SAUDADE

dalawang pu't pito

Third Person

"Mommy... Dada... Kuyas... This is Xavier." Issa smiled nervously as she presented her suitor.

"Good Noon po..." He smiled at the family, two bouquet of flowers in his arms. "Good Noon, ijo..." Irene smiled and nudged Greggy by the side.

"Nice meeting you." Greggy forced a smile and a nod. "Para po sa inyo..." Xavier stepped forward to give Irene bouquet of white and pale pink tulips. "Tulips..." Irene commented and smile. "Thank you."

Xavier nodded once and gave Issa her bouquet of Lilacs. "Hmm, Lilacs..." Irene whispered to Greggy and smirked.

"Bakit? Bakit anong meron sa Lilacs?" Greggy scratched the back of his head, confused. "First love." She smirked.

Irene then looked at Issa and Xavier, "Sa Dining Room na tayo..." She invited them and signaled Issa to bring Xavier.

"Ah... Ma'am, where should I put this?" Xavier halted Irene and Greggy and held out the tiny basket with bottle of Martell Cordon Bleu and a bottle of Chateau Miraval.

"Ma'am?" Irene widened her eyes, "Nako, ijo... Tita na lang." She smiled and looked at Greggy.

Issa closed her eyes and looked at Xavier, "I told you it's okay to not bring anything..." She whispered. Xavier only smiled at her and patted her hand, "First impression lasts, darling." He whispered back.

Greggy cleared his throat and offered a small smile, "Sa Dining Table na lang yan..." He suggested and guided Irene to the room, his hand resting in her back.

He leaned in towards Irene's ears, "I like him." He approved. Irene rolled her eyes, "You like him cause he brought you your favorite cognac." She chuckled.

"Ah basta yun na yun..." He whispered again until they arrived in the dining table.

"So..." Alfonso looked at Xavier. "What do you do? How old are you? What's your full name nga? Do you kn-"

"Kuya... Kuya, kalmahan lang, okay?" Issa raised both her hands into the air, calming her brother. "It's okay..." Xavier smiled at Issa.

"Okay, sige na... Have your seats, we have the time to ask questions." Irene snickered, forcing herself not to laugh.

Everyone took their seats, at the same time as Greggy pulled a chair for Irene, Xavier also pulled one for Issa. This made Irene smile, it's always the little things she notices.

"Okay..." Greggy grunted and sat comfortably on the edge of the table.

They said their prayer before meal and Irene began to pass around the dishes. "So... Balik tayo..." Alfonso muttered as he took some ham and cheese rolls.

Luis smirked and looked at Issa, "Memorized niya yang mga tanong niya..." He whispered. Issa rolled her eyes, "Ba yan..."

"Let's start with who you are..." Alfonso smiled at Xavier. "Ah... I'm Xavier po... Xavier Yohanne Zamora." He smiled and patted his hand on his lap.

Issa noticed the fidgeting so she held on to his hand to which he look at her, "Thank you." He whispered, Issa only nodded.

Irene kept on looking at them with a smile on her face. She seemed to have watched this film before. And she was happy that her daughter was with someone who likes her for who she is.

"What do you do?" Alfonso said before he ate a fork full of salad. "Currently I'm working as the COO of Sol Real Estates..." Xavier calmly said as he took a roll.

"COO?" Greggy looked at him and cocked his head, "Yes po... My father is still the CEO..." He smiled at Issa's father.

Greggy only nodded and Xavier looked at Luis, "So... How old are you nga?" He questioned.