I rubbed my palms to each other because of the extreme nervousness I'm feeling. Adriel and I were already in his car heading to their house. I really couldn't help but to be nervous to think that I would have a dinner with Adriel's parents.
"Just chill, baby..." Adriel must've noticed my uneasiness.
"Kinakabahan talaga ako. Hindi ko alam paano ako aarte sa mga magulang mo,"
"You don't need to act. They'll like you, just be yourself..." tumango na lamang ako at tinuon sa labas ng bintana ang tingin.
I remember Kuya's offer again. I know that will help me heal completely. I still can't help but be bothered in my surroundings. I feel like someone is watching me. Earlier, Daddy just touched my shoulder but the reaction of my body and brain was severe.
We have no choice but to tell my parents. They even wanted to call Mama and Papa but I begged them not to because they already have a lot of problems there and I don't want to add more.
"We're here," Adriel announced. Bumaba siya at nagtungo sa aking gilid para pagbuksan ako ng pinto.
Namangha ako sa laki ng kanilang bahay pero para sa akin ay isa na itong napakalaking mansyon. May fountain sa gitna at may malawak na garden pa.
Napaayos ako ng tayo ng makitang nasa pinto na ang mag-asawa at inaabangan kami. Perse even waved his hand at me.
"Hija," lumapit ako sa kanila at nagmano. They stilled kaya kinabahan ako.
"Wow, I didn't expect that." Adriel's father looked at me, shocked.
"P-po?" I stuttered and I almost smacked Perse when I heard him laughed.
"Ah, hindi lang ako sanay na may nagmamano sa akin," he smiled. "But don't get me wrong, huh? I like your attitude. You're very polite,"
"Thank you po," sinamaan ko ng tingin si Perse dahil hindi pa rin siya tumitigil sa kaniyang paghagikhik.
"What?" he mouthed.
"Tangina mo," nanlaki ang mata nito sa sinabi ko. Hindi ko nilakasan at nakaharap ako sa gawi niya kaya alam kong siya lang ang nakakita.
"Hija?" napaharap ako sa ginang na kumuha sa aking atensyon. She's eyeing me from head to toe this time. Na-conscious tuloy ako.
"Yes po?"
"Let's go..." kumunot ang aking noo pero sumunod din. Napapagitnaan ako ni Adriel at Perse.
"Bakit ganiyan ka maglakad?" napaayos ako ng postura sa tanong ni Perse.
"A-ano... hindi lang ako sanay sa mataas na heels," rason ko saka sinulyapan si Adriel na inakbayan ako. May munting ngisi ang kaniyang labi na pilit niyang itinatago kaya siniko ko ang kaniyang tiyan.
When we got to their dining I was even more amazed. This is also the size of our dining at home but this design and their set-up is unique and very creative.
Nang makaupo ay isa-isang naglabasan ang mga katulong para ilapag ang mga putahe.
"So..." Adriel's mom started while we're eating.
"How many months has your relationship been?" nagkatinginan kami ni Adriel. Alam ko naman na kung anong petsa kami nagsimula pero gusto ko pa rin siya ang sumagot.
"Mom, I don't really remember---"
"One year and two months po," I butt in.
"How didn't you remember that?" ani Tita.
"You know why..." biglang lumamlam ang mata ng ginang kay Adriel na parang naiintindihan nito ang sinabi samantalang ako ay nanatiling naguguluhan.
"Does she knew?" tanong ni Tito. Am I the she?
"She doesn't need to." pinal na wika ni Adi.
"Ako ba ang pinag-uusapan nila?" I whispered to Perse.
"Don't mind them. Mga baliw 'yan," bulong nito pabalik.
"Baliw daw po---" bigla nitong tinakpan ang bibig ko kaya napalingon sila sa amin.
"What's the matter?" Tita asked but Perse shooked his head. I shoved his hand away from my mouth but he wouldn't bulged.
"Persephone!" Tita's scary voice roared. Dali-dali namang umayos ng upo si Perse at saka ako sinenyasan gamit ang hintuturo sa labi niya, pinapatahimik ako.
"Bakit kayo nasa gano'ng ayos kanina?"
"He said that---"
"Donna!" Perse exclaimed which made me laughed.
"Sabi niya po baliw ka-siya..." napaigik ako ng sipain niya ang paa ko sa ilalim. Hindi naman masakit pero dahil maarte ako, why not?
"Perse, stop that childish antics. Just eat,"
Silence filled the whole dining. Hawak ni Adriel ang isang kamay ko sa ilalim ng mesa kaya medyo nahirapan ako sa pagkain.
"Let her hand go, Adi. She can't eat properly," ani Tita.
"I'll never let her go," his grip on my hand tighten.
"Adi, that's not what your mom meant..." I said but he ignored me. Nakipagtalasan siya ng tingin sa ina na naguguluhan din sa inaakto niya.
"Hijo, I'm just worried about your girlfriend. I can see that you're hurting her? Look at her hand! It's so red!" she exclaimed and as if on cue, Adriel let go of my hand.
"Did I hurt you?" He gently asked and inspect my hand.
"Sabog ka ba?" hindi ko na napigilang ibulalas. Napuno ng tawanan ang hapag.
Para kasi siyang timang. Earlier, he misunderstood what his Mom said and then now, he's acting like he punched me or something!
Grabe siya kung makasuri sa palad ko. I mean, his grip hurt me a little bit pero mas masakit pa nga ang kagat ng langgam do'n!
"I-im sorry. Shit, do you find me weird? I...I can't control my emotions lately. I'm really sorry," doon nawala ang hagikhikan ng kaniyang pamilya. I can see worry in their eyes as they stared at Adriel.
Ano bang meron?
Tumayo ang ginang para pumunta sa gawi ni Adriel at niyakap ito mula sa likod.
"You'll get better, son." bulong lamang iyon pero sapat na para marinig ko.
Saan siya gagaling?
_______
Tapos na kami kumain ngunit hindi na nagsalita pa si Adi. Pakiramdam ko ay may malalim itong iniisip dahil sa layo ng kaniyang tingin. Tinanong ko nga siya ngunit ika niya ay ayos lang naman daw ang lahat.
We are in the living room now. Ibinibida ni Tita ang mga litrato ng kambal sa akin. Natatawa nga ako dahil ang tataba pala nila noon at napakacute!
"They're cute, right?" tumango ako habang nakatingin pa rin sa mga photo album sa aking harapan.
"Mom, stop that..." saway ni Adriel ngunit hindi siya pinagkinggan ng ina.
I burst out laughing at the next picture. They're freaking naked!
"This is so embarrassing, Mom, please...stop that," napatakip pa ng mukha si Perse.
"Jen, tama na iyan..." ngumuso si Tita and I really fine them cute!
"But, I want Donna---"
"Hello, everyone!" sigaw ng kung sino na nagputol sa sasabihin ng ginang.
"Oh, shit. Here we go again," kumunot ang aking noo ng makita si Lorelei.
Tumakbo ito palapit sa mag-asawa saka sila hinalikan sa pisngi. Akmang hahalikan niya rin si Perse sa pisngi pero umiwas ito at syempre! Hindi niya palalampasin si Adriel!
"Donna," tawag ni Adi kaya nabaling sa akin ang tingin ng babae bago pa man siya makalapit sa boyfriend ko.
"Hon, let's give them time first to talk. We'll snatch Donna later..." natawa ako ng pabiro akong kinindatan ni Tito. Nang mawala sila sa living room ay saka bumira ang impakta.
"So... you're here?" tanong nito at saka lumapit sa akin.
"Yeah..." tumaas ang isang kilay ko ng ngumisi siya.
"What are you doing here then?" I almost scoff.
Tanga ba 'to?
"Meet the parents," ngumiti ako.
"Really? Bakit ngayon lang? Matagal na kayo di'ba? Oh my, Adriel? Are you ashamed of her?! Because when we're still together, in less than a second your family knows that we're finally a couple!" she chuckled.
"Yeah, because you broadcast it on a microphone saying that, Adriel's my boyfriend, whiee! " Perse rolled his eyes. Natawa ako ng pumilantik pa ang kaniyang mga daliri habang nagsasalita.
"Oh, come on, Persephone! Don't you like me as your sister-in-law? That would be great, right?" nagdilim ang aking tingin sa kaniyang sinabi. She even smirked! Damn, this girl...
"That would be my worst nightmare," natawa muli ako at saka nag-high-five kay Perse.
"Tss, you can continue being harsh with me but I'm staying here! So... what are we gonna do?" napailing na lamang kami at hinayaan siya sa gusto niya.
Hindi na bumalik pa sila Tita at Tito kaya naisipan ni Perse na manood na lamang raw kami.
"Pansin ko ang lagi mong panonood niyan?" komento ko ng makitang iyon na naman ang pinapanood niya.
"It's all black!" Lorelei hissed but we ignore her. Bahala siya mapaos diyan.
"Bakit nga black lang?" bulong ko kay Perse. May kumakanta pero wala namang tao o ano. Only black curtain can be seen in the video and I can’t see the singer. I know it's a girl based on its voice. She has a very beautiful voice pero sayang naman if she doesn't show up?
"That's why I'm interested. She doesn't show up but she has so many views and million of subscribers. Siguro naiintriga din ang iba kaya inaabangan talaga ang mga videos niya sa YouTube,"
"Wow..."
"Duh, her voice sucks kaya! Maybe she's ugly so she's ashamed? Pity her," tumalim ang tingin ni Perse kay Lorelei kaya napaiwas ito ng tingin.
"Why are you talking shit about her personality and appearance? You don't even knew her. Kung ayaw mo sa kaniya e'di huwag kang manood at umalis kana." nagulat ako sa tono ng boses ni Perse. Ngayon lang siya nagsalita ng ganiyan sa iba. He's always jolly and to think that he has this side? He's something...
"Why are you so mean to me? I'm just saying my opinion!" Lorelei defended but Perse shooked his head.
"You and you're fucking personality sucks. What a spoiled brat," iyon ang huli nitong sinabi bago umalis at umakyat sa kaniyang kwarto? I think so.
"Perse's being mean to me lately, Adi. Can you do something about it? Maybe something or someone's influenced him? He's not like that to me before..." ngumuso ito at nagpabebe sa harap ni Adriel na hindi man siya tinapunan ng tingin.
"I can't do anything about his attitude, Lei. You started first, okay? That's what you get..." hinawakan ni Adriel ang aking kamay at saka umurong palapit sa akin.
"Hmp, okay! But you have to go shopping with me! I don't have companion kasi and you need to bawi kasi you didn't show up last time I asked you!" humarap siya kay Adi at hinawakan pa ang balikat nito.
"Yes, of course, you can go..." napatingin sila sa akin dahil sa sinabi ko. Gulat ang ekspresyon ni Adriel habang hindi natatanggal ang ngisi sa labi ni Lorelei.
"But---"
"Alone. You can go alone. Of course, who are you to ask my boyfriend to come with you, huh? And I'm fucking here if you can't see? Sa laki ng mata mo hindi mo nakikita na may girlfriend na 'yan?" tinuro ko si Adriel. "Where's the poise?"" pinasadahan ko siya ng tingin.
Her eyes widen and she fucking looks like a tarsier!
"How dare you!" akmang susugudin ako nito ng iharang ni Adriel ang kaniyang katawan sa akin.
"I'm done with you, Lorelei. You don't respect our relationship! You act like we're still together but we fucking don't! I respect you but if you ever laid your filthy hands on her? You'll face me..." naiwang tulala doon si Lorelei ng hinila ako patayo ni Adriel.
Aniya'y hahatid niya na ako pero hindi ako pumayag dahil hindi pa kami nakakapagpaalam ng maayos sa mga magulang niya.
"I'll just contact them," inabot nito ang kaniyang cellphone sa akin ng sinagot ni Tita ang telepono.
"Yes, son?" bungad nito.
"Tita..."
"Oh, Donna?"
"Yes po, uh, uuwi na po sana ako. Sorry po kung hindi ako nakapagpaalam ng maayos. Something happened po kasi and I'm really sorry for that---"
"Is it about Lei?"
"Y-yes," she sighed.
"That's why she's crying? Oh well, I understand, hija. Just take care and tell my son to go home before midnight, hmm?"
"Okay po, thank you..." nang mawala sa linya ang ginang ay ibinalik ko na kay Adriel ang kaniyang cellphone.
Hindi na kami nagsalita pa hanggang sa makarating kami sa bahay. Nilingon ako nito at deretsong tumingin sa aking mga mata.
"I'm sorry, baby..."
"It's okay. It's not your fault, anyway..." tumango ito. He leaned in and kissed my forehead, down to my nose until his lips reached my lips.
"I love you," he whispered before claiming my lips.
Agad kong tinugunan ang kaniyang halik hanggang sa maubusan kami ng hininga.
"I love you too, sige na baba na ako. Take care, okay?" I give him a peck bago ako bumaba ng kaniyang kotse.
Hinintay lang ako nitong makapasok bago niya pinaandar palayo ang kaniyang sasakyan.
"Are you okay?" I almost jump when my sister appeared.
"Ginulat mo naman ako. But I'm fine and kinda tired..."
"Yeah, I can see that. You're so pale. Pahinga kana..." I nodded and kissed her cheeks before going upstairs.
_______
A/N: I was crying while writing this chapter 😭 Nagr-read kasi ako ng Taste of Sky and super sakit pa rin huhu...
Anyway, enjoy!❤️