DEALING WITH THE DEVIL (Vander #1-COMPLETED)

47: for convenience

Paano kung ayaw nila sa akin?

Paano kung ayaw nila sa pangalan ko?

Or sa ilang visible na tattoo ko? What if they discovered I have more of it on my back?

If they say bad about me and spill some water in my face in case I don’t agree in giving them custody of my child, I prepared syringe for that. Actually, I also had a gun ngunit nakita iyon ni Ryu at inilayo sa akin.

Wait, bakit ganoon ang iniisip ko? Who cares if they don’t like me? I don’t give a shit. Ang mahalaga, i like Rocket’s face and dick. That’s all that matters. At least that’s what I want to believe.

“Hi,” kaswal na bati ko sa kanila. Like expected, Rocket’s mom welcomed me with a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek bago ako iginiya paupo katabi ni Rocket.

“Nandito na pala kayo, I invited them all to hear your announcement,” sabi ni Tita.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Rocket, silently debating who will speak first ngunit tila walang gustong magsalita sa amin. There was a dead air for a while and all eyes were on us kaya kinurot ko sa likod si Rocket at nagsalita.

“I’m pregnant at si Ryu ang ama.”

They just blinked at me, not surprise at all.

This is irritating. I threw dagger stares at all of them. “Hindi man lamang kayo nagulat?”

It was midget who answered. “We know.”

What the hell. Eh ano pa ia-announce namin?! Siniko ko nang mahina si Rocket. “Alam naman pala nila eh, bakit mo pa ako dinala rito?!”

“To meet them.”

I rolled my eyes. “Whatever.”

Natawa si Cooler. “We’re here to support you on your upcoming marriage Pi! Congrats.”

I practically growled. “Oh, I'm not marrying him.”

Now my I heard my most awaited reaction. Gulat na gulat silang lahat at napabulalas. Even his brother dropped his chocolate in surprise.

“What?!”

Maging si Rocket ay napatingin sa akin. “What the hell Titless, I thought this have been settled?”

Unang nakarecover sa gulat ang mommy niya. “Why not Pi?”

“Because he’s the worst guy ever!”

Sabay na natawa sina Artemis at Cooler at tinanong kung bakit. I slapped my forehead and started whining. “He gave me a velvet box with a waterproof mascara inside! Seriously?! Not a necklace, not a ring but a waterproof mascara. What the hell?”

Tila mas lalo lamang natawa si Cooler. “Nag-eexpect ka ba ng singsing?”

“No of course not, but why waterproof mascara? It can damage the lashes duh!”

I heard rocket growled beside me. "I took some time to do the research about a good quality mascara at hindi ka man lang nagpasalamat? You always end up smudging it so I brought you one. Not necklace nor ring dahil mukhang hindi ka naman mahilig sa ganoon."

Good observation. I'm not into jewelry because they're such a hassle. But still? That is so lame!

Wait, I'm here to meet his dad but I'm actually neglecting him. Tumingin ako sa ama niya na kanina pa tahimik. “Hello sir.”

He nodded at me, carefully eyeing me with his hawk eyes. “I didn’t expect we’ll have this connection. Nitong mga nakaraan lamang, I've done some research about your family and now... You two are getting married.” He shrugged a bit, as if he couldn't believe it all.

Well, ako rin! I didn't even remember saying yes to this marriage.

“I’m sure it has something to do with business, una sa lahat it’s Flavio who’s shitting on all of us. He’s a friend of my dad but he’s a traitor.”

Tumango siya sa akin bilang sagot. “I heard about it from Cronus.”

Napasimangot ako. “That crazy old man. But a deal is a deal, sooner or later I'm handing him Flavio's head in a tray.” I yawned. “Hindi pa ba ‘to tapos?”

Rocket looked at me with disbelief samantalang mas natawa lamang sina Cooler. Tumayo ang kanyang daddy at bumaling sa akin. "Can I have a minute, Bellomo?"

"Yeah yeah sure."

At sinundan ko siya sa kanyang library. Why do old people like him likes to discuss something private in places like her? Pwede naman kami sa kusina, at least doon may pagkain.

But whatever.

At least there were few guns here inside a huge glass case. Old man is really obsessed with guns.

"Oh my gosh you even got some antique bolt action rifle!" amazed na wika ko at tiningnan ang iba pang naroon. Is this Remington 700?"

Tumango siya at muli ko namang ibinalik ang tingin sa mga nakadisplay.

"Winchester 94, Marlin--"

He cut me off. "I see you love guns."

Nakangiting tumangi ako. "Yup. They're my best friend!"

"Me too, but it's not the reason why I called you here Bellomo," seryosing wika niya.

Okay, I hate this serious tone. Is this the part where he will slap me with money in exchange of child's custody o di kaya ay paglayo ko kay Rocket.

"Pi, my name is Pi Sir."

"Pi. So this means I'm having a grandchild," panimula niya. "I'm happy."

I rolled my eyes. Iyan ba ang mukha ng happy? He had a smug face on his face, maybe Rocket's smirk is from him. They're the type who hides emotions with a single one.

Happy Rocket equals smirking Rocket.

Sad Rocket equals smirking Rocket.

Excited Rocket equals smirking Rocket.

Hungry Rocket equals smirking Rocker.

Horny Rocket equals smirking Rocket.

Uh.

I yawned. "Can we just go straight to the point Sir?"

"I'm not a good father to Ryu, at malaki na ang gap sa pagitan namin. Although I know he forgave me already, I still feel guilty after all these years. And now, he's going to be a dad too."

"If you fear Rocket will be like you, I bet not. Alam niya ang pakiramdam na tila wala siyang ama, why would he do it to his own child?"

He smiled bitterly. "I'm not vocal to my children but I love them. Walang magulang na hindi mahal ang mga anak nila. He's been seeking love for so long and I hope you can give that to him."

He sounded sincere. Hindi ko man alam ang buong istorya kung bakit malayo ang loob nila sa isa't-isa, at least I'm certain he loves his son more than he says.

He looked like a father begging for his son's happiness. And I don't have the heart to tell him this baby is made out of lust, not love. And this marriage?

This marriage will be for convenience only.

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