It's the usual dinner sa bahay ng mga Herrera.They were seated around the dining table.Sa magkabilang dulo ang mama at papa ni Jake.Ang mga babae nasa isang side facing their partners.Si Shelly ang nasa tabi ni Mrs. Herrera.
When they finished dinner,Mrs. Herrera asked Shelly to go to the kitchen to get the dessert..Walang nakakita na nalukot ang mukha ni Sandra.
Habang nasa kusina sila,Mrs.Herrera asked Shelly,"Kumusta naman kayo ng anak ko iha?"
"Okay naman po." She answered with a shy smile.
"You know what? I'm happy for both of you! I have been vocal on how much I like you for him. I won't be surprised kung one of these days he would ask you to marry him." Jake's mom said before she tapped her hand.
Naisip ni Shelly na may possibility nga kaya na ayain na siyang pakasal ni Jake? Ayaw niyang umasa but she didn't say that to Mrs.Herrera.Jake doesn't love her.He just wants her on his bed.
"Mahal mo ba ang anak ko iha?"nakangiting tanong nito.
Namula si Shelly at napayuko.Hinawakan ng matanda ang kamay niya at ngumiti.
"Pwede niyo po ba akong turuang mag-bake minsan?" She sasked the older woman to intentionally evade answering her question.
"Oo naman iha!" Mrs.Herrera sounded delighted.
"Ituturo ko sayo ang recipe nitong chocolate cake na ito.Paborito ito ng mag-aama ko.Lalo na ni Jake."
"What's taking you so long?" asked Jake.
He pretended to sound irritated pero he's grinning.Nakasandal ito sa pintuan ng kusina with his arms crossed on his chest.He likes the idea na magkasundo ang mama niya at ang girlfriend niya.
"Hay naku Jake! Wala pa naman 5 minutes na nawawala ang nobya mo hinahanap mo na agad." Natatawang sabi ng mama nito.
"Baka daw ho kasi may masabi kayo about his past girlfriends,tita." Biro ni Shelly.
Jake chuckled and got the cake from his mom.
"Sabi mo nga babe,past girlfriends.So wala na ang mga yun! .Importante yung ngayon." He gave her a quick kiss on the lips sabay labas ng kusina.
WAHHHH!! Nakakahiya sa mama nito! Pulang-pula ang mukha ni Shelly.Pero in fairness kinilig siya dun.Kaso parang gusto niyang matawa sa sinabi ni Jake.Past na daw yun so wala na.Eh bakit yung kay Marco?Bugbog sarado nga dito ang ex niya.
After the dessert, they all went in the family room.Masyadong maalinsangan kung sa veranda sila.At least air-conditioned ang family room and may plasma tv.
Sa malakas na boses Kim said," Family! Meron daw sasabihin si Sandra."
They all looked at Sandra na mukha pang nahihiya.She threw William a glance.The latter nodded his head as if giving her his approval.Tinignan nito ang mga magulang ni Jake.
"Ma,Pa" tawag nito sa medyo atubiling boses."Two nights from now may pinaplano po ang mga kaibigan ko.Parang bachelorette party.Okay lang po ba?"
Nagkatinginan ang mag-asawa and Jake's dad nodded then Mrs.Herrera said,"Basta walang hanky-panky okay lang."bahagya itong ngumiti.
Umiling si Sandra." Wala po mama.Sinabihan ko naman po sila na ayaw ko ng ganun.Tsaka ayaw ni Will." Tumingin ito sa nobyo.
"So wala namang problema pala." Tango ng matandang babae.
May naisip na kapilyahan si Kim. The men are drinking whiskey sa bar counter.
"Darling,aatend ako ha? Di pwedeng hindi since magiging bilas ko na si Sandra." Sabi nito sa asawa na katabi ni Jake.
"No problem darling."Thomas said while raising his glass at his wife.
"Jake!" she called." Sasama si Shelly ha?" she said in a sweet voice.
Biglang napatingin ang lahat ditto while Shelly is holding her breath.Jake's face looks impassive and he took another shot of the booze.
"No." malamig na sagot nito.
Silence.
Shelly knows na malabo siyang payagan ni Jake.But nakakahiya lang kasi kahit sa harap ng pamilya nito pinapakita niya ang pagiging sobrang higpit nito sa kanya.
Tumikhim ang papa nito.
"Jake,si Kim sasama naman.Tsaka sabi ni Sandra simpleng party lang yun." Sabi nito sa anak.
"Oo nga naman bro! Party lang yun hindi ko naman papayagan si Sandra if may male stripper." Segunda ni Will.
Jake put his glass on the table with a thud.
"I said no!" he said sounding annoyed.
BIglang kinabahan si Shelly ng makitang mukhang mapipikon na si Jake.
"Kuya Will,Kim,tito,okay lang po.Hindi din po ako pwede dahil may pictorial po kami," she made up an excuse.
Nailing si Kim," Sa gabi naman yun.Mga 8 PM. For sure tapos na pictorial mo."
"Shelly's not going! Let's drop the subject." Jake said stonily.
Biglang tumayo si Mrs.Herrera and said,"Oo nga pala sa isang linggo your father and I invited some friends." Pag-iiba ng matanda sa usapan.
"Umuwi ang pamilya ni Lucille at Antonio.Magbabakasyon daw sila ng ilang linggo.It's my little way of mending what happened before.Tutal matagal na yun."
Silence.
Napansin ni Shelly na nakatingin ang mga kapatid ni Jake sa kanya.Nakita niyang medyo kumunot ang noo ng nobyo.
Bigla itong tumayo.
"Shelly and I need to go.It's getting late." He announced then he nodded at his brothers and father.
Lumapit ito sa mama niya to kiss her on the cheek.Tumango din ito ng bahagya kina Kim and Sandra.
He took his woman’s hand.
"Mauuna na ho kami." Shelly told his family.
Inis na inis si Sandra kay Shelly.Naiinis siya na kabago-bago lang nitong gf ni Jake dinaig pa siya sa pag-sipsip sa mama ni Will.
May araw ka din! Bulong nito sa sarili.