna stay with Papa..." Jere sadly said and then pulled on Maven's sleeves.

I frowned. "No, sorry. You need to study."

"Papa..." he said, pulling Maven's sleeves even more. He was even pouting! Maven looked conflicted kaya gusto kong matawa. Sa ibang bagay, wala talagang emosyon si Maven—that's why Psalm dubbed him as the tin man. Pero pagdating kay Jere? Maven's like a new creature with heart and everything.

Nilakihan ko iyong mata ko. "Maven," I hissed. Magagalit sa amin iyong family niya kapag hindi umattend si Jere ng lessons niya. God, it was demanding to be a de Marco. Dami mong required na malaman na languages, sports, pati instruments.

"I'm sorry, kid," Maven said, patting his head.

Jere bit his lower lip. "I thought you love me more... you love Mama more than me."

Nanlaki iyong mga mata ko. Maven and I never even said those words towards each other. We were careful not to say those words in front of Jere. Alam kasi namin na hindi naman kami magtatagal. But as Jere grew older, it's just getting harder to explain. Maybe because Maven and I were just too good at pretending to be a happy family that's why Jere really thought that we're one.

Jere sighed. "Let's go, Mama," he said and then pulled my hand.

Tinignan ko si Maven. "Ano'ng love?!" I mouthed, but he just shrugged. This tin man!

* * *

"Seryoso? Nakakaloka naman talaga 'yang mother-in-law mo!" Nari commented after I finished telling her everything that transpired the last time.

I nodded. "Yeah... I know she doesn't like me, pero sobra na kasi. Pati sa harap ng iba wala na siyang respeto."

"Pasalamat siya si Maven anak niya. Naku, kung si Preston 'yan?" natatawang sabi ni Nari. "I mean, hindi rin ako natutuwa sa attitude ni Preston sa Mama niya, but he'd really lose his shit kung gagawin ni Mother Biscuit 'yun."