The Perfect Boyfriend List

Chapter 10

[Chapter 10] Family

When I opened my eyes, I was already facing the opposite direction I planted my body yesterday night. Buti na lang at wala dun si Wren. Mukhang gising na ata at nasa labas na.

I was thankful to have a goodnight sleep. Kahit papaano, nawala yung pagod ko kahapon.

I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes then yanked another set of t-shirt and short out of the cabinet. Nagshower ako then bumaba na. I found Wren on the kitchen, cooking.

Kadalasan, matatawa ka talaga kapag nakakita ka ng isang lalaki sa kusina tapos nagluluto. Pero in my state hindi yun nangyari. I was dumbstuck. Add shock to the list.

He was wearing no t-shirt kaya kitang kita ko yung butil ng pawis na dumadaloy sa bawat muscle niya. Nakakainis.

"Wala ka bang balak umupo?" tanong niya sa'kin. That question dragged me out of my reverie. I shook my head, dismissing the idea.

Biglang kumunot ang noo ko. "Ikaw, wala kang balak magsuot ng t-shirt? Alam mo ba na maaaring malason ang pagkain kapag nahawaan ito ng bacteria? Particularly ng bacteria na galing sa pawis mo?"

He smiled as he transfer the cooked egg to a plate. "Alam mo ba na pangit ang sumagot ng tanong sa isang tanong?"

I shrugged. Ipinatong niya yung plato sa table. "Kumain ka na," he said. "Kakailanganin mo ng lakas sa pupuntahan natin."

I looked at him with wild eyes. "Bullshit. Alam kong gwapo ako at nakakaturn off pero wag mo akong tignan ng ganyan kasi tao din ako at nahihiya." he said.

Kupal talaga nito.

"Assuming much?" I asked. "I was about to ask you kung saan tayo pupunta at kailan mo ako iuuwi sa bahay."

He smirked. "Inuwi na nga kita. Can't you see it?"

Ito ang mahirap makipagusap sa assuming, feelingero at kapal ng mukhang lalaki. Masyadong maduduming isip ang tumatakbo sa isip niya. And even a jaw dropping pretty lady like me can't control it.

Umirap ako then I settled on a chair. "You know what I mean, Wren," I said. "Kung hindi mo pa ako iuuwi, iisipin ko nang you brought me here to kidnap me. You don't want me to be an assuming person like you, right?"

He chuckled. "Hindi iyon kaso sa'kin para mahalin ka," he said. "Kahit na maging assuming ka pa, I don't care. My heart only belongs to you."

If I am just an ordinary girl, I would really assume that those words came exactly from his heart. If only I knew that he's not playing with me and teasing me, I already fell in his words. Sino ba naman kasing hindi kikiligin sa mga katagang iyon?

I was awestruck. Hindi ako nakapagsalita. In Layman's term, natulala ako. Natameme.

Suddenly, the door opened. Iniluwa nun si Lola Prescilla na madaming supot ng pagkaing marahil pinamili niya.

"You're being too cheesy, apo," she said. "Nagiging Shakespeare ka na kagaya ng Lolo mo."

Kaya naman pala niya sinabi yun e. He knew that his Lola was listening to our conversation. He wants his Lola to be assured about our relationship.

Ang pinagtataka ko lang ay kung bakit kailangan pa niyang lokohin ang Lola niya. He was too stupid to think that presenting his mortal enemy as his girlfriend would definitely make his Lola happy. Mukhang siya ang natutuwa e. Siya itong natutuwang pagtripan ako. Laugh while I'm crazily thinking for a palusot.

"Lola, pinapadama ko lang kay Rachel kung gaano ko siya kamahal," lumapit siya sa'kin at kinurot ang mag kabilang pisngi ko. I want to slap his hands away but his Lola is watching. "Diba baby?"

Iniwas ko yung mukha ko. Ang sakit kaya. Ayaw ko pa namang ginaganito ang mukha ko. I feel so dorky.

"Hindi mo naman kailangang kurutin yung mukha ko, baby," tawag ko pabalik. His face lit up. Halatang nagulat sa endearment ko.

Ibinaba ni Lola yung supot sa lamesa. "Tigilan niyo na nga yang dalawa. Nilalanggam na ako dito sa kasweetan niyo e."

I smiled at her.

"Ihanda mo na yung sasakyan, Wren Andrei," Lola Prescilla commanded. "Maya maya, aalis na din tayo."

"Opo." he answered as he stood up. He kissed my forehead. Kinabig ko siya palapit sa'kin for a hug. He tensed up. Nilapit ko yung lips ko sa tenga niya. "Put on a damned shirt." I whispered.

I sensed his smile. After that he left. I was left with Lola Prescilla. I volunteered to help her fix the things she shopped.

Napansin ko na every now and then, she was smiling. There was never a moment that her smile vanished her lips.

Maybe that was Wren's reason as to why he's doing this scheme. Siguro dahil sa nakikita niyang masaya para sa kanya ang Lola niya. He wants to let her see that she was happy and she has nothing to be pity of for him.

"Saan po ba tayo pupunta?" I asked.

She smiled. "Sa itinuring na second home ni Wren Andrei."

I helped Lola Prescilla to bring the foods to the car. Ipinasok namin lahat iyon doon na para bang magfofood trip kami.

While on the way, Lola kept on talking about Wren's childhood. She told me how Wren used to play tumbang preso and how he was so talented in singing and playing a music instrument. I told her that he played for me too. Then I heard Wren scoffed.

It's been an hour na nagbyabyahe kami. Hindi ko nga alam kung saan kami pupunta e. I just have a feeling that it could be Wren's family house. Second family daw ni Wren e.

Madaming lubak lubak na daan ang dinaanan namin. I won't be surprise since this is a province after all. It felt as if we're going to a sitio.

The car stopped on a school. I recognize it as a school since there is a flag hanging on the pole near the quadrangle. It sounded so peaceful. Parang walang mga batang nagkukulit. Baka may klase.

The school is not for elementary students. It didn't look like a high school campus either. Based on the drawings sa wall, mukhang pang mga bata talaga. Yung mga kindergarden.

Lola Prescilla left the car and Wren stood to open my door. I looked at him unbelievably. He smiled at me. Yung ngiti niya, it's not his usual smile. It looks like he was... I don't know. I can't explain it. Pero walang bahid ng kabwisitan at kayabangan yung ngiti niya.

"Your second home?" I asked him.

He nodded.

"Wren Andrei, deretso ako dun kay Mother Marie ah? Ibibigay ko lang itong mga dala natin." Lola Prescilla excused.

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ko. "What? Mother?"

He grasped my hand then guided me into one of the classrooms. He knocked at lahat ng mga estudyante, napatingin sa amin.

They all squeaked. Lahat tumayo at sinalubong kami. Karamihan sa mga estudyante, yumakap sa paa ni Wren.

I smiled. This time, wala nang bahid na kaplastikan. This time, totoong masaya ako sa nakikita ko.

He turned to face me. Karga niya yung isang batang babae.

"Rach, meet my children. My second family," he smiled at them. "Kids, meet Ate Rach." He smiled at me. Kung di ko lang siya kilala, I might assume that the blush in his cheeks shows his hidden shyness.

"The new member of our family."