Of Love, Signs and Logic (Completed)

48 - Akyat ng Ligaw

Meng embraced her mother, too happy for words.

"Basta, Menggay, ligaw lang muna ha. Malaki ang tiwala namin sa inyong dalawa."

"Makakaasa po kayo Nay. Thank you po! Thank you po talaga!"

"O siya, simulan mo na ang ritual at mukhang  mahaba-habang ayusan ito. Tandaan mo anak, hindi mo kailangang masyado magpaganda. Hulog na hulog na yung tao kahit wala kang makeup."

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RJ was surprised when he went down from his room. His whole family down to manang are all lined up to wish him well. Even his extended family, Kuya Wally and Kuya Jose were there para mang-asar. Iba 'to!

"Ano ba yan! 25 na po ako. Para namang ngayon lang ako manliligaw. Saka sino nag-broadcast kung saan ako pupunta? Baka naman pati kapitbahay natin alam." Although it really feels like he's doing this for the first time.

"Ricardo, malilihim ba yan? eh kanina ka pa ikot nang ikot. Saka aminin mo iho, naka-ilang palit ka ng damit? O yung mga bilin ko ha. Magmano sa mga matatanda." Lola Gloria was the first to make her bilin.

"Yes, lola tinandaan ko po lahat ng bilin n'yo tungkol sa parents niya."

"O bunso, dalhin mo yung pinahanda ko kay Manang, lahat ng delicacies from Laguna, may buko pie, cassava cake, kesong puti...."

"Ate naman, baka akala nila nagtitinda ako niyan. Hindi ba dapat chocolates kasama ng flowers?"

"Ay naku, Bulacan ang pupuntahan mo. Dapat itayo ang bandera ng Laguna."

Pati si manang, nakisali. "RJ, pagbutuhin mo ha? I-kiss mo na lang ako kay Maine, sabihin mo fan ako."

"I-kiss talaga manang? Eh kung hambalusin ako ng tatay no'n?"

"Jose, naiiyak ako, yung anak natin, manliligaw na!" Kuya Wally tried to wipe his imaginary tears.

"Oo Wally, hindi ako makapaniwala, parang kailan lang naglalaro pa ng patintero yan, ngayon, makikipag-patintero na sa tatay ni Meng."

"Tisoy, baka kailangan mo ng side-kick kung manghaharana ka, puwede kami ni Jose."

"Hindi mo naitatanong, isa yan sa sideline namin ni Wally sa Nueva Ecija. Sabihin mo lang, kundiman, modern, kahit rock puwede tayo diyan."

"Okay na ko mga kuya. Kaya ko na 'to."

And Anna remained clueless, looking at everybody.

"Where are you going tito?" she finally asked.

He kneels down to talk to her. "Hi princess, I'm going to Chef Elize's castle. Di ba you told me I could be her prince? So I'm going there to ask her to be my princess."

"Really? Awesome! Can I go with you? I want to see her castle too."

"Next time princess. I need to meet the King father and Queen mother first. They might not like me you know."

"Oh they will like you. I could write them a letter."

"Hahahaha! Sure, princess! I will tell you later if we need your letter, okay?"

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Eto na nga....

Present ang buong pamilya nang dumating siya sa  bahay ng mga Mendoza sa Bulacan. From Mang Teodoro and Aling Mary Ann to Ate Nikki and family to Yaya Pe. Only Kuya Paolo is missing.