CHARI AND CLYDE’S POV
It’s been almost two weeks since Clint and I met again. He’s been going back and forth here in the coffee shop since that day and is always looking for me, but I keep on hiding. Honestly, I don’t know if I’ll be happy or annoyed! That’s because he’s awkward again. He wouldn’t stop until we talked properly.
“Ah… Mom… We had a medical emergency earlier,” Clyde abruptly focused on his laptop.
“Ah, truly? Why does it appear that there is no notice? Isn’t Mom always required to sign a permit?” I asked, surprised.
Without parental consent, they do not consider the student for any other events or activities at the university.
“It appears to be a scheduling issue, Mom, because it’s just me! Sir Clint and I then went to the big hospital.”
“Huh?” Clyde’s words raised my eyebrows. I approached him, first turning off the laptop so I could speak properly.
“Clyde, son… Sir Clint, take you out of campus? Who else is there?” I asked.
Clyde gave me a look.
“Mom won’t be mad at Sir Clint’s son if you just tell me,” I said gently. I understand what he means by those expressions.
“Just the two of us, Mom.”
“Is that after school?”
“Yes, Mom, we frequently go out after school.”
“Often? Why? I don’t think you told Mom about it.”
“I always eat outside with Sir Clint, Mom. Sir Clint is a nice man. When he goes to the coffee shop, he always tells me that you are not there. He says he wants to talk to you, Mom. He told me…” Clyde responded with a smile.
“Huh? Does he want to talk to me?” I inquired. Clyde simply nodded.
“Huh? But, earlier? What did you do in the hospital, baby?” I said quietly.
“Do a checkup.”
“How-”
My knee began to shake violently. I sat down in front of Clyde on the floor.
“Why, Mom? Why do you seem to be crying?” he asked, staring into my eyes.
“Son, how? How – the- check-up?”
“Mom, they simply took something from my mouth.” He indicated the inside of his cheek. He described it as, “it’s like a long q-tip.”
“Huh? Ugh!” I said, covering my mouth.
Clyde continued to stare at me.
Clint knew I was avoiding him, so he arranged a plan. Is it true? I believe what he did to Clyde was a –.
A SERIOUS conversation is going on between the three.
“Are you sure about what you did, Clint? You’re in so much trouble!” Nick exclaimed while making a funny face.
“Nick! I’ve been going to the shop for almost two weeks, but she keeps avoiding me. So! I made a way for her to find me and talk. Look! That’s effective! And I’m ready for all the trouble!” I replied.
“Seriously, Brother? Are you DNA testing, Clyde? Aren’t you scared about whether that guess was correct or not? You’re f**kin’ nuts, Clint!” Ben exclaimed, shaking his head.
“Ben, I can’t be wrong. When Mama Cha left me, she was pregnant! That’s why she left! Now I seem to be patching everything up,” I replied.
“But what if she’s pregnant by that time? Why did she decide to leave?” Ben explained.
“Brother! Trina was pregnant at the time as well! Maybe! She simply offered to go away and be on her own.” Nick stated, “Imagine her toughness. When other women become pregnant, they go after the man! Aunt Cha! She was the one who went away! Tsk! She’s incredibly powerful!” Nick brags.
“That’s what irritates me, Ben; why did she do that? Trina made me sick! Tsst!” I sighed.
“Are you ready to face her? Can you deal with Aunt Cha? Maybe later, when she’s already in front of you, staring sharply, your knees will shake! You’re not going to run away? Sure of it? Hahaha!” Ben burst out laughing.
They know how scared and nervous I am when facing Mama Cha, even before.
“I don’t know, brother! But you know that feeling-the feeling that there is a genuine connection? Clyde is my son, and I feel it, even stronger than Tejie!” I explained.
“We understand, but I wish you no trouble for doing such things, Clint,” Ben said.
“Ah! We’re going back to Manila soon, and then we’ll be back here in two weeks!” Nick exclaimed.
“Perhaps I won’t go with you!” I exclaimed.
“Clint, seriously? You’re staying here?” Nick asked.
“I will have to wait for the result. I’ll just rent an apartment first because it appears that buying a house here will take a long time,” I said.
“Really? A house right away?” Nick chuckled.
“Nick, I’m going to fight this! Eight years is enough, and I don’t want to look any further, so I’ll be cautious,” I replied, smiling.
“How’s it going in Manila? Tejie will ask for you anyway!” Ben exclaimed.
“I’ll call him,” I replied quickly.
“What if Aunt Cha has a boyfriend? I think I heard Clyde say that-his Uncle Josh has arrived!” Nick interrupted.
“He said he was just flirting,” Ben responded.
“Oh, just flirting!” I exclaimed aloud, making a face.
Nick teased, “So, will Clint agree? Hahaha! ”
“Brother, I’m going to buy a house here! I didn’t go out of my way to find Mama Cha just to give her away! Tsst! How fortunate that f**ker is!” I said with a frown because I was immediately annoyed.
THE NEXT day…
“Clint! You have a visitor,” Ben said quietly, and when I turned around, he pointed out the ‘visitor’ I had expected.
“Hmph! I told you she was coming!” I smiled.
Mama Cha was only a few steps away, and I could see her frown as she walked quickly. She was dressed in black square pants, a knitted cream-colored blouse, and, of course, a red Chuck Tay. She looked at me as she approached, and I gave her a silly grin while she was serious.
“Hi, Aunt Cha,” Ben said right away.
Mama Cha simply stared at him.
“I have to leave right now. Warming up first!” Ben exclaimed as he waved Mama Cha goodbye before departing.
“Do you know I can complain about what you did to Clyde yesterday?” she asked, irritably.
I didn’t respond; instead, I nodded, crossed my arms, and smiled at her.
“You didn’t even ask for my permission to do anything! That’s against the rules! Ha? Sir Clint? I need an explanation right now!” Her brows met.
“When was it forbidden for his parents to take his child to the hospital for a check-up? Do I still need parental consent? And-I think I’m the one who deserves an explanation here! Do you agree?” I replied.
Mama Cha took a look around at everyone. She looked around to see if anyone had picked up on what I had said.
“I can fire you from your job here on campus, Clint!” Mama Cha exclaimed. “I can shut down and revoke your promotion license!”
“OK, do it! But do you think that will discourage me? You think that would stop me?” I said.
“From what, Clint?” She answered back.
“Please, Ma, let us talk properly now,” in the end, I find myself begging.
“What for, Clint?”
“Do you know what you’re doing, Ma? And you know what Clyde is to me?” I admitted I was nervous. I was disgusted by her reaction; it appeared that she didn’t understand what I was saying.
“We’re at peace, Clint. Everything was fine. You see that Clyde is fine. I raised him well. And, besides, he has no idea. Please don’t disturb the child’s mind,” she replied with a smirk.
“And what about me? What about me, Ma? Why did you kill me right away? I wish you had just said I was in another country or we had just broken up!” I added angrily.
“Well–”
“Mom?”
Mama Cha was unable to continue speaking. I also missed Clyde standing behind her.
“Ah! Clyde? Why are you still here, baby? You have a class, don’t you?”
“Did you say you wouldn’t be angry with Sir Clint, Mom?” he inquired of Mama Cha.
“Aah…” Mama Cha cast a glance at me.
“Ah!” I exclaimed, “No Clyde, she just invited me to dinner at your house this afternoon.”
I saw Mama Cha’s brows rise, and her narrowed eyes even glared at me.
“Mom?” Clyde said excitedly.
“Ha? Aah.. ”
Mama Cha couldn’t answer.
“Yes, Clyde, your mother even asked if I could stay the night! Do you have a swimming pool?” I said, trying to hold back my laugh.
“Yes, Sir Clint! Let’s go swimming tonight!” Clyde exclaimed.
I could tell he was pleased with what I had said. I’m also happy for Mama Cha, who is still taken aback by what I’m saying.
Another…
“Yeah! Do you like to swim? Clyde, it’s fun to do a backflip in the water! Ahah!” I said, motioning for a backflip.
“Sir! Oh, Mom, I’m coming in after school to pick up Sir Clint! Let’s have a hotdog barbecue, Mom!” he exclaimed happily.
My emotions were overflowing with pleasure as I watched Clyde. “All right, Clyde, it’s time for class, and you might get caught!”
Clyde moved his gaze to Mama Cha. He said nothing more until he left.
And when we were the only ones left.
“You’re such an a–, Clint!” She spoke to me disgustingly.
“You’re aware of that, Chari? Hahaha!” I burst out laughing.
She just walks away, scowling at me. She has no control over what I mentioned earlier. She didn’t want to ruin Clyde’s good mood, which had almost made him jump for joy. These are very different times for me. I know this is the beginning of Mama Cha and I reuniting.
I’m not going to let her go again. Especially now that I have Clyde…
June_Thirteen