CHAPTER 39
JOYCE POV
A month later, Kris’ parents flew from New York as planned. Kris and I met them at the airport. It will be my first time to meet his parents. I’m so full of jitters! Sobra!
Joyce: Kris, kinakabahan ako.
Kris: Relax. Ano ka ba? Cool lang yang sila mommy and daddy no.
Joyce: What if…what if di nila ako magustuhan? What if I’m not what they expect?
Kris: Joyce, alam mo you’re worrying for no reason at all. Unang una, gustong gusto ka ng parents ko kahit di pa kayo nagkikita. Second, magkasundo ang parents natin, Third, ikaw ang pinili ko na mahalin kaya kahit ano pa ang objections nila, kung meron man which I’m sure wala, it wouldn’t matter to me at all. So just relax. Everything is going to be ok. I promise.
Joyce: Ok. Sige, kaya ko to. Do I look ok? Mukha naman akong presentable diba? Naka-jeans lang ako eh, dapat ba nag-dress ako?
Kris: Nakakatuwa ka talaga. You look beautiful. Stop worrying. Halika na.
Joyce: Ok. I’m ready.
Kris: Smile ka na diyan.
So Kris took my hand and we waited for his parents.
Kris: There they are. Mommy! Dad!
I saw his parents walking towards us. Grabe talaga ang kaba ko! Ikaw ba naman ang ipakilala sa parents ng boyfriend mo diba?
Kris hugged his parents.
Kris: Mommy, daddy, na-miss ko kayo! How was your flight?
Mr. Martin: Ok naman, may slight delay lang. How are you anak?
Kris: Ok naman po. Mommy, daddy, there’s someone I want you to meet. Si Joyce po, girlfriend ko. Joyce, parents ko.
Joyce: Kumusta po? It’s so nice to finally meet you.
Nagulat ako. Niyakap ako ng mommy ni Kris. And then yung dad naman niya. I wasn’t expecting thisreception from them.
Mr. Martin: We’ve heard so much about you Joyce. Pakiramdam nga namin matagal ka na namin kilala eh. Heto kasi si Kris, walang ibang bukambibig kundi ikaw.
Mrs. Martin: Naku Joyce, kami ang sobrang natutuwa na nakilala ka na rin namin. We’ve waited so long for this day.
Joyce: Talaga po? Thank you so much Tita. Honestly, I’m really nervous about meeting you.
Kris: Hay naku Mommy, kung alam mo lang, kanina pa yan nagwo-worry!
Mrs. Martin: Bakit naman? You’ve no need to worry. We already like you the first time pa lang na kinuwento ka ni Kris sa amin. And now, seeing you for the first time, I know that Kris made the right choice.
I can’t help but feel so touched sa parents ni Kris. I just can’t believe na botong boto sila sa akin for their son.
Mr. Martin: How are your parents? Andito pa ba sila? Nag-usap kami sa phone ni Minda nung isang araw. May plan daw tayo mag-Boracay?
Joyce: Andito pa po sila. Nag-extend po talaga sila ng vacation para po sa inyo. Nga pala, regards daw po sabi nila Daddy.
Mr.Martin : Sige, tawagan ko si Michael mamaya.
Kris: Why don’t we get out of here? Nagpa-reserve na po ako sa resto na favorite niyo. I’m sure gutom na kayo. Let’s go?
Mrs. Martin: Ok. Kris, help your dad sa luggage namin. Ako na bahala kay Joyce.
Kris: Sige mommy. Joyce, drive mo na lang yung kotse sa may entrance ha? We’ll wait for you there. Tulungan ko lang si Daddy.
So Kris’ mom and I went ahead to get the car. While walking, his mom was holding my hand. That simple gesture eased any anxiety I was feeling. I really like his mom. Sobrang warm and welcoming niya.
Joyce: Alam niyo po, natutuwa po ako that I was able to finally meet you.
Mrs. Martin: Kami din Joyce. Matagal ka na namin gusto makilala. Excited na kami ng Tito mo. That’s why nung sinabi ni Kris na naayos na lahat ng problema sa family mo, dali dali kami nag-book ng flight pauwi.
Joyce: Thank you po Tita. I really wasn’t expecting na ganito agad ang pagturing niyo po sa akin. Sobra po ako natutuwa.
Mrs. Martin: Ako din naman. Masayang-masaya ako at finally nakilala ko na din ang babaeng mahal na mahal ng anak ko. Thank you so much for loving my son. O ayan na pala sila.
Mr. Martin: So are we all set? Kris, ikaw na mag-drive. Joyce, diyan ka na sa harap maupo. Dito na kami ng mommy mo sa likod.
Kris: Did I hear it right? Tama ba yung sabi mo kay Joyce? "Mommy mo?" Haha.
Mr. Martin: Oo naman. Joyce, from now on, call us daddy and mommy, ok?
Mrs. Martin: Oo nga naman. You're already part of this family so don't call us Tita or Tito anymore.
Joyce: Sige po...mommy.
Kris: Yun oh!
Joyce: Sira ka talaga!
Kris: Haha. Let's go!
KRIS POV
So the four of us had lunch. It was fun. My parents really like Joyce and si Joyce din, nakita ko na gustong gusto din niya ang parents ko. After lunch, hinatid na muna namin si Joyce sa coffeeshop kasi may work pa siya, and then dumiretso na kami sa house ng parents ko.
Kris: So, tell me. Ano po masasabi niyo kay Joyce?
Mr. Martin: She’s perfect for you Kris.
Mrs. Martin: I really like her anak. Ang gaan gaan ng loob ko sa kanya. Ewan ko ba, para tuloy ako nagkaroon ng instant na anak na babae.
Mr. Martin: I really can tell na mabait siya talaga. And most importantly, she really loves you. Halata naman sa mga kilos niya sa iyo. Maasikaso, maalaga. I really like her anak.
Kris: Thank you po. I’m really glad na boto kayo sa kanya. We’ve been through a lot and knowing na pareho kayo ng parents niya na approved sa relationship namin, I just feel so blessed. Lahat ng pinagdaanan namin was all worth it.
Mr.Martin: Take care of Joyce ha?
Kris: I promise Dad.
That night, I called her up.
Kris: Hi hon, how was your day? Busy ba sa coffeeshop?
Joyce: Hi hon! Hindi naman. Ok lang.
Kris: You sound happy.
Joyce: Siyempre kausap kita.
Kris: Haha! Sabi ko nga.
Joyce: Haha. Masaya lang ako kasi na-meet ko na parents mo.
Kris: Sabi ko sa iyo diba, you’re worrying over nothing. Love na love ka kaya nila.
Joyce: Ako din naman, ang gaan agad ng pakiramdam ko sa kanila. Thank you ha?
Kris: Thank you din.
Joyce: For what?
Kris: For a lot of things. For being who you are. For loving my parents. For loving your family. For waiting for me…for not letting go….for loving me.
Joyce: Tama na nga. Papaiyakin mo na naman ako niyan eh.
Kris: Haha! Totoo lahat yun, promise!
Joyce: I love you. I’ll never get tired of telling you this.
Kris: Same here. I love you.
Joyce: Tulog ka na. I'm sure pagod ka na.
Kris: Parang ayaw ko nga matulog eh. Gusto lang kita kausapin the whole night.
So we ended up just talking the whole night. Neither of us wanting this day to end. Neither of us wanting to sleep. Because as far as we, Joyce and I, are concerned, reality is far, far better than dreams.
