Diary of an Introvert

Extra: Calvin meets my parents

My parents, I'd say, is not that traditional when it comes to relationships. We're quite free to date whenever we want as long as we're not doing anything bad. But personally, letting them meet the guy I'm dating is part of my own dating rule. For me, it's how I show respect to my parents. And I'm just glad that Calvin feels the same way, and honestly, he was the one who mentioned it first. 

We had this conversation on our second date. We were in a cafe eating carrot cake, drinking iced black coffee while talking about random things.

"Cee, pwedeng magtanong?"

"Sure. Ano yun?"

"We're dating now, right?"

"Yeah..? Bakit?"

"I...wanted to...meet your parents." He paused and gave me nervous look. "I mean---if that's okay with you? Ah-- like--- ayoko lang na mag-alala ang parents mo sayo. I'd like them to know who're you with... and...ahh...I would like it if they know and trust me...so yeah...haha..."

I just laughed at him.

"Hey, seryoso ako dito." He seemed pissed off again.

"Hahaha, sorry, Cal. Natawa lang kasi ako dahil ngayon lang kita nakitang parang kabado? I mean, it's okay. May plano naman talaga akong ipakilala ka sa mga magulang ko. Nauhan mo lang ako."

"Really? Haa. Salamat naman. Can you tell me about them? Para naman makapaghanda ako."

I began thinking. Ano ba ang mga gusto ng magulang ko? "Hmm, well, si mama ay secretary ng isang maliit na sugar company. Mahilig siyang magtanim ng mga halaman at recently, nakahiligan niya na ring manood ng mga vlogs sa youtube. Haha..."

"Haha, talaga ba? May pakiramdam akong magkakasundo sila ni mama." He grinned at me.

"Hm? Well, that's good then. Anyway, si papa naman, nagtatrabaho bilang heavy equipment truck driver sa parehong kompanya ni mama. Mahilig si papa kumanta at manood ng mga movies. Action movies sa youtube."

"Ooh, so I guess nagmana ka sa papa mo when it comes to music?"

"Hmm, siguro? Yung lolo ko rin kasi sa side ni mama, siya yung kumakanta at tumutugtog ng gitara." I suddenly got excited as I reminisce the past. "Alam mo bang hindi gitara ang unang instrument na natutunan kong tugtugin?"

"Hmm, hindi mo pa yata napopost yan sa SNS mo."

"Wow, stalker nga talaga kita."

"Wow" He imitated me (sarcastically). "Fan mo nga. So ano na?"

"Haha, well, harmonica yung first instrument na natutunan ko. Si lolo ang nagturo sakin. Tapos nakahiligan ko rin yung piano kaya pinag-aralan ko rin. I didn't have my own instruments kaya hindi na ako nakapagpractice ng maayos so I lost the skill to play them. During high school, my friends introduced me to the 'recorder'. Yung maliit na flute, tapos required kaming matutunan yung gitara dahil part ng subject. I don't like it at first dahil masakit sa kamay but eventually parang nagugustuhan ko naman kaya heto, gitara nalang ang alam tugtugin." I paused as I realized that I'm talking too much. "Sorry, ang daldal ko bigla."

"No, it's fine." He leaned forward and smiled sweetly at me, showing off his perfectly aligned teeth and dimple at the right side of his cheek. "I love listening to you." He continued.

I also smiled at him. "Ibuhos ko kaya sa'yo tong kape, gusto mo?"

"Wow, Cee. Ang sweet-sweet mo ah. Grabe ka talaga."

"Siyempre ako pa."

He looked annoyed. "Hay, pasalamat ka nalang talaga dahil gustong-gusto kita. So...going back, kailan na ako pupunta sa inyo?"

"Ano ba ang available day mo?"

"You know my schedule, Cee. Mostly weekends."

"So...next week na lang?"

"Hmm...paano kaya kung bukas na lang?"

"Ha? Okay ka lang? Excited?"

"Hahaha, well, kind of. Sunday naman eh. Ikaw? Okay lang sayo?"

"Hm? Okay. Sige. Dinner time?"

"Sure."

That night, I told my parents about him. At gaya ng nasa plano, kinabukasan, pumunta na nga siya ng bahay.

I opened the gate for him. He's tall so a simple 3/4 shirt and pants look cool on him. Kainis! Ang gwapo! Tsk.

"Do I look okay?" He whispered.

"You look great." I replied. "Pero hindi yata ako aware na may plano kang magpagupit?"

"Surprise! Mas pomogi pa ako noh?"

"Psh. Ewan ko sayo."

As we entered the dining area, mama welcomed him. And papa...well, noong una parang hindi niya trip si Calvin. Pero kalaunan ay naging madaldal na rin siya.

Habang kumakain, tinatanong nila si Calvin ng mga kung anu-anong bagay. At ang lalaking to naman, mukhang confident talaga. After dinner, inilabas ni papa ang pinakainiingatan niyang wine at niyaya si Calvin na uminom sa garden.

"Pa, may trabaho pa siya bukas." Sabi ko.

Tinignan ni papa si Cal. "Talaga? Sayang naman."

"Ah, actually okay lang. Pero isang baso lang siguro muna ang iinumin ko ngayon, tito. Medyo gabi na rin kasi eh. Ayokong makaistorbo. I'm sure maaga pa po kayo bukas."

Ngumiti lang si papa ang nauna ng pumunta sa garden.

"Hoy." Siniko ko si Calvin. "Hindi mo kailangang gawin yun."

"Haha, it's okay Cee. Hindi ko ba nasabi na, mataas ang alcohol tolerance ko? Ayos lang."

Pagkatapos ng dalawang oras, si Papa ay nalasing na habang itong si Calvin ay parang hindi lang uminom ng alak. It was 11:36 pm so I called a taxi. Pagkarating ng Grab, nagpaalam na rin si Calvin kay mama at sa kapatid ko. Nang nakaalis na si Calvin, naramdaman ko yung mga mata nila sa akin.

"Ah...okay. Matutulog na ako." I said and went up to my room.

Calvin sent me a message. "I had fun. Thank you, Cee. Good night! I love you."

I felt my heart skip a beat after reading the last part.

Ano ba naman yan, Lord!

*** to be continued ***