Behind the Secret

Chapter 71: Meet his Parents

Catherine's POV.

"Okay na ba ito?" Ate Athena ask habang pinapakita niya sa akin ang sinusukat niyang damit.

It's just simple red dress. Red is perfect color for her. Mas lalo kasing lumabas ang kulay ni Ate.

I show her my two thumbs up. "Bagay sayo yan, ate. Ang gorgeous mo po," I said to compliment her. Hanggang ngayon pa rin kasi kinakabahan pa rin siya. Sino ba naman kasi ang hindi kakabahan kung ma-memeet mo ang parents ng boyfriend mo in an unexpected? Hindi ba? Kahit ako kakabahan kapag ganun.

"Umupo muna nga tayo," sabi ni Ate. Habang nakaupo kami, pinagmamasdan ko siya. She seems so bothered.

"Okay ka lang ate?" I suddenly ask her.

"To be honest, no. Hindi ko talaga alam kung ano gagawin ko," she said. I can feel sadness to her.

"Kaya mo yan ate. Ikaw pa ba? You have to be yourself lang. I'm sure they will like you," pagpapagaan ko ng loob niya. This is the least thing I can do to her.

"Thank you for always being there, Francis," she said and smiled at me.

"Okay lang yun. Cheer up, Ate," I said cheering her up.

She brush my hair with her fingers. "Soon makakabawi rin ako sayo and to Mom," sabi niya. Ramdam ko ang bahid ng lungkot niya sa mga mata. She missed her Mom so much.

"Ate naman. Osya bibili na po muna ako ng ice cream para naman mawala yung konting kaba mo po," paalam ko.

"Chocolate sakin huh," aniya.

Habang naglalakad ako, I felt my phone beeps. I get it out of my sling bag. I received a message and then I read it. It came from Kuya Rain.

From: Kuya Rain

How's Athena?

He still worried about Ate. No wonder. He is madly in love with her. He's in States now. He needs some time para maka-move on sa nararamdaman niya for Ate.

I tap a reply.

To: Kuya Rain

She's okay. I guess?

Message sent to him. In a few seconds, I received a reply.

From: Kuya Rain

What do you mean?

I send again a reply.

To: Kuya Rain

She'll meet Kuya Chriss' parents

Message sent to him again. Few seconds past but I don't received any replies. I put my phone back.

Nasa ice cream stall na ako. Bigla tuloy akong natakam sa ice cream. Good thing meron silang flavor na gustong-gusto ko. And it was cheese flavor. I love cheese though.

"Isa pong cheese flavor at chocolate flavor. Sa belgian cone po kuya," I said. Seeing those ice creams makes me crave even more. This is perfect for stress reliever. Kakatapos lang din kasi namin mag exam. "How much po?" I asked.

"Php. 40.00 po Ma'am," he said. Okay! Affordable.

Hinanap ko ang wallet ko sa bag. But it turned out na hindi ko siya makapa. Hala! Hindi kaya may nagnakaw ng wallet ko? Tinignan ko si Kuya. "Wait lang po ha. Hinahanap ko po kasi ang wallet ko eh," sabi ko.

He nod na lang for his answer. Tinanggal ko na ang laman ng bag ko pero wala talaga ang wallet ko. Saan ko ba kasi yun iniwan?

Tama! Itetext ko si Ate baka nasakanya. I compose a message and send it to her.