Charm's POV
I woke up the next day with a very different environment, different from the place I have used to wake up for the last twenty three years. I checked on the time and it is only passing six in the morning. It only sinks in to me now that this is where I will be waking up for the next 365 days of my life. When I looks around, I found myself alone in the room, maaga rin palang gumising ang anak araw na yun. Ang nakakagulat lang gising na rin ang little girl ko, hmmm this is the first time na naunahan akong magising ni Celestine.
After I do my morning rituals I immediately went out of the room. While going down the stairs I can hear a giggling Celestine and the sound is coming from the kitchen. I quickly walks to the kitchen to see what my little angel is doing to giggle that much early in the morning. I found Celestine with RJ in the kitchen. I have never seen Celestine this engrossed in watching someone making her pancakes. In fairness hindi nakabawas ng kagwapuhan ang apron na suot ng anak araw na 'to. It gives me a lighter feeling while I am watching them enjoy the little stuff that they are doing. Ang lakas talagang makahawa ng tawa ni Celestine, the kind of sound that I could hear every morning, everyday and I must admit, this is the first time I saw her this happier.
But the light feeling eventually turns into fear, because all of these happenings are just temporary. In a couple months both Celestine and I will go back into our normal world.
"Good morning Mommy." Celestine greeted.
"Good morning baby, you are up early." I greeted back and walks towards her for a kiss then I sit on the kitchen stool beside Celestine.
"Good morning." RJ vibrantly greeted and I have no choice but to greet him back "Good morning." I said.
"We are making pancakes." Celestine brags.
"I can see that baby, kaya nga sobrang dungis mo this early in the morning, nasaan na ba si yaya para linisan ka?" I asked.
"Later po Mommy, hindi pa tapos mag-cook si Daddy ng pancakes ko eh." She replied.
"Gutom ka na ba? I'll ask the maid to prepare our breakfast. Celestine said she wants pancakes so I volunteered na ako na ang gagawa para sa kanya." RJ replied.
"Di ba sabi ni Lola you only eat whatever is on the table?" I told Celestine and to subtly point out to RJ that he is beginning to spoil my little angel, which I don't like.
"Yes, but Daddy RJ asked me if there is anything I want to eat so I said I want pancakes. I did not know he will make some for me. I'm sorry Mommy, please don't be mad." Celestine sadly replied.
"I am not mad baby, I am just reminding you that the house rules in Bulacan still applies here in Laguna. I hope you and Daddy RJ is clear with that." I said and throws fierce look at RJ.
"Yes Mommy, I understand, I'm sorry again." Celestine said and hugs me.
"Yes Mommy sungit, I understand, too." RJ teases. "Pa-hug din ako." He added.
"Try me Faulkerson, Jr." I threatened him.
"Mommy, Daddy RJ calls you Mommy sungit, just like how Tito Dean calls you." Celestine said and she starts giggling again at nakisali pa ang anak araw na 'to, ang aga-agang nang-aasar. Pasalamat sya nandito si Celestine dahil kung wala siguradong ibinuhos ko na sa kanya ang pancake mix na ginagawa nya.
"Go to Yaya now and tell her to clean you up first baby. Your pancakes will be ready when you comes back, then we will have breakfast together." I said.
"Ok Mommy." Celestine said and jumps from the kitchen stool then runs to her room.
"How was your sleep Mommy sungit?" RJ asked while he starts cooking the pancake mix.
"Why are you doing this?" I asked him.
"Alin ang magluto ng pancakes? Madali lang naman at para naman kay Celestine ito, so ok lang." He replied as if he does not understand my point.
"You know what I am talking about, Faulkerson, Jr. Hindi kasama sa arrangement na gagalaw tayong parang tutoong mag-asawa kahit dito sa loob ng bahay. And not because I allowed Celestine to call you Daddy it would mean na pwede ka nang umaktong tatay nya." I said.
"Bakit daddy naman nya ako talaga ah." He replied.
"May ebidensya ka?" I asked.
"Gusto mo bang kumuha ko? Just say so, madali lang kunin yang ebidensyang sinasabi mo." He said.
Hindi kami matatapos kung makikipag-angilan ako sa anak araw na 'to, hindi pa ako natuto, hindi nga pala nagpapatalo ang bwisit na lalaking 'to.
"We have an agreement na hindi natin pakikialaman ang bawat isa dito sa bahay." I calmly said.
"May napakialaman na ba? Wala pa naman di ba. I'm sorry about the broken house rule, hindi ko kasi alam na may ganong rule sa bahay nyo sa Bulacan. Promise, hindi na mauulit." He said.
"Yung kay Celestine, hindi ba pakikialam yun?" I said.
"Hindi ka ba nakikinig, I already apologized. That is not pakikialam, that is my way of being friends with Celestine." RJ replied.
"I don't want you to be close to her." I said.
"Then why did you bring her here kung yan pala ang gusto mo? Alangan namang hindi ko pansinin yung bata. Celestine and I were already friends before we got married." He replied.
"We both know that this set-up is only temporary, I would appreciate if you will not make more memories with her para hindi sya mahirapan once this is over. I am asking this as her mother, vulnerable pa naman ang batang yun pagdating sa affection." I said.
"Bakit after one year ba hindi ko na makikita si Celestine? Am I not allowed to at least visit her in Bulacan?" RJ asked.
"Ganon naman dapat di ba?" I replied though just the thought of it nalulungkot na ako para kay Celestine.
"May expiration date pala ang friendship namin ni Celestine. Don't you think she is still young to be suffocated Mendoza Girl?" RJ said.
"I am just protecting her." I replied.
"And you think I am not? Hurting Celestine is the last thing I would do, regardless if I am with her or not. I will do everything in my capacity to protect her." He stated.
"Maraming salamat, Celestine will be very happy to know that." I sincerely said.
"You're welcome. How about us? Kelan tayo magiging magkaibigan?" He asked.
"Don't ask for unnecessary things Faulkerson, Jr." I said.
"But whether we like it or not, we need to be friends. Matagal din ang 365 days. Also you would not want Celestine to see us arguing. Baka biglang ma-trauma yung bata." He said.
"We can be civil with each other but I doubt if we can be friends." I said.
"Then let's start with being civil with each other, then let's see where it would lead us." RJ said and extended his hand to be for a hand shake.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Siguro kung ginawa ko na 'to nuon pa, malamang magkaibigan na tayong dalawa ngayon." He said, smiling. "Hello miss, my name is Richard Faulkerson, Jr., my friends calls me RJ while my family calls me Tisoy." He added.
Though I hesitate for a while, I realized, yeah, maybe being friends with this Faulkerson, Jr. won't hurt. Walang masama if we give it a try, "Hello RJ, I'm Charmaine Dei Mendoza. You may call me, Meng." I replied and shook his hands.
"It's an honor to meet you, Meng." He said, beaming.
"For you Celestine, Mommy will give it a try." I said to myself.