Today was a sunny day, indeed. The warm rays of the morning sun is penetrating the windshield of Raphael's car.
I can't contain of what I am feeling right now. Kinakabahan ako ng sobra. Because, it is his mother! He is Raphael's first love for heaven's sake!
Kahit na ilang beses na akong in-assure ni Raphael that his mom is nice, yet I couldn't help but to get nervous.
I'm wondering kung magugustuhan niya ba ako. I hope so.
Nagpadagdag pa si Ivy na pinagalitan ako kagabi dahil nabanggit ko sa kanyang sinagot ko na si Raphael. I regret on telling her about it na tuloy.
"What, Mavic?! Are you serious?" she asked and I just replied with a yes.
"Dapat pinatagal mo pa. Kahit one year ay ok na 'yon. Hindi mo dapat sinagot agad nang malaman natin kung seryoso ba talaga siya sa'yo."
"Come on, Ivy. Bakit pa patatagalin kung gusto naman namin ang isa't isa?"
"Ewan ko sa'yo, Mavic. Hindi ka talaga marunong makinig," aniya at binabaan na ako ng tawag.
I get it na nag-aalala lang siya sa akin pero sa tingin ko ay wala naman dapat ipag-alala. Raphael is almost a perfect man. And I guess, ayos lang naman talaga ang decision ko.
Nabalik na lamang ako sa reality nang hawakan ni Raphael ang hand ko habang patuloy pa rin siya sa pagda-drive.
"Don't worry. I'm sure na magugustuhan ka ni mama," he said giving me an assuring smile.
I just replied to him a smile also, wanting to ease my nervousness. Pero kahit ano ata talagang isipin at gawin ko ay walang makakapagpakalma sa akin.
What if his mother doesn't like me?
What if akala ko lang talaga ay kind siya but the truth is, she's not?
Oh gosh! Mas lalo akong kinakabahan sa mga thoughts ko eh. Me and my overthinking mind once again. Wala namang magandang maidudulot ito sa akin. I should stop it by now and trust my boyfriend.
My cheeks flushed because I still can't believe that Raphael is now my man.
After the ride, we arrived at their house. I must say na hindi naman ito ganoon kalaki pero hindi rin naman maliit. Yeah, just a decent size for their family. Lalo pa't sinabi ni Raphael na hindi naman talaga sila mayaman. His parents' are hardworking in order to provide him and his sister a good life and I salute them for that.
The house is in Hawaiian style. The color scheme is also a good choice, rosegold, blush pink and gray. Actually, I like it, very sleek and modern.
Iginaya muna ako ni Raphael sa kanilang sala bago niya tinawag ang kanyang ina. I sat on their sofa couch and let my eyes wander in their house. It looks very different kompara sa mansyon namin sa San Diego.
The different textures and styles ng bahay nila ang nakapagpadagdag nang pagiging elegante nito. There's also a 64-inch plasma television and their family picture hanged on the one side of their sala's wall. Even the decorations and ornament was carefully chosen and those were elegantly displayed.
My heart started to pound unsteadily when I heard the voice of his mom. Nang makitang papalapit na sila ay agad akong tumayo upang magbigay galang.
I couldn't let this first meeting to fail.
"Good morning po," I said giving my best to smile but because of my nervousness, it seems awkward.
"Kay ganda naman palang bata nito ni Victorina," she said smiling to me before looking at her son.
"Kaya pala hulog na hulog ka, anak," she said to Raphael with a slight tease in her voice.
I can't help but to feel my cheeks burning with embarrassment.
"Mama!"
His mother just chuckled before she continue speaking. "Let's have a seat."
Nang makaupo na kami ay unti-unting nawawala ang kaba ko. His mother feels so welcoming.
Sa tingin ko ay there's nothing to be worried about naman. Raphael is right. My first impression of her are she is indeed kind and accomodating.
"Ikaw daw ang nagma-manage ng family business niyo rito sa Maynila, hija? Is that right?"
I nodded. "Yes po, ma'am."
"Oh my bad. Hindi pa pala ako nakakapagpakilala sa'yo. Just call me tita Fiona," she said giving me her warm smile.
I smiled once again. "Yes po, tita Fiona."
"Ma, tapos na ba kayong magluto?"
"Malapit na 'yon, Raphael. Ayaw mo ata akong ipakausap sa girlfriend mo," wika ni tita pero sumimangot lang si Raphael. It looks like that his eyes are begging for his mother to go.
Why do I find him cute?
Kung hindi lang ako muling kinausap ni tita ay hindi pa ata mapuputol ang tingin ko sa boyfriend ko.
"What business engaged ang family niyo?"
"Shoe industry po, tita," sagot ko and she just nodded her head.
"Nasaan nga pala ang magulang mo at ikaw ang nagma-manage ng kompanya niyo? No offensement hija, but you look young to manage a big corporation."
"It's ok po. I usually get that comment a lot. My parents were back in San Diego, our hometown. They wanted to settle na po roon dahil ayaw na nila sa city at mas nai-i-stress lang daw sila rito," I said and she just nodded in aggreement.
"Sabagay, iba rin kasi talaga rito sa siyudad."
"I hope that they are doing well. I can't wait to meet them."
"They are nice po. I'm sure magkakasundo kayo lalong-lalo na si mamá. She's also kind and amiable just like you po."
"I'm looking forward to it."
After some more chitchat with tita Fiona, she decided na bumalik sa kitchen dahil tatapusin niya pa raw 'yong niluluto niya.
Raphael asks me to go to their lanai para raw makalasap ako ng sariwang hangin in which I instantly aggreed.
Nang makarating kami sa lanai ay umupo kami sa upuan na naroroon. I keep looking at their beautiful garden. It has several plants and flowers na napakasarap sa eyes. I can also tell that those are well taken care of.
"Mahilig si mama sa mga halaman at bulaklak kaya hindi pwedeng wala kaming garden dito sa bahay."
"Ang ganda nga Raphael. Your mother really has green hands para makapag-alaga ng ganito kagagandang halaman."
"She really has. I remember back then nang bata pa kami ni Luisana, mahilig kami rito maglaro at mamitas ng bulaklak. Mama gets really furious kapag may nasira kami sa mga alaga niya," saad niya habang umiiling at may ngiti sa kanyang labi.
Napangiti na rin ako nang makita ko siya. He really loves his family so much. I can clearly see it in his eyes. I love my family too pero bihira kasi akong makakilala ng lalake na family oriented and he is a one rare specie. This is another thing that took him on another level.
He is not like the others that are thinking themselves most of the time. I bet that he can do anything for his family. Just like what they say, a lady must see how a man treats her mom because it is a great manifestation that it is how he will treat ladies too especially the lady that holds a special place in his heart.
Napalingon siya sa akin dahilan upang magtama ang mga eyes namin. I didn't avoid his gaze at ganoon rin siya. There is something in his eyes that enchanted me. Maybe it is the mysteriousness that it holds. Or maybe it is because of his vehement stare. I don't know. All I really know is that my heart is racing like there is no tomorrow right at this moment.
Matagal-tagal din ang naging titigan namin bago kami nakarinig nang ingay dahilan upang sabay kaming mapatingin doon.
"Ay sorry. Sige na, balik niyo na ang titigan niyo," may nakakalokong ngisi ang nasa labi ng babae.
"Manang Trina!" ani Raphael.
Dali-dali namang pumasok agad ang babae.
"Pasensya ka na kay manang. Ganoon lang talaga iyon," aniya dahilan upang tumango ako.
Napaseryoso ako ng face nang may bigla akong maalala.
"Um... Raphael."
"Hmm?"
"Nagkaroon ka raw ng ex-girlfriend sabi ni Adrian."
Napailing siya. "Loko talagang Adrian 'yon."
"Oo, noong undergrad pa ako," he answered while looking into me.
Napakagat ako ng labi. I don't want to be a nosy girlfriend pero curious talaga ako. Hindi naman siguro masama kung gusto kong malaman iyon besides I have the right to know now.
Isa pa, I promise to myself that I'm not and will never be a jealous girlfriend. I just really wants to know.
"Why did you two broke up?" tanong ko to him and silence filled us.
"Parehas kami accountancy student. Demanding ang mga subjects and wala na rin naman kaming time para sa isa't isa kaya naman we have decided to walk on separate path."
"'Yon lang?" I asked and he just nodded.
"Yup," he said. "Hindi pa naman malalim 'yong nararamdaman namin kaya naka-let go naman kami agad."
Humilig ako sa braso niya. "Basta tayo Raphael, kapag may problema ay pag-usapan natin para alam natin kung anong babaguhin at saan aayusin ang relationship natin," saad ko at naramdaman kong hinahaplos niya ang hair ko.
"We will, Victorina. Don't worry," aniya dahilan upang mapanatag na nang tuluyan ang loob ko.
I just don't like living in a life in where unanswered questions are everywhere. I don't want to run on every problem that I will face.
Pagkatapos ng ilang minuto sa ganoong position ay tinawag na kami ni manang Trina at kakain na.
Natakam agad ako nang makita ko ang iba't ibang putahe ng pagkain ang nakahain sa table. Nagsimula na rin kami agad kumain matapos magdasal.
"Naku, Mavic. Habaan mo na lang ang pasensya mo rito sa anak ko at kay sungit. Lalo na kapag hindi nagsasalita dahil ganoon talaga iyan."
I chuckled because of what tita said. Very true.
I can even remember 'yong mga times na sinusungitan niya ako.
"Pero kahit ganyan naman 'yan ay mapagmahal iyan at responsable."
"I strongly agree po, tita," I said dahilan upang mapangiti rin sila. I can feel that Raphael is really that kind of person.
"Siya nga pala, hija. Nasabi sa akin na kapatid mo raw 'yong mapapangasawa ni Luisana. Totoo ba 'yon?" seryosong tanong ni tita.
"Opo," sagot ko dahilan upang tumango siya.
Naalala ko na naman tuloy si kuya. Kung hindi pa ibinalita sa akin ni mamá ang planong pagpapakasal ng brother ko kay Luisana ay hindi ko pa malalaman.
Tsk. That man.
"Kay bilis ng panahon. Parang noon lang, naghahabulan pa ang magkapatid. Ngayon ay ikakasal na 'yong bunso ko," teary-eyed na saad ni tita. I can feel longingness in her voice. Mahal talaga nila si Luisana. Maybe, that's one of the reason kung bakit siya lumaking mabait na tilamo isang anghel.
If we are going to build a family in the rear future, I wanted it to be like ours and Raphael's, a family full of love and support.
When the lunch was finish ay inaya ako ni tita na makipagkwentuhan sa kanya. She has many stories that she partakes with me. Ang saya nga dahil marami akong nalaman tungkol kay Raphael. It feels like that I know him better now.
It was past four nang mapagdesisyunan na ihatid ako ni Raphael sa condo ko. Medyo traffic nga lang but fortunately, we arrived safe and sound. Nang makarating kami sa condo building ko ay tiningnan ko si Raphael nang nakangiti.
"Ingat sa pagda-drive," pagpaalala ko sa kanya although nahalata ko naman na maingat nga siyang tunay when he's driving.
Binigyan niya ako ng tango at ngiti.
"Thank you for this day, Raphael," I said before giving him a peck of kiss on his lips pagkatapos ay nagmadali akong makalabas sa car niya.
What the hell, Mavic?! Bakit ka hiyang-hiya sa ginawa mo?
Normal lang 'yon, lalo pa't kayo naman. Hindi ka na highschool para umasta nang ganyan.
But I can't help it. Umiinit pa rin ang pisngi ko sa ginawa.