Meet Me In Your Sanctuary (4th District Series #1)

Chapter 21

My throat ran dry at his mother's invitation. If only Juancho didn't touch my shoulders, I would not have recovered from my shock.

"Are you okay?" he asked me.

I blinked thrice before nodding. "O-Oo naman."

Ang tindi ng kabang nararamdaman ko. Kahit hindi ako gumagalaw, sa loob-loob ko ay hindi na ako mapakali. Ang alam ko kasi ay magtuturo lamang kami ni Juancho sa araw na ito. Hindi ko akalaing biglang mauuwi sa meet the parents agad! Wala man lang warning!

Pinilit kong makabawi at tumikhim bago ibinaling ang tingin sa mga magulang ni Juancho na nasa loob at nakatanaw pa rin sa amin. Mabilis akong ngumiti nang malaki at isang beses na yumuko.

"Good afternoon po!" bati ko.

Tinanguan at nginitian ako ng kanyang ama habang kumaway sa akin ang kanyang ina. Umakto akong magmamano subalit dahil sa nasa loob sila habang kami ay nasa labas pa ay ikinumpas na lamang nila ang mga kamay.

"Sige, God bless, hija! Sumakay muna kayo at mainit d'yan sa labas," she invited us.

Juancho opened the door of their car for me. Tumalima ako sa utos ng kanyang ina at mas lumapit na upang makasakay.

My actions slowed down when I saw his sister, Kane, sitting on the opposite side of the vehicle. She looks so bored and so done with everything around her—which seems like her usual self from our quick interactions before.

I greeted her and she responded with a single nod before going back to her own world. Nahihiya man ay wala akong nagawa kung hindi tumabi sa kanya sa loob upang makapasok na si Juancho.

I wonder if she's still mad at me.

"I finally met you, Sharina," Juancho's mother said, widening my eyes and parting my lips.

Kilala niya ako?

"My name is Meredith but they often call me Mary."

"K-Kilala n'yo na po ako, Ma'am?" puno ng pagtataka kong tanong at makahulugang tinignan si Juancho.

He just bit his lower lip and sighed. Mukhang gusto niyang magsalita at magpaliwanag nang maunahan ng ina.

"Siyempre! Walang maisisikreto sa akin ang mga anak ko. At saka, nagpaalam na sa amin si Juancho."

"And you bombarded him with lots of questions," his father joined the conversation.

"Of course, Dy, I would ask questions! I'm his mother after all. Malamang, kuryoso ako sa babaeng nagustuhan ng anak natin."

Pinaghalong hiya, gulat, at tuwa ang nararamdaman ko sa mga sinabi nila. Kailanman ay hindi ko inakalang makakatagpo ako ng ganitong klaseng lalaki na mauuna pang ipakilala ako sa mga magulang niya nang hindi ko alam.

That just proved that he isn't ashamed of me. That he is serious about all the things he said before. That his feelings are real and deep.

And seeing how his parents reacted made me feel more overwhelmed that my heart just wants to dance with joy. Their warm welcome and acceptance brushed off the intimidation I felt towards them before. Nabawasan na rin ang kabang naramdaman kani-kanina lamang. Buong akala ko talaga, strikto sila. Hindi naman pala kapag nakasama na.

Nagkaroon ng munting pabirong bangayan sa pagitan ng mga magulang ni Juancho na nagpangiti sa akin. I looked at him and saw his lips protruding.

"I'm sorry about my parents," he whispered on my ear.

Tinawanan ko siya. "'Wala kang dapat ika-hingi ng sorry," I mouthed.

I wanted to tease him about what he did—introducing me to his family before I could even meet them, but his mother started talking to me again. She seems really interested in me that Juancho had to sigh countless times just to restrain himself from interrupting her and her questions. Kane, on the other hand, never opened her eyes even once the whole ride.