Housemates With Benefits [COMPLETE|PUBLISHED]

Sabrina (59)

"I meant no offense, darling."

Ayan na naman ang phrase na 'yan.  'No offense'.  Ano kaya ang reaction nito kapag sinabi kong I am extremely offended?

"None taken, Sra. Grace."  My smile brightened.   

"I'm sure you are not one of those women," nakangiti niyang sambit.  "Oliver would have certainly known better.  Better than my Froilan.  So call me Tita, hija."  And she gave me a conspiratory wink.

My smile widened even more as I nodded.

Don't hold your breath for that, hindi ko maiwasang maisip.

Another 'tita'?  I already got Tita Adina who thinks I'm the bane of her existence. Why do I have to add this one to the list? Do I look like a sucker for hurtful words and looks and thoughts? Hindi pa ba sapat ang nanay ni Rachel to give me an overdose of all that?  

"She's certainly not," Oliver, na katabi ko, piped in.  "If someone has become a digger, Tita, it is me because my Sabrina is gold.  24-carat.  The very best there is."

It was my turn to roll my eyes at the cheesiness of this guy.  Hindi ko mapigilang palihim na kurutin ang hita niya.  Pinanlakihan ko lang siya ng mata trying to tell him with my eyes to shut up.  He just grinned at me.

Tinapunan naman siya ng tablenapkin ng pinsan niyang si Raphael na tumama sa mukha niya.  "Get out of here, pussy," asik nito.  Sumunod naman ang ibang mga pinsan sa pagtatapon ng kanya-kanyang tablenapkin kay Oliver na tatawa-tawa lang.

"Inggit lang kayo.  Wala kayong Sabrina."  

Raphael sneered at my boyfriend.  "Agawin ko 'yan sa'yo nang makita mo."  At dahan-dahan pa akong kinindatan to which I just stared.

"Hey!"  Oliver took offense at parang batang inurong ang upuan palapit sa akin at bigla akong niyakap.  Ibinaon niya pa ang ulo ko sa dibdib niya para 'itago' ako mula kay Raphael.  "Akin 'to, kuya.  Magpahanap ka kay Lia ng iyo."

Humagalpak lang ng tawa si Raphael pati ang mga kapatid nito.  I can't see the rest of them but I swear I could also hear Sr. Jaime chuckling.  I can feel my face getting hot at kinurot ko naman ngayon ang tagiliran ni Oliver para bitawan ako.  Nagmana din yata ang isang ito kay Sra. Grace.  Walang sense of shame!

Binitiwan niya nga naman ako, pero humalik pa sa aking pisngi bago ibinalik ng ayos ang upuan.  Napatingin na lang ako sa dalawang señora, apologetically.  Sra. Grace just grinned.  Sra. Ynez had a small indulgent smile, too.

The dinner continued on nicely after that.  Nabawasan na ang pagiging annoying ni Sra. Grace and that resulted to a better mood for Sra. Ynez.  

Nasa balcony na ako overlooking the garden at nagpapahangin.  I left Oliver and his cousins arguing over something sa sala.  The elders also excused themselves after dinner and so I am left alone to contemplate about dinner.  Can I consider it a small success?

I was bracing for a cold reception from Oliver's parents.  Inaashan ko nang tititigan ako ni Sra. Ynez mula ulo hanggang paa and dismiss me on the spot pero hindi niya ginawa.  She just smiled at me politely as her husband greeted me with a hint of excitement.  Binawi ni Sr. Jaime ang coldness ng asawa sa akin.  So, is that a tiny yay?

Sra. Ynez is reserving her judgment.  Perfectly understandable.  She only heard of me a few hours before dinner.  Hindi niya ako kilala at hindi niya alam kung saang sulok ng mundo ako napulot ni Oliver.  If I were her, I would have reacted in the same way.

"Sabrina?"  

Agad akong napatuwid ng tayo at hinarap ang pinanggalingan ng boses.  Ang nakangiting mukha ni Yaya Meding ang bumungad muli sa akin.  Siya ang nagbukas ng pinto para sa amin ni Oliver kanina.