The Unexpected

Chapter 9

May ingredients kami para sa mango float sa aming pantry kaya gumawa si mom kagabie pero mamaya pa namin kakainin iyon sa dinner.

After naman namin maglunch ay tinulungan na ako ni mom na magbake ng brownies. Nagpabili rin ako ng fresh buko juice sa driver namin. Napag-usapan kasi namin na hindi kami magdadala ng kahit na anong soda.

Nang bandang alas dos ng hapon ay napagdesisyonan kong maghanda na. Nagsoot lang ako ng pink na skort tapos white fitted crop top. Naglagay din ako ng additional sunscreen dahil paniguradong mainit sa park. Dito lang din kami sa subdivision kaya nagpulbo lang ako, lip tint at konting blush. Tinali ko naman sa isang messy bun ang buhok ko.

Nagmessage si Rhys na nasa labas na raw siya ng gate namin kaya nagmadali na akong bumaba. Pinapasok ko na muna siya para ipakilala uli kila mom at dad.

"Mom Rhys is here." Tawag ko kay mom dahil nasa kusina siya busy sa pagprepare para sa dinner namin mamaya. Mom loves cooking and she also loves inviting close friends in our house kaysa sobrang naghanda siya ngayon.

She came out from the kitchen. "I just prepared the ingredients para sa lulutuin ko for tonight's dinner." She said pagkalabas niya ng kitchen at lumapit sa amin sa sala.

"Hi Rhys! Ang laki muna ah." Sabi niya pagakakita niya kay Rhys. Tumayo kasi si Rhys para magmano kay mom.

"Hello tita. It's nice to finally see you again after such a long time." Sagot naman ni Rhys kay mom. "It was really a long time ago. Akalain mong binata kana ngayon at kung noon cute ka ngayon sobrang pogi muna." Naku naman itong si mommy kung makabigay ng compliment.

"Mom where's dad?" I asked cause I haven't seen him. "He's in the office. Why don't you go there first before heading out." Rhys and I went to my parent's mini office in our house so I can introduce Rhys and to make paalam.

I knocked before entering. "Dad Rhys is here, we will go na " I said when I entered and Rhys was behind me.

Dad's eyes were glued to the person behind me. "So you must be Rhys. Wow you're already a grown-up." Dad said. "Good afternoon tito... I mean sir. It's good to see you po." Rhys formally greeted my dad.

Dad smiled at him. "It's good to see you too. By the way, you can call me tito." After that nagpaalam na kami kay dad at nagpunta na sa park.

"I was honestly nervous earlier, but wow tito and tita never changed. They are still very welcoming." Rhys said while we're walking going to the park. "Wow didn't notice you were scared. Anyway dad is a bit strict especially when it comes to boys pero dahil kakilala ka n'ya kaya ganon while si mom naman natutuwa talaga yan kapag may bisita. She loves cooking and entertaining guests in our house."

We arrived at the park. Rhys took some of his time looking around the park. "Seeing how they maintain and improve this park makes me happy. I'm glad din na may mga part na hindi iniba. This park played a huge part in my childhood, in our childhood." Rhys said while we are setting up our picnic mat and foods.

We spent our whole afternoon reminiscing our childhood. We played boardgame, the Czech Games Edition of Codenames: Duet. It consists of two players who must work as a team to find all agents.

After that we watched the sunset. "The sunset is so beautiful, isn't it?" I said while looking at the sun setting.

"Yes it is." Rhys answered, but when I looked at him, he's looking at me. He immediately left his gaze and look at the sunset instead. Does he actually mean i'm pretty?

"I missed this. I missed you Ley." He said and now he decided to look at me. "I missed you too Rhys. I always think of you all these years." I told him the truth. He seems surprised to hear that from me.

"I waited for this day. I waited for us to meet again." I'm glad we both feel the same way. I'm not the only one who longed and didn't forget her friend because he also does and feel the same.

Kalaunan ay napagpasyahan na namin na umuwi sa bahay. Saktong-sakto naman at tapos ng magluto sila mommy. Sineset up nalang nila ang table namin para sa dinner.

"We're home." I announced. "Sakto katatapos lang din namin. Hali na kayo. Let's eat." We headed to the kitchen to eat. Mom cooked beef stroganoff, chicken broccoli stir fry and baked salmon.

Dad is in the middle. Mom is in her right side and i'm in her left. Rhys sat beside me.

"Kumusta? Did you have fun?" Mom asked after our prayer.

"Yes. We were able to catch up." I said then Mom looked at Rhys waiting for his answer.

"Sobrang nag-enjoy po kami tita. We were able to reminisce our childhood days. Ang saya lang din po na kahit papaano ay may bakas pa ng kahapon ang park at hindi tuluyang iniba." Rhys told Mom happily.

"How's your parents nga pala Rhys?" Dad asked him.

"They're doing greet po. They want me to extend their regards to you and tita nga po pala." I can notice Rhys is a bit formal when talking to dad while he's more jolly towards mom. Well I understand him medyo nakakatense rin naman kasi kausap si dad, but at the same time he also feels welcoming towards Rhys.

"Please tell your mom that we should go out some time. Or maybe we can have lunch or dinner with your parents next time para naman makapagcatch up kami." Nako itong si mommy talaga.

Although hindi talaga masyadong close pero magkakilala rin naman ang mga magulang namin kaya natural lang siguro na gustong makipagcatch up din ni mom sa kanila.

"Sure tita. I'll tell mom about it." Rhys said and continued eating. "By the way, ang sarap po ng niluto n'yo tita." Bigla naman ginanahan si mom sa narinig niya.

"Really?" She really look pleased. "Yes po."

"Nako Rhys ganyan ang mga gustong marinig ni mommy." Natawa naman silang tatlo sa sinabi ko.

"Agricultural and poultry farming pa rin ba ang business n'yo iho?" Dad asked Rhys at tumango naman ito. "Yes tito pero nagventure na rin po sila sa mga restaurants at cafe."

"Well that's good." Sagot ni dad at nagpatuloy na kaming kumain. Kung saan-saan pa umabot ang kwentohan at tanongan namin. Alas otso na nakaalis si Rhys sa bahay.