Since they moved in together under the same roof, Lila noticed that her father-in-law, Mang Ramil, seemed to always be around — quiet, humorous, but with a certain look in his eyes that she couldn't explain. Caloy, her husband, had been away for two weeks because of a project in the province. She was left at home with her father.
Every morning, they had coffee together on the terrace. “You look especially beautiful when you wake up,” Mang Ramil said jokingly one day, as he handed her the cup of coffee. Lila smiled, but bit her lip — not because of embarrassment, but because she was tickled by something she hadn’t expected.
One hot afternoon, while she was watering the plants behind the house, Mang Ramil came over. “It’s mine, I’ll water that,” he said, grabbing the hose. But instead of the plants being watered first, the hose hit Lila, soaking her thin duster.
Lila giggled. “Oh, my mother-in-law! You might get burned just looking at it!” she joked as she held the duster from sticking too tightly to her body. Mang Ramil scratched himself, but couldn't hide his smile. “Well, you're like a flower that needs to be watered every day,” he replied, winking.
The days passed with a little teasing, a few glances, and a lot of flirtatious jokes. It didn't cross the line, but they both felt a strange comfort brought by each other's presence.
Until one night, while watching TV, there was a sudden blackout. In the dark, Lila sat near Mang Ramil. “I’m afraid of the dark,” she whispered. There was a moment of silence, then she felt her mother-in-law’s hand on her back, gently caressing her. “Don’t be afraid, I’m just here,” her voice was weak but warm.
At that moment, they didn't know which was more intense — the heat of the night, the heavy rain outside, or the quiet excitement they were both trying to calm down. It wasn't love, but it was clear — there was something there.
And with Caloy's return, the house returned to normal. But for Lila, there was one secret scene that remained fresh — a night when it seemed like they were alone in the world, and a shower she would never forget.
