Chapter 18: Shopping 

"Shopping with your husband is like hunting with the game warden"

***

Eiffel's POV

It was a bright Sunday morning and here I am outside of our house with Kuya Clyde

"Eiffel kulang ng hanger" sabi ni Kuya Clyde na abala sa pagiipit ng damit na bagong laba naming sa sampayan.

"Ah kukuha lang ako" masayang sagot ko.

You must be wondering kung bakit ko kasama ang Hubby ko sa palalaba na supposed to be ay trabaho ng isang babae.

You see, after our little fight, he became cautious of me and would help me with the works.

Noong una ay hindi ako pumayag kasi ayoko ko siyang maabala but he kept on insisting telling me that he has to help me as my husband and now I'm very happy kasi kahit papano ay nakakapagbonding kaming dalawa. Parehas pa kaming nakasuot ng ternong aipron kapag nasa kusina o naglilinis ng bahay tulad ngayon.

"Here Hubby" abot ko sa kanya ng kinuha kong hangers.

Kinuha niya at inihanger ang mga natitirang damit.

Pagkatapos ay proud na tiningnan niya ang mga bagong nilabhan namin like it was his big accomplishment.

Inabutan ko siya ng malamig na juice pang tangal ng uhaw at pagod niya.

"Do you have more plans for today?" tanong ni Kuya Clyde saka uminom ng juice.

"Ah, magrogroceries ako" I answered.

"Sasamahan na kita" he suggested or more like ordered.

"Eh? Sigurado ka? Wala ka bang ibang gagawin? B-Baka makaistorbo lang ako s-saka tinulungan mo na ako sa paglalaba" I declined him.

"Hay nako, kailangan mo ng katulong magbitbit. Sa liit mong yan baka hindi mo rin maabot ang mga kailangan mong bilhin" he stated while removing his apron.

Imbes na mainis ako ay napangiti ako, at least he cares about me.

Katatapos lang niya akong tulungan sa paglalaba at ngayon naman ay gusto niya akong samahan sa pagrogroceries.

"Sige, magaayos lang ako" puna ko at lumuob na ng bahay.

Naweiweirdohan ako but happy at the same time, kasi parang totoo na kaming magasawa ngayon.

After changing my clothes, I looked at the mirror, I was wearing a simple baby blue dress and I braided my long wavy hair with blue ribbons, I chose to wear my two inches white sandals.

"This is only a shopping with your Hubby Eiffel but be alert!" I noted myself with a determined look.

"Eiffel! Tapos ka na ba?" tawag s akin ni Kuya Clyde so I grabbed my shoulder bag and went out.

Pagdating ko sa sala ay nakita ko si Kuya Clyde na nakatayo na sa pintuan waiting for me.

He wore a v-neck black shirt and white denim pants. Ang gwapo talaga niya kahit na simpleng damit lang!

Hugghh... Bakit ako kinikilig sa sarili kong asawa?

"L-Let's go?" tanong ko. He glanced at me and just nodded.

Walking distance lang naman ang mga mall mula sa bahay namin kaya naglakad nalang kami.

Kuya Clyde had his earphones attached in his ears and silently enjoying the music, while I am quietly enjoying this moment.

Pagdating namn sa mall ay agad siyang pinagtinginan ng mga babae, mapacostumer man o sales lady.

Hindi ko nalang pinansin pa tutal alam kong hindi niya pagtutuunan ng atensyon ang mga tao sa paligid niya maliban sa akin.

I grabbed a push cart but he immediately took it away from me.

"Ako na dito" and I just smiled. We went to the meat section and I was greeted by the employees like always.

"Hi Eiffel! May kasama ka ngayon ah" nakangiting bati ng isang sales lady na may katandaan na. After fews weeks of living in this town, I have met a lot of people. Nakakatuwa kasi lahat ay mabait sa akin it maybe because I'm different from the other kids but nevertheless it was fine with me.

"Opo, tutulungan daw niya ako" I just replied and smiled.

I usually shop for our groceries alone and all the employees here fins me cute and adorable the reason why they all befriended me.

"Auntie kukuha po ako ng isang pack ng chicken wings saka half kilo po ng pork" sabi ko at nakangiting binigay naman sa akin.

"Balik ka ha?" nakangiting bilin niya.

"Opo salamat po"

Tahimik lang na sumusunod sa akin si Kuya Clyde habang tinutulak niya ang cart.

Inaabot niya yung mga hindi ko maabot at simpleng tinitignan ang mga kinukuha ko.

Napadaan kami sa shelf na nakadisplay ang mga cooking materials ay biglang napahinto si Kuya Clyde. Lumapit siya at may kinuhang mug. Naglakad ako papalapit sa kanya at tiningnan din ang mug. It was a couple mug, may nakadrawing na papa bear dun sa mug at yung isa naman ay mama bear.

"Ang cute" comment ko.

Tiningnan niya ako "You think so?" he asked and I nodded. He took the two mugs and placed it inside the push cart which made me smile.

After living with Kuya Clyde, I discovered na mahilig siya sa mga terno na mga bagay.

Tulad ng ternong apron na sinusuot naming dalawa. Parehas din kami ng pajama, indoor sleepers, toothbrush at kung ano ano pa. He always makes sure na kung anong meron siya ay meron din ako and I find this side of him so adorable.

"Oh! Andito ka pala ulit Eiffel" magiliw na sabi ng head cashier pagdating namin sa counter.

"Opo" sagot ko nman, she looked at Kuya Clyde and smiled.

"Kasama mo pala ang Kuya mo, buti naman atleast may magbabantay na sayo" she stated while punching our items.

Patay!

Biglang kumunot ang noo ni Kuya Clyde

"Excuse me ma'am, but what do you mean?" nagugulhang tanong niya.

"Hindi mo alam? The first time kasing namili dito ni Eiffel ay may mga taong nangungulit na kunin ang contact number niya, offering her to be model for kid's clothes, kaso napansin ko na natatakot na siya kaya ayun, pinabantayan ko nalang sa guard" paliwanag niya.

Naku dali ka talaga ngayun Eiffel.

"Really? Thank you for helping her" nakangiting sabi ni Kuya.

Mas lumawak ang ngiti ng head cashier at adoringly patted my head.

"It was nothing, all of the employees here adore little Eiffel, buti ngayon at sinamahan mo na siya"

"Yes, and I plan to do it more in the future"

Pagkatapos ay inabot ko nalang ang bayad namin at binitbit na ni Kuya Clyde ang mga pinamili namin.

"I-I'll help you" I offered my help. "No need, kaya ko na to" malamig na reply niya.

Naku talaga ang daldal kasi ni ate head cashier!

"Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin yung nangyaring sayo?"

"H-Hindi naman kasi importante yun." Malumanay na tugon ko.

"Pano kung kidnapper na pala ang mga yun? Hindi ko pa alam nakidnap na pala ang asawa ko" medyo may galit na sabi niya.

"S-Sorry" guilty na reply ko. I just don't want to trouble him.

"Simula ngayon lagi mo na akong kasamang magrogroceries"

Bigla akong napatingala sa kanya at ngumiti "Ok Hubby"

Papalabas na kami ng mall ng mapadaan kami sa petshop.

"H-Hubby, saglit lang ha" paalam ko at lumapit don sa mga nakadisplay na mga aso sa petshop.

Every time na namimili ako dito ay lagi kong tinitingnan yung isang puppy na nasa kulungan na nakadisplay.

Ang cute cute niya kasi saka ang bibo niya. Siya lagi yung tinitingnan ko.

Nakita niya ako at tumahol siya while wagging his tail. Nakangiting kinawayan ko naman siya "Hi" bati ko.

Di ko namalayan na nasa tabi ko na pala si kuya Clyde at tinitingnan din ung aso.

"She's so cute right?" nakangiting sabi ko at binalik ang atensyon ko dun sa aso.

"It's a poodle" he concluded and looked at me. I smiled back and nodded.

Tumayo si kuya Clyde at lumuob ng shop. Nagtatakang sumunod ako.

"Oh, little girl your back" nakangiting sabi nung may ari ng petshop pagkaloob ko.

"Hello there Mister Petshop owner" nakangiting bati ko naman. Medyo may katandaan na ang may ari ng petshop na to at napaka bait niya sa mga batang tulad ko. He always greets and often tells me that I am always welcome in his shop.

"Ah, may kasama ka pala ngayon" puna niya at ngumiti kay Kuya Clyde.

Kinausap ni Kuya Clyde yung mayari at ayaw ko namang makisawsaw pa so I just paid my attention on the other pets.

Di pa nagtatagal ay natapos na ang paguusap nila.

"Eiffel" tawag sa akin ni Kuya kaya lumingon ako sa kanya.

Nagulat ako bigla niyang inabot sa akin yung asong tinitingnan ko kanina.

"H-Hubby?" nagugulhang na tawag ko sa kanya pero lumabas na siya ng shop. Litong tiningnan ko ung may ari at nakangiti lang siya sa akin

"Your Kuya bought it for you" sagot ni Mr. Petshop owner at agad namula ang pisngi ko.

"He what?"

He rested his arms on the counter while smiling at me. "I guess he wanted to make you happy" he stated.

I looked at the puppy I am holding and smiled.

Tumingin ako sa may ari ng petshop "Maraming salamat po!" nakangiting paalam ko.

Pagkalabas ko ng Pet shop ay nakita ko si Kuya Clyde na nakatayo sa exit ng mall at hinihintay ako.

Thrilled na tumakbo ako sa kanya.

"Halika na" aya niya.

Whole time ay nakangiti ako sa tuta na hawak ko.

"Thank you for buying her for me" and smiled at him showing my gratitude.

But he just ignored it "What are you going to name it?"

"Hhmm" I slightly raised the puppy looking at him or more like inspecting her.

She's so cute!

"Puffy!" I smiled as I christened her.

"Bakit yan ang napili mo?" weird na tanong niya

"Because she's so Fluffy and Poofy! So I named her Puffy!" I explained like I was solving a trigonometry question.

"Sounds good I guess" he commented with his eyebrow rising up a bit.

"Now, we already have our own baby Hubby!" so thrilled na tiningnan ko siya at bigla siyang namula.

"Don't say it like that! Other people might misunderstand it!" he said preventing me. But I just smiled and hug Puffy tightly.

"Puffy, you're gonna live with us starting today. I'll feed you and take care of you, I'll walk you to the park and play with you always" I stated as I list all my plans.

"We'll take bath and sleep together" I said and I guess she understood me kasi dinilaan niya ang pisngi ko, making me giggle.

"We'll be a one happy family!" I announced.

I looked at Kuya Clyde and saw him smiling at me.

Now, little by little. I know that Kuya Clyde is already having fun being around me and for now that is enough assurance that we'll be staying together for a while.