Elysian (Samantila Series #1)

20

Dumating na ang pinakaaabangan kong araw. I breathed loudly as I held my own hand ‘cause it's shaking so much.

Kagaya noong pumunta kami ni Stage sa beach, ay susunduin niya ulit ako ngayon. My parents will be home later tonight, too. Kaya bawal akong magpagabi sakanila. But Stage said that it's okay, for me to go home early. Ang mahalaga raw ay makasama niya ako bago ang araw na pagluwas niya sa Manila.

It's cringey, yes. But if you are in a relationship, you won't feel cringey at all. Mas mauuna pa ang kilig bago ang kahit ano.

I am wearing a formal dress, which I haven't worn for months. Pinartneran ko rin ito ng bagay na sapatos. Ayaw ko naman kasing mag-suot ng garbong damit, as much as I want to look presentable in front of his parents, I also don't want to look overdressed as it can leave a bad impression to them.

Even if Stage already clarified that his parents, certainly his mom, already likes me, first person-to-person impression leaves a mark to the second person's memory. And that's what I want to avoid. Kaya sa huli, isang formal dress na lamang ang sinuot ko.

Gusto ko nga sanang tanungin sila Briseis sa kanilang opinyon kaso, paniguradong papasuotin ako ng mga 'yon ng modern-looking outfit. That's how they dress up. That's why I stayed to “Guinevere Blaid” kind of outfit.

"Ano bang gagawin mo, Haze, at kabang-kaba ka ata?" pang-uusisa ni Ate Alicia.

"Meet the parents, Ate..." sagot ko kahit na halos wala nang space sa utak ko para sa isa pang tanong.

Gumala ang tingin ni Ate Alicia sa katawan ko bago mag-okay sign sa akin. "Ayos naman 'yang soot mo, saka kahit ako ang magulang ni Stage pasado kana agad sa akin."

I decided to focus all of my attention to her, to lessen my nervousness.

"How do you say so, Ate?"

"Hmmm.. Alam mo 'yon, Haze? May kakaibang aura ka kasing binibigay. Hindi yung maldita vibes o ano, ha. Parang kasi, kung iko-compare kita sa iba mong pinsan, kungwari, si Saoirse at Nyx, hindi ka kasing maldita nila at 'di ka rin naman kasing hinhin ni Blaid. Sakto lang yung ugali mo. Approachable na medyo hindi. Saka mabait ka namang bata, e. Basta 'yon. Para sa'kin, pasado kana kung sakali. Para sa'kin lang, ha." she joked.

I jokingly rolled my eyes, "Stage's mom likes me na kaya.."

"O, diba? Kaya 'wag kanang kabahan d'yan at mag-aalala nanaman sa'yo si Stage dahil sa panginginig ng kamay mo." ani Ate Alicia saka bumalik sa paglilinis ng bahay.

I can't help but to think of what she mentioned last. Totoo nga iyon. It was, I think, two weeks ago nang napansin ni Stage yung panginginig ng kamay ko t'wing kinakabahan ako. He'll worriedly look at me and ask me what's wrong kahit na sinabi ko nang dahil yon sa kaba ko. So he'd just hold my hands tight and will repeatedly say to me to calm down or he'll divert my attention by telling me jokes or stories. Kaya 'di ko nalang napapansin na wala na pala ang kaba ko.

Dumating si Stage matapos ang ilang minuto pang paghihintay. He looks dashing, as always. But today, I noticed that he looks more excited than usual.

Siya lang yung naeexcite saming dalawa, e.

He's smiling the whole ride while holding my hand (which I think is already his mannerism).

"Mama's excited to meet you," sabi niya habang nakangiting tumitingin sa labas ng bintana.

"I am, too." sagot ko na lamang saka nag-focus na pakalmahin ang sarili. I don't want to make my hands shake as Stage will worry.

Maybe because of excitedness, saka nalang nakapagsalita si Stage matapos na'ming marating ang bahay nila. It's just a few minutes away from our house (hindi lalagpas ng 20 minutes). Namangha ako nang makita ang exterior ng malaki nilang bahay. It's modern looking, unlike ours na semi-modern lang ang style, at mukhang well-maintained (well, maintained din naman ang bahay namin pero mukhang mas maintained ang bahay na ito).

"Your house looks well-maintained." kumento ko na.

Stage agreed, "Yep. Mom always have our house's exterior cleaned once a month. Minsan nga, twice a month pa, e."

"Exterior lang?"

He blinked, "Ah, hindi lang 'yon syempre. Nililinis din naman 'yong loob. Si Mom pa nga nangunguna sa paglilinis, e.

My mouth o-ed, "She's hands-on, huh?"

Sunod-sunod na tumango si Stage, "Yep. Kaya nga ganto ako, e."

"Pero mukhang sa pagpapalaki sayo lang siya nag-fail." sabi ko dahil nagyayabang nanaman siya.

He acted like a hurt man, with his hand on his chest and his face crumpled as if he's in pain, "Ouch. Sakit."

We just both stopped when we saw his mom and his dad at the entrance of their house.

"Hi." nakangiting sinalubong kami ni Eliott Lacsamana, ang ina ni Stage. Habang bahagyang ngumiti lamang si Koios Lacsamana.

"You look more beautiful pala in person, did my son use a love potion on you?" tanong ni Miss Eliott habang binebeso ako. I chuckled.

"Hindi po natin alam.."

Sumingit naman si Stage, "Grabe naman kayo sa'kin! Baka nga si Ame pa ang gumayuma sa'kin, e."

Miss Eliott rolled her eyes, "I know you, anak. I know you."

"Aba-" si Stage.

Lumingon ako kay Mister Koios Lacsamana at tinanguan siya. He just nodded at me, too.

Hindi natapos si Stage sa pakikipagtalo sa nanay niya, ngunit nahinto naman siya nang papasukin na kami ni Miss Eliott sa loob ng bahay nila.

Katulad ng exterior ng bahay, kapansin-pansin ang magandang interiors din nito. There are many noticeable portrait and landscape paintings, at kabilang sa mga paintings na ito ang isang malaking family painting. The painting looks so real, sa totoo lang. First look, and you'll think that it's a real photo.

Kasunod ng family painting na ito (na mukhang recent) ay ang mas maliit na canvas na family painting rin. But Stage looks younger in the painting so I guess, it's taken years ago.

Mayroon ding solong painting si Stage at ang mag-asawang Lacsamana. Stage's just the only child but their family looks so happy and warm. I smiled at the thought.

Nang makarating kami sa kusina ay hindi ko mapag-kailang nagulat ako sa mga pagkaing nakahanda.

Nakita ko naman si Stage na nilingon ako sa gilid ng mga mata ko. "I told you, mom, this is too many."

Miss Eliott looked worriedly at me, "Aw, ganon, ba? I was so excited to meet Amaterasu kaya lahat ng special dishes ko ay hinanda ko."

I shook my head, "No, hindi po, Ma'am. Ayos lang po sa akin."

It's no problem for me naman. I could eat as much as I want, as long as I eat in moderation and fairly (kasi mabubusog agad ako kung hindi).

We started eating lunch and the two Lacsamana couples filled me with stories about Stage's childhood. Gumaan narin ang aura ni Mister Koios dahil sa kuwentuhan, habang si Stage naman ay nakasimangot dahil puro nakakatawang istorya ang kinekwento ng mag-asawa.

"Kain pa, Ame." Miss Eliott encouraged me. Tumango naman ako. Her cooking is really good. Pakiramdam ko tuloy ay walang katapusan ang tyan ko dahil 'di naman ako nabusog kahit na marami na ang nakain.

"Opo, ma'am. Your cooking is really good po. I think it will be one of my favorites." I honestly said.

"Thank you, thank you. Pero, naku, you don't need to call me “ma'am” or anything formal, ha. Tita nalang." she smiled. Tumango naman ako.

"Okay, po, Tita."

Nagtuloy-tuloy pa ang mahabang usapan. Kaya talagang nabusog ako, di lang sa pagkain kundi pati narin sa kuwentuhan.