May the 4th Be With You

15. SWITCHBACK

JEMA's POV

I asked Dean kung role model niya yung Dad niya.

Kasi based on what I noticed Dean is the type of guy that is caring, yung natural lang at hindi pilit.

I think one of his love language is an act of service, gaya na lang nung pag slice niya nang steak para sa akin habang dumadaldal siya.

Yung parang hindi niya napapansin na pinagsisilbihan niya ko, even in his simple ways.

He's been extra sweet on taking care of me today.

He even do things, I didn't ask him to do.

Nakakapanibago tuloy. Hindi ako sanay, pero ayokong masanay dahil baka hanap hanapin ko tong pagiging sweet at maasikaso niya.

We talk a lot about ourselves and about life. He even said na sobrang na-impressed pala siya sa idea namin about Nitro Bar.

Syempre mayabang tayo, in-emphasize ko talaga sa kaniya na idea ko yun.

Malay natin pakasalan agad ako kasi matalino at madiskarte ako sa buhay.

He even told me about the things he noticed about the bar, pag babang pag baba niya pa lang daw.

Doon ko rin nakwento sa kaniya na nagkaroon kami nang pagtatalo nang mismong araw na yon ni Nanay.

"I see. That explains your behavior that day. Pero alam mo Jema" sabi ni Dean

Patay! Ayan na yung pero. Mukhang sermon to. Knowing Dean, he's a mama's boy.

He's always ready to defend the mother's side.

"Dapat pinahahalagahan mo ang Nanay mo. Kasi sila ang may pinaka malaking sakripisyo sa inyo, mula pa lang nang nasa tyan ka. Walang katumbas lahat nang hirap na dinanas nila, maalagaan ka lang. I don't have to be there to know, that's a basic info na dapat alam na nang lahat tungkol sa mga ina.

Yung nanay mo, sabi mo matalak pero kahit ganyan yan nakakasiguro ako na mahal na mahal ka niyan at kapakanan niya lang ang iniisip mo. Walang ina na kayang hindi pahalagahan ang kanilang mga anak. Trust me on this one." sagot ni Dean

Sinabi rin yan ni Mafe sakin.

Hindi ko magawang kumontra.

Una dahil alam kong tama siya. Balik baliktarin man ang mundo, may punto siya.

Pangalawa, wala akong laban sa mama's boy noh.

Kahit ata sa world debate kami magharap, ilalaban niya ang pagmamahal sa mga magulang, particularly sa ina.

"Jema, can I ask you something? I'm really curious lang kasi" parang biglang sumeryoso si Dean

"Sure, kahit ano, basta wag lang math ha" biro ko sa kaniya

he smiled. And looked at me directly.

"Who's the last person to make you cry?" seryosong tanong ni Dean habang nakatingin sa mga mata ko

Hindi ko inaasahan ang tanong niyang iyon.

Bigla akong natigilan at nag iwas nang tingin. I think I'm not yet ready to open up about that issue.

"It's fine kung hindi ka pa handang pag usapan. I really shouldn't asked that one. It kills the mood, my bad! I'm sorry" paghingi niya nang paumanhin, napansin niya ata

"No, it's fine, hindi mo kailangan humingi nang tawad." sagot ko sa kaniya

"Honestly, I saw you kasi one time. I think my iniiwasan ka, I really got curious lang kaya I asked. I didn't mean to snoop naman, nakita lang kasi kita non... I-I saw the pain in your eyes. I just thought it had something to do with Carly and... some guy?" sambit ni Dean na kinagulat ko