"Bukas na raw uli uuwi ang papa mo . . ."

Ate Melba said that in her lowest voice. Para kaming may pinaplanong masama dahil nagbubulungan kami sa gilid ng sala.

Telling me that shouldn't be suspicious 'cause what's the point of saying that in a whisper? If bukas na uuwi si Papa, what about it?

Ate Melba held my arm, guiding me toward the foyer. Still, we whispered as we talked.

"I thought he was . . . kasama pa rin po niya si Tita Cel?"

"Eto na nga, 'nak. Ang narinig ko kanina kay Ate Tere, sa iba raw pala ipamamana ang kalahati ng yaman ng lola mo. Ang kalahati, paghahati-hatian n'yo ng papa mo kasama ng ibang mga apo ni Doña Ditas. At itong bahay ni Doña Toyang, mapupunta sa iba."

There I was, jaw-dropped.

What the fuck?

Not that I was desperately concerned about inheritance since my mom didn't and never expected anything at all from my father's side . . . but what the fuck?

"Did they . . . you know? Give names? Kanino raw ipamamana?" mahinang tanong ko rin habang naglalakad kami.

I didn't know where we were going, but we were walking all over the ground floor.

"Hindi pa sinasabi ni Inang, pero tumawag na ang papa mo, kakausapin daw muna ang abogado kaya bukas na ang uwi."

From the living room to the foyer, we then went to the porch. We still talked about the latest inside gossip about money, properties, and all the current Adajars' existing treasures and liabilities.

I was there when Papa questioned Inang's decision, and I stupidly assumed about crimes as lawyers entered the conversation. Surprisingly, it wasn't a crime but money.

Mayaman si Papa. Mayaman ang family niya. It was controversial at one event in my life since Mama wasn't really a richy-rich person. She had money. She had a well-paying job. She could go to Hong Kong before without worrying about the expenses. She could travel anywhere in the world. It was hard to question whether she could bring anything to the table.

She could bring anything to the table, and that earned a yes from the Adajars kaya nga sila ikinasal ni Papa. The thing was, once in her life, she questioned the source of that money on my dad's end. She questioned what that money could do to control her and her life. Money was used against her, and it became another nail in the coffin to end their marriage that never happened until her last breath.

Mama used to tell me na huwag pipiliin ang pera over love. That money can't buy happiness.

Sorry, Mama. I'm jobless and broke. I need more money.

They were talking about it the whole afternoon, and I've never seen the whole ancestral house that quiet since I went home. And like any other day, at three, Snooty Guy would sing for the lolas in veils to pray.

But unlike those days, this time, I had a chance to watch him inside the ballroom as they allowed me to join their prayer meeting. I never thought wearing a dress could be a ticket to join this gig.

"Ama Namin . . . sumasalangit ka . . . sambahin ang ngalan mo . . ."

I sat at the back, holding a rosary. I didn't know how to use it. I fidgeted on it as I watched Snooty Guy sing such a deep and heartwarming song.

Was he nice to me today? He wasn't all the way through, but he was tolerable.

He studied catechism only to end up not believing it anymore. What a funny sight. Still, he was singing for the Lord.

"Mapasaamin ang kaharian Mo . . ."

I didn't like his attitude, but his voice? Damn. No wonder these elders felt so holy every Mass. His voice is immaculate.

The afternoon prayer ended after an hour. Umalis na rin ang mga lola at si Inang naman, hinatid ni Snooty Guy sa kuwarto. Kompara talaga sa aming dalawa, mas mukha pa siyang apo ng lola ko kaysa sa akin. Mabait naman si Inang tuwing kinakausap niya 'ko. Wala ngang mintis magtanong kung kumain na ba ako o kung nagugutom ba ako para mapaglutuan agad kung sakali man. But I never heard her ask me kung puwede ko ba siyang ihatid sa kuwarto niya. Nakasunod sa kanila si Manang Terry to assist them every time na hinahatid siya ni Snooty Guy.

Hindi naman nakakaselos at all kasi kung may mangyaring hindi maganda kay Inang, ayokong maging kasalanan ko. Aminado naman akong clumsy ako most of the time. Mahina na nga ang lola ko, idadamay ko pa sa pagiging clumsy ko?

Half past five when I changed my dress to my casual black fitted tank top and red dolphin shorts na medyo labas ang kaunting puwet ko sa laylayan. At last, naibalik na rin ang mga damit kong hindi naman dapat nasa laundry.

I went to the kitchen for water and found Snooty Guy at the table, cutting vegetables—those we bought earlier—and should I be surprised when I saw Jessa as well, helping him? 

Nah. Not surprised at all.

I acted like I saw nothing and headed to the fridge. I pulled out the cold glass pitcher and placed it above the kitchen counter beside me as I reached the cupboard for the drinking glass.

It felt so weird being in the same place with Snooty Guy and Jessa. He rejected the idea of a relationship with the latter, but still "bonding" like this with her. This was not my thing—exposing myself to a person who was blatantly rejecting me. Pride na rin siguro na kung ayaw sa akin ng tao, I'll keep my distance. Kaya nga hindi na rin ako lumalapit kay Jessa . . . maliban ngayon.

"Kakain ka ba ng adobo saka gulay?" Snooty Guy asked.

I was drinking, so I thought he was talking to Jessa. Well, I kinda appreciated him for asking her. Jessa and I had a beef with each other, but she deserved no less.

"Psst! Kakain ka ba? Lulutuan kita." Then he slapped my left buttcheek, and I almost lost my grip on the glass in my hand as I felt my ass bounce a bit!

"The fuck?!" I held the glass in my right hand and did all my might to return that damn slap on his head. He shielded his face with his left arm as he laughed so loud.

"HAHAHA!"

"You call that nice?! Nice, my ass! The day's not yet through, you dickhead!" I slapped his arms so many times and tried to reach his head, but I couldn't.

Inilapag ko pa ang basong hawak ko sa kitchen counter para lang masapak siya, but when I faced him, nakatayo na siya at sinalo ang magkabilang kamay ko. He was still grinning, repeating his question as he towered over me. "Kakain ka nga ng adobo saka gulay? Ako ang magluluto."

I raised my head so I could see him clearly. "And smacking my ass is needed?"

"Sorry na, hindi ka kasi namamansin," nakangiting sagot niya.

"Let me slap you one time, and I'll answer that fucking question."

He let go of my hands, and I wasn't kidding when I said it because I slapped him on the left cheek. But it wasn't as hard as the first time I punched him. It was a light slap, ni hindi nga nagalaw ang ulo niya. Para ngang ginigising ko lang siya sa kalokohan niya.

"Do that again, and I'll slap you harder," I warned him.

All he did was smile at me so sweetly. "So, kakain ka nga."

"Cook whatever I can eat," I quietly said, trying my best not to reach Jessa. "Yung masarap. Ayoko na ng luto nila rito." Saka ako umalis sa harapan niya habang iniirapan siya.

His gaze was piercing, but his playful grin spoke otherwise. I saw Jessa, at sa kanya lang din nakatingin.

I left the kitchen, annoyed by Snooty Guy again. Doing that somewhere else, I might forgive him. But in front of the girl he knew liked him a lot? What a shittyhead move.

If he wanted Jessa to feel bad or feel jealous, he was doing the right thing. But doing that with me was a different conversation. Jessa and I weren't in a better relationship at this point, so he was just adding fuel to the fire.

It was almost six when they finished cooking. Lahat ng binili naming gulay, nagamit niya para sa dinner ni Inang. He served that in her room. Sobrang rare na rin kasi ni Inang na kumain sa dinner table. Tuwing kakain siya, doon na sa kuwarto at si Manang Terry na ang pinaka-nurse niya.

Usually, mag-isa lang akong kumakain sa dinner table every night. Rare occasion na sasabayan ako nina Ate Melba, unless I ask them to. Pero bawal kasi talaga silang kumain kasabay ako. May sarili kasi silang mesa sa likod ng kitchen. Mas malaki 'yon at para talaga sa mga helper at maid. But tonight was different kasi kasabay kong kakain si Snooty Guy. At ngayon ko lang din malalaman ang plano niya.

"Ihahanda ko na lang ang kuwarto mo sa itaas, ha?" Ate Rose said, the one doing the laundry in the river.

"Salamat, 'Te Rose." He then fixed the plates in front of me, the way he did earlier at our lunch.

Umuwi kanina si Snooty Guy before the three p.m. mass, and I thought he was only changing his clothes for the prayer meeting. May dala na palang mga damit para dito makitulog.

"You really don't want to wake up so early?" I mockingly asked.

"Magigising pa rin naman ako nang maaga. Hindi nga lang sobrang aga para dumayo pa rito," confident na sagot niya.

"You should be thankful they allowed you to stay."

"Kuwarto mo ang dating tinutuluyan ko rito kapag nakikitulog ako, so hindi big deal na makitulog dito."

I was agape and instantly squinted my eyes to judge him. "That's suspicious. Inang's so fond of you that much to let you stay here?"

"Pinaghirapan ko naman. I earned it."

As much as I wanted to counter that, I couldn't. He sang for my Inang. He cooked for her. He was assisting her in her room.

Do I have the right to question what he earned?

Naupo na rin siya pagkatapos asikasuhin ang kakainan ko.

"Thank you," I said again, half-hearted and annoyed.

He answered me with a silent chuckle as he shook his head.

He prayed alone, not asking me to join him to say grace. Probably he was aware that I didn't casually pray before eating.

I started eating what he cooked. Iba sa kinain namin kanina sa labas. At noong sinabi niyang mga lalaki ang tagaluto rito, mas lalo na akong naniniwala nang matikman ko ang luto niya.

It was chicken and pork adobo. My mama cooked this twice every month, and I could still remember how oily it was. But it was better than couscous.

Now, as I tasted Snooty Guy's version of this dish, I could tell how hard my mom was trying!

It was oily, but the oil was mixing with the sauce. It wasn't floating above the meat. It wasn't telling me what kind of heterogeneous matter it was. It was fully incorporated. The sauce was holy. The pork and the chicken meat were perfectly cooked. Just a small press of my tongue on the ceiling of my mouth, and the meat melted without chewing it. And the hot white rice? Ugh, heaven!

"Masarap?"

My mouth was full when I nodded at him, almost crying.

"I hate you . . ." I softly said after I swallowed the first bite. "I suffered for a month eating hotdogs and rootcrops, and now you feed me this?" I barely hugged my plate. "You let that happen to me? I hate you."

Snooty Guy was chuckling as he ate.

Sana sinabi na lang nina Ate Melba na puwede naman palang magluto rito si Snooty Guy, e, di sana siya na lang lagi ang nagluluto ng pagkain ko kaysa magtiyaga ako sa luto nilang hindi ko nga nauubos.

I never imagined I could eat two full plates. I guess that was almost four cups of rice and two full servings of adobo and mixed vegetables. Naupo na lang ako sa sa mahabang upuan sa front porch sa sobrang bigat ng tiyan ko. Para akong buntis sa dami ng nakain ko.

"Kumusta ang hapunan?"

He suddenly popped out of the door and sat beside me.

"Could you cook for me for the rest of my life?" I asked.

"Marriage proposal ba 'yan?"

"That's a chef proposal," I replied. "Kaya pala ikaw ang pinaluto ni Inang kahapon."

"Adobo lang naman 'yon."

"My mom used to cook adobo, and her dish could solve the oil problem in the world."

"Hahahaha! Ang lala."

"Thanks for the meal, by the way," I sincerely said. "I really, really, really appreciate it."

"Halatang hindi ka pinakakain nang maayos dito. Sabihan mo silang lutuan ka ng masarap para hindi ka mukhang once a month lang nakakatikim ng pagkain ng tao."

"I have an attitude, but I don't normally complain to people who do their best to cater to my needs, okay? I still hate your guts, but I'm genuinely grateful for the food you made for me. I give credit where credit is due saka ayoko nang masyadong mag-demand sa kanila rito."

"Hmm." He shrugged and nodded, staring from afar.

The sun had already set, and the purple sky was slowly shifting to dark blue. We could see a glimpse of the moon in front of us.

We let silence engulf us. Excited na ako para bukas. Gusto kong makita ang itsura ngayon ng garden sa likod.