Chapter 31: Wifey

Ace's POV

"Jeffrey, ikaw nga ba talaga 'yan or namamalik-mata lang ako?" my mom asked Jeffrey.

"Yes, it's me! I didn't know that you're Ace's mom? What a small world!" Jeffrey answered as we're all still shocked from this revelation.

"Pahingi akong autograph mo pagpunta mo dito! Nakakainis ka! Hindi ka man lamang nagpapakita na! Porket sumikat ka na d'yan as a writer! Nakalimutan mo na kami balikan dito!" my mom said.

"Wait, mom!" I shouted then hinarap sa akin ni Jeffrey ang phone ni Harry so that we can talk to each other, "You and Jeffrey really know each other? As in magkakilalang magkakilala talaga? Walang halong biro?" I asked.

"Anong Jeffrey? Why are you calling him by his first name only? Sabihin nila hindi talaga kita pinapalaki ng tama!" my mom shouted, "Yes, I told you we had an affair. Actually, we're old lovers turned enemies turned strangers turned friends! Haha! Grabe small world!"

I was literally shocked as in napanganga ako sa sinabi ni mom that she and Jeffrey had an affair before? If nangyari 'yun, then Jeffrey might be my dad!

"Don't say that Jeffrey is my long lost dad, mom?" I asked.

"What? No, silly! Jeffrey is not your father. Though sana lang siya since he's too dreamy and too good to be true! But now that the tides have changed, baka maging son-in-law ko pa ata si Jeffrey! So magiging old lovers turned enemies turned strangers turned friends turned son-in-law! My God!" my mom said and then she bursted out of laughter.

"It was really so funny back then, Lucille, so many fun memories! Ngayon, we'll see each other again soon! I really missed your cooking. I look forward to it!" Jeffrey said.

"Oh, sure! Pero grabe ka, Jeffrey, after mo ko iwanan at saktan, baka 'yung baby boy ko naman saktan at iwanan mo ah? Haha!" my mom jokingly said.

"Mom! Stop saying that!" I exclaimed.

"Nako, nako, nako, masyado na nagiinit ulo ni Ace. Baka meron to ngayon. Monthly period mo ngayon?" my mom said.

"Bye mom! Oo na! Pupunta na kami lahat dyan! Just stop embarasssing me already! Bye! I love you take care!" I shouted and I ended up the call.

I sighed and I looked at Chester and Harry furiously for calling my mom intentionally and being embarrased in front of these 3 dudes!

"Please go back to your seating arrangements! Aalis na tayo!" Ate Alaiza just shouted.

"Go back! Lahat kayo umalis nga dito sa tabi ko!" I shouted.

"Even me?" Jeffrey asked me and smiled.

"You stay here! We have a lot to talk! And isa pa, you're my seatmate!" I answered.

Bumalik na sina Lucas, Seph and Tara in the front seat, Chester and Harry continued their business. And now, it's just me and Jeffrey.

"Sit down." I said with a very serious tone while I'm looking at him with squinting eyes.

"Yes po, master." Jeffrey said and he sat down next to me. He handed a cold bottle of sprite, "You want some?"

"No. We need to talk." I said.

"Ace, kalamahan mo lang. Manok ko 'yan." Chester whispered while I can see his eyes looking at me doon sa small space in the middle of their chair.

"Baka gusto mong tusukin ko 'yang mata mo?" I said.

"Tatahimik na po, master." Chester whispered.

"Okay, so, Jeffrey. What's your relationship with my mom?" I asked Jeffrey.

"Your mom already said it a while ago, right? We had an affair before." Jeffrey said.

"Kailan 'yun? Gaano katagal?" I asked.

"Maybe or probably around 16 or 17?" Jeffrey answered.

"Why did you leave her?" I asked him since I hate my dad for leaving us. I want to know why Jeffrey also left mom.

"I didn't leave her because I don't like her. It's just that she got pregnant at that age, and we were unprepared at that time. Hindi ako ang nakabuntis sa mom so I'm not your father, and that's a good thing! Whew! And akala namin na 'yung nakabuntis sa mom mo would take responsibility. But then he didn't. So I decided to work at an early age to help her raise a child so I did loved your mom, for the record, and I had to leave para magtrabaho. But, in the long run, we both have different priorities and that's when we've decided to cut it off and stayed as friends and sabi niya that your very strict and old fashioned grandma will be the one to support her." Jeffrey explained.

"Then, bakit hindi mo siya binalikan noong ready ka na?" I asked Jeffrey, "I thought you loved her?"

"Well, yes I did, but I told you, we had different priorities already as the time goes by. And okay kami parehas and we've also decided na we'll go on our separate ways and won't be lovers anymore. She wants me to pursue my career as a writer." Jeffrey answered.

"So, do you know who my dad is? Mom never showed me his picture or anything about him." I asked Jeffrey.

He took a sip from the cold bottle of sprite that he was supposed to give me, then he answered, "No, I don't know who your dad is."

"Okay, no more questions." I answered.

"Okay, Ace." Jeffrey whispered.

After our conversation, nakatingin pa rin ako kay Jeffrey, and he was confused why I'm still looking at him.

"What do you want, master?" Jeffrey asked.

I didn't answer, I was waiting if he will be able to read my mind and kung malalaman niya kung anong gusto ko.

He paused for a moment to think kung anong hinihingi ko sa kanya then he smiled at me.

"Okay, sure, Ace." Jeffrey said.

Does he know already kung anong gusto ko? Hmmmm. If he does, I may give a point to him. Haha!

He handed me a piece of the wireless earphone and siya na rin ang naglagay sa right ear ko. It was not what I was asking, but I guess it's fine.

But then, biglang umayos ng upo si Jeffrey and he lowered his shoulders once again.

"Come, you can sleep here on my shoulders again. You can sleep as long as you want." Jeffrey said.

For a moment, my heart pounded so fast that I was about to puke, literally!

Pero, Jeffrey knew what I wanted. So, I maybe giving a point kay Jeffrey, not only for knowing what I want, but also, for taking care of my mom for a while back then when my dad left us.

I laid my head down on Jeffrey's shoulder and since I was so tired, sobrang sarap lang ng pakiramdam ko habang nasandal ako sa kanya. I really felt again that I was at home. I really wish that Jeffrey was my dad, but, to be honest... I'm starting to feel attached sa kanya. Because Jeffrey is so matured that he can really understand all my mood swings and wala lang sa kanya and talagang he's really taking care of me kapag kasama ko siya.

"Now that I know that you're Lucille's son, Ace, don't worry, I'll really take care of you... and if possible, if gusto mo na..." Jeffrey said and he leaned his head slightly towards my ear and whispered, "I want to marry you."

Shoot!

Biglang nag-init ang pakiramdam ko na parang gusto kong pagpawisan from what Jeffrey said! I don't know what to feel! I'm not ready to be his... husband...or wife? Or I don't know maybe both? Arrgghh! I'm too young para magkaroon ng asawa!

"Anong sabi mo? Wala akong narinig." I said, even though I heard it clearly.

"Nothing, Ace. Ang sabi ko lang, just rest on my shoulders. You can hug me if you want to." Jeffrey whispered.

Well, I did hug him for the record. I really wanted to hug him right now... to say thank you for being there for my mom.

"Ace..." I heard a whisper again... and it was Chester, as usual. "Ready na ko sa 5K!"

I was about to poke Chester's eye from the small opening from their chair pero nakaiwas agad siya! Once I get the chance, I'll poke both of his eyes!

Then, after a while, I was looking at the window while the bus was moving and habang nakasandal ako sa right shoulder ni Jeffrey and listening to some of Jason Mraz songs from his playlist, he fell asleep and napasandal siya sa ulo ko.

Umayos ako ng upo, then I held Jeffrey's head for a while.

Afterwards, I lowered my shoulders and sinandal ko si Jeffrey sa left shoulder ko. His head was so warm and I can feel Jeffrey's warm breath.

It was my turn to take care of him. I placed my hands on his head to make sure na hindi maaalog masyado ang ulo niya while the bus was moving.

"Thank you, master." Jeffrey whispered habang nakapikit siya.

This sh*thead is not yet asleep?

"May bayad 'to no!" I answered.

"Sure, I'll pay you with this." Jeffrey said and I felt something at my back.

It was warm and tender... it was Jeffrey's arm and bigla niya akong niyakap.

Yes, he did, the nerve of this guy!

I was about to remove his grip from my body, but then, It felt so good. I liked it, to be honest. I wanted to be hugged by him and I didn't know why.

"5K it isssss!" Chester whispered again.

"F*ck you!" I answered and gave him an eye roll.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Nakabalik na kami ng Manila but I did not have the chance to sleep since I really liked the view sa dinadaanan namin.

"Jeffrey, we're here." I whispered while I'm tapping his left cheek.

"Give me 5 more minutes." he whispered while he's still hugging me, "I won't be able to do this again, since alam ko na mahirap ka i-please, so just this time, lulubusin ko na."

This man, abusado! But, it's fine for me though.

After 5 minutes, and I did ran a stopwatch, Jeffrey removed his grip from my body and he thanked me for letting him hug me.

"Let's go down, Ace." Jeffrey said and tumayo na kami.

As soon as we got down from the bus and I was about to get my 3 bags, Jeffrey was about to get my bag nang biglang hinarangan siya nina Lucas and Seph.

"Oh oh oh, tama na 'yan. Nakarami ka na kanina sa bus. Kami naman!" Lucas said and dinala niya ang two bags ko.

"You won't get away with this, Jelson or whatever your name is, I won't let you do that to Ace again." Seph said while he's giving Jeffrey a cold shoulder and took one of my remaining bag sa bus compartment.

These three, they're still fighting and nakakatawa lang talaga sila. But to be honest, I'm getting used to this. Noong una, I really don't like to be with them, but as time goes by, I feel attached to them and minsan, hinahanap ko 'yung kakulitan nila.

Then, napatingin ako sa right side ko... I saw Chester and Harry. They were talking so softly so medyo lumapit ako ng kaunti to hear their conversation and to eavesdrop.

"Harry, ako na magdadala ng gamit mo lahat. Pagod ka na masyado. Hayaan mo na ako." Chester said.

"Sure ka? Baka masyado ka na maraming dala." Harry answered.

"Wala 'yun. Sabi ko nga 'di ba, liligawan kita?" Chester said.

What the f*cksh*t is this? Totoo ba 'yung narinig ko? Chester decided to court Harry? For real? I'm not dreaming, am I? Wooh! I want to see Chester kung paano niya liligawan si Harry! Hahaha! Natatawa ako potek! But sana naman si Harry, he'll make sure not to be an easy catch! Madali pa naman mahulog 'tong mokong na 'to! Pahirapan niya muna si Chester!

We went to the dorm and kasama pa rin namin sina Lucas, Seph and Jeffrey since binaba nila ang mga gamit ko.

Now, they're outside our room, habang ako naman, nasa pintuan lang.

"Ace, gutom ka ba? Would you like me to bring you a food here?" Seph asked.

"Ace, bibili ako ng pagkain. Anong gusto mo?" Lucas asked.

"Ace, I can treat you outside if you'd like." Jeffrey asked.

"No, thank you sa inyo. I had so much fun. I have to rest. Good night!" I said and I shut the door since I'm too tired to deal with those 3. I just want peace and be at my bed with my lucky hotdog pillow.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3 weeks after

"Aaahh! I missed this place!" I said as we landed and got out of the airport and we're at Antique at last!

"So, Ace, nag book ka ba ng private service natin papunta sa inyo?" Chester asked.

"Potek! Nakalimutan ko! Kininam! Wala, mag commute tayo nito! Our car is at home but hindi naman marunong mag drive si mom. But wait, I'll contact her first!" I said.

I tried to contact mom and let her know that we're already at the airport.

Phone ringing!

"Ace! Where are you now?" mom asked.

"We're here at the airport. I forgot, wala kaming private service papunta sa atin!" I said.

"Don't worry, I know na makakalimutin ka talaga. I asked someone para sunduin ka. He's on his way there and I asked him to use our car. Maybe mga less than 5 minutes andiyan na siya." mom replied.

"Who are you referring to?" I asked.

"Kita mo, makakalimutin ka na! But soon, you'll meet him. 'Di ko lang alam kung matatandaan mo pa siya, but siya tandang tanda ka niya." mom answered.

"Sino 'yun?" I asked mom since binibitin niya pa ako.

Then someone just tapped my back and said, "Hi, Ace. Kamusta na ang 'wifey' ko?"

I heard a guy's voice from behind me. It's not Seph, Jeffrey, nor Lucas! Shit! Who's that? And he's calling me his "Wifey"? What the f*ck!

"Wait mom, I'll call you back." I said and hung up the phone.

I was about to punch the guy that called me his "Wifey", but pagkalingon... it was my f*ckin childhood friend whom I always had a fight with...

"Zeus?" I asked him.

"Ako nga! I miss you, wifey!" he said while giving me a smile.

No! This isn't happening?

Mygahd!

End of Chapter 31