CHARI spent the whole day at the salon. They discussed having dinner at their favorite restaurant and drinking a little while there.
It was seven in the evening, and they were about to leave when Trina suddenly arrived.
“Trina? Why are you here?” Maggie asked pretentiously.
“Hello! Oh! Aunt Cha! You’re here!” Trina said with a smile.
Maggie pretended that she really didn’t know that Trina was going, but the truth was that she called her earlier just to inform her about Chari at the salon.
“I was going to invite Aunt Maggie to dinner!” Trina exclaimed,
“Ah cool! Let’s go together; we’re leaving too! Perfect timing! Then let’s have a little drink. It’s a long story for sure! Let’s go! ” Chari said.
“Ah, okay! I know a nice place,” Trina smiled, after which the aunt simply smiled too. “Let’s use my car. Just leave your car here at the salon, Aunt Cha, we’ll just drop you off later. ”
Chari just nodded.
AFTER a few hours drive..
“It’s so nice in here, Trina!” Chari pretended to say. She just smiled at the thought.
“Ah yes, Aunt Chari, it’s also nice to drink here because they have rooms, this is Clint’s favorite hang out,” Trina answered.
Chari didn’t answer anymore because she already knew that. She really knows that place and pretends not to. She and Clint used to go there often, and the secret place that the two often go to is right across from that restobar. The big hotel is where she and Clint go when they want to have their quality time.
“I’m just going to the counter to get a good seat at the top,” Trina said.
Maggie and Chari were left behind.
And not for so long.
“Mags? Chari?” A man called from behind them.
“Jet?” Maggie exclaimed, the two obviously were surprised.
Chari just smiled with a simple facial reaction.
“Wow! What a coincidence. Who is with you? ” Jet asked.
WHILE ON THE OTHER SIDE..
“Trina? W-what are you doing here?” Clint greeted her. He was about to go out the front door.
“Clint? Ahaha! What are you doing here, baby?” Trina also asked then quickly clung onto Clint’s waist.
“My Korean client and I had just finished our meeting. Who are you with?” Clint asked, his eyebrows raised. “Why are you here?”
Trina was about to answer, when suddenly..
“Clint! Hahaa! You’re here too?” Maggie called loudly and simply glanced at Jet, who also looked at her.
Clint’s eyes widened in surprise when he saw that Chari was with them. And after seeing her, he made a loud sigh while both hands were tucked in his pockets.
Trina noticed her husband’s reaction. “Wh-what? It’s like you saw a ghost baby?” Trina said tenderly while clutching Clint’s waist. “Relax! That’s just Aunt Chari. Did you miss her? Haha!” Trina sarcastically said, with a laugh.
Chari just smiled. Jet also greeted him, and Clint still didn’t move while Chari was taking a simple glance at him.
Why did Clint take a deep breath? It wasn’t because he was pretending to be that it was their first meeting, but because of Chari’s hair, which was a boy’s cut again and dyed gray, her usual hairstyle since then that suited her cute face even more. Her simple ensemble of a short two-pocket denim skirt, a simple black long-sleeve women’s shirt, and her favorite red Chuck Taylors enhanced her beauty and confidence. That was actually the real reason why Clint’s eyes were still wide open and the sighing explains it all-because Chari made him fall madly in love again. And he could now take his gaze away.
“Wait! We’d better just get together, “Maggie said suddenly. “Okay guys, it’s been a while since we haven’t done this. Let’s enjoy the night. Let’s go! ” Maggie said, walking ahead of them.
It was obvious that Trina was annoyed by Clint’s acting. Chari kept on pretending while Clint was obviously showing his admiration for Chari’s new look. Trina was also surprised to see Jet, but they both didn’t show it. They both kept silent while gazing secretly at each other.
“Let’s go up! The room is okay; we’ll be upstairs waiting!” Trina said, as she grabbed Clint’s hand and pulled it.
“Ah Chari, how are you?” Jet said.
“I’m okay, Jet! How are you? How’s your nephew, by the way?” Chari said sweetly.
Clint even glanced at Chari, who was walking ahead of them when he heard what Jet said, simply gazing with furrowed brows.
“Ah, he’s okay. How about you? Is your kid okay now?” Jet said.
Clint’s brows furrowed even more, as he was obviously irritated at that moment when he heard Jet’s question.
They walked upstairs. Clint still didn’t say a word and simply listened to the two behind him talking.
Trina noticed that Clint was constantly sighing. “Are you okay, baby?” she asked. “You have been sighing for a while now? What’s wrong? Are you drunk baby?” she asked sweetly followed by a kiss on Clint’s cheek.
“Ah, I’m fine. I’m so full that I feel like I’m having trouble breathing,” Clint answered calmly.
“You’re not getting enough exercise, baby. Try dancing again. Don’t just watch over your instructors,” Trina said while hugging Clint’s waist and simply looking at Chari, who was walking behind them. Even though she knew that Trina was teasing her, Chari still smiled.
When they got to the VIP room occupied by Trina, Clint immediately sat down on the round sofa. Trina also sat down next to him, while Chari and Jet were next to each other. And in total, they are grouped together facing each other’s partner. Chari is with Clint, and Trina is with Jet. It was a heart-skipping moment when they all looked at each other at the same time.
Silence prevailed over them all. Even Maggie was speechless because of the hilarious situation that was happening. She was watching Trina to see what the reaction would be. She noticed that she was a bit uncomfortable, especially since the four of them had been facing each other.
Trina was obvious, so she was the first to speak. “Aah.. Clint baby, won’t you even say hi to Aunt Cha? It’s been a while! Isn’t it just now that you’ve met again?” Trina said, following her silly smile at Clint.
“Huh? Aah… Where did you meet and why are you together now?” Clint said, with no reaction on his face.
Chari immediately answered with a cute low-toned voice. “Because I got a haircut, that’s when I stumbled upon Maggie’s salon,” she smiled, looking in another direction.
“Huh? Ma? Yes! Yes! You got a haircut! Nice one, Ma,” Clint stammered while still looking at Chari, who was looking away from him.
Maggie and Trina exchanged glances. And silence was next.
Chari breaks the sudden silence. “You Jet? How are you?” she asked. “When did we meet? In the hospital? When was that?”
Trina suddenly frowned. “Wh-what? You and Aunt Chari have seen each other already, huh Jet?” she says quickly looking sharply at Jet.
Her Aunt Maggie simply snapped a look at her. A reminder of her obvious actions.
“Yes, that was—I think it was last month, wasn’t it Chari?” Jet said, looking away.
“So you mean? You’ve been here in Manila for a long time, Aunt Cha?” Trina asked again.
Clint was just looking at them silently. But the real thing was that he was focused on Chari and didn’t even care about what was happening or what they were talking about. He had lost his head in the clouds, floating, so in love with his Mama Cha, who was not even glancing at him. Until he couldn’t take it anymore, he secretly poked Charis’s thigh which he could only reach from the bottom because they were almost touching each other on the seat just to make her look at him.
“Hmn?” Chari then kicks his left foot.
And while the rest were talking, Clint took the chance of caressing Chari’s thigh under the table. Finally, Chari looked at him, then gave him a deadly stare. Of course; Clint stopped. He really had nothing against his Mama Cha.
Trina asked abrasively. “How long have you been here in Manila, Aunt Cha?”
Chari noticed it. “Actually, it’s only been two weeks since we got home from Japan,” she answered stiffly. She lowered her face at the same time and simply smiled. She actually said that to tease Trina.
“Japan?” Trina’s voice was loud then she looked at Clint. “Do you live in Japan? Huh, Aunt Cha?”
“What did you do in Japan, Chari?” Jet snapped.
“Didn’t I tell you, Jet, that my son has a heart problem? His surgery was done there,” Chari said.
Trina responded again. “So your son was with you in Manila? Hey, where is he now? How old is he?”
“Yes, he’s eight. He’s still in the hospital because he needs to be there for a month to get well before going back home,” Chari replied with a smile.
Trina noticed that Clint was really quiet.
“Ah you, Jet? How about your nephew who was also in the hospital when we met? How is he?” Chari asked.
Clint suddenly snapped. “Wait! In which hospital did you meet Jet?” He asked with a really serious face.
Now both sides have a spark. They began to show obviousness in their actions. Maggie was just observing them.
“At the hospital where I took Clyde to, at -”
Trina cut in. “Oh my! The food and drinks are here. Let’s talk later. The night is still long. We can do that after and while drinking,” she said suddenly.
Chari and Clint looked at each other at the same time. Clint simply pinched Chari’s thigh again. And now she’s the one who received a deadly stare.
IT WAS almost two o’clock in the morning when they finished.
“Ah, Chari? Where are you riding? Do you want me to drive you home?” Jet offered
“Ah, really? Can you still drive a Jet?” Chari immediately answered.
Maggie and Trina are behind. Clint was already ahead and was already there in front of his car, waiting for them.
Clint saw that Jet had invited Chari to his car, so he took quick action. He couldn’t let his loving Mama Cha get into the trap!
“Why-won’t you go with Trina? Huh, Ma?” He asked immediately.
“Huh? Ah, Jet will take me home,” Chari answered.
“I didn’t drink too much, Clint. I can still drive.” Jet said. “Don’t worry, she’s safe with me.”
Clint frowned. “Ah No! I’ll be the one to drive her home if she doesn’t go with Trina! Maybe that’s better,” Clint said.
“Until now, Clint? Seriously?” Jet chuckled. “You still don’t trust me? Ha ha! Your Mama Chari is single; why don’t you give me a chance?” Jet laughed.
“Wh-what? Single? She said she was single. The f**k!” Clint answered sarcastically, then looked at Chari.
Chari gave him a shrug for an answer making him more pissed.
“Why that reaction? You’re married, Clint. Let her live her life! And besides, we knew each other so well!” Jet brags. “Come on! She’s free as a bird! Let her fly! Haha!” he teased more.
Clint started to clench his fist because of annoyance with Jets arrogant words, ever since they don’t get along but before he could speak again—
“Baby, I’ll just ride with you so we can go home together.” Trina said. “What’s happening?” Trina must’ve noticed that Clint was irritated. “What’s wrong, baby?”
Clint just shook his head.
“Aunt Maggie and then Aunt Cha will take my car.” Let’s go baby, I’m drunk too. Tejie might be looking for us.” After a simple glance at Jet.
“Ah, are you sure? I won’t drive you home, Chari?” Jet asked.
Trina answered. “Ah! Jet, don’t! She and Aunt Maggie are together!”
Jet just nodded.
Chari and Clint just looked at each other. He could not do anything when Trina got into his car. Jet also said goodbye.
“Ma, be careful? I’m going to see Clyde tomorrow,” Clint said simply to Chari.
Chari didn’t mind him, she was just looking at the car Maggie was driving out of the parking lot.
“Clint! Let’s go, baby!” Trina said aloud.
“I’m leaving, Ma. Be careful! Ma,” Clint called.
Chari didn’t even look. She was about to board when the phone rang.
Clint sighed when he saw who was calling, “Hmmm.”
“Hello Josh? What? Are you coming here tomorrow? In Manila? As in-tomorrow?” Chari said to the person she was talking to on the cellphone.
“Wow! As in? Seriously?” Clint said while moving forward to Charis’s front to get her attention.
“Ah okay, I’ll send you my location tomorrow,” Chari said with a smile.
Clint got even more irritated. “Wow.. What a smile!” he said while scratching his long hair swiftly.
And a moment more.
“Baby, let’s go! Trina shouted. “Tejie was calling and looking for us.”
Before turning back, Clint looked at Chari evilly and raised his thick right eyebrow.
Chari simply smiled because she was very happy when he could piss Clint off.
June_Thirteen