Elysian (Samantila Series #1)

21

Not gonna lie, I thought that today would be a "strict" or less cheerful day because I'll meet Stage's parents.. But I got the opposite instead.

It's kind of rude for me to make an assumption like that. I expected Tita Eliott to be more up-tight based on Stage's character, kaso nga, baliktad pala ang iniisip ko.

"Anak ka talaga ng tatay mo, Stage." naniningkit ang mga matang sabi ni Tita Eliott habang tinitignan ang mag-amang nagtatawanan sa harap nya.

Natawa naman ako dahil sa itsurang nang-aasar ni Stage at ni Tito Koios kay Tita. They look very similar to each other kaya kung ako si Tita, mapipikon din ako.

"Alam mo, Stage Ezechiel, I kind of hoped before na i-reject ka nitong ni Amaterasu. Para naman sana may magbago sa ugali mo." sabi ni Tita na nagpa-asim sa mukha ni Stage. I smiled.

"Bakit, ma? I became more caring and gentleman naman, ah? Hindi naman ako kasing worse ni Yeuane!" Stage defended himself.

Tinalikuran lamang sya ni Tita saka ako hinarap. "Bahala kayo diyan. Koios, ayusin mo ang ugali nyang anak mo." ani Tita saka ako niyayang pumunta sa terrace ng kanilang bahay.

Their terrace is no other. It's not just like a simple small balcony of a room, but a very huge terrace that goes from the left end of their house to the right end. Isang way lamang ang daanan para makapunta sa terrace na ito. Their second floor's hallway is directly connected to the terrace so ir's easy to notice.

Now I understand why the rooms have no balconies. Bawing-bawi naman kasi sa terrace.

I leaned to the glass railings, just like Tita Eliott.

"I'm thankful that my son has a girl like you." panimula ni Tita Eliott. Nakinig lamang ako.

"As you know, our Stage is very playful, sometimes childish and forceful. He's like a modern-day version of his dad kaya nag-aalala talaga ako sakanya ng sadya. I know all of his records.. Lalo na sa mga babae. As a woman, and a mother, I don't want him to be like that." huminto si Tita bago muling nagsalita. "But, I guess, it's part of him. Kaya I just decided to watch over him incase he needs something. Stage always acts like usual, until he met you." she smiled at me, again. Sinuklian ko rin naman ito ng ngiti.

"He became more energetic, and open to us, his parents. Doon ko ikaw nakilala. He let us see your photos, sabi pa nya, "Mom, liligawan ko 'to. Ganda 'no?"." I felt like my cheeks heated because of what she mentioned. Ano ba naman itong si Stage! Kung ano-anong pinagsasasabi sa magulang..

"He likes you so much. So so much, Ame. I can see that he's always looking forward for the both of you. And I am happy for my son. Dalawa kayo. Nakikita ko. You're meant for each other. You have me and my word, anak. You deserve each other."

I bit my lip as I can feel my eyes are starting to feel watery. Narinig ko si Tita Eliott na mahinang tumawa. "Ganto pala maging magulang.."

Ngumiti naman ako sa sinabi nya saka pinunasan ko ang aking mga mata. I can feel Tita Eliott's parental love. Not just for Stage.. But, for me as well.

Nilingon ko ang hallway na dinaanan namin kanina ni Tita nang marinig ko ang pamilyar na boses ng mag-amang Lacsamana. They were laughing as they walked through the hallway.

Tita sighed, "Natawa nanaman sila, oh."

Natapos ang araw na hindi kami nagkasama ni Stage na "plinano" nya naman ahead of time. I don't have any complain, though. I enjoyed spending the day together with his parents. Late nalang din naman nya na-realize 'yon nang pauwi na ako.

He even sulked while I'm on my way home. Tinawanan ko naman sya. Pero, nang makarating ako sa bahay ay hinalikan naman nya ako sa noo at niyakap pa.

Stage with his mood swings is adorable as ever.

Sa mga sumunod na araw naman ay wala akong masyadong ginawa bukod sa pakikipag-usap kay Stage sa social media at pakikipag bonding kila Mommy.

I'm glad that my cousins doesn't have any plans this break. Mas gusto ko kasing ii-spend lamang ang break sa sarili. I always see my cousins. Nagsasawa na ako sa mga itsura nila, sa totoo lang.

Narinig ata ng langit ang iniisip ko at pinakita ang recent post ni Maze. It was a picture of hers and Xautheus.

mazikiennyxxx ang pangit kong alalay @xau_ajax

Swi-nipe ko ang screen at nakita ko pa ang ibang random shots ng dalawa kong pinsan. They look like they're having fun here but in real life, they always fight.

November fifth came and Stage and I had a dinner with my family. It's like an "announcement" to our relationship.

Kagaya ng dati pang turing nila Mommy kay Stage, they welcomed him as a part of our family, too.

But unlike the first dinner, Dad didn't invite Stage to go alone with him. They just talked as if they're father and son.

It's an another fun day for us. And finally, we can now say that we're legal to both sides of the family.

"Are you happy?" Stage suddenly asked while I am walking with him under the night skies.

"I am always happy." with you.

"I'm glad that you are." aniya saka tiningala ang langit.

"How about you? Are you.. Happy?" I asked.

"I've never been this happy, Ame." sabi nya saka ako muling nilingon at tinitigan sa mata.

I cleared my throat before asking him again, "Does this make you happy?"

Stage stopped walking. So do I.

"So so much that I can feel addicted to it. To every bits of this. This is my addiction, Ame. My addiction." napangiti ako. He really never failed to make me smile.

I tiptoed and kissed him on his nose.

"Well, you are my addiction, too."