Sa mga nagtatanong kung ilang chapters ang kwentong 'to, mga 65, I guess. And the last few chapters will not be as humorous as possible. If you still want to stick with it, thank you and if not, still thankful. You guys will always make up my day. 🤗

Humanda na!
Basahin natin ang mga sentimiento cheese pimiento ni Mr. T.
~~~~~~~~~

"Why did you spare her while in fact she should be the one choosing all those things?" I asked a bit annoyed. "Now we don't know what's best for her."

"Apo, I know what is best for Mayumi." He replied while giving back the catalogue to the store owner. "Naalala mo ba yung sinuot niya noong engagement ninyo? I was the one who picked that silver gown. Dinala ko lang siya rito para masukatan. And it really suits her, don't you think?"

"I agree, Don Emilio." Fran cut in. Sinusukatan din siyang katulad ko para sa suit na gagamitin namin sa kasal. "And she really stood out. I didn't even recognize her."

"O kita mo na. Pati kaibigan mo, sumang-ayon. Isa pa, ayoko ring istorbohin pa siya." Inayos ni lolo ang kwelyo ng sinusukat niyang kulay charcoal grey suit. "She requested me of a refresher home course. I know she's a wise young woman who doesn't allow her wisdom to just rot. Hindi siya katulad ng ibang babae riyan na puro pagpapaganda lang ang alam."

"Is that the case Don Emilio why you didn't remarry?" Nathan asked all of a sudden. Nakaharap kaming apat ngayon sa salamin. Kung ako lang ang masusunod, mas gusto kong wala ng ganito. The reason why I wanted Judge Kruz to officiate us is because these are all fake. Judge Kruz might be someone I can rake-off and bribe.

"Probably. Nothing and no one can replace my late wife." Sumeryoso siya. "I was only seventeen when I finally realized she was the one. Kung sana hindi niya ako iniwan ng maaga." He sighed. And pause for a second. "Before I forget, kailangan ko nga palang kausapin si madam buttercup." Pag-iiba niya ng usapan. Natahimik na rin kasi kaming tatlo nang makita namin siyang nagbago ng emosyon. Saka niya kami tinalikuran.

"Such a sentimental man." Opinyon ni Nathan patungkol kay lolo habang umiikot sa harap ng salamin. "That's what you inherit, Brix. And I think na iyan ang magpapahamak sayo."

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. I took off the cambridge suit and hang it properly on the wall.

"And what exactly do you mean by that?" tanong ko sa kanya.

Tinanggal na rin niya ang suot niya saka ako sinagot. "You are one hell of a sentimental, moody, jealous guy. Napapansin namin ang pagiging mainitin lalo ng ulo mo kapag kinakausap namin si Mayumi. Gusto mo siyang solohin, pare. To think that you're just pretending to be her main squeeze."

Yamot akong napatingin sa paligid. Mabuti na lang at malayo si lolo. Hindi niya narinig ang mga sinabi ni Nathan.

"I'm not jealous. Where did you get that idea? You know I hate her kind. Ang gusto ko ay katulad ni—"

"Ni Lily Suarez?" pinutol ni Fran ang sasabihin ko. "Bro, that girl is only into you because she needs you and the stability that you can provide her..."

"Girl like Lily Suarez doesn't know love, she only knows your money..." Nathan agreed.

"I don't think you both know either of them. Besides, it is none of your business." I was supposed to turn my back at them when I heard Nathan once more.

"Kung sabihin ko sayong si Mayumi ay naiwan ngayong nag-iisa? And your trusted caretaker is taking really good care of her."

"Yeah, bro. I heard all of your maids are having their day off. We wouldn't know what they are doing right now. Silang dalawa lang ang nasa bahay nyo." Seryoso silang nagkatinginan. It's like they deem something I didn't know. And that made me sick.

Nagmadali ko silang tinalikuran.

"Hey, dude! Where are you going?"

"Home. Biglang sumakit ang ulo ko!" I cholerically said without saying goodbye, even to my lolo.

Nagmamaneho ako at hindi ko maintindihan ang nararamdaman ko. It's like someone has gone against my will and stabbed me in my back. I shouldn't be affected or rather shouldn't care about what my friends would say. After all, this ridiculous fake relationship with that janitress is just temporary. May asawa't anak na siya. Nakita ko kung paano niya alagaan ang lalaking iyon na empleyado ko rin pala. I saw from her eyes how she loves her daughter. How she will do anything for the sake of her family.

Kaya nga nagtataka ako. Why the hell is she still hitting on with Ben? She even has her endearment with him. And me? Just a bored, goddamn, plain Brix! At kapag nadudulas pa siya, parang boss-subordinate pa ring matigas na Mr. T ang itatawag niya sa 'kin. She's my honey for shit's sake!

I stepped on the throttle to accelerate more. That Mayumi needed another good scolding. I will not give her what she wants.

Naapakan kong bigla ang break nang mag-ring ang cellphone. Only to find out it's Arman. Lolo Emilio might have asked him for me to come back at that store. I put him on the speaker.

"Hello Brix," hindi ko pa sinasagot ay narinig ko na siya.

"Arman, tell lolo I'm not coming back. I need to settle some things." I uttered in a deep voice. Habang iniisip kung ano nga ba ang dapat kong i-settle na mga bagay?

"You need to know this." He also sounded more serious as he used to. "Just before I break the news to Don Emilio. Another beehive was stolen. And this time, we lost doubled the numbers of the first case."

"What?! Paano nangyari iyon?" Humigpit ang hawak ko sa manibela. Kung kailan nandito kaming lahat. Kung kailan marami akong pinadalang tao para magbantay. Those bastards!

"I reported it to the authorities. They're already investigating it. They have a hint it's not really coming from the opposition."

I frowned. "Who are they pointing to then?"

"They confirmed it's an inside job."

"Fvck! Sinasabi ko na nga ba!"

Narating ko ang bahay na gulong-gulo ang isip. Hindi ako dapat umuwi. Dapat dumiretso na ako sa farm. I should deal with this situation. I must regain what I have lost. Hindi lang pera ang ibinuhos ng mga magulang ko sa farm na iyon. Kundi panahon at puso. I have to search those culprits. I will make sure those offenders will be convicted!

I am about to turn around para pumunta na lang sa farm nang may maulinigan akong ingay na nagmumula sa kusina. My mind was turbid as I walk to find that noise.

Like a bombshell in front of my face. Yakap ni Ben si Mayumi. Halos kita ko na ang mga kaluluwa nila sa kanilang ayos. Hindi ako makapaniwala na sa loob pa mismo ng pamamahay ko ako makakasaksi ng kababuyan.

"Damn it! What are you two doing behind my back?" I shouted. My jaw is hardening and my hands are about to punch Ben. Pinagkatiwalaan siya ng pamilya ko. We raised him, sent him for proper education and this is how he would repay me?

"S-Sir Brix, wala po kaming masamang ginagawa." Natatarantang paliwanag ni Ben na agad binitawan ang mapagkunwaring si Mayumi. Ide-deny pa nila, samantalang huling-huli na sila sa akto!

"Get out Ben! Ayoko nang makita ang pagmumukha mo rito!" I exploded and grabbed the hand of the polygamous woman.

"I-I'm sorry, sir. Magpapaliwanag ako..."

"Shut up, Ben! Just goddamn get away from us." Kuyom pa rin ang kamao ko at kung hindi pa siya aalis ay baka hindi ko na mapigilan ang sarili ko. Napayuko siya, marahang naglakad at sumulyap pa kay Mayumi bago tuluyang umalis. Damn!

"B-Brix," namumutlang biglang sabi ni Mayumi. Nagulat ba siya dahil nahuli ko sila? "B-Bakit mo inaaway si ka-love team?"

Gusto ko siyang tirisin ngayon din!

[Dapat mayroong isang GIF o video dito. I-update na ang app ngayon upang makita ito.]

~~~~~~~~

Up next: SPG
Brix's pov🧙‍♂️

Si Brix 🤵
Si Brix ulit 'pag galit 🧛‍♂️
Si Mayumi 👩‍🎓 magna—
Si Ben 👨‍🌾 magsa—
Si Ben ulit magtu—👨‍🔧
Si Lolo pogi 👴🏻
Eto naman lolo ko 👻
Si Lily 💃 mali—
Si Gloria 👩🏻‍🍳 kusi—
Si Author 👽
Ikaw   ?  Comment below, hihi!