CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

WYNTER WENT home as early as she can. Ang laki talaga ng pasasalamat niya sa sekretarya niya at pinaalala nitong may family dinner sila. Wynter drove her car as fast as she could. Buti na lamang at hindi siya nahuli—whether I got a ticket for speed driving or getting late for the family dinner, Mom's gonna kill me anyway.

"And touchdown!" biglang bungad sa kanya ng kuya nilang naka-abang pala sa kanya sa garage. "Naka-abot ka, Emy."

Napailing naman si Wynter. "Muntik pa ngang maaksidente eh."

Angelo tsked. "Don't tell that to Mom. Malalagot ka," pang-aasar nito.

"Ang mahalaga naka-abot." Wynter showed a sarcastic smile.

Napailing na lang ang kuya. "By the way, how's your uhm... partner?" alanganing tanong nito.

Sabay silang pumasok ng kapatid niya sa bahay nila. Wynter then rolled her eyes. "Partner, my ass. I don't have one, Hermano."

Angelo then chuckled. "Right, you don't have one. You have two," nakangising pang-aasar nito sa kanya.

Wynter mockingly made a face at him. "Whatever, Hermano."

Tinawanan lang naman siya ng kapatid saka tuloy pa rin sa pangungulit sa kanya. Saktong nakarating na sila sa dining area nang bumaba mula sa second floor ang kanilang ama. "Touchdown, Wynter," anitong ikinatawa na naman ng kuya niya. Mana-mana lang talaga oh.

"How are you, Papa?" Wynter asked as she neared him and gave each other a hug.

"I'm still alive, aren't I?" pabalang na tanong ng ama nila.

Wynter just rolled her eyes. "Any updates?" tanong niya habang sabay-sabay na silang umuupo at hinihintay na lumabas mula sa kusina sila Autumn at ang mommy nila.

"No threats. Everything's fine," her father, Gilberto, casually answered as if they were talking about daily normal life.

"No business nor mafia talks on the table," wika ng ginang na kalalabas lang mula sa kusina habang may bitbit na bowl ng ulam nila. "Gilberto, why do you constantly forget that rule?" Mabagal namang naiiling si Summer habang inilalagay sa lamesa ang bowl. "Matanda ka na nga talaga," pang-aasar nito.

Natawa naman lahat ng anak, kahit si Autumn na kasunod ng kanilang ina ay hindi napigilang matawa. "Dad, payag ka niyan? Ginaganyan-ganyan ka lang ni Mom," segunda naman ni Autumn na isa pa ring malakas mang-asar.

Sinamaan na lang ng tingin ng papa nila si Autumn saka naka-pout na tiningnan ang asawa nito. "You're still bullying me, mi amor?"

Nakapameywang namang tiningnan ni Summer ang lalake. "Yes, mi amor. 'Wag ka nang umasang magbabago pa 'yun. Take it or leave it, mi amor."

Nakanguso pa rin ang kanilang ama. "I'm taking it all, mi amor," parang kinawawang sagot nito.

Napailing na lang ang kuya niya. "And this is the boss of the Vazquez Mafia, ladies and gentlemen." Pumalakpak pa si Angelo.

Sinamaan na naman ng tingin ni Gilberto ang panganay na lalake. "I'm still the boss in this house, mi hijo."

"Duda," sabay-sabay na sagot nilang magkakapatid bago tumawa. Alam naman kasi nilang sa trabaho lang boss ang ama, pagdating sa bahay, ang nanay nila ang totoong boss.

Nagsimula na ang hapunan nilang pamilya at napunta kay Wynter ang spotlight. "Why me?" nakataas ang dalawang kilay na tanong ng dalaga.

"According to Autumn ay hindi ka nagpaluto sa kanya ng almusal ngayong araw, kahit kay Angelo. And finally, according to Ella, you didn't ask her to buy you breakfast as well," pagpapaliwanag ng ina niya.

"And?" takang tanong ni Wynter.

Summer smiled. "Are you finally dating someone?" magiliw na tanong nito.

Wynter's jaw dropped. "Mom, anong connect ng hindi pag-aalmusal sa pagkakaroon ng jowa?"

Her father stopped eating. "True. What's the connection, mi amor?"

Summer sighed. "Wynter, you don't skip breakfast. You may skip lunch and dinner but not breakfast."

"I may have cooked my own meal—"

"We all know that that will never happen, and if it did happen, then you should've asked Ella to buy you eggs and bacon since they are the only food that you could barely cook." Ibinukas ni Wynter ang bibig para mag-open ng another possibility pero inunahan na naman siya ng ina. "Coffee isn't enough for you." Wynter thought of something again but her mom knew it as well. "And no, you don't reheat dinner for breakfast. You also prefer rice meals for breakfast and not sandwiches—those are your snacks."

Napasimangot naman si Wynter. Narinig niya rin ang mahinang tawa ng kuya't bunso nila. "Kaya mo pa ba, Emy?" pang-aasar ni Angelo. Wynter just glared at him.

"So... Wynter's finally in a relationship?" naguguluhang tanong ng ama.

Wynter let out a heavy sigh. "Am not dating anyone. The owner of the unit across mine offered me breakfast—"

Wynter stopped when she heard her mother squeal. "Oh my! Gwapo? Type mo? Mabait? What's his job? Is he single—"

"Mom, calm down. Hindi pa nga natin sigurado kung lalake eh," pagrarason ni Autumn sa ina nila.

Summer stilled and once again looked at Wynter. "Okay, okay. Is he a guy?"

Wynter flatly looked at her mom. "Yes, he's a guy." Her mother squealed one more time, causing Autumn and Angelo to chuckle.

"Do we know him? Because I know for a fact that you don't easily trust people, Wyn. Kaya nga sila Autumn, Angelo, at Ella lang ang nag-aayos ng pagkain mo eh," pagpapaliwanag ng ama niya. Napatango naman ang pamilya niya.

Why is this suddenly happening to me? Wynter mentally face-palmed herself. "You know him," pag-amin niya.

She heard her mother hitch her breathing. "Name."

"Daniel Marquez," casual na sagot ni Wyn saka ibinalik ang atensyon sa pagkain. Baka lumamig na yung kanin at ulam ko. Ang dadaldal nila.

Si Autumn ang unang nag-react. "Daniel Marquez? High school and College Daniel Marquez?" Tumango lang naman si Wyn habang tuloy pa rin sa pagkain. Napansin naman niyang nakangiting kumakain na rin si Angelo.

"Police Major Daniel Marquez?" tanong naman ng mommy niya, at tumango lang din naman siya.

"Police Major General Darius Marquez' son?"

Wynter stopped eating at her father's question. "Yes, Dad. Yes, Mom. Yes, sis. That Daniel Marquez," walang gana niyang sagot.

Saglit nanahimik ang pamilya niya. Tumuloy lang naman si Wyn sa pagkain. Kaya naman akala niya ay hindi na ulit magrereact ang pamilya kaya lang ay bigla niyang nakitang tumayo ang mom niya saka lumabas ng dining room.

Taka namang nagkatinginan sina Angelo at Wynter. Pareho nilang tiningnan ang ama at si Autumn na tahimik na kumakain. "Is it just me or they're all acting weird?" tanong ng dalaga sa kuya niya.

Angelo shrugged. "Just let them be. But hey..."

"Hmm?"

"Expect the weirdest thing they'll do, okay?" nakangising sabi sa kanya ni Angelo.

Wynter raised an eyebrow. "What now?"

Summer came back with a phone near her ear. "Yes, general. Thank you very much." Her mother chuckled. "Oh, it'll be our pleasure. Thank you again, general. Have a great evening."

Naguguluhang tumingin si Wyn sa inang kabababa lang ng tawag at wagas makangiti. "Mom?" pagkuha ni Wynter sa atensyon ng ina.

Nakangiti itong lumingon sa kanya. "Wynter, why didn't you tell me that the June client is Mr. Marquez?"

"I thought you knew. You always talk to my secretary anyways," seryosong sagot niya. "Wait, why mention him?"

Summer smiled brightly. "It'll be Mrs. Marquez's birthday soon. We're all invited."

Napakunot ng noo si Wyn. "And?"

"Before that, they'll come here on Saturday for dinner." Mas lumaki ang ngiti ng ginang. "So, Autumn and Angelo, help me with the food. Mi amor, you'll be able to talk with the general more. I'll be chatting with Mrs. Marquez. And Wynter—" Her mother looked at her. Oh no. I'm not feeling good about this. "Come here with Daniel after your work, okay?"

Yep, this is definitely not a good thing at all! Mom!