Resisting The Bachelor

CHAPTER ONE

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY to me... happy birthday to me...”

Nari was peckish even before getting off from the taxi. She sauntered toward the apartment building where she lived. She was carrying a storage box that contained all her stuff and presents she received from her officemates. That day was her birthday and her last day at work, too. After a decade of working as an executive assistant for the president of Pipol’s Sardines, Nari finally decided to resign.

“I swear I’m going to eat to my heart’s content tonight…” she said and sighed in relief.

Mrs. Martinez, her boss, did everything to convince her to stay, but she had already made up her mind. Nari was very lucky with Mrs. Martinez. She was such a kind woman. Her boss was the reason why she became an efficient and effective assistant through all these years she worked for her. In spite of being a busy person, Mrs. Martinez’s priority was always her family. And they both knew that she couldn’t be her executive assistant forever. At her age, Nari still hoped she could settle down and have her own family soon.

“Happy birthday to me... happy birthday to me...”

Nari smiled at the sight of Chuck’s Pasta in front of her. The place was bright and busy as always, and she could see plenty of customers from the glass wall. She could already imagine the sizzle and smell of different kinds of Italian dishes the restaurant offered. Uncle Chuck owned it. He was a former chef in Italy. To her, he was the best chef n town.

Nari was craving for pasta. And she’s going to eat pasta because it’s her birthday today.

The apartment was a two-story building. Nari lived on the second floor. Her cousins, who were also her partners-in-crime, occupied the rest of the units.

Nari approached the concrete stairs. She had a long day. She will eat pasta, drink beer, and eat grilled tuna. Starting tomorrow, she won’t have to wake up early in the morning and come home late anymore. She will have all the time to watch her favorite TV shows, sleep, eat, and sleep again.

The last time she looked at the mirror, her eyebags bothered her. She promised to pamper herself to make those dark circles disappear.

“Happy birthday, happy birthday...”

She opened the door of her unit, the darkness of the living room welcoming her. Her brother Yñigo must be home by now from the school where he worked as a teacher. Maybe he went out on a date with his girlfriend, Laurice.

Nari reached for the switch on the wall and turned the lights on.

“Happy birthday to you!”

Showers of confetti welcomed Nari. She stared open-mouthed.

“Happy birthday, Nari!”

Nari laughed at once. Yñigo and Laurice were wearing party hats, and so were her cousins Yvonne and Jonie, and her nephew, Jupiter, who was holding her cake.

“Happy birthday, Tita Nari!”

Jonie lit the candles. Nari put her stuff on the couch and bent her knees, so her height leveled her nephew’s. Jonie was a single parent to this seven-year-old sweet cheeks. Her smile froze on her lips when she saw the numbers ‘3’ and ‘4’ on the cake.

“Blow your candles now, Tita Nari!” Jupiter chirped.

Nari looked at her cousins with narrowed eyes.

“Great, just great. Won’t one candle do? Why do you have put ‘3’ and ‘4’ there? You want to tell my age to my face, huh?”

“Nari,” Jonie said, pouting. “You don’t look like you are thirty-four, so we’re just reminding you.”

“She’s right,” Yvonne agreed. “We know for a fact that you are the prettiest among us. The truth is you looked more like thirty-three than thirty-four.” She even made a peace sign.

“You and your silly antics.” Nari was smiling again when she returned her attention to Jupiter.

“Tita, what’s your wish?”

“Hmmm...” Nari thought for a while. Maybe there’s nothing wrong with wishing for something silly. It’s her birthday anyway. She clasped her hands together and shut her eyes tightly. “Please let me meet the father of my future children.”

“Come on…” her cousins teased. Yñigo and Laurice just laughed.

“What do you care? It’s my cake anyway.” She took the cake and blew the candles and gently pinched Jupiter’s cheeks afterward. “Thank you, Japs. You are such a cutie.”

“You’re welcome, Tita Nari!” Her stuff caught Jupiter’s attention on the couch. “You got lots of presents there, Tita.”

“Most of them are chocolates,” she said happily.

Jupiter turned to her mother.

“Mom, can I have some chocolates, please?” he asked.

“Sure, you can. But don’t overeat,” Jonie replied.

“Yehey!” Jupiter got on the couch and dig through the box.

Nari stood up and looked at the significant people in her life. Their gestures touched her. They would banter every time, but they care about each other deeply.

“Thank you so much, guys. I wasn’t expecting to receive such a surprise from you. I was expecting we’d all drink once I get home.”

“Don't’ mention it. Your birthday only happens once a year,” said Yvonne. “But we’ll surely have a drink later! He-he!”

“Let’s have dinner then, dear sister, so that you could have plenty of drinks tonight,” Yñigo said.

“We hope you like this simple present from us.” Laurice handed a small paper bag to her. “Happy birthday.” She hugged her and kissed her cheek. Laurice was also a teacher, just like Yñigo.

“Of course. Because it was from you, guys, I will surely like it. Thank you, Laurice,” Nari said, smiling.

*

“I CAN feel Mom getting on my nerves.”

“Here’s your order, Sir.”

The waiter put his order of lasagna and lemon water on his table.

“Thank you,” he replied after glancing at the man.

“Where are you, and what’s that noise?” Jared, his brother, asked on the other line.

He called his brother to confide his ‘problem’ that involved women. Thanks to their beloved mother.

“I’m here at Chuck’s Pasta. `Saw this somewhere on the internet. I was on my way home when I passed by this place. I decided to stop by.”

The noise came from the open kitchen, which was only separated by the counter. There were four people in white cooking. The place looked nice and clean all in all.

“I don’t see anything wrong with Mom’s intention, Jai,” his brother said calmly.

“Seriously?” Jai said in disbelief and laughed weakly. “Oh, I understand why. Unlike me, you don’t hang out with women for fun.”

“Don’t you want to have a family of your own, Jose Antonio?” his brother asked.

“Of course, I do,” he replied. “But it’s not on my priority list right now. Is Mom thinking that I’m gonna find the woman for me from the list she gave me? Don’t you think it’s simply ridiculous?”

“Look at Mom’s actions from a different angle. Maybe she just wanted you to know what or who you want. Maybe that woman was on the list; maybe she wasn’t.”

Jai was silent for a moment. He might hate to admit it, but his brother has a point.

“She sees you as the next president of Merryland, Jai. We have the biggest share, and she believes in you enough to put it in your hands.”

“All thanks to you,” he couldn’t help but remark.

“Do this for us then. You’re twenty-eight now and not a kid anymore; stop playing around. Anyway, is Sannie included on the list?”

“What?” Jai was only confused for a moment and laughed. “Brother, Sannie is a nice girl, and I have so much respect for Sonja. I don’t want her to curse me if I made her sister cry. Sannie is like a little sister to me, just like Jemaika.”

“If you say so.”

“Thanks for listening, brother. Send my regards to Sonja, Jamie, and Jameson.”

“I will. You take care.”

Jai put his phone back inside his coat after the call. He reflected on his brother’s words. Even if he was able to choose from the women on the list, it doesn’t necessarily mean that he has to get married right away. But what if being with that woman could only waste his time?

Jai shook his head and started eating his food. Man, it was good.

“We’re ready to drink!”

He turned to the direction of the door when three women entered only wearing home clothes.

“Uncle Chuck, our birthday girl’s ready!” The woman with the short hair gestured the woman with a small frame and a... mustache. Jai’s forehead could not help forming a wrinkle.

“I’ve been waiting for you,” one of the four cooks replied. He removed his apron. “Go to your place. I got everything ready.”

The three cheered, careless of the attention they got from the other customers, including him. He shook his head and went on eating.

*