Chapter 4

He turned to me. “I have ways.”

“What ‘I have ways’ are you there! You can’t own the way! Where are we going to go through that ?!”

“Now I know why she’s so fond of you.” He smiled.

“What fond? I haven’t used ponds! Only water touches my skin!”

He laughed.

Damn! No matter what I say!

“How’s Titiara as aunt?”

“Huh?” I was confused.

“Titiara Garzon.”

“Who is that?” I was confused when I asked if it was his name at night.

Oh come on damn it!

Wait, what is it? Garzon?

Is that my last name?

He turned to Tit who was snuggling on the sofa. “She knows that rejecting the truth will hurt me… she endured the pain.”

“Huh? What’s wrong with that Tit-Titiara Garzon?” I slowed down my pronunciation of the following words as I stammered at the Name Titiara.

Oh damn! Only then did I realize what he was saying when I stuttered in Tit’s name.

“She’s my mother.” I realized that but I couldn’t help but be surprised by what he said.

Isn’t this just joke time? Maybe later he’ll laugh and clap and then say ‘Look at the camera, you’re wrong wow.’

Damn

I missed that show! That’s my favorite!

But let’s go back to Tit.

I don’t know this part of Tit’s life. Is what this man says true?

I stared at its face. How is he Tit’s son? He is so handsome! Lintek! Will you tease your aunt while Verine is drunk ?!

But not me! I kept my gaze in his eyes. Not really! It doesn’t look like that. Maybe Mynt inherited it from his father, that’s good!

“Can I take her home?” its question

“Huh?” I ask.

“I’ll drive you home.”

“I-I don’t know if I should trust you. Tit is the one we’re talking about here, he’s my aunt. He never mentioned to me about you. Tit isn’t really fond of Mynt so how come you’re his child?”

“I know you won’t believe me, here. Take a look.” It pulled the wallet out of the pocket. He took something from there and laid it in front of me.

My eyes widened when I saw the picture. Tit is fresh when he is young!

Damn Verine! Focus!

In the picture Tit is carrying a boy. Both are smiling in the photo. The child look like him in some way but then it doesn’t feel like him the boy have a… crooked teeth.. Far far away from Mynt’s fair and white teeth now.

Damn it! Focus!

The boy he made… looks like Mynt.

I no longer doubted the identity of the stranger I had met at the bar since that night.

I also didn’t hesitate to brush my teeth twice a day because Mynt’s beautiful teeth are enviable. I only brush my teeth once, sometimes not yet.

Damn, Verine oh!

Sometimes we meet to find out Tit’s schedule.

Every time we meet, he tells us about their life back then, when his father hadn’t taken him.

“Verine,” Tit said.

“You used to be fresh Tit,” I promised with a smile.

“Verine is getting well!” she said.

“He doesn’t want you to get hurt Tit.”

“Impossible.” He couldn’t believe his promise.

“H-how did you find out ?!” she shouted.

“Does that even matter?” I answered him.

“Let’s go home first. We’ve been exposed to the heater before, it’s not fresh!”

When we got home, he immediately asked me a question. I gave the answer he wanted to hear, I said everything I knew.

All I know is that she wants to be with her dear child and her child misses the care of a mother.

“Mynt.” I smiled at it. It’s a good thing he’s not busy with business.

Maybe even if he was busy, he would put it aside first because it was the time.

I sat it on the living room sofa. Tit is still tidying up his room. Tit was overjoyed when I told him that they would have a child again. He may not have slept last night.

She prepared a lot of food as if it were a festival. Maybe it can be considered a festival because the mother and son will meet.

“Where is she?” Mynt asked.

“Still fixing… You’re here first and I’ll just help in the kitchen.”

“Oh? Why are you here? Of course you’re speaking in english!” I promised to see Mynt follow into the kitchen. The housemates were too busy to notice his presence.

“You, stay there.” I said.

He chuckled. “I understand you, alright. I can speak.”

Oh damn!

“She’s smart!”

He laughed then moved some dishes on the table.

“Damn Mynt! Don’t help me, I can do that!” I told him. I grabbed his arm to get the dish he was holding but he avoided it.

“I’m a man, I have muscles and I’m strong. I can do this.”

“I’m a woman and I’m strong too!” My complaint.

“I don’t think so, you seem weak. You can’t do what a man can do,” He stated.

“No! No! No! It’s not true that a woman can do what you’re doing! Especially carrying that food, it’s easy!” I tried to pick it up again but I failed.

Even if it’s Tit’s son, I’ll shoot it!

“Why! Who did they do to you? A woman, right? Who gets pregnant? Who can cope with the pain of contracting the cervix to be ready for childbirth? Aren’t they women? And who is the one who gives birth? Baby girl and boy? Aren’t women, women are more productive because they can give life to the world by getting pregnant and their uterus! So women are stronger and more productive because they can cope with every disease by contracting their muscles during menstruation and taking care of their children even if they are very tired and they are also more productive because without them there are no men like you. Underestimating to woman’s ability! “I said quickly to her. Her eyes widened, seemingly surprised by what I was saying.

I was right e. That’s my point of view on that issue, that’s my opinion. This is a democratic country where we can say our opinions and perspective in life.

Damn!

I was shocked to find out!

“I’m not oppressing women, alright. It’s just that, I’m the only man here. I should help a woman like you. Especially because you’re dear to my mom.” He calmly promised.

“What’s that noise Spermcegg k—” Tit didn’t finish what the two of them were going to say.

He stiffened to the point of not being able to move, when his mind returned to reality he approached the child and kissed him tightly. The housemates stopped what they were doing.

Now there is no barrier for their mother, they can be with each other and fill the time they lost. This scenario is heartwarming. It was like we were watching a telenovela at noon.

It is true that a parent loves their child more. Parents will care and sacrifice for the good of the child. The mother cannot tolerate her child but the child can tolerate her mother. That’s true, Mynt didn’t show up to make the mother happy but he also didn’t know how hard it was when he wasn’t by her side.

“Oh damn it!” I was shouted at by a fly that landed on the kare kare. The mother and daughter stopped for a moment and looked at me!

“Ah… T-there’s a fly in the dish.”

“Let’s eat,” I said. I also invited the housemates, it’s nice to watch a telenovela while eating!