I was never impulsive. I used to be the type of woman who uses her head. But, apparently, my IQ takes a backseat when it came to Iggy.
"Eira, are you sure about this?" my boyfriend asked as I pushed the main door open. I could sense his hesitation and I knew that it was warranted considering the circumstances when he had met my mother.
"Ayoko nga na mag-hotel ka at ayoko rin naman na umuwi ka pa ng Subic nang ganito ka-late. Halika ka na. Hindi ka naman sa kuwarto ko matutulog, eh, sa isa sa mga guest rooms naman," I reasoned.
"Baka lalong magalit ang Mommy mo sa'yo."
"Galit naman na s'ya. She can't get angrier," I told him before I made him sit on the sofa. "Stay here, okay? Ikukuha kita ng mga damit—"
"Hindi na. Okay na ako rito. Cowboy naman ako. I used to wear my pants for days—and I can see how you're grossed out by that fact," he commented because I had wrinkled my nose.
"I can let you borrow one of my brothers' shirts. They had their hip-hop phase, 'yung tipong hanggang tuhod 'yung mga t-shirts nila at parang nakasuot sila ng tent sa sobrang luwag? Thankfully, they got over that and I am sure kasya sa'yo 'yung mga 'yun."
"Nakakahiya, Eira."
"They wouldn't mind," I insisted.
He nodded before he sighed.
"Iggy... what, wrong?"
He looked up and smiled at me. "Wala naman..."
It was then that I realized that I imposing. That I was making him do something without asking him how he felt about it.
I sat down beside him. "You're not comfortable, are you?" I asked.
He did not reply.
"Sorry..." I mumbled.
"Wala ka namang kasalanan, h'wag kang mag-sorry."
"Meron at alam nating dalawa kung ano. Sorry. Masyado lang akong nag-aalala sa'yo. Sorry kung pinipilit kitang dito matulog, sarili ko lang ang inisip ko. I can sense that you are uncomfortable but I still went ahead with my plan. I did not even take your feelings into consideration. Sorry, I should have asked you—"
He laughed softly.
"What?" I asked.
"That's a first."
"Ang alin?"
"Na may nag-apologize sa akin because they were after my comfort."
His face gentled. "I want to be with you," he said. "But I don't want to put you in more trouble. Kasi, Eira, hindi lang naman panandalian 'yung gusto kong relasyon sa'yo, eh. Gusto kong pangmatagalan. Gusto kong ito na 'yun. Kaya naman ayokong ma-bad shot sa pamilya mo kasi alam kong para magtagal tayo kailangan maayos din ang relasyon ko sa kanila."
He smiled sadly. "Wala pa kasi akong naging girlfriend na tinanggap ako ng pamilya niya. My background and my tattoos always got in the way. Pero, hindi ko sinasabi na kasalanan ng pamilya nila 'yun kasi sinong magulang naman ang hindi maghahangad ng ikabubuti ng anak nila, 'di ba? And although it is romantic to think na kaya mo akong ipaglaban kahit sa pamilya mo, that you can break their rules for me, ayoko pa rin. I don't want to alienate you from your family because I know how it feels not to have one. I care about you a lot to ever let you go through that."
I stared at him.
"Kaya sana naiintindihan mo kung bakit—"
I pulled his face towards me for a kiss.
"Shit, Iggy..." I whispered when we parted for air. "Bakit ngayon lang kita nakilala?"
"You just found me at the right time..."
