A Glimpse in Paradise

Chapter 19

We went home. He was about to have his breakfast here in the house since sarado ang paborito naming kainan, when his mom called. Kailangan daw siya sa bahay nila mukhang may mga bisita daw kasi na darating for the Christmas eve. Samantalang ako ay mag-iisang magpapasko. Ay hindi! Kasama ko pala si manang. My sisters texted me that hindi sila makakauwi kasi kahit holidays ay may work sila.

Hindi pa'ko nagbibihis at humilata na lang muna sa aking higaan, nakatunganga sa kisame na parang ewan. Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko para mag IG. I uploaded our first photo together and tagged him. I captioned it "First sunset with my first and last day of simbang gabi with first and last love." After a while, my phone keeps on vibrating. Probably because of the photo. It's my first time to have a boyfriend and it feels surreal. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na nagmahal ako. I checked my phone again. There, I saw so many comments from my friends, co-teachers and such. Ganun sila ka active sa IG, huh?

[ @maameve: wow nakabingwit.

[ @marianyvette: @avionaylorr sabi ko sa'yo siya unang mag-aasawa eh!

[ @avionaylorr: ang ingay mo marian! Para kang asong tumatahol

[ @marianyvette: naririnig mo pala yung comment ko 2ll?

[ @cyrus.v: I love you, mahal!

Hays. Kahit kailan talaga 'tong dalawa. Natatabunan na nila 'yung mga comments ng iba. Napaidlip ako nang biglang nag-ring na naman ang cellphone ko. Kaya bumangon ako para masagot iyon.

Mom calling...

"Hello, ma?"

"Pumunta ka sa bahay mamaya. You need to explain things. Bring your man."

"W-what? B-but ma!"

"No buts. Bye." Hanep! 'Yun na 'yun? Oo guys mama ko 'to!

I texted Cyrus that he needs to prepare his self later tonight because mom wants to see him. He didn't reply. Kinabahan siguro. Kung ako rin naman ay kakabahan. What if ako naman ang ipapakilala niya sa mama niya? Siyempre ay kakabahan din ako, 'no?

Wait.

May IG ba si mama? How was she able to see that? Connections, tsimis, or what? Bahala na! Maya-maya ay tinawagan ko si Cyrus. After a ring, he answered.

"Yes, mahal?" bungad niya in a sweet tone. Mahal pa nga. "Uhm. Okay ka lang ba m-mahal?" I asked. There! I said it, okay? He was silent for a while. Nabigla siguro sa huli kong sinabi.

"Hello? Are you still there?" I asked.

"Ah! Oo naman!"

"Sus! Kinilig ka lang eh!" I teased. He just chuckled. "What time tayo aalis, mamaya?" he asked. "Around seven in the evening, I guess? Mga 8 pa naman yata ang salo-salo. 'Di ko nga alam kung bakit nagpahanda 'yon eh wala naman sina ate. Hindi sila aabot."

"Hay buti naman. 4 p.m pa lang naman. Uuwi na 'ko ngayon para makapag-prepare. Kailangan kong mas maging guwapo mamaya para mas magustuhan ako ng mama mo." aniya. "Tanga! Ako ang magkakagusto sa'yo mamaya, hindi si mama. Ano ka ba?!"

"Yeah. Yeah. I know."

"Sige na. See you later and ingat sa biyahe." I reminded him. "I love you, Mahal." I added. "I love you, too, mahal! Mwa! Mwa!" may tunog pa talaga ha. I ended the call. I want to take a sleep para naman 'di ako mukhang sabog mamaya sa harap ni mama at kung sino pa man ang mga tao or bisita niya mamaya."

The car pulled over in front of our house and the two maids welcomed us. We look so agitated since we left and while driving, we're not talking just to save courage and energy to see and to talk to my mom.

We both took a deep breath just to calm ourselves. We walked until we reached the main door and we looked into each other's eyes. "You ready?" I asked him. He fixed his necktie before he smiled. "Will be ready when you are."

"I'm nervous." I straightly said. "Nah. Don't give me that answer. I'm nervous, too." I saw him gulped and he's holding my hands so tight and I think, every part of him is sweating.

I was about to answer when the main door opened. My mom's secretary gestured us to take our seats. "She'll be here any moment. Excuse me." Ms. Andrea said and left.

After a minute or two, I'm hearing footsteps from the stairs at the back. "She's here." I whispered to Cyrus.

Suddenly, footsteps stopped. "Welcome, Engineer Cyrus Vrixx Vallejo." a voice from behind said. It's my mom. Cyrus seemed so shocked. "Bakit ako kilala ng mama mo?" bulong niya. "No whispering inside of my house, Engineer." my mom said and seated in front of us. "Ma-madam principal?" he then stood up and offered his hand. "Yes, I am." my mom accepted Cyrus' respectful gestures. "The other building is on-going and I appreciated that you accepted the project, again. If it isn't because of my daughter, maybe it's half finished now." then my mom set her eyes on me. I then looked away.

"Let's eat."

Mukhang nawala ang kaba ng mokong kong boyfriend dahil panay ang kwentuhan nila ni mama sa hapag pagkatapos kumain. Akala ko pa naman ay magagalit si mama dahil hindi ko sinabi sa kaniya agad.

"Mukhang effective ang ginawa kong plano."

Cyrus and I looked at each other. "What plan, mom?" I asked. "Oh c'mon, Carrel. I did that so you two can meet. And look at the results now. You belong to "in-a-relationship" status." she quoted. naguguluhan pa rin kami sa pinagsasabi ni mama. "But I guess, you'll still be in love without my efforts."

"And I thanked you, madam principal.. for what you did. Pero, 'di ko alam na ikaw pala ang nanay ni Carrel." Cyrus is grinning widely. "Sinasabi ko na nga ba, budol ka!" sigaw ko kay Cyrus saka tumayo. "Plano mo rin ba na dapat ligawan ako ni Cyrus at maging nobya, ma? Lahat na lang ba ikaw ang magde-desisyon sa buhay ko?!"

"Carrel."

"Anak."

"Mga pare-parehas lang kayong manloloko! Pinaglalaruan niyo ba 'ko?! Ano, masaya na kayo?" I then walked out. "Carrel, bumalik ka rito." pigil sa 'kin ni mama. Si Cyrus naman ay panay ang sunod sa 'kin hanggang sa labas. "Carrel, bakit ka ba galit? Let me explain. It's not what you think." agad niyang inabot ang kamay ko pero binawi ko agad iyon. Muntik pa akong matalisod. "Then what?! Explain everything to me."

"Hindi ko alam na siya ang mama mo. Ang sabi lang naman niya ay may ipapakilala siya sa 'kin bago ko tanggapin ang project. The rest ako na ang gumawa dahil gusto kita, Carrel, at mahal kita. Mahal na mahal." saka niya 'ko niyakap ng mahigpit. "I'm sorry." he said. "When I first laid my eyes on you, I knew you were the one. You are one of the best thing that ever happened to me. Please don't get mad."

Ang o.a ko naman sa part na 'yun. Nang mahimasmasan ako ay bualik kami sa bahay at humingi na rin ako ng pasensiya kay mama. Pagkatapos namin mag-kwentuhan ulit ay umalis na kami. Tuwang-tuwa talaga si mama kay Cyrus at tinanong pa kung mabibigyan na ba siya ng apo. Hello? Kasal muna bago jugjugan.

"Tita, mauna na po kami."

"Ma, sorry ulit. I love you."

"Mag-ingat kayo ha. See you around, you two." ani mama. "Tsaka 'wag mong lolokohin ang anak ko dahil tatamaan ka sa 'kin." banta ni mama kay Cyrus. "Opo."

Saka kami umalis. Buti na lang talaga at nahimasmasan ako at tumino. Kung hindi, baka break na kami ni Cyrus.

You need to listen to the explanation first before bursting out.