At Last, Him

Chapter 32: Felt Right

The sun was bright and high as CL and I made our way up the winding roads leading to Baguio. Ang amoy ng mga pine tree ay pumasok sa bahagyang nakabukas na mga bintana, sumasama sa malamig na hangin ng bundok.

It's the last day of October, and I'm going to spend the rest of the week with CL and his family. I could feel my heartbeat picking up speed with each mile we covered. I glanced at CL, who sat comfortably in the driver's seat, his fingers loosely gripping the wheel, his eyes steady on the road ahead. My nerves must have been palpable because he turned to me with a reassuring smile and reached for my hand.

"Hey," he said, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. "You're going to be fine. I promise, they're going to love you."

"Sana nga," sagot ko, ang boses ko mas mahina kaysa sa inaasahan ko. I tried to return his smile, but my anxiety made it feel more like a grimace. I'd been looking forward to this trip for weeks, but now that we were moments away from stepping into his world, the anticipation was almost overwhelming.

After what felt like an eternity, we arrived at CL's family home. The house was magnificent—a sprawling property nestled among the trees, its façade a beautiful mix of stone and glass, with ivy climbing up one side. I stared, my jaw slack.

"Hindi mo sinabi sa akin na ganito kalaki ang bahay niyo," I said, half-joking, half-stunned.

Tumawa si CL habang pinapatay ang makina at bumaba. "Maniwala ka man o hindi," sabi niya habang binubuksan ang aking pinto, "we weren't always this fortunate. My dad built everything from the ground up—literally from rags to riches."

Lumabas ako, pinagmamasdan ang tanawin ng malaking bahay, kasama ang malalawak na balkonahe at maayos na mga hardin. It looked like something out of a lifestyle magazine, but there was a quietness to it, an emptiness that made me feel small.

Once we'd settled in CL's bedroom—a spacious, light-filled room decorated with framed photos of family moments and medical school achievements—we headed downstairs to the pool area. The soft sound of laughter drifted through the air as we approached. There, gathered around a large, shaded table were CL's parents, Dr. Paul and Dr. Jenna, and his younger sister, Love, who was animatedly chatting with a man I assumed was her boyfriend, Frisco.

"Mom, Dad," tawag ni CL habang papalapit kami. Nang huminto ang mga usapan, lahat ng mata ay napatingin sa amin. "This is Shan."

Dr. Paul's face lit up with recognition, his kind eyes crinkling at the corners. "Ah, Shan," he said warmly, extending his hand. "Good to see you again."

"It's a pleasure to meet you again, Dr. Paul," I said, shaking his hand, grateful for the immediate welcome.

"Please, just Tito," he insisted with a laugh.

Inilipat ko ang aking tingin kay Dr. Jenna, na ngumiti nang magalang ngunit nanatiling may distansya. "Nice to meet you," she said, her tone cordial but lacking the warmth she'd shown to Frisco, who sat comfortably beside Love.

Tumalon si Love at lumapit, niyakap ako na ikinagulat ko. "Finally, I get to meet you, Ate Shan," she said, her voice full of enthusiasm. "I hope my brother isn't giving you too hard of a time."

"He's been wonderful," I said, glancing at CL, who winked at me.

We all sat down for lunch—a spread that could rival a feast, complete with roasted chicken, fresh salads, and warm bread. Dr. Paul leaned forward, his attention on me. "So, CL mentioned you're an architect. That's impressive. It's a field that demands both creativity and resilience."

"Thank you po," sabi ko, na medyo naging komportable. "It's definitely challenging, but I love it. The process of turning an idea into something tangible is incredibly rewarding."