I was nervous to meet Eira's family. While getting dressed, I actually questioned my decision to get myself invited to my girlfriend's birthday. Yes, I was not going to deny that I wrangled that invitation from Eira because I wanted to be recognized as the man that she was seeing.
"At ngayon, heto ka ninenerbiyos. Bakit kasi ipinilit mo 'to?" I quietly asked myself. "Ang sabi nga ng girlfriend mo, 'di ba, ay tapos na sila n'ung Nathan kaya wala kang rason para ma-insecure?"
But, I couldn't help but feel anxious when I learned that Eira's ex and his family would be there. I was afraid that they would be able to pressure or convince Eira into getting back with that jerk.
Pero, matalino ang girlfriend mo, hindi 'yun basta-bastang madadala kahit ano ba ang sabihin ng pamilya n'ya. O, hindi nga ba?
I realized that the fact that Eira and I were strangers despite immensely enjoying each other in bed was a huge factor in my uncertainty – I didn't really know how her mind worked.
"Bren, stop," I told my reflection on the mirror. "Pagdududahan mo talaga si Eira? Sa inyong dalawa, s'ya 'yung dehado kasi s'ya 'yung babae. Nabulag ka na ba ng mga babaeng nanloko sa'yo at hindi mo nakikita na diyamante 'yung nasa harap mo?"
Bakit ba kasi ganito ako mag-isip? I silently asked myself as I sprayed perfume on my wrist.
My girlfriend chose everything that I was wearing. And I had to admit that it was a new feeling having a woman choosing things for me and even offering to pay for them instead of watching on the sidelines as they picked items from the rack for themselves and expecting you to pay for them.
"Gusto mo bang ipa-laundry muna natin 'yan? Samahan kita," she had offered but I had declined.
"Ako na ang bahala. May express laundry service naman ang hotel. Besides, may party ka at kailangan na kitang ihatid sa inyo. Or else baka lalong magalit sa akin ang Mommy mo," I had told her and she had reluctantly agreed.
I heard my phone beep and I picked it up from the dresser. It was a message from an unknown number.
Talagang blinock mo ako? Kailangan ko pang bumili ng new SIM para ka lang ma-contact. Galit na naman sa akin si Mommy kaya umalis muna ako ng bahay. Kailangan kita. Call me ASAP, the message simply said and I instantly knew from whom it was.
"Itong babaeng ito ang sakit nito sa ulo," I muttered under my breath as I blocked the new number.
Brooke was my first love and admittedly, I was crazy over her. I met her shortly after I arrived in Subic through Henry who introduced me to her because she was his then-girlfriend's younger cousin.
We did not hit it off immediately – I found her childish and she thought that I was a snob. But since both Harry and Gene had girlfriends and she always tagged along with Henry's girl, Mimi, we were left with no choice but to be friendly towards each other.
We became a couple because she dared to kiss me. Unfortunately for me, I fell hard and thought that she was the one. I was a romantic fool.
It was my first relationship and I experienced nearly all my firsts with her – kissing, making out that graduated to heavy petting, lover's quarrels that lasted for days and which usually ended up with me begging her on my knees, and a heartbreak that nearly killed me.
"Brooke! O, bakit ka tumawag? Not that, I do not want you to call pero alam ko kasing busy ka palagi."
"Hello, Bren..."
"Pasensya ka na if I sound too excited. I did not expect this call at all. Akala ko sa Sabado ka pa tatawag. Happy anniversary!"
"Ha? Ahh...oo nga pala..."
"Dapat tatawagan kita. 'Yung limited edition na shoes na gustung-gusto mo? I was able to buy it. Pasensya na at hindi umabot sa birthday mo kasi ngayon ko lang nagawan ng paraan. At saka nagpadala rin ako ng paborito mong pastillas na gawa sa gatas ng kambing. Dumayo pa akong Cavite at muntik na akong maligaw. Si Henry kasi hindi ako sinamahan—"
"Bren..."
"Brooke, what's wrong? Are you crying? Is everything okay?"
"Bren, I'm so sorry..."
"What happened, Brooke?"
"Sorry..."
"Brooke, kinabahan na ako rito. Tell me what's wrong."
"Bren, kasi..."
"Nag-away na naman ba kayo ng mom mo—Brooke, tama na ang iyak. Hindi ka pa ba sanay sa Mommy mo? Pinipilit ka pa rin ba n'yang hiwalayan ako? Did she cut off your allowance again?"
"Bren..."
"Don't worry, ako na ang bahala. Magpapadala ako kahit magkano ang kailangan mo. Tiis-tiis lang, okay? Malapit ka nang magtapos, two years na lang. We will get married as soon as you graduate—"
"Bren, I'm pregnant...kaya ako tumatawag sa'yo because...because I can no longer hide my pregnancy...and kailangan ko nang umuwi muna—"
"I'm sorry but you're what?"
"Buntis ako."
"How the hell are you pregnant when we have not done it yet?"
"Kaya ako tumatawag ngayon para i-explain sa'yo—"
"Explain what to me exactly?"
"Why, I'm in this situation—"
"I know how babies are made, Brooke. Hindi ako tanga!"
"Hindi ko sadya—"
"Did he force himself on you?"
"No, but—"
"So, pumayag ka?"
"Bren, kasi nag-away tayo n'un 'tapos—"
"Nag-away tayo? Mahaba na 'yung tatlong oras na hindi tayo nagkakabati kasi ako ang nanunuyo at nagmamakaawa sa'yo! Tatlong oras, Brooke! Sa tatlong oras na 'yun nalungkot ka at nabuntis ka ng iba?"
"Bren, please—"
"Ilang buwan na 'yan?"
"S...six..."
"Six months? Ibig sabihin n'ung umuwi ka rito four months ago for your sem break ay buntis ka na n'un? N'ung panahong 'yun na palagi ka na lang naghahanap ng away ay meron nang iba?"
"Bren, I'm really sorry. Pero, hiniwalayan ko na s'ya—"
The sound of my phone ringing brought me back to the present.
I shook my head to clear my thoughts. "Anong meron, Bren, ay biglang kung anu-ano na lang ang naaalala mo?" I asked myself before answering my phone. "Hi, Mrs. Moore..." I said over the phone.
"Okay ka lang ba?" I heard my girlfriend ask.
"Oo naman. Bakit naman hindi ako magiging okay?"
"Baka kinakabahan ka d'yan, huminga ka munang malalim."
I laughed softly. "Tama ka, kabado nga ako. Wala naman sigurong baril ang Daddy mo, ano?" I kidded.
"Meron," Eira replied.
"Shit, hindi nga?"
She burst out laughing. "Meron nga. Marunong nga akong bumaril, eh. Dad taught me and Mom," she said. "Bakit, Mr. Moore, natatakot ka bang barilin ka ng Daddy ko?"
"Hindi naman..."
"O, 'yun naman pala. Besides, h'wag kang matakot sa kanya, sa akin ka matakot kasi kapag ikaw nangaliwa, hindi ako ang maghahabol sa'yo kundi 'yung bala ng baril ng Daddy ko."
"Suko na po ako," I said. "Ibibigay ko na po lahat, wallet, ATM card, pati katawan ko."
Eira laughed harder before she sighed.
"What's wrong?" I queried.
"Kinakabahan din ako..."
"Gusto mo bang h'wag na akong tumuloy?"
"Ayaw mo bang tumuloy?"
"Kung ayaw mo."
"Ano ba ang gusto mo?"
"Gusto kong magpakilalang kasintahan mo sa pamilya mo."
"Ang lalim naman ng word na kasintahan."
"Kabiyak sana kaso hindi pa tayo kasal."
She laughed again and I laughed along.
"But, seriously, Eira, if you've changed your mind about me attending your party, magsabi ka lang, I will understand."
"Okay..." she said.
I shoved my disappointment away. "O, paano, mamaya na tayo mag-usap kasi alam kong busy ka d'yan. I-text mo ako kapag pwede na kitang tawagan, okay?" I said forcing myself to sound cheerful.
"Iggy..."
"Yes?"
"Hinihintay kita rito. I want you to be here. Mag-ingat ka sa pag-da-drive, ha..."
My girlfriend met me at the door and after exchanging hugs, she took my hand in hers and then led me to where her family was standing.
"Dad, Mom, this is Ignatius Brennon Moore, my boyfriend," she told them beaming before she turned to me. "Iggy, these are my parents. Engr. Eitan Saavedra and Mrs. Elliana Saavedra."
"Good evening po," I politely greeted them.
"Good evening," they greeted back.
"And these are my brothers Eian and Eino," Eira said.
"At least he's tall," one of them commented. "So, you can wear shoes with heels now," he added and he and his twin brother laughed.
"Eino..." Mrs. Saavedra's voice was full of silent warning and the twins immediately stopped laughing.
Eira introduced me to all her guests and although they were obviously surprised they were polite and cordial.
The party started with the introduction of Eira's family, her grand entrance, an opening prayer led by her uncle who was a priest, her father's welcome speech, Mrs. Saavedra's piano rendition of her daughter's favorite song, and a dance number by the twins.
Dinner was then served and I learned from Eian that there was supposed to be an audio-visual presentation but his sister opted to cancel it.
"Kasama kasi si Nathan d'un kaya ayaw na ni Ate," he unwittingly informed me.
I felt a hand on my shoulder and I looked up to find my girlfriend smiling at me. "Samahan mo ako," she said.
I pushed to my feet and then escorted her from table to table to take photos with the guests.
"Okay ka lang ba?" she asked as we headed back to the presidential table.
"Oo, okay na okay."
"Nakakain ka nang maayos?"
"Oo."
"Hindi ka ninerbiyos na katabi mo si Daddy?"
I chuckled. "Medyo."
"Later, sa stage ako uupo to receive everyone's birthday wishes. Do you want to sit with me?"
"Hindi na," I said shaking my head. "It's your birthday, the spotlight should be on you. Okay lang ako, I promise."
"Are you sure?"
I nodded. "Oo. Don't worry about me. Malaki na ako, kaya ko na 'to," I jokingly said.
But, minutes later, I regretted not taking Eira's offer because I felt alone and awkward – her brothers were busy talking about an online game that I wasn't familiar with and her parents weren't exactly chatty.
"Are you okay, young man?" I heard Engr. Saavedra ask.
I nodded smiling. "Opo, Sir..."
"I love my eldest, Ignatius," he said and my palms started to sweat. "Eira is headstrong although pakiramdam n'ya ay masunurin s'ya," he added with a soft laugh. "Bata pa lang 'yan, kung anong gusto n'ya ay ginagawa n'ya and my wife and I just let her be. 'Yun naman ang gusto namin, that at a young age ay unti-unti nang mahahanap ng mga anak namin kung sino ba talaga sila so we gave them the space they need to spread their wings..."
I nodded unsure how to reply.
"But, Eira, even when she has a rebellious streak, has never given her Mom and me any trouble. Sobrang maaral 'yan n'ung nag-aaral, sobrang masipag n'ung nagsimulang magtrabaho, at ngayon pa lang ay isa na 'yan sa mga taong pinagkakatiwalaan at inaasahan ko sa kumpanya. Not because she's my daughter, but because she does her job well."
I nervously smiled.
"I heard from her mother that you and Eira have only just met. Ang sabi nga ni misis ay baka ginagawa lang ito ni Eira to get back at Nathan. Pwedeng tama s'ya, pwedeng hindi. But whatever my daughter's reason is, I will always have her back."
"I know, Sir..." I said finally finding my voice.
"I can see that both of you are smitten with each other. The body language says it all and I am afraid..."
"Sir, iingatan ko po ang anak ninyo."
"You don't have to do that, I can take care of her. Her mother and I would always take care of her and protect her. And if ever you'll end up breaking her heart, I know my daughter can kick your ass."
I nodded unable to hide my smile. "You're right, Sir."
Engr. Saavedra sighed. "But she's a spitfire and I can sense that underneath your cool exterior, you're one hell of a raging inferno. I hope to God that you and my daughter are not going to end up burning each other..."