SHE found Benjamin at the balcony, having a serious talk with her mother. Caroline just assumed that it was a serious talk based on the moment Benjamin’s shoulders raised and slowly went down as if he heaved a deep sigh.
“What was he thinking?” Caroline unwarily voiced the question in her mind.
“Pardon me?” a Scottish handsome man in front of her asked her. “I’m sorry, I’m not sure of what you just say? It’s kinda noisy here.”
He gave her a dashing smile that could swoon any girl on the dance floor. But Caroline doesn’t like to dance. She plastered a smile on her face and looked straight into the eyes of the foreigner.
“I was just wondering what that guy on the balcony’s thinking?” she said without a second thought.
The man looked at the balcony, his brows furrowed to find Benjamin in there. “Oh, he’s talking to the landlady. Then, maybe he has a bargain for the rentals,” he joked. Obviously, trying to impress her with his lousy humor.
Caroline giggled. “You think so? Well then, I should go to my husband to help him get the lowest price for our room rental.” She flipped her hair and walked past the Scottish man.
The dismay on the man’s face as she left didn’t escape her eyes. The corners of her mouth turned up into a smile of victory. She was so done with flirting that it gave her now chills every time she bumped with a man and got attracted to her instantly. But, of course, Benjamin was an exception, like he always was back in their high school life. Caroline blushed when she remembered the moment Benjamin glanced at her during their P.E class at the school bleachers and felt embarrassed when she found out that he was just talking to his friend at her back.
Caroline was tired of searching for the right man that could accept her for what she was. She blew her breath. She knew that the problem was in her. But, it surprised her that she’s still doing well now. Her emotions were still stable, and she hadn’t experienced bad dreams… yet. Caroline also knew that her nightmares were just around the corner, waiting for the perfect moment to attack her in her dreams.
“Caroline, did you enjoy the sunset?”
She blinked and saw Benjamin’s mother smiling in front of her. She was lost in her thoughts again. “Ah, I wasn’t able to see the sunset,” she said and avoided the old lady’s eyes that seemed to penetrate her soul.
“Oh, why? I thought Mario was with you? Did he catch himself in a group of ducklings on the beach?”
Caroline paused in a moment, trying to figure out what does she mean by ducklings. She scratched the corner of her brow, and the bubbly older woman laughed. She went to her and held her arm.
“I was just kidding, you know,” she said and dragged her to the kitchen. “Come, help me cook Benjamin’s favorite dish, Ginisang Mais with Malunggay leaves. Are you familiar with it?”
Caroline hesitated to answer. “I hate to say this, Nanay Dolor, but it’s the first time that I heard it.”
Benjamin’s mother chuckled. “It’s fine. Only a few knew that dish,” she said. “It’s also known as Corn and Moringa soup. Moringa vegetable was formerly known as a poor man’s vegetable because it can be found everywhere,” Nanay Dolor laughed. She took out a bowl of chopped pork from the fridge and placed it on the table. “Originally, it was served without any meat, only Moringa leaves and corn kernels, but you know the kids, they hate vegetables alone. So, I had to put some meat to make them eat it.”
Caroline wasn’t sure what to do. Aside from the reason that she doesn’t know how to cook, she’s also felt a little uncomfortable with Antonette sitting on one kitchen table chair, watching her every move while her hands were busy pulling leaves from Malunggay twigs. Nanay Dolor seemed to notice her uneasiness with Antonette around because after a few seconds when she approached her, she walked out of the kitchen quietly.
“I hope you understand her, Caroline,” Nanay Dolor told her. “You’ll get along with her soon.”
Caroline felt embarrassed. She was speechless for a moment. She didn’t expect that Benjamin’s mother would say those things to her.
“She started to be like that when her mom died,” she explained while stirring the casserole with loose corn kernels. “Benjamin has told you about it, right? Because if he didn’t, you wouldn’t be here, talking with me.”
She felt the heat in her cheeks rising. Benjamin’s mother was an outspoken woman. But, she has to be tough. If Camille made it to the finals, she could do it, too.
“What’s with that face?” Nanay Dolor asked with a frown while she was studying her face. After just a few seconds, she burst out laughing. “Are you nervous, Caroline?”
Caroline consciously tugged her hair behind her ear. “I-I just don’t know what to say—”
“Chill’ out. You can treat me as your friend if you feel a little intimidated by me,” she said and giggled. “I know I’ve got a bitch face, but believe me when I say that I like you.”
Now, she was dumbfounded. In her almost six years of being a real estate agent, she had talked with several women of different ages and personalities. And, none of them was like Nanay Dolor. It’s her first time to encounter a middle-aged woman who uses slang terms while she speaks.
Caroline opened her mouth to speak, but it took her seconds to find a single word. “Wow!” she exclaimed. “You’re the coolest woman I’ve ever met, Nanay Dolor.”
The older woman raised an eyebrow. “I thought you would say otherwise,” she joked. “Anyway, I’ve wanted to ask you some questions since you arrived earlier, but Benjamin kept on stealing chances from me, you know. It was as if that he’s preventing me from getting near you.”
Caroline’s brows furrowed. “Why would he do that?” she asked, a bit confused.
Nanay Dolor shrugged her shoulders. “I have no idea,” she replied and gave her a meaningful look. “Anyway, I was just curious how and where you met my son? He mentioned to me that you were old friends and that he met you again accidentally at the Clark Field.”
Caroline nodded. “That’s how we met again,” she said and smiled shyly. “But—”
“But, you were his friend in high school?” Nanay Dolor cut off. She was looking at her straight in the eyes.
Caroline tried her best not to look away when she replied. “Honestly, Nanay Dolor, we barely knew each other when we were in high school. I was just a nobody back then, while Benjamin was the school’s heartthrob.”
The woman narrowed her eyes to her. “Why did you sound like you had a crush on my son before?”
Caroline blushed, and Nanay Dolor laughed.
“It’s true,” she confided. “I had a crush on him when we were in high school. But, as I said, we barely knew each other, and it’s because I never got a chance to know him more.”
Nanay Dolor raised her brows. “Was it?” she asked knowingly.
Caroline waited for the woman to speak more, but she returned her attention to the casserole of Ginisang Mais a Malunggay that they’re cooking for dinner. Caroline bit her lower lip to prevent herself from talking that she might regret later. She looked at the messy kitchen table to find something to do, but as she was about to clean up the twigs of Malunggay, Nanay Dolor spoke again.
“It’s been years since Benjamin graduated in high school,” Nanay Dolor began. “But, until now, I still think who stole his P.E T-shirt.”
***