I was silent when we enter their house. I'm so nervous! Akala ko ay kami lang dalawa ang magdidinner.
Damn it! He clearly fooled me!
"You look nervous, Yariene. That's just my parents. Nothing special." he said coldly.
Sumimangot ako dahil doon. 'Yon na nga ang problema. Parents nya 'yon!
Sinalubong kami ng mga kasambahay at inulan ng pagbati. Gusto kong ngumiwi ngunit pinilit kong ngumiti para hindi magmukhang bastos.
Isa pa sa sobrang kaba ko ay hindi ko na napuri ang labas ng mansyon. At halos pagpawisan ako sa ganda ng interior ng bahay nila. I admit our clan is rich and known as the family of architects. But seriously, their mansion is so freaking beautiful; it mixes with classic and spanish styles. Ang dami ring magagandang vases na mukhang luma na ngunit malaki ang sentimental value. Damn. I can say that they are richer than us!
"Where are they?" Kice asked one of their maids.
"Nasa dining room po, senyorito." napaawang ang labi ko sa itinawag sakanya ng kasambahay.
Senyorito?
Bagay sa kanya.
Kice looked at me and started walking towards their dining room. I sighed before I followed him. I prepared myself and bit my lower lip. How nerve wracking! Hindi naman ako girlfriend na ipakikilala nya sa parents nya pero abot langit ang kaba ko. I just hope that I still look presentable.
"Mom," pagkuha nya sa atensyon nila noong makapasok kami.
They were chatting while laughing but stopped to acknowledge our presence.
A woman who's about the age of Tita Misha stood up to welcome us. I believe it's his mother. Lucretia Alison Saitro. Together with his husband, engineer Radmus Vancea Saitro.
I gulped and plastered a smile on my face.
"Anak! You're here," Tita Lucretia said.
She gave Kice a warm hug, and our eyes met. Her eyes widened, and she came to me.
"Ingrid! Hello iha it's nice to finally meet you. Welcome to our lovely adobe." she uttered it happily.
I was shocked when she pulled me for a hug. Wala sa sariling niyakap ko rin sya pabalik.
"Hello po, Tita!" I softly whispered. She released me from the hug, then giggled afterwards.
"Darling, she's so adorable." aniya sa kanyang asawa.
Tito Radmus chuckled softly and snatched his wife away from me. Ngumiti ako dahil doon. They look cute.
"Ma, spare her for a while. We're here for dinner." Kice interrupted.
Tita Lucretia nodded. Kice gently grabbed a chair and make me sit down. Humila pa sya ng isang upuan para sakanya na katabi ko rin.
When we settle down I gasped when I met another pair of black orbs na katulad na katulad ng kay Kice. Katabi nito ay isang babae na kamukha ni Tita Lucretia pero mas batang bersyon.
"That's my younger siblings, Yariene. They are twins," he said when he noticed me looking at the two in front.
I gave him an amused smile. I didn't know that. Akala ko ay only child lang sya. Pribadong tao rin kasi si Kice kaya hindi na kataka taka.
"Hello, Ate Ingrid," the young man said.
He looks like the soft version of Kice. He has this friendly vibe and gentle aura.
I smiled, "Hi..." I didn't know his name, so.
"Kaze. My name's Kaze, Ate Ingrid." he said.
I was in awe. Ang gwapo rin ng pangalan ng isang 'to.
"And she's Laze, my twin sister," he added, pointing the girl who is sitting next to him.
Tahimik ito at maliit lang ang ngiti sa labi. She really look like the young version of Tita Lucretia. Hindi sila magkamukha ni Kaze so that means they are fraternal twins.
"Hello, Laze. You look beautiful." pagkuha ko sa atensyon nya.
Shock was written on her face, and she blushed because of what I'd said. Oh my! She's the cutest. Kaze chuckled and nudged her shoulder.
"Y-You're more beautiful, Ate," she replied shyly.
Suddenly, Kice hold my left hand, which made me look at him. I gave him a questioning look and stared at his hands on mine.
His gazed drifted towards me. "Let's eat first, Yariene."
I nodded and let him choose what food we'll eat.
"I was really enthusiastic about meeting you, Ingrid! You're the first woman my son tells me about. He said that he has a friend, and it's a girl! I was so excited to meet you, but he said you're busy!" kwento ni Tita habang kumakain kami.
Natigilan ako roon at nahulog ang tingin sa katabi ko. He's just eating like he doesn't care, but I caught him sending a warning look to his mother.
So he only see me as a friend, huh?
Wow, should I be glad then?
I'm hurt. Ang ganda ko naman para ma friend zone!
I smirked at him. He sighed and shot a brow at me.
"The truth is, I didn't know that he sees me as his friend, po, Tita." I chuckled.
Tita Lucretia laughed. Si tito Radmus naman ay umiiling sa anak. Nangingiti lang naman ang kambal.
"Stop it, Yariene." he whispered.
"Oh no. I don't want to." I mocked.
"Kung hindi ko lang alam na may nililigawan sya, iha. Baka akalain kong sa'yo nababaliw ang anak ko." Tito Radmus said.
My smile faltered. Right. I almost forgot. I'm just a friend. Nothing more, nothing less.
Kice shifted beside me.
"Dad..." he warned.
"He's courting my cousin po." I said.
Napasinghap sila sa nalaman. Bakit ganito ang reaksyon nila? Hindi ba nila alam na ang pinsan ko ang nililigawan nya? O hindi nya talaga sinabi?
"For real!?" pagsigaw na tanong ni Tita.
"Mom stop it." pigil nya sa ina.
Nagtama ang tingin namin ni Laze at hindi nya inalis ang tingin sa akin. I swallowed hard. Napansin nya ba? Masyado ba akong halata?
Ngumiti ako sakanya ngunit hindi iyon umabot sa aking mga mata. For sure. I looked like a trying hard.
"Mom you're being nosy! Tsaka mo na tanungin si kuya tungkol doon! Nakakahiya kay Ate Ingrid." Laze said.
Umiling naman ako at pilit na tumawa.
"Hindi... Ayos lang, Laze." I said.
Kaze laughed awkwardly.
My gaze landed on the man beside me. His eyes were hard and cold. I can't read him.
"I doubt it, Ate..." Laze whispered softly.
Kami lang dalawa ni Kaze ang nakarinig non dahil nakita kong bumaling sya sa kakambal. Or so I thought.
I thought it would be a good night, but I was wrong. When reality hit, it slapped me again for the nth time. The truth that I'm trying hard to escape haunts me. And I don't have a choice but to brace myself. Because it wasn't me in the first place.
It is one of the saddest realities that I have to accept.
It will never be me.
