“Wait! The both of you now official?” Bel asked in surprise as we walked towards Aling Toneng’s store. I was going to pay my debt to her store. I promised her last time that I would pay it in installments.
“Yes, we’re now official. I said yes to him in his office earlier,” I said and tucked my hair that was blocking my face behind my right ear. I still couldn’t believe what was happening right now. I felt things were running so quickly to us.
He left the country to study, then he came back here after seven years of waiting, then he courted me and now, we are an official couple.
It is not that I’m complaining about the things that are happening to us. I also like that it happened. I like the thought that Clark and I are now a loving couple because I knew from the start that I felt differently about him. I knew this was unusual and not just a simple friendship. I’m glad we both feel the same way about each other. It’s nice to think about it.
I couldn’t help but smile.
“Hey Angela, you’re blushing,” Bel teased and poked my side. I was startled and at the same time shocked by what she did. I slapped her hand.
“What is it, Bel?!” I pretended to be angry even though in reality I was really thrilled and very happy with what was happening.
“Just be angry as long as you want to,” she teased. I just shook my head and chuckled.
Eventually, I slowed down from walking. Bel stopped and waited for me to get closer to her.
“What’s the matter, Angela? It looks like you’ve been having fun lately but now…” Bel commented and sympathetically put her arm on my shoulder. We walked slowly along the side of the road together.
“Clark said earlier he would introduce me to his mom.”
I felt Bel stunned at what she had heard. She stopped walking and stared at me anxiously.
“You told me before that her mommy looks strict and scary, didn’t you?” she reminded me. I heaved a sigh and nodded softly.
“Yes, Bel,” I responded in a low voice.
Bel just sighed and removed her hand on my shoulder. She simply combed her hair with her fingers and looked around. She seemed to be in deep thought.
“Looks like we’re shaky to her mommy, huh?” she commented which I winced. That was one of the unlikely scenarios that could happen after Clark introduced me to his mommy.
I swallowed hard and looked into Bel’s eyes.
“Yeah, indeed. I’m nervous, Bel. Although Clark told me not to worry too much. He said in the long run, his mom would be going to like me too and if something bad happens, he promised to always be by my side to protect me in any situation,” I repeated what Clark had told me earlier in his office.
I heard Bel take a deep breath at what I said. She seemed to imagine that I look like I’m going to pass through into the needle hole in my relationship with Clark.
“Let it go. If Clark’s mom fights you and Clark doesn’t do anything to stop his mother, just tell me right away. I’ll slap that rich woman and then I’ll kick Clark’s balls one hundred times because he can’t keep his promises to you,” Bel said and put her arm back on my shoulder.
I shook my head and chuckled. Bel is very protective of me. Ever since I entered prostitution and to be a so-called Magda who is well known in the entertainment club, she has been the one I lean on through ups and downs. She sympathized with me and comforted me on the days I felt I was going to give up. I cried on her shoulders every time we came home from the club.
She is a very good friend of mine.
I glanced at her and smiled. She also looked at me the same way I look at her.
“Thank you, Bel,” I thanked her. She kissed me on my forehead and stared at me again.
“No worries, Angela,” she said and we walked again towards Aling Toneng’s store.
* * * *
“Aling Toneng? Aling Toneng?”
“Wait!”
I closed my mouth when I heard Aling Toneng’s voice. Bel chuckled.
“The dinosaur is coming,” she said and chuckled again.
I slapped her shoulder which made her wince. I glared at her as if I was saying to stop. What if Aling Toneng heard it? For sure, it will going to be a big mess.
“Oh, Angge? Why are you here? Are you going to borrow again? Oh, come on! Not this time please,” Aling Toneng concluded after she saw us in front of her store.
“Ah, no. I’m here to pay,” I said calmly. I could see her eyes sparkling at what she heard.
“Really, Angge? What a miracle?!” she exclaimed in joy.
“You judge Angge too quickly, Aling Toneng,” Bel interrupted.
The old lady frowned at what Bel said.
“Don’t get involved in this. I’m talking to Angge, not you,” Aling Toneng fired back at Bel which made me laugh.
I could see the sourness on Bel’s face at what the old lady said to her.
“Wait a minute, Angge. I’ll just get the notebook to list down your payment,” she said I agreed.
“All right, Aling Toneng.”
When she heard that, she entered her house again. In a few moments, she came out and approached our direction.
“How much are you going to install?” Aling Toneng asked while writing the date and my name on the first page of the notebook she was holding.
“Five hundred pesos, Aling Toneng,” I answered politely.
“That’s okay, Angge even if it is small. The important thing is you pay,” the old lady said and I smiled.
She began to write down the amount I would pay her for today in the notebook. After she had written it, she laid her hand in front of me. It looked like she was asking for the money.
I quickly get my pocket from the old long skirt I was wearing. I pulled out five hundred pesos and stared at it.
I sighed.
I was about to hand over the payment to Aling Toneng when suddenly a loud car horn stopped us.
“What the fck!” the old lady exclaimed in shock and grabbed her chest.
The three of us looked at the road in unison. I saw an elegant red car parked near Aling Toneng’s store. My heart skipped a beat after I realized that the car belongs to Clark.
The person inside the car got out. He was wearing black sunglasses and a tuxedo. You could tell he is obviously coming from a wealthy family.
“Angela!” He called my name and approached us. When he got closer I just realized that he was holding a bouquet of flowers.
They are white roses.
“For you,” he sweetly said and handed me the flower. I looked at Bel and Aling Toneng who were now staring at Clark’s face.
I shyly accepted the flower.
“Thank you, Clark.”
“Wait, Angge. Who is this man?” Aling Toneng asked in curiosity. She didn’t take her eyes off Clark’s face who was now just smiling and looking at her.
I was about to answer when the person next to me spoke.
“I’m Clark. I’m Angela’s boyfriend,” Clark introduced himself, which made my cheeks blush.
I heard Aling Toneng gasping and she looked at me and Clark alternately.
“I see… You hit a jackpot, Angge.”
“Aling Toneng…” I called her in a low voice as if making her stop.
I heard Clark chuckle at what the old lady said.
“That’s not true, Madam Toneng. The truth is I am the one who won the jackpot because she became my girlfriend,” Clark said, which made my cheeks even redder.
I caught a glimpse of Bel’s directions when I heard her laugh.
“What’s funny?” I asked in a whisper.
“Madam Toneng seems new in my ears. Clark made Aling Toneng’s name classy,” Bel whispered back to me and I laughed softly.
“Anyway, Angela, why are you here? Are you going to buy something for dinner? Don’t bother to buy. I already bought your groceries which are good for one month at the supermarket. It’s already in my car. Let’s go. Let’s go home,” Clark said, which made my eyes widen in shock.
“A one-month supply?” I asked in surprise and grabbed his arm.
“Oh! That’s awesome! You’re rich indeed, Clark. Maybe you can pay the debt of your girlfriend in my store.”
I shut my eyes tightly because of the embarrassment I felt from what Aling Toneng said.
“Debt? I see. How much?” Clark asked without hesitation. I just bowed my head in embarrassment and took a glance at Clark who was now seriously talking to the old lady.
“Angge’s total debt to my store is nine thousand pesos. I think you have that amount in your pocket, right?” Aling Toneng replied.
Clark immediately pulled out his wallet and got some money. He counted ten thousand and handed it to the old lady.
“Thank you so much for lending Angela when she had nowhere to run. You already have more than nine thousand. Accept the excess one thousand as my gratitude for helping my girlfriend.”
Aling Toneng smiled brightly after she got the money. She thanked Clark as well as me.
“By the way, Clark. Do you already know that Angge is working in the entertainment cl-”
“Aling Toneng! I think you should cook right now for dinner for your family, right?” Bel interrupted and secretly glanced in my direction. I just mouthed thank you to her without a sound and I received an assuring smile and nod from her.
Aling Toneng scratched her drawn eyebrow and then nodded.
After paying the debt, we took a ride to Clark’s car and went home.
That was close…