I Heart Mosquitoes

I seethed when I heard Marga invited Butch to go with her to an event series that she organized together with our biggest client. It was road show type thing for the big towns of Southern Luzon, so they drove from city to city for five days, hopping from one resort/hotel to another, losing their inhibitions with the free cocktails during the evening shindigs, and doing godknowswhat in the hours when they were off the work clock. Knowing Butch, I am sure he tried "something".

Last weekend, I stuck around my sister longer than usual to get details; but she had other things she wanted to gossip about. I'm still in the dark; but I would rather drop dead than ask.

Mr. Hallmark was right though: all dark clouds have silver linings. After travelling through rained out provincial towns, Butch caught dengue fever. He'll be out of action for two weeks.

No, I'm not laughing. That much.

We Interrupt Our Regular Programming ...

... of whining, brooding and discreet stalking to announce that THE Renaissance Girl has written a fictionalized version of my life. A few minutes of it anyway. As usual, it was well written and funny, inspite of the gory ending that was meant to shock me out of my ka-torpe-han.

It didn't hurt that she mentioned I was "a true blue gentleman". Did you hear my market value jump several points? Hehehe. Thanks, Mona!

She Asked Me Out

Joanne, Marga, Tita F (Marga's mom), my mom and I had lunch together last Sunday. The food was always special on Sunday; but ever since I moved out, Sunday lunch at my mom's house can only be described as "sumptuous". (Of course, this is coming from a boy who's had chicken on pesto bread at Plato Wraps for dinner every day for weeks.)

After dessert, the women pulled out their magazines, slid into the comfortable sofas in the living room and waited for their regular home-servicing "manicurista" to pick at and paint their nails. And just like many Sundays before, I took the paper to the patio, lay on the cushion-lined furniture, where I was likely to doze off while reading about politics. But Marga was right behind me.

- Kuya Jeff, favor.

- What?

- Joanne is going to our high school batch fundraiser with [my sister's boyfriend]. The other girls are bringing boyfriends. Can you come with me?

- As your date?

- Parang.

- Wouldn't that feel weird? Everybody brings boyfriends and you bring your Kuya? (Nagpa-kipot ako -- I don't know why.)

- Seeing the girls after so long will already feel weird. Factor in boyfriends who don't know each other, e di magtititigan lang yung mga yun. At least, if you're with me, mage-enjoy tayo pagtawanan sila.

- Why don't you ask Butch? (Stupidstupidstupidstupid thing to say.)

- Mas cute ka e. (Ahem. That's true.)

- Hindi nga.

- Butch'll make me feel self-conscious. Gusto ko someone I'm comfortable with.

- Okay, I'll go.

- Pero if [the mean ex-classmate who made fun of her when she was fat] asks, kunwari boyfriend kita ha?

- E kung ligawan na lang kita ngayon, tapos sagutin mo na ko, para hindi tayo kailangan magsinungaling. (My attempt at subtle subliminal suggestion.)

- Pina-guilty mo pa ko. Sige na nga, wag na lang ...

I'm passing up a business trip to Singapore with my boss, so I can be Marga's date next month for this fundraiser.