Men are not dumb like some of us would like women to believe – we can read your intentions, we get it when you flirt, and we always hope that you are smart enough to realize when you are being let down. Oftentimes, we ignore the signals you're throwing at our faces hoping that you'll get our silent no because we don't want to be rude by spelling our rejection out for you; on rare occasions when we have to be brutally frank, believe me, we usually feel bad about it not because we care about your feelings but because we were groomed by society to take the rejection rather than dish it.
"LC, tinanggal ko na 'yung tinik nitong inihaw na bangus para sa'yo," Sienna said handing me a plate. "Anong sawsawan ang gusto mo, LC? Gusto mo ba ng kamatis? Ipaggagayat kita."
Ano ba 'tong batang 'to, alam naman n'yang may asawa ako, susubok pa talaga? Besides, brod ko sa frat ang Kuya n'ya. Minsan talaga may mga babaeng hindi mo maintindihan.
"'Yung buko salad, LC, ako ang nagtimpla n'yan—"
"Sienna, kumain ka na," I said softening my reproach with a smile. "H'wag mo na kaming intindihin, kayang-kaya na namin ang mga sarili namin," I added ignoring the plate she handed and choosing to pick an empty one.
"Hindi, LC, okay lang. Ito o, ipinili kita ng inihaw na bangus."
I took the dish she was holding and she smiled broadly.
I handed the plate to Gary. "1st Vice, pinili pa ni Sienna 'yan."
"Salamat po, LC," Gary replied. "Kumakain din po ba ng inihaw na bangus si Mrs. Yu, LC?" Gary asked.
I wasn't sure if he noticed that Brod Tolit's sister was being extra attentive to me, all the same, I appreciated his gesture.
"'Yung asawa ko? Naku mahilig 'yun sa inihaw na bangus lalo na 'yung gan'yan na mataba ang tiyan, paborito n'ya 'yan, eh."
"Baka po may ganito sa restaurant ng resort nina Brod Tolits, LC, ibili n'yo po si Ate Green," Yurich said.
"Oo, LC, pasalubong n'yo sa kanya."
"Tiyak matutuwa 'yun. Itatanong ko kay Tolits mamaya kung pwedeng bumili—"
"Wala kaming inihaw na bangus sa menu ng restaurant, ipinaihaw lang 'yan ni Kuya para sa inyo," Sienna butted in.
"Gan'un ba? Sayang naman."
"Sinigang na sugpo, LC, gusto po ninyong abutan ko kayo ng mangkok?"
"Hindi na, Jethro, kumain ka na. Kayo naman, kain lang. 'Yung neos ba, kumakain na?"
"Opo, nasa isang kuwarto po silang pito at dinalhan po sila doon ng pagkain."
"Mabuti. Mamaya, para mas mapabilis ang at homes let's do it by stations—" I stopped talking when my phone sounded. I knew who would be calling me at that hour.
"Hello, Mrs. Yu!"
"Lalabs!"
"Kumain na ang Lalabs ko?"
"Hindi pa, eh, ikaw nag-lunch ka na? Anong ulam mo?"
"I am eating lunch now, may pa-seafood fiesta itong sina Tolits."
"Ay, nakakainggit. Mabuti ka pa. Ako, hindi ko alam kung anong kakainin ko."
"Lalabs, may lechon sa ref, may sugpo rin, may danggit pa sa pantry natin."
"Eh, tinatamad akong magluto pero sawa na rin naman akong magpa-deliver sa fast foods."
"Lumabas ka ba?"
"Hindi, nandito lang ako sa bahay. Hindi na ako lumabas kasi sabi ng asawa ko, eh, h'wag daw."
I chuckled. "Siyempre ayokong masilayan ng iba 'yung misis ko, baka agawin, eh."
