LIB Book Signing Event!

Hello, readers! I'll be at the Precious Pages Book Fest 2023 with Margaux Dy and Missgrainne. Baka makapunta po kayo. Have your Mistakenly book signed! Available na po ang book for only 299 PHP!

February 18, 2023
2 PM onwards
Lower Ground Floor, SM Manila

Thank you so much for the support!

Kabanata 20

Lalaine was close with mama. Sabagay ay sabay silang lumaki ni Joaquin and they were friends and played together when they were younger. I can imagine her going to mama and Joaquin's house to play...o si Joaquin sa kanila. Ano naman kaya ang nilalaro nila noon? Did they play house before? Probably. I sighed.

"Hija, are you all right? Are we making you bored?" Ngumiti sa akin si mama.

Maagap naman akong umiling. "No, Mama. I'm fine, I'm sorry..." Ngumiti na lang din ako.

"Susunduin ka na lang ni Joaquin dito mamaya?" And then mama sighed. "Si Joaquin talaga. Ang workaholic pa rin. Kumusta kayo sa bahay ninyo, hija?"

Ngumiti pa ako lalo kay mama. "Maayos naman po kami ni Joaquin, Mama. Don't worry, he's just really busy with work. Hindi maiwasan." sabi ko.

"Joaquin is just really the same old Joaquin, tita." si Lalaine na bumaling at ngumiti kay mama.

Unti-unti naman nawala ang ngiti ko...

Mama invited me to her house today. Kanina nang dumating ako ay kami lang naman ni mama. And she did not really invite Lalaine. It was obvious when she just came here to visit Joaquin's mom. And mama's face showed that she wasn't expecting her.

"Pwede bang maiwan ko muna kayong dalawa rito? I'll just check on the maids in the kitchen. Titingnan ko ang pinapahanda kong pagkain natin sa kanila."

Lalaine and I both nodded to mama. Pagkatapos ay tumayo na muna ito at iniwan kaming dalawa doon sa malapit sa may pool area. Mukhang maliligo na lang din kasi kami dito sa swimming pool ng bahay ni mama dahil nagyaya rin si Lalaine.

I appreciate mama's effort to reach out to me by inviting me to bond like we used to. Natuwa ako na ramdam ko pa rin naman ang kagustuhan ni mama na maayos pa rin kami galing sa medyo hindi rin namin pagkakaintindihan noong nakaraan.

I just don't understand Lalaine's presence here... Talagang ngayon din siya pumunta rito? O palagi rin siyang nandito para dalawin si mama. I understand that she grew close to mama. Siguro ay nagseselos lang din ako...

"Joaquin's an achiever even when we were young. He always wanted to make his parents proud." Ngumiti sa akin si Lalaine.

I know that I am being bitter here. Wala pa naman talagang ginagawa si Lalaine pero parang uninterested na ako sa mga sasabihin niya because of my bitterness.

Ngumiti na lang din ako ng tipid. At least pinilit ko pa rin na maging mabuti rin sa kaniya dahil wala naman siyang ginagawa sa akin.

"You know when Joaquin and I were still kids..." And then she started telling me stories about her childhood with Joaquin, even if I did not ask for it...

Nanahimik na lang din ako habang nagkukuwento siya. At nang makabalik ang mama ay sinali na niya ito sa pag-r-reminisce.

At habang nakikinig ako sa mga kwento ay parang unti-unti rin akong nanliliit sa sarili ko... Lalaine was just as competitive as Joaquin... They learned a lot of things together while growing up. And Lalaine's an equally achiever as Joaquin. Graduate siya ng BS Chemistry. And now CEO of a skin care and makeup line. She's running her own business. At bata pa siya. Mas matanda lang ng ilang taon sa akin pero andami na niyang na achieve at this age. And when I think about myself... I can't help it but to think that I'm just a housewife now...

Being Joaquin's wife makes me happy. Pakiramdam ko ay ang swerte ko na may masipag, responsible, mabait at gwapo akong asawa. I feel like it's an honor to be Joaquin's wife.

And because of that I also feel the pressure of being his wife...

"Kumusta pala iyong may manliligaw ka naman daw nito lang sabi ng Mommy mo?"

Ngumiti at umiling si Lalaine kay mama. "Wala po 'yon, tita..." aniyang parang nahihiya pa.

Nalaman ko rin sa usapan lang ngayon na never pa palang nagkaka-boyfriend si Lalaine. Apparently she grew up prim and proper. She was also a ballerina. She can sing and dance. She can even act as she joined a drama club in college. And I cannot deny the fact that she's really a beauty, too. And her body's nice. Papasa na rin siyang fashion model.

"I knew that Angel was also offered modeling and was about to go abroad when she married Joaquin instead..." Ngumiti sa akin si mama.

Ngumiti rin ako. "My friends were also encouraging me to join the beauty pageant before, mama." I smiled as I remembered and gained a little pride from it.

Umiling naman si Lalaine. "Me too, tita. But you know Dad. He finds it cheap. And I also kind of don't like things like that." Bahagya pa siyang ngumiwi.

Nawala ang ngiti ko at bahagya rin akong natigilan sa sinabi niya. Unti-unti rin bumagsak ang mga balikat ko... I felt like myself was climbing even a little awhile ago and then also fell back down immediately... It was kind of frustrating. I feel like my confidence was breaking...

Nagkatinginan kami ni Lalaine at nakita niyang natahimik ako. She smiled to me. And I feel like I didn't like that smile of her.

I still tried to enjoy my time with mama. Hindi na rin kami natuloy sa pagligo sa pool dahil umulan din naman. And mama didn't want it anymore. At parang ayaw ko na rin maligo sa pool na kasama rin si Lalaine.

"Nandito po si Sir Joaquin." A maid went to us to let us know.

I got up immediately.

"Oh. Sinusundo ka na ng asawa mo, hija."

I smiled happily to mama. Tiningnan ko rin si Lalaine na mukhang natahimik.

Nanguna ako sa pagsalubong kay Joaquin. Sinalubong din ako ng yakap at halik ng asawa ko. Nakangiti lang naman sa amin si mama. While I caught Lalaine looking away, as if she didn't want to see me and Joaquin this close...

I'm positive now. I'm a girl too so I think I know. I think Lalaine has feelings for Joaquin...

Lumapit din si Joaquin sa mama niya to kiss its cheek. Pagkatapos ay binati niya rin si Lalaine na nandoon nakatayo sa tabi namin. Pero pakiramdam ko ay parang may nag-iba na sa mood nito kumpara kanina...

"Dito na ba kayo magdidinner, hijo? O mukhang may nakaplano rin kayong ibang lakad ngayong gabi?" Mama smiled to us.

Ngumiti rin ako at tumingin kay Joaquin.

"Yes, Mama. Thanks for the dinner invite. But I promised to take my wife out to a dinner tonight." Joaquin said to his mama.

Nakangiting tumango lang naman sa amin si mama. At nabanggit ko na rin ito sa kaniya kanina kaya alam at in-expect na rin niya na hindi na kami dito sa bahay niya makakapag-dinner.

"Bawi na lang po kami next time, Mama. I also miss your cooking." Ngumiti si Joaquin sa mama niya.

"Hmm." Tumango-tango lang si mama. "It's fine, hijo. Pinaalam na rin sa akin ng asawa mo kanina na may lakad nga raw kayo ngayong gabi. At isa pa, I already had enough time and ate lunch and snacks with Angel kanina. So you two just enjoy your dinner date." Ngumiti muli si mama sa amin.

Lalo naman akong napangiti pa.

Nang sulyapan ko si Lalaine ay halos nakayuko na siya...

That evening we left mama's house and I went out to dinner with Joaquin. Nauna kaming umalis at naiwan pa doon si Lalaine. Pero mukhang aalis na rin naman siguro siya at ano pa ba ang gagawin niya doon sa bahay ni mama. If she's the CEO, aren't she busy? And she seemed to have lots of time na tumambay din sa bahay ng mama ni Joaquin...

"Thank you for tonight, hon." I said to Joaquin.

Gwapong ngumiti naman sa akin ang asawa ko habang nakaupo na kami ngayon sa nakahanda na ring table for two namin dito sa naging paborito ko na rin na restaurant. "You're welcome, hon. Anything for my wife... I hope this makes you happy? Although I know that this isn't enough to make up for my busyness..." Joaquin sighed. As if he's still guilty for being busy with work.

I shook my head. "Ano ka ba. This is already more than enough for me. I understand that you have to work hard not only for your family but also for your employees. So don't worry so much about me..." I gave my husband a reassuring smile.

And he smiled too as he's been assured by my smile.