Captured by Love

24

"Gusto mo makilala sila Mama di ba? O eto na." tumigil kami sa harap ng pinto ng bahay, hawak ko pa rin ang kamay niya. I squeezed it lightly.

"Huy." I poked him.

"Baka di nila ako magustuhan." finally nagsalita na din siya, ngumiti ako sa kanya.

"I am like my parents, my parents are just like me." my statement made him frown.

"Meaning, nagustuhan kita for sure magugustuhan ka rin nila. Just show them the Andrei that caught me." I assured him with a wink.

"Iba." comment niya bago ako tuluyang pumasok sa loob ng bahay.

"Ma! Pa!" I called for my parents, nakasunod lang sakin si Andrei. Lumingon ako to check kung anong itsura niya at mukhang kabado talaga.

Gusto mo to eh, I snicker with my thoughts.

Dumiretso ako sa dining area, for sure andun na sila Mama waiting for us. Kaninang umaga, I gathered all my courage to talk to the parentals about Andrei. Sinabihan din kasi ako nila Ate Eight na mas okay kung alam nila Mama.

I recall my conversation with my Ate. "Wow, at least he has good intentions if he wants to meet us. And sabi mo naman he introduced you to his parents. Why not do the same di ba?"

"And besides, you like the guy." It wasn't a question but a statement, my Ates know me very well hindi na nila kailangang itanong what I feel.

"Stop being maarte and introduce us. Nakakastress maginvestigate sa twitter." dagdag pa ni Ate Ella, it made me laugh.

"Such a stalker, Ate."

"Ay naku, Ting. Everyday nga yan bumibisata sa accounts nun ni Andrei." Ate Aika said.

"Holy! Ate Eight!" saway ko.

"What? I'm so curious. You know me, I have to know."

Natatawa na lang ako remembering my conversation with them, ang kulit lang ng mga kapatid ko.

"Mama." lumapit ako sa Mama ko to kiss her, sunod sa Papa ko.

"Good evening po." bumalik ako kung saan nakatayo si Andrei, namumutla na ata siya dahil sa nerbyos.

"Ma, Pa. This is Andrei..." tumingin ako kanila Mama and then to Andrei.

"my boyfriend." pagtapos ko, my Mom smiled while my Papa remained poker face pero ang pinaka-epic si Andrei. Nakanganga siya, nakatulala sakin.

Mama went inside the kitchen.

"Ting, di ata aware ang boyfriend mo na boyfriend mo siya. Are you pulling a trick on us?" says Papa, I bit my lower lip suppressing my giggles.

My father's voice pulled Andrei out of his own world, he closed his mouth at humarap sa parents ko.

"Good evening po Mam, Sir. I'm Andrei Caracut po." he introduced himself in a rather formal tone.

"Ting, I'm not interested to buy anything ah. Baka bentahan kami niyan." biro nanaman ni Papa, this time di ko na napigil ang tawa ko.

"Po?!" Andrei seems lost, kawawa naman.

"Pa, stop joking baka akalain ni Andrei seryoso ka." saway ko sa Papa ko.

"Don't be nervous, Andrei. We know you are coming, take a seat. I hope you're hungry." sabi ni Mama while holding a big bowl of rice, coming out from the kitchen. Andrei was quick, lumapit siya kay Mama to help her carry the bowl. Naks!