George was very busy cooking when he never recognized someone's stepping inside the kitchen and silently sat down.
"Can I sip a hot 'salabat' please. A voice spoke as he turned his head and found the Captain smiling at him.
" Dad?" He immediately took his hand and sought his gather-in-law's hand for a 'mano po', so overwhelmed and smiled as he sat beside him.
" Wow! I've got a Filipino son-in-law now, good for you, man. I hope you know your story already, don't you?"
" Yeah, Dad. I was just sad, I've lost Amá Sibal and my mother. "
" That's pretty sad." The Captain said.
George wondered and tried to analyze the hyperbole sound of the Captain's sentence.
" Dad, why? Is there anything I need to know more?"
Someone came in and since it's still dim inside so he never knew that it was Sibal.
" I'm interested with the 'salabat' in this kitchen. They said Albrecht's 'salabat' is at par the best, may I ask for a mug, George, please."
Without any sound George, took the kettle and poured the 'salabat' in the man's mug. George's eyes were inquisitive while trying to look at his face.
"Hmm...you're grown up now. You're even taller than me, my goodness. Time flies. "
" Amá Sibal?" George asked.
" Yes, my son."
George rushed towards and embraced the old man. Sibal immensely cried.
" It's nice you're back home and have met my adopted amazon girl, haha!" Sibal tapped his shoulder.
" Wow, I got teary eyed again. Now you're seeing me again as an adult George and thank you for raising my wife perfectly Amá, she's someone Dad Edward had left you for good, you're trustworthy, and yes."
" I almost got envy to this old man. But I tried not, he had so many headaches on her as I casually experience for just some couple of years in Manila, guarding a curious girl from the University belt to the soldier's headquarters, went fencing and by foot or running while avoiding my men guarding her, haha." The captain smilingly said.
" Haha! you couldn't imagine my life with that girl. She's climbing trees more often than his brothers, huh! she read books a lot. Edward's money almost consumed in buying her books. She's really smart. But she's naughty. She really dreamed of becoming a soldier. And take note, do you know that marrying the Japs' leader was really her plan as I contradicted to it. She said she hates the idea but it's the easiest way to battle inside their camp, alone. I was just thankful that the night before their fake wedding, she realized to back off, so I laughed out loud and just waited if when your team would do so. When she didn't return any longer, I felt relaxed, thinking she's already safe. That's it, I was abducted by some group, and its still a puzzle until now. But hey, careful with your wife, she's not easy." Sibal ended.
" Wow! upon hearing your testimony, I feel terrified with her background. But honestly, she's a very softhearted woman. Things had changed."
" Haha! hopefully." The Captain laughed.
" Me too, haha! can't believe you George. She's notorious at home." Sibal smiled.
" What? haha!" George laughed in amazement.
" Yeah. When she caught the middle brother cheating some household assignments, she'd lessen the number of rice cups. The rice ration depends on the number of household chores' accomplishments. The more the siblings worked hard, the more rice and viands requested to her Iná, haha! So her brothers kept an eye on her, so silly girl." Sibal said.
" Way back im Manila, soldiers at that she'd escaped for many times. She ran so fast and like a slimy shadow they hardly tracked her. Hope you'll be fine with her George, sorry I missed to tell you the truth about the lady's naughty moves. But embrace her weaknesses, lapses and grey character. Good luck, son."
" Wow! I received so many revelations this early, but Magee's ... haha, she's behave. I can handle her, but thanks a lot. These are all great tips."
" So, how is she?" Can we see her today or not yet. Tell us, we'll not be seeing her if it's prohibited." Edward sought permission.
" Ah, haha! I'm in a hot seat now! haha! but anyway..." He stopped talking when Sibal intervened.
" I know the answer, Edward, look, Magee doesn't like to see anyone, haha. She's cleaning the house,right?" Sibal was smiling again while George was carefully arranging his responses to the fathers.
" Wow...they knew her a lot, haha! this is so funny! the folks are." He thought.
A little while, George was done with his viand and 'duma' so he packed them all. Edward and Sibal were making fun looking at him doing it. After all, he sat down and waited for the next roundabout lines of the funny Dads.
" Go on, George. Tell her not to eat too much those chocolates."
" Yeah, tell her to stop putting some markings on the floor when people are trying to break her rules, haha. What do you think." Sibal funnily said.
" Markings....she put a charcoal marking when she never allowed me to enter the master's bedroom, it's a charcoal marking." George laughed.
" Those demarcations are sacred. Hahay, Magee, okay George, go up there now. She might be using some binoculars to trace our whereabouts." Edward laughed.
George unbelievably heard their testimonies and kept on laughing and thought, " Those were all true." After hearing a series of talk he finally departed.
He was running to return to the granite house and when he reached there, he found her cleaning.
" Hey, it's my job now, just leave it to me, Mag
" No, it's okay. By the way, what's that? it smells like..."
Excitingly, he opened the food pack on the kitchen table.
" You cooked it, thank you George." Then she smiled at him, tasting the viand while smiling.
"Wow! this is it!" She said.
Let's both do the cleaning, if you wish. But I don't like you to stress yourself too much, okay?" He led her to settle first so that she can have her breakfast.
She gazed at her and sweetly complimented.
" You're someone who's typically taming my worst self. I'll keep you singing in my heart as long as I live. Your voice is warming my cold thoughts, your chuckles makes me better despite my numbness and your eyes have melted my childish past. I can be in love with you for centuries and even the days will turn the dates to forever I will love the same man in you. I'm all yours, George."