THE DEAL

TD- 18

KALABAW

"So, what's your dad's favorite color?" he asked her while he fumbles with his cabinet of clothes. He's been doing this for an hour already and he hasn't decided yet what clothes to wear to impress her dad.

"He likes black," she replied and watched her boyfriend panicking. She admits that it's lovely to know that her boyfriend wanted to impress her parents and that he's serious about this.

"Okay, I'm going to wear black that day to impress him. How about that?"

She laughed, "You are going to meet my parents. We are not going to attend a funeral."

He frowned and answered, "Malay mo, 'di ba? Baka matuwa agad sa akin 'yong daddy mo."

"Babes, it doesn't matter. Kahit anong isuot mo. Wear what you want. What's important is--" she trailed off, "That we have each other and that we love each other."

--

They reached Lea's parents' house 10 minutes early. Lea took her boyfriend's hand to intertwine it with hers. He's been anxious since they left the condo and the least she could do to calm him down is to make him feel that she's with her and they both got it. On his other hand, Aga was holdng a box of donut, which according to Lea, is her parents' favorite.

Upon setting foot inside the house, Aga couldn't help but be amused of how neat and organized it was. You could tell by how it looks, that respectable people are living in here. Lea also didn't tell him that she is this rich. He could see paintings of undoubtedly highly-paid painters hanging on the wall.

They then saw a lady dressed in white blouse and maong pants approaching them with a smile on her face. He wondered at first if she was her mom but then Lea called her, "Manang Rosa!"

Manang Rosa approached her and hugged her tightly, "Lea, anak. Kanina pa namin kayo hinihintay. Ang mommy mo, busy na doon sa kusina. Alam mo naman, darating ang paborito niyang anak."

Lea chuckled and held her hand, "I missed you, manang."

"Namiss din kita. Ang tagal mong hindi bumisita. Kung hindi mo pa ipakikilala itong- "she looked at Aga and smiled, "Kay gwapong binata."

Aga reached for the lady's hand and did the "mano" thing, "Good morning po."

"Aba, at napakagalang. Anong pangalan mo, anak?"

"Aga po. Nice meeting you po."

Manang Rosa smiled at him again, "Ako rin. Sige na't puntahan niyo na ang mommy mo doon sa kusina. Matutuwa 'yon."

"Sige, manang, ha. Kwentuhan tayo mamaya," she told her and made their way to kitchen.

Aga's heart pounded heavier and faster this time especially when they saw a lady with a chesnut brown hair tied in a half bun, wearing a bloody red dress and apron singing as she cooks.

When she noticed the two standing there, watching her, her eyes widened and she quickly removed the apron to greet them, "Oh, nandito na pala kayo!"

"Busy mo naman, mommy? Why didn't you ask for Manang Rosa's help?" Lea asked as she kissed her cheeks, "Hi."

"Naku. It's fine. Na-miss kong mag-luto tsaka bihira ka lang umuwi dito sa bahay, eh. I wanted to cook for you. Konti na lang naman."

"Mhm," Lea hummed and then looked at Aga to introduce him to her mom, "Mom, this is Aga, my boyfriend. Babes, this is Mommy Joy."

He was too nervous but he felt butterflies on his stomach when Lea said, my boyfriend, "Good evening po," he greeted.

Joy widely smiled and hugged Aga, "Pogi, ha."