Before we went to our house, dumaan muna kami ni Juan sa isang supermarket store since he wants to give something for my parents na hindi naman kailangan but he insisted.
"You don't have to buy naman something for my parents Juan. It's fine really" I told him when we walked in the store.
"No, I have to. It's an etiquette for us, guys, na if you're going to meet the parents of the girl you're courting, you have to give something. It shows politeness" Wika niya naman saka niya kinuha ang kamay ko and intertwined it with his. "...c'mon help me look some stuffs for your parents"
Nagpatianod na lamang ako and lumiko kami sa wine section ng store na ito. We look at different wines being displayed on the rack and halos mapasinghap ako sa mga presyo dito.
"Ang mamahal" I scrunched my nose while looking at the price ngunit hindi ako pinansin ni Juan at kinuha niya yung tag-dalawang libo na wine na hindi ko alam kung ano ang pangalan. Mahirap bigkasin. French word ata 'yon.
"They don't have deserts here.. Let's stop na lang at Red Ribbon after this" sabi niya as he placed the wine on the counter kasabay ng dalawang libo when we decided to pay it na.
Lumaki naman ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niya because this is all too much!
Naisip ko tuloy, when I met his family, wala man lang akong dala na kahit ano. And I wasn't even prepared last night! Hindi ko pinaghandaan ang sarili ko ng sobra dahil biglaan, tapos ngayon bibili pa talaga siya para sa pamilya ko. Nakakahiya.
"Huy! Okay na'to! Ano ka ba!" Saway ko sa kanya but he shook his head as he received the wine from the cashierna nakapunch na. "No, it's better if there's a pair of this"
"Juan, okay na nga 'to. That already cost you too much tapos bibili ka na naman" I told him nang lumabas na kami ng grocery.
"...you're not here para bilhan sila Mommy and Daddy ng kung anu-ano. You're here because they want to meet you" I added. Ayoko talaga siyang paggastuhin ng mga bagay na hindi naman kailangan. Nakakahiya kaya.
Juan then lets out a breath and said, "Fine". I grabbed his hand and this time ako naman yung nagsalikop sa aming mga daliri. "Let's go?" ngiti ko sa kanya.
"Yep" He smiles back. We walked towards his car at pinagbuksan niya ako ng pinto. I got in and sinara niya naman yung pinto ko before he jogged to the other side and climbed in the driver's seat.
Pinaandar na niya yung sasakyan and he start backing the car to leave the parking area. At habang, nagbabacking siya, hindi ko mapigilan mapatingin sa kanya because ang hot lang talaga ni Juan tignan nung nilagay niya ang kamay niya sa backrest ng seat ko at tumitingin siya sa likod while nagba-backing kami and also, seryoso pa ang mukha niya. Hay nako. Bakit gan'on?
While we're on our way to my house, Dad texted me kung sa'n na raw kami and I replied him naman na papunta na kami.
"Hindi ka ba kinakabahan?" tanong ko sa kanya because Juan just seems so chill. Walang bahid sa kanyang mukha or body language that he's nervous. Tsaka sumasabay pa siya sa kanta ng nakaplay ngayon sa stereo ah.
"Maybe a little, but you know Eva, I've been preparing for this since the day we met that's why konti lang" sabi niya at tinignan ako nang saglit saka ibinaling ang tingin sa daan.
"Wow ah. Bale, nung pagkita natin alam mo na kagad na i-introduce kita sa family ko? Advance mo naman pala mag-isip" Tawa ko sa kanya.
I heard him chuckles. "Of course, that's what a Juan Gomez de Liaño would do when he knows he's going to be with the right woman" he says and shrugged his shoulders while grinning.
"Pa'no mo naman nalaman na I'm the right woman for you e hindi pa tayo magkakilala?" tanong ko sa kanya at pinagtaasan siya ng kilay.
"Well, based on my research, you are" sagot niya at pinagliitan ko siya ng mga mata. Research talaga? "At kaninong research ka naman nakakuha niyan?"
"Um...let's just say my teammates knew you first before me. And remember the day I asked for your name while we're looking for your wallet? And you told me your name?" tanong niya sakin at tumango ako remembering that day.
And then he continued. "....I immediately asked my teammates if they know you and guess what? They did. They said na you're really nice raw, down to earth person, humble despite of your status or what you are"
"Wait, pa'no naman nila nalaman na ganyan ako? E, hindi ko naman close teammates mo"
"My teammates would constantly ask their friends about you since their friends are your classmates on some subjects daw..."
"Ha? Why would they ask about me? Ano meron?" I asked in confused. Like, bakit naman sila magtatanong tungkol sa'kin?
"Eva, before I met you, almost of my teammates pala has a crush on you. They liked you first before I was. And I don't like it. I don't like the thought na my teammates like you but then what can I do? I can't do anything about it. And I don't blame them naman kasi you're everything that every guy wants din e"
Ohmygosh. Is he serious? Hindi naman ako naniniwala na magkakacrush sakin yung UPMBT. Like, grabe naman. Imposible!
"Grabe naman. Simple lang kaya ako. I'm way out of your guys league" I said. Yes, people would usually label me na campus crush daw ako or what pero that's not enough naman to convince me. I don't believe na, I'm really that beautiful kasi as I've said, simple lang talaga ako.
"Believe me Eva, pero I think we're the ones who's really way out of your league kaya nga when you told me that you're a fan pala of me, I couldn't believe it. I didn't thought that someone like you would really admire a simple baller like me" Ngisi niya at napansin kong papasok na kami sa village namin.
"I also felt like I won a lottery when I saw my picture on your wallet" Kwento pa niya and napairap na ako ngayon nang maalala ko ang araw na iyon. That was really embarrassing. "Tumigil ka na nga, nakakahiya"
He laughs. "But really, I still don't like the fact na, they knew and liked you first before I was" biglang pagpout niya and napatawa ako.
"Huwag kang mag-alala, sila man ang unang nakakilala sa'kin kesa sa'yo, ang mahalaga ikaw ang unang laman ng puso ko" Ngisi kong banat sa kanya and nakita ko ang pag-angat ng sulok ng kanyang labi and he was smiling.
"You really know how to get me, do you?" sabi niya sa isang mababang tono when he stopped the car in our drive way at tumingin siya sakin.
"Do I?" Tanong ko naman while looking back at him.
"You do.... you always do" he says before he removes his seatbelt at ganoon din ako. Napangiti na lamang ako sa kanyang sinabi at hindi iniwasang muling kiligin.
"Ready to meet my parents?"
"Always ready.."
Binuksan ko na ang pinto ng sasakyan niya at lumabas na. Seconds after, lumabas na rin si Juan with the wine on his hand that we bought.
I pressed the doorbell of our house kasi nakalock yung gate namin and Yaya Maris was there to open it.
"Hello po Yaya Maris" bati ko sa kanya as I went up to her to make beso.
"Uy Eva, nandito na kayo" Yaya Maris exclaimed when she saw us and I saw her eyes shifted at Juan. "eto ba yung bisita natin? Iyong ipapakilala mo?" tanong ni Yaya sakin na nakangiti.
"Opo Yaya. Si Juan po pala" ngiti ko rin naman kay Yaya habang pinapakilala sa kanya si Juan "..and Juan, si Yaya Maris" I said and I saw Juan came closer to Yaya Maris at nagmano ito.
"Hello po, I'm Juan" Juan greeted and my heart just melted at the sight of him na nagmamano. Bihira na lang kasi ako nakakakita ng mga lalake nirerespeto yung mga helper or kasambahay ng babae ng kanilang nililigawan.
"Ang gwapo at ang tangkad mo namang bata" sabi ni Yaya sa kanya at ngumiti si Juan. "Salamat po"
"O siya, sige, pasok na tayo sa loob. Nandiyan na rin ang Mama at Papa mo sa loob, kasama si Ate mo. Hinihintay kayo" sabi niya and we nodded.
Naglakad na kami papasok sa bahay and ako yung unang pumasok at sumunod naman siya. Dad was the first person I saw in the sala when we walked in and he was watching TV.
"Dad..."
Napatingin sakin si Daddy and in one sec, lumipat ang kanyang mata sa lalakeng nasa likod ko.
Tumayo agad si Papa at inayos ang kanyang pormal na suot. He was wearing a polo T-shirt and a maong. Dad really prepared for this? Suot na suot ah.
"Dad, si..."
"Good evening sir. I'm Juan Gomez de Liaño" Juan introduced himself.
Siya na mismo ang lumapit kay Daddy at kinuha ang kamay nito. Dad accepted the handshake. Titig na titig siya kay Juan na ngayon ay matayog nakatayo sa kanyang harapan.
"Magandang gabi sa'yo. I'm Eduardo, Eva's father" Pakilala naman ni Papa sa kanya. "Hon, nandito na sila" tawag naman ni Papa kay Mama.
"By the way sir, I have a wine for your family" says Juan as he hands the wine to Dad.
"Well, thank you for this" sabi naman ni Papa sa kanya.
Lumabas si Mama galing kusina with an apron on and agad naman niya itong hinubad and walks towards us.
"Hi Ma'am, I'm Juan Gomez de Liaño po" pakilala na naman ni Juan kay Mama and extended his arm to shake hands in which Mom also accepted it.
"Cut with the formality Juan, call me Tita Eileen" Ngiti ni Mama sa kanya and Juan nodded as he smiled back.
"Well, saktong-sakto, the food is already prepared, kain na tayo?" Mom says and we all agreed.
"I'll just put my things sa room" sabi ko sa kanila.
"Okay, at pababain mo na rin yung Ate mo na magdidinner na" Dad commanded at tumango ako.
I went up the stairs going to my room at inilagay ang gamit ko doon. Lumabas naman ako kagad and went to Ate's room.
"Ate, magdidiner na" I said as she was laying on her bed. "Wait, so, Juan's here na?" she asked with wide eyes at napaupo siya sa kama niya.
"Yeah, he's downstairs" nahihiyang kong sagot and I saw her smiled big.
"Grabe ka talaga. Lahat na lang ng crush mo, nagkakacrush din sa'yo" Tawa ni Ate at napatawa ako habang umiiling.
Bumababa na kami and joined our parents and Juan sa dining area. Dad was seated as always at the end of the table, si Mom naman nasa gilid niya. Doon na ako umupo sa tabi ni Juan which is sa kabilang gilid din ni Papa. So, I'm facing Mom. Si Ate naman, doon na siya umupo sa tabi ni Mama.
Before we started eating, we gave thanks muna and pagkatapos naman ay nagsimula na kaming kumain. A lot of food were on the table like 5 different dishes tapos may desert din na leche plan ang nakahain. Talagang pinaghandaan talaga.
Might add, this is the first time my Dad invited a guy sa house kasi nung last year, sa labas lang kami kumain.
"So Juan.." Dad calls while we were eating and eto na nga.... magsisimula ng maggisa si Dad. Napapikit ako nang mariin hoping na dahan-dahanin niya lang. Baka ano pa isipin ni Juan tungkol kay Daddy.
"Manliligaw ka ba ni Eva?"