Autumn of May

CHAPTER 38: A Memorable Dinner

Nakatayo kami ni Nikka at ng mom niya sa malaking bahay nina Xavier. I know his super rich but I didn't expected that he's living in a castle. Bumukas ang pintuan at sumalubong sa amin si Steve. "I'm glad at nakarating kayo dito. I'm worried baka naligaw na kayo" he said while he's helping Nikka's mom bringing all the food that we bring. Xavier invited us to come over to their house and ayaw ko naman na ako lang ang pupunta so I decided to bring Nikka and her mom with me. Syempre sobra akong kinakabahan ngayon but I controlled it dahil ayaw kong mahimatay sa harapan ng mga magulang ni Xavier.

I did learn some facts before I come here. I learned before na Xavier's mom passed away and it really made their relationship quite chaotic kaya I oriented myself not to mention her mom on the table. I also learned that he had a stepmom kaya maybe I come equipped. Inayos ko ang aking dress dahil medyo nagusot ito at napansin naman ito ni Nikka. "Are you okay?" She asked dahil alam kong she can sense na kinakabahan talaga ako ng bongga. "Kinakabahan ako Niks" I whispered to her para hindi naman marinig ni Steve. Nakakahiya. "You're doing okay gurl, no need to worry" she whispered.

The door opened up at sumalubong naman kaagad sa amin si Xavier at ang kaniyang Dad, which is I happened to know back then when we meet at the island. May isang babaeng nakatayo sa likuran nila and I bet that would be his stepmom. She smiled at us and welcome us warmly. "We brought some food" Nikka's mom said. "Nag-abala pa kayo" Xavier's mom said na parang nahihiya sa pagtanggap ng mga dala naming pagkain. The maids are assisting us and nagulat ako dahil sobrang laki at ganda ng bahay nina Xavier. Nagsiupuan na kami sa dining table and the maids started to serve the food.

"Welcome to our home and I hope you do feel comfortable" sabi ng stepmom ni Xavier and we smiled at her. "Sobrang comfortable po" sagot naman ni Nikka na nagpatawa sa aming lahat. "I am informed that Xavier is bringing her girl today, so who will be—.." tumingin siya kay Nikka at inilipat agad ang tingin sa akin. I'm not sure if she's judging us or I don't know but nakaramdam ako ng kaba. "Are you Abbi?" she asked while she looked at me. I stand up at lumapit sa kaniya. Nagulat siya dahil nagmano ako sa kaniya. "Nice- nice m—meeting you po" I said na tila nagstutter pa dahil sobrang kaba ang nararamdaman ko. She laughed and gently hugged me. "Don't be shy" she said.

"And I bet Dad already know her" Xavier said kaya agad naman akong humarap sa Dad niya at ngumiti. "Yes and I'm sorry Abbi if I failed to return your grandfather's clothes" he remarked. "Okay lang po iyon" I hurriedly replied. "Ma'am Stella and Sir Philip, this is Nikka. My girlfriend" pagpapakilala ni Steve kay Nikka and nagulat pa ang Mom ni Nikka because she wasn't that aware of their relationship. "I didn't know that" Nikka's mom said and nagtawanan ang mga tao sa loob. "This is my mom" Nikka introduced her mom.

After a little bit introduction nagsimula na kaming kumain. Xavier comfortably sit down beside me and he always picked the food that I can eat. Napapansin kong his mom and dad keep glancing at us kaya I hurriedly said to Xavier that I can feed myself. Nahihiya ako kasi parang susubuan na ako ni Xavier and there are a lot of people looking at us. "Kaya ko na to Xav" I said to him and he hesitated at first pero pinilit kong agawin sa kaniya ang tinidor ko. "What work do you do?" Xavier's stepmom suddenly ask to Nikka's mom. "I run a school" she replied. "Wow that's great. I never had acquainted with someone who runs a school before" she said while slowly eating her food. "I'm honored" Nikka's mom replied and they laugh softly.

"Does Nikka have sisters or brothers?" She asked again. "She only had Abbi" she replied. "You mean, Nikka and Abbi are sisters?" Nikka's mom shook her head and said, "Biologically, no. But I treated her as my own and Nikka treated her as her sister even before. Hindi sila mapaghihiwalay" sabi ng Mom ni Nikka and I saw them smiling at me. "Alright, let's not talk about family matters anymore, we are here to enjoy the day. Let's eat" Xavier's stepmom remarked.

Pagkatapos naming kumain, they let us have a short tour sa kanilang bahay. Xavier wanted to hold my hand but I didn't allow him dahil it's quite uncomfortable for me. We walked through their library, through their garden, and even through their small greenhouse. Ang laki laki pala talaga ng bahay nila ni Xavier. After the tour, Nikka and Steve decided to help in the kitchen and sina tita naman at parents ni Xavier ay nag-uusap sa living room while having a tea. Akma na sana kaming lalakad ni Xavier off to somewhere pero nakita kami ng stepmom niya so she stood up and walked towards us. "I want to have a little chitchat with you" she said as she hold my hand and slowly drag me to her side.

"Go talk with them" ani niya kay Xavier sabay turo sa Dad niya at kay Tita. Wala ng nagawa si Xavier kundi ang sumunod. Nang makaupo na si Xavier sa couch, she hold my hand again at hinila niya ako papuntang second floor. "I need you to see this" she said as we enter a room. Umupo kami sa bed at may kinuha siyang album sa bedside table. She opened the album and pictures of a cute little baby boy pop up. "This is Xavier when he's little" napangiti ako dahil ang cute cute niya at tsaka kahit bata palang ay sobrang gwapo na. "Hindi niya alam na I keep pictures of him when he was little. Bad mood kasi yun palagi and everytime I talked to him, he easily got irritated and angry" she explained. I bet they have no good relationship.

"This is when he started school, ang cute niya diba?" She asked. Tumango naman ako. Because I can't really deny how cute he is. "You know, when Philip talked about the girl that he met in the island that helped her. I really had a good feeling with her. Kahit hindi pa tayo nagkita and hindi pa tayo nagkakilala, I know you're a good person and Philip feels the same way too" I looked at her and she is quite teary-eyed. She reach for my hand and caress it. "I'm sorry if I'm quite emotional but I'm just happy that Xavier and his Dad are good now. And I believe that you did a part on it, kaya thank you so much for making Xavier a better person that he can be" nagulat ako sa sinabi niya. Nagkaayos na pala si Xavier at ang Dad niya.  He really stick to his promise and ginawa niya talaga ang isa sa mga bucket list ko.

"I never really did anything po. But I'm glad to hear na magkaayos na sila ng Dad niya" she shook her head and said, "I know someone really did changed him and I know it's you" she said and slowly hugged me. Pumasok sa loob ng room si Xavier kaya kumalas sa yakap ang stepmom niya. "My baby pictures. That's why I had a bad feeling on your chitchat" he said while walking towards us trying to steal the album. His stepmom hurriedly keep the album and push him away from the side table. "Let's go outside" she said while continuously pushing Xavier outside. Natawa lang ako because I never imagined that they will be this funny. Akala ko I'll be put into pressure or some kind of strict family but I'm wrong. They're lovely.

And upon seeing that, my heart is at rest dahil Xavier is now in good hands of his own family. He'll be happy, somehow.