"Yes, I am", I responded to the woman who sat next to me and EJ at his classmate's birthday party. She's familiar, I thought to myself.
The food was served so anything else that she wanted to say was interrupted. EJ and I ate our food quietly while the other Mom was busy feeding her son who was playing a game on his psp. I wanted to joke about it but it felt inappropriate so I kept my mouth shut.
Before we finished our meals, the other Mom started a conversation with me.
"I've been meaning to talk to you but I never got the chance."
With that statement, I remembered her so I quickly responded, "Oh you were the one who said that to me during intrams. I'm sorry I took off that day because I had to run to the Accounting office to pay some fees for my son, and it was almost noon time then."
"It's okay, no problem. Did EJ tell you what I told my son?"
I was confused so I let her keep going.
The other mom continued, "I told my son to tell EJ to tell you that I am going to pay for the P500.00 that was lost."
It's a sensitive subject so I just stared at her blankly. She was talking about the P500.00 that my son lost at school.
When I didn't say anything, she asked "Did EJ tell you anything about that?"
I responded, "No, I don't think he mentioned it at all."
She seemed awkward about it too but then she said, "I mentioned this to the head security but he said I shouldn't. I decided though to tell you, without telling him, that I'm willing to pay for the money lost. But, I'm not saying that my son stole it."
I quickly added, "Oh no of course not. None of us says so. Besides, I've forgotten all about it, you know."
She quickly told me what she knows did happen the day the P500.00 was lost. Towards the end of her story, "Enzo was waving the money envelope, probably without even knowing what was inside. Later on the class found out that the P500.00, which was stapled? (asking me for confirmation so I nodded) was lost. So they tried to look for the money but unlucky to find it."
All I said was, "I see".
"I'm willing to pay for the lost money," she announced.
I thought to myself, "Why pay for it if she says her son didn't steal the money? It doesn't make sense. What it would make of me if I accepted the payment?"
So I said to her, "No you don't need to pay for it. Just forget about it."
"But I really want to pay for it", she insisted.
I suggested, "Hey how about just treat me for lunch sometime?"
"Okay I'll treat you for lunch at the school's cafeteria. Must be about P500.00?"
Laughing I replied, "No, don't be silly. It doesn't have to be P500."
"My offer stays so just let me know when you want it."
With a smile, I said, "No, forget about it. Nothing to worry."
Then I asked, "What's your name?"
"I'm Lisa, and you are..."
"Geca."
Silly that we didn't start asking our names but thank goodness I was saved from that awkward conversation when someone came by at our table to say hi to her then I decided to hop to another table to talk to the host of the party. She's in an early pregnancy stage so I offered to take photographs and video the party for her. I did that until the party ended.
