My Boyfriend is a Freak (Published under Pop Fiction)

67: Mira

Ilang linggo na rin ang nakalipas mula nang magkaayos kami ni Vren. Masaya ako sa desisyon kong unawin ang sitwasyon ng boyfriend ko dahil kung pinairal ko ang pagiging makasarili, siguradong brokenhearted ang bagsak ko ngayon. Isa pa, sobrang nag-e-enjoy ako sa pakikipag-bonding sa pamangkin kong si Zac, who will be as good as my son kapag nagkataon.

Nagkaayos na rin kami ni Mama. Sa una ay hesitant pa siyang suportahan ang pasya ko na 'wag tapusin ang relasyon namin ni Vren, pero ipinaliwanag ko sa kanya na walang kaso sa akin ang pagkakaroon ng anak ni Vren at ni Ate Bella. Pamangkin ko ang bata, at kapag pinalad na magkatuluyan kami ni Vren, mabibigyan namin ng buong pamilya si Zac.

'Ika nga, everything worked out fine in the end.

Nandito kami ngayon sa dela Merced residence — ako at ang aking jowa, kasama sina Zac, Mom, at Dad. To be honest, medyo awkward pa rin sa akin na tawaging "Dad" ang totoo kong tatay na noon ay si "Mr. dela Merced" lang para sa akin. Idagdag pa si Tita Ivana na ipinagpilitang "Mom" na rin ang itawag ko sa kanya. Pero alam kong parte ito ng kanilang effort para maging mas komportable kami sa isa't isa, which I appreciated.

"Mira, hija, will you come with me to the kitchen and help me cook?" pagyakag ni Mom.

"Sure, Tita — este, Mom."

"Great. I'm thinking of cooking lasagna."

Nakangiti man sa pagsagot kay Mom, nang tumalikod na siya para pumunta sa kusina ay kaagad kong siniko si Vren na noon ay katulad kong nakaupo sa sahig habang bumubuo ng jigsaw puzzle kasama si Zac.

"Vren!" I hissed at him in panic. "Anong gagawin ko? Hindi ako marunong magluto ng lasagna!"

Tumawa lang ang ugok. "You'll be fine. Just follow Tita Ivana's lead. Right, buddy?" dagdag niya sabay baling sa anak niya.

"Yes. Grandma's a good cook. Don't worry, Tita Mommy," sagot naman ni Zac.

"Worry about what?" tanong ni Dad na naulinigan pala ang usapan namin. Namula naman ako, sabay sa pagtawa ng mag-ama sa tabi ko.

"Nothing, Tito," sagot ni Vren sa kanya. "You better get going, Mira. You don't want to keep Tita Ivana waiting."

****

Thank God na wala namang embarrassing na nangyari habang nasa kusina kami ni Mom. Vren was right — I just had to follow the instructions of my stepmother, who happened to be a good cook.

"Mira, I've been meaning to ask you this," panimula ni Mom habang hinihintay naming maluto ang inihanda naming lasagna, "how are you? Is everything alright between you and Vren?"

"Opo," nakangiting sagot ko sa kanya. "Bakit niyo naman po naitanong?"

"Well, I knew how much of a shock Zac's arrival was to all of us," she said, "but I'm glad you and Vren were able to sort things out. How about at home — are you and your parents okay?"

"Opo, back to normal na naman po ang lahat," paninigurado ko sa kanya.

"Good," Mom remarked with a small smile. "I just wanted to make sure that you're alright. With Bella gone, you're the closest thing to a daughter that I have."

Her tone was so sad that I couldn't help but envelope her in a hug.

"Sigurado po ako na kung nasaan man si Ate ngayon ay masaya siya, lalo at nasa maayos na kalagayan tayong mga naiwan niya. And of course, I could be a daughter to you, Mom."

"Thanks, hija." She patted my cheek affectionately. "You have no idea how happy Arkin and I are that you allowed us to become part of your life. It somehow eases our longing after we lost Bella."

"Nandiyan din po si Zac. Kahit wala na si Ate, nag-iwan naman siya ng makakasama niyo ni Dad."

She chuckled. "You're right. But I'm wondering, kailan ba madaragdagan ang apo namin? Wala pa ba kayong balak ni Vren na magpakasal?"

Bigla akong namula. "Hindi pa naman po nagtatanong si Vren, e."

"Just in case he drops the question, though... are you ready to say yes?"

"Opo naman," walang pag-aalinlangan kong sagot. "Sa dami ng pinagdaanan namin ni Vren, sayang naman po kung hindi sa altar ang tuloy namin."

Tumawa si Mom. "If that ain't true. We just have to wait for Vren to make the move, then."

****

After our excellent lunch, we spent the rest of the afternoon lazing around, our attentions mostly focused on the baby of the family.

"Zac, hijo..." pagtawag ni Dad sa kanyang apo. "Will you come over here? I want to ask you something."

Patakbong lumapit si Zac sa kanya. "What is it, Grandpa?"

"I'm thinking about your next birthday party. You'll be turning seven soon, right? We need to have a big celebration. I want to introduce you to each and every one of my friends and colleagues." Napangiti ako nang kalungin ni Dad ang bata. "Kailangan nga ba ulit ang birthday ng apo ko?"

"September 8, Grandpa," agad na sagot ng pamangkin ko. "My birthday is on September 8."

Sa narinig ko ay bigla kong nahampas si Vren. I had the mind of an accountant, after all, and hearing Zac's birthday made me instantly realize that something was amiss. Sanay na sanay akong magbilang ng mga buwan, kahit pa pabaliktad.

If Ate Bella gave birth to her son on September, then that means —

Vren's affronted voice interrupted my train of thoughts. "Hey! What was that for?" pag-angal ng jowa ko sabay himas sa braso niya na tinamaan ng hampas ko.

Ignoring the curious stares from Dad, Mom, and Zac, hinatak ko si Vren palabas ng bahay. Once we were beyond their hearing range, kaagad kong tinanong si Vren ng, "Narinig mo ba si Zac? September 8 daw ang birthday niya!"

"Of course I heard him," sagot ng mokong. "Why are you acting like there's something wrong with my son's birthday?"

Napahampas ako sa noo dahil sa frustration. Alam kong matalino si Vren, pero pagdating pala sa mga ganitong bagay, sadyang clueless si Mr. Montevilla.

"Because there is something wrong with your son's birthday!" I hissed at him. "Think about it, Vren. Kung late October ang una at huling nangyari sa inyo ni Ate Bella, imposibleng ikaw ang tatay ni Zac kung September siya ipinanganak. Unless overdue ang pagbubuntis ni Ate?"

I watched as comprehension slowly dawned on Vren's face. If it weren't for the seriousness of the situation, I could've laughed at my boyfriend's expression.

"Oh, fuck," halos pabulong niyang sabi. "Are you sure? I'm not Zac's father, after all?"

"Vren, alam mo ba kung ilang buwan tumatagal ang pagbubuntis ng isang babae?"

"Uhm, nine months?"

Tingnan mo nga naman ang ugok, hindi pa sigurado!

"Yes! Which means by late July dapat ipinanganak si Zac kung talagang ikaw ang tatay niya."

"Damn." Vren looked stupefied. "I couldn't believe I missed that out."

"Well, to be fair, magulo ang isip mo dahil kamamatay lang ni Ate Bella, tapos ay bigla na lang nating nalaman na may anak pala siya. Isa pa, sa unang tingin ay ikaw naman talaga ang ituturong tatay ng bata. Ikaw ang huling boyfriend ni Ate, e." Nagkibit-balikat ako. "Ano na ngayon ang balak mong gawin?"

"We have to make sure that Zac isn't mine before we break the news to everyone," he said, looking crestfallen. "Can we keep this quiet for the time being?"

"Of course." I reached for his hand in an attempt to comfort him. Alam kong malungkot si Vren ngayong nalaman namin na malaki ang posibilidad na hindi pala siya ang tatay ni Zac, dahil napamahal na rin sa kanya ang bata. My boyfriend, bless him, had fully embraced the role of being Ate Bella's son's father. "Tama ba ang naiisip ko? Are we going to seek help from Vince?"

"Yeah. You read my mind," Vren agreed. "I think a DNA test will clear things up once and for all."