The Gold-digging Mastermind

Kabanata 24

Finally, my boyfriend’s back.

Kahit pagod sa flight, mas inuna niya ako. Nag-uumapaw na naman ang dilig sa aking kaibuturan.

He really demonstrated well how he missed me. Gosh, I missed him, too.

Since Daxiel is back, the problem is sorted out in his father’s company, it gives us more time to spend with each other.

We do what normal couples do. Dinadala niya ako sa mga restaurant, nanonood kami ng bagong palabas na movies, naglalaro sa arcades na parang teenagers at naghaharutan to the max.

Mas matindi iyong harutan namin dahil nauuwi sa kama… minsan sa sasakyan… o sa damuhan. Kidding!

And he would accompany me to my favorite hobby of all — shopping and spending my man’s money!

He was the one holding our baby while I stroll the whole boutique to see things I might like. Nakaupo siya sa waiting area, inaaliw ang anak namin. In-assist ako ng sales lady sa mga napili kong dresses na susukatin ko sa fitting room.

I would show it to Daxiel one after another.

Ginawa kong fashion show ang boutique. I felt too confident seeing my boyfriend go with the flow. Tuwing lumalabas akong may suot na bagong dress, he would give me compliments. He was as excited as I am.

“Damn…”

Umikot pa ako sa kanya at naupo sa kanyang lap.

“Like it?” I asked teasingly.

“So much.”

“I like it, too. You can have easy access. Try mo…” I winked at him.

“Millaray, stop teasing me…” Hinalikan niya ang parteng balikat ko. “Hm, let’s buy the ones you liked. I love everything on you.”

Tumango ako.

“This is the first boutique, babycakes. I’m still going to three more, will it be okay with you?” I was really testing his patience. Pinanood ko ang ekspresyon sa kanyang mukha.

I was trying to find any hint of disapproval.

Siguro magaling talaga siyang magtago ng emosyon, wala man lang akong namataan sa hinahanap ko.

“It’s your day, baby. I’m your willing servant.” He smiled handsomely.

Dinampian niya ng halik ang labi ko. I just closed my eyes to savor the moment. He’s slowly making his way to my system. Natatakot akong amining totoong nagugustuhan ko na siya.

I’m falling for his trap.

I’m falling for the way he takes care of me.

I’m falling for him…

Tumayo ako upang asikasuhin ang mga damit na nagustuhan ko. Ibinigay ko naman ang mahiwagang card ni Daxiel para bayaran ang aking luho. It was a whole day to be pampered.

Sumunod naming pinuntahan ang luxury brand ng bags and shoes. Hinayaan akong pumili ni Daxiel ng mga natipuhan kong bags at sapatos. I got a handbag and a shoulder bag. Mas marami akong biniling shoes.

He paid for all those things without batting an eye on the price tags.

We went to another brand to look for something I could buy for him. Pumili ako ng suits na maaari niyang gamitin sa trabaho. Hindi naman natatapos ang shopping namin kung hindi ako namili para sa mga kasama namin sa bahay.

Ilang shopping bags ang dala naming dalawa. Some of the things we bought were supposed to be delivered in the mansion.

I wanted to tease his mother with the number of shopping bags. She kept telling me that I was a gold-digger, indeed I am. Her son was letting me have all the caprices as long as it made me happy.

“Baby…”

Nilingon ko si Daxiel sa likuran ko.

“Look at our baby, oh. He’s not cooperating with me.”

Naupo lang si Gustav the Third sa gitna ng mall, hawak ng boyfriend ko ang leash niya. Our furbaby was just sitting pretty. We were on our way to the exit. Nag-aabang na si Manong sa harap ng mall.

He was attracting people passing by. Hindi ko alam kung ang anak namin ang tinitingnan nila o humahagikhik sila sa pogi kong nobyo.

Lumapit ako sa dalawa, pumantay ako sa furbaby namin na agad dinilaan ang aking kamay.

“Gustav the Third, tara na na, anak… Let’s go home.”

He didn’t budge. He just stayed still.

Nagkatinginan naman kaming dalawa at parehong natawa. Hindi namin mapilit ang aming anak na umalis sa kanyang tayo.

After a few minutes of trying to talk to him like he was going to understand what I was saying, he got and up to walk with us as if nothing happened. I almost died in laughter seeing the poop that our little one left on his previous position.

Daxiel’s question last time came to life.

I almost died in laughter. Tawang – tawa ako. Ganoon din siya.

Muntik pa namin iyong pag-awayan, na-offend siya sa naging sagot ko.

Right now, we were just laughing how silly it was yet it happened in real time. Oh my gosh!

Pakawag – kawag lang ng buntot ang salarin.

Nang makabawi ako sa pagtawa, kumuha ako ng tissue sa bag at iniabot iyon kay Daxiel. Agad namang nanlaki ang kanyang mata. Ramdam ko ang kagustuhan niyang pagtanggi.

Sa huli’y siya rin ang kumuha at naglinis noon. Mayroon namang janitor na dumaan na napakiusapan naming i-map iyong puwesto. Daxiel paid for the inconvenience it caused the man.

I was still laughing as we walked away the premises.

“You did great, Daddy Daxiel. Proud na proud si Gustav the Third sa creation niya.”

His lips were pouty.

Binigyan ko siya nang masuyong halik sa labi.

He was very much trained in the mansion. Hindi namin alam kung bakit niya iyon ginawa sa mall. Paborito niya iyong gawin outdoors. Sabagay, outdoor naman ang mall sa bahay namin.

“Well, hindi ko kayo iniwang dalawa. Halos mawalan na ako ng hininga sa pagtawa kanina.” Pinisil niya ang tungki ng ilong ko.

“That was really a good laugh, baby. But why did you give me the responsibility…” Hindi na niya naituloy ang sasabihin, tumawa akong muli. I kissed him on the lips once again.

“Of course, we’re the parents. It’s our responsibility. You’re the head of the family, responsibilidad mo rin ako…” Matamis akong ngumiti.

Hinaplos ko ang kanyang pisngi.

Sakto namang pumarada ang kotse sa tapat ng mansyon. Agad na nahagip ng paningin ko si Daniella na nakasilip sa bintana. Naunang bumaba si Daxiel upang pagbuksan ako ng pinto.

Daxiel and Manong carried all the shopping bags to the house. Hawak ko naman ang leash ng anak namin.

Our eyes met for a moment.

Hindi na niya nagawang itago ang inis sa akin. Kahit nasa malayo, umuusok ang kanyang ilong sa galit. Kumaway ako sa kinaroroonan niya kasabay ng pagkindat.

Sumunod naman ako sa loob ng mansyon.

I’m a gold-digger. Yes, and?

I’m a successful one unlike her.

***

“Daxiel…” She called my man. “Since I’m here, why don’t we spend time together? Like we go out of town? Eat in fancy restaurants? You know, mom-and-son bonding moment…” I heard Daniella.

Kinagat ko naman ang aking pang-ibabang labi para pigilan ang pagtawa ko. Masyadong obvious ang agenda niya kaya gusto niyang bumawi sa anak. Itinuon ko ang pokus sa pagmamasa ng dough para sa pizza.

Nag-request siyang gumawa kami ng pizza para sa dinner.

Minsan na lang kaming dalawang magsama sa kusina, hindi kagaya noong holidays na kami ang nagluluto at gumagawa ng mga gawaing bahay.

Natunugan naman iyon ni Daniella, nakisali rin siya sa aming aktibidad. She was trying to make pasta from scratch.

Halos lahat pinakialaman niya pati ang pagmamasa ko ng dough, tumigil lang ito sa tuwing sinasaway ng anak.

Wala naman akong ibang ginawa kung hindi tumawa sa gilid. It was irritating her more.

“P’wede bang pakiligpit nang pagala – galang aso rito?”

“My baby is a resident here. You’re a guest. Who’s adjusting? Hindi mag-aadjust ang mga taong nakatira rito para sa’yo,” saad ko pa.

“Gustav the Third, come here to daddy…”

He wagged his tail while running and licking our feet. Hindi ko naman siya mahawakan. Palibot – libot lang siya sa kusina, minsan lumalabas siya upang silipin sina Maricel.

“What toppings would you like?” I asked my boyfriend.

I already formed two round pizza dough. One for him, the other one for me.

Bahala na si Daniella, nagluto naman siya ng pasta para sa dinner niya.

“Creamy spinach.”

Nilagyan ko nang tomato sauce ang palibot ng isa. I put the creamy spinach on the other one with lots of cheese. I added olives, some pepperoni, colorful peppers and onions and pineapple on top of my pizza.

“Gosh, pineapple on pizza? Que horror! Do you even have taste?” she murmured.

“Stop it, mom. You’re not the one to eat it. Worry your own.” Daxiel spoke for the first time to his mother.

He was probably fed up with her antics.

Ilang beses na niyang sinubukang dalhin ito sa hotel para doon manatili, pero hindi ito nakinig. Daniella was trying to push the narrative how she missed his son after all the months they’ve been apart.

She was trying to guilt-trip into trying to have a bonding moment with him.

She accused me of brainwashing him… as if Daxiel was a child who could be easily influenced. Matanda na ang kanyang anak para mag-isip pansarili. Mas matanda pa nga ito sa akin ng ilang taon.

With her logic, I can totally say the same thing.

Hindi na masyadong gumagana ang pangmamanipula niya kaya ako ang sinisisi niya sa aksyon ng kanyang anak.

Isinalang namin ang dalawang pizza dough sa oven. Tinulungan niya akong magligpit ng mga ginamit namin para malinis na ang counter top kapag naluto ang pizza. We’re just going to eat right after.

“Daxiel, I need a helping hand. Can you help mommy?”

Kung tratuhin niya si Daxiel, para siyang bata na nasa edad sampung taon. That was what I’m going to think if I didn’t know the son she was referring to. What’s wrong with her?

Nang silipin ko ang ginawa niyang pasta dough, dumikit iyon pasta maker.

Masyado siyang magaling sa pagmamarunong, wala naman talagang alam sa kusina. She never set foot in the kitchen, she just wanted to compete with me for her son’s attention.

Hindi niya pinilit ang pasta maker. He cut it into uneven strips.

Wala siyang imik na bumalik sa direksyon ko.

Pumulupot naman ang aking braso sa kanyang leeg. Pinadampian ko nang masuyong halik ang kanyang labi. Even for a short time, his energy was drained from the interaction with his mother.

Dumako kami sa sink upang hugasan ang ginamit namin sa paggawa ng pizza. Pinanood ko lang siyang maghugas ng utensils.

“You’ve improved a lot,” Ngumisi ako.

“I learned from the best.”

Pinisil niya ang aking pisngi. Nabasa pa iyon ng tubig. Gumanti naman ako at nagpalobo gamit ang dishwashing liquid, pinahid ko iyon sa kanyang mukha.

“Is that how you want to play, huh?”

Daxiel did the same thing to me.

Tawa kami nang tawang dalawa.

Hindi namin pinansin ang presensya ng kanyang ina na puro tikhim. Mayroon kaming sariling mundong hindi niya kayang sakupin. Sometimes, we behaved like we own the world and we don’t give a fuck to what other people say.

Muli kaming bumalik sa aming task, tinulungan ko na siya sa pagtutuyo ng mga bowl na ginamit namin.

“Oh my gosh!”

Pareho kaming napatingin sa pinagmulan ng boses.

There was a hot water dripping on the floor. Nabitiwan niya ang hawak na casserole na may lamang pasta water para i-drain. Sinipa niya si Gustav the Third at nagsisigaw.

Agad kong dinaluhan ang aming alaga. Hindi naman siya napuruhan nang mainit na tubig.

“That dog! That dog caused this to me! It was fucking painful! Dalhin mo ako sa hospital! I can’t take the pain!” Iginiya siya ni Daxiel palabas ng pinto. “I don’t want them here, Daxiel! Paalisin mo sila! Hindi naman sila nababagay rito sa pamamahay na ito! She taught that dog to be a menace!”

Iyak nang iyak ang babae.

I was sure as hell that was painful, but there was no way a human with brain would blame a dog.

“Daxiel, are you going to choose them or me, your own mother?!” Nahagip pa iyon ng pandinig ko.

Humahangos naman si Maricel patungo sa kitchen. Naabutan niya kami ni Gustav the Third na nakasalampak sa sahig. She asked me a lot of questions but I didn’t answer anything.

“Pakitawag si Kuya Abner. Pupunta kami sa vet para patingnan ang baby ko…”

She followed my instruction.

Binuhat ko si Gustav the Third palabas ng mansyon. Nakasalubong ko pa si Maricel papasok sa loob.

Pinatay ko sa kanya ang oven. Ready na ang pizza namin na para sa dinner dapat. Binilin ko sa kanyang linisin iyong kalat sa mesa dahil hindi ko iyon naasikaso.

“Pack my things, I’m not going to stay here for the mean time. Ayokong manatili rito kung dito pa rin ang tuloy ni Daniella. I don’t want a constant threat to my furbaby,” saad ko rito.

“Ma’am Olga, saan po kayo mananatili?” tanong niya. “Hindi ba kami p’wedeng sumama sa inyo? Sinong magluluto para sa inyo?”

“Ano ba naman kayo? Kaya ko naman ang sarili ko. Daxiel might need you here.” Ngumiti ako at hinawakan ang kanyang kamay. “This wouldn’t be the last time we’re going to see each other. Mayroong ultimate comeback ang totoong reyna ng bahay na ito!”

I just didn’t want Gustav the Third to be harmed.

Hindi ko rin alam kung nasa estado na kami ni Daxiel para piliin niya ako kaysa sa kanyang ina. For now, I want to be out of the picture until he sorts things out.

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