The Tranquility in You

Chapter: 23

"Inside voice, baby."

"Sorry, nagulat lang ako eh." I said and rummaged through my purse. "Wala akong isusuot."

"The dress we bought last sunday, that's pretty."

"Kaya mo ba ako pinabili ng dress?" I asked at natawa ito. "You did!"

"Okay sorry I didn't say anything before, ayaw ko kasing kabahan ka." He said while turning the wheel with his left hand.

"Okay lang."

Kinabukasan ay gumising ako ng 5 para makapag-ayos. I messaged Jance to ask what type of people his family were pero naalala ko na tulog pa pala siya. Lunch ko kikitain ang family niya pero sa sobrang kaba ay hindi ko na kinaya.

I got ready and received a message from my boyfriend

From: Jance kulit (my bf)

Morning, I just woke up. Mabait sila promise, don't worry.

I felt relieved medyo kabado pa rin but he kept assuring me na magiging ayos naman ang lahat.

Jance arrived and saw me panicking. He said na everything would be alright and that his mother woke up the same time I did to prepare as well. Sabi ni Jance ay medyo malelate daw ang tatay niya kaya we were advised to eat ahead.

Bumaba si Jance sa kotse niya but I refused to get out.

"Baby come on, malelate tayo." He said kaya napilitan akong bumaba. "Huwag kang kabahan."

"Oh sige ito hindi na." I said sarcastically.

He knocked before opening the door and revealed his mother in a white sleeveless top and some wide pants. His brother looked really around my age. He was in a white shirt and khaki shorts. Ngumiti ako when his mother approached us.

"Hello, darling!" She said and kissed my cheek, leaving her lipstick on.

"Mom naman." Jance said as he removed the mark on my face. "Julian, this is Lalaina."

His brother smiled at me and opened a box of chocolates.

"Have one ate." I looked at him and Jance, both had a sweet tooth pala talaga. "I mean, Lalaina since same age daw pala tayo."

"Oh, thanks but maybe later na lang after lunch."

Tumango ito at tinago ang box sa isang cabinet, I was surprised that the cabinet were filled with chocolate bars and candies.

"Come on, let's eat now."

I sat beside Jance while his brother sat in front of me and his mother in front of him. His father finally arrived and I may be exaggerating but I really couldn't move once I saw him. Nakita niya ako and he also couldn't move.

"Jason, you're finally here! This is Lalaina, girlfriend ng panganay natin."

"Hello, Lalaina." Bati nito but I didn't respond.

I was looking at him na parang nakakita ako ng multo.

"Tito Jason?" I finally said. "Tatay mo siya?"

"Baby, may problema ba?" Jance asked pero umiling ako. "Dad is there a problem?"

"Jance, girlfriend mo ang true love ng... ng anak ng business partner ko." Tito explained but I couldn't let him tell Jance that.

"Jance, tito siya ni Gary." I blurted kaya Jance looked at me. "He's your father?"

"Yes." He said seriously. "Dad, sit down let's eat."

Julian watched us and clapped. Jance just smiled at Julian while a maid helped Julian eat.

"Excuse Julian for misbehaving sometimes, Lalaina. He's autistic." Tita Barbara explained. "Mahal na mahal ni Jance si Julian kaya we were so happy that you agreed on meeting us."

"Mom, not everyone is like Tito Luke." Jance defended and ate lunch quietly.

It was so awkward! Jance talked with his father kaya naiwan ako kasama si Julian. He was showing me figures he collected and toys. He was a licensed engineer and is currently on vacation.

"You are so lucky to have Jance as your brother, Julian." I said.

"Yes." He simply answered while he asked me to play with his toys. "Let's play!"

"Okay, okay how do we play?" He showed me how things were used and explained so much to me.

He told me about his job kaya hindi ko agad napansin na he was autistic. He told me also about the story where their father didn't believe it at first since wala daw namang signs but.. ganun naman palagi eh.

Jance walked to us and smiled.

"Hey, Julian can Kuya and Ate have candy?" He asked kaya Julian rushed to the cabinet and gestured us to pick one. "Only choose 1, Laina."

I chose a strawberry flavored chocolate and he almost didn't give it to me since favorite niya rin daw iyon.

"Come on, if you share bibigyan kita ng isang box ng ganiyan." Jance said kaya pumayag si Julian. "That's my boy."

Julian hugged me and Jance while thanking us for the time.

"Thank you, Ate. I love you already."

"I love you too." I said and hugged back